The Mets are officially global.
The organization signed right-hand pitcher Matteo Marelli from Rovigo, Italy, Friday, marking the first European amateur signing in Mets history.
Just one day into the signing, Marelli is an intriguing arm. The righty is 6’2”, and described as a strong-bodied athlete. He was first seen by the Mets in a European Development Tournament (EDT) in London last year, but his fastball peaked at 88 miles per hour. Fast forward to May of 2025, and the Italian peaked at 94.
With a fastball that has potential to play in the majors, Marelli also impressed with an 86 mph cutter and kick changeup with movement. It’s a three-pitch mix that excites the Mets organization and opens a vast ocean of possibilities.
The foreseeable possibility is Marelli developing into a low-leverage reliever. The development would be seen as a massive success and hopefully jumpstart the Mets’ future in European baseball development. But after getting a closer look at the pitcher, the Mets aren’t shutting the door at a larger role in the future.
Marelli features five pitches in total and the organization sees a future where he can develop into a starter. He already made the jump from 88 to 94 on his fastball alone, and is excited to play baseball in a professional organization to further his career. Marelli has also already been described as a sponge, ready to learn and gain a competitive edge.
The first test for Marelli in the Mets organization will be in the Dominican Republic. It’ll be his first taste of Major League-affiliated baseball, which Mets personnel are confident he’ll acclimate to.
Marelli spent the prior three seasons in the Italian Serie A league — the highest level of baseball in Italy. Debuting at 16, Marelli holds a career 5.15 ERA over three seasons, but pitched to a 3.74 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings in 2024.
