FLUSHING, N.Y., – The New York Mets today announced the team has selected RHP Alex Valverde and RHP Carlos Ocampo in the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
Valverde, 25, was selected from the Tampa Bay Rays organization. The 6-2, 185-pounder had 92 strikeouts in 72.0 innings while going 2-5 with three saves and a 4.88 ERA in 30 games, 10 starts for Montgomery (AA) in 2021. During his minor league career, Valverde is 16-20 with a 4.38 ERA (132 earned runs/271.0 innings) and 260 strikeouts in 95 games, 36 starts. He was selected in the 22nd round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft by the Rays from Miami Dade Junior College.
Ocampo, 23, was selected from the Chicago Cubs organization. The 6-2, 181-pounder was 4-0 and had 67 strikeouts in 47.2 innings with Myrtle Beach (Low-A) last year. In addition, he had three saves and a 5.85 ERA in 29 games in relief. Ocampo is 9-5 with 168 strikeouts and a 4.43 ERA (75 earned runs/152.1 innings) in 59 games, 25 starts during his minor league career. The Cartagena, Colombia native was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Cubs on January 25, 2016.
