Mets Release Former High Draft Pick After Tumultuous Stint In Organization

New York made a small move Monday involving a former high draft pick

The New York Mets are making organizational changes. 

New York is expected to have an extremely active offseason and already is getting started. The Mets already have made an important decision by hiring former Milwaukee Brewers executive David Stearns as the club's president of baseball operations. Stearns was the club's top choice after many years of success with the Brewers and now has access to a much higher payroll. 

The Mets likely will be making big changes this offseason but also some smaller ones. In a smaller move, the Mets reportedly released former fifth-round draft pick Ryley Gilliam, according to Metsmerized Online's Mike Mayer. 

"The Mets have released minor league right-hander Ryley Gilliam," Mayer said. "Gilliam was the Mets fifth-round pick in 2018 out of Clemson and was expected to move through the minors quickly. Gilliam has dealt with injuries and had a 6.48 ERA in the minors."

Gilliam made his professional debut with the Low-A Brooklyn Cyclones in 2018 and impressed with a 2.08 ERA in 17 appearances. He struggled in 2019 with a 6.05 overall ERA across 29 appearances with High-A St. Lucie Mets, Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and Triple-A Syracuse Mets. Things took a turn from there. He didn't pitch in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then compiled a 9.88 ERA in 2021 with Syracuse. 

The young right-handed pitcher hasn't appeared in a game since 2021 as he's dealt with multiple injuries.