Justin Meis
Justin Meis
Position: RHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 160 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 11/23/1999
College: Eastern Michigan University
How Acquired: Draft 10th round, 283rd Overall, 2021
Bonus: $127,500
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2024
Minor League Free Agency: 2027
Options Left: 3
Overview
Meis started for three years at Eastern Michigan. He struggled as a freshman and, of course, most of his sophomore season was lost to the pandemic. As a junior in 2021, he had a 4.64 ERA, with 33 walks and 81 strikeouts in 73.2 IP. That summer, he put up a 2.08 ERA with three walks and 17 strikeouts in 17.1 IP in the Cape Cod League. Meis throws from a 3/4 angle, with a 94-95 mph fastball and a very sharp breaking ball that’s his out pitch. He’s also been improving his change. Shortly after the draft, he signed for a little under the slot value of $149,500.
2021-22
Unlike the rest of their 2021 pitching draftees, the Pirates got Meis on the mound pretty soon after the draft, sending him to Bradenton in early August. He got into ten games, all in relief, and got very good results. The ERA is probably a little misleading, as over half the runs he allowed were unearned and he had some control problems, but he missed a great many bats. Left-handed hitters hit just .083 against him, right-handed hitters .267.
In 2022, the Pirates sent Meis back to Bradenton to open the season as a starter. He made seven starts and three relief appearances there, then moved up to Greensboro for 16 starts. His performances veered to extremes in either direction. As an example, he gave up six runs in three and a third innings in his first start. In his next two, he threw nine shutout innings, including a five-inning, two-hit, ten-strikeout performance. In his first two starts for the Grasshoppers, he allowed eight runs while retiring only two batters total. In his next game he threw six shutout innings with eight strikeouts. Meis finished his Greensboro stint strongly, with a 3.07 ERA in August and September.
2023-24
Meis spent the entire 2023 season with Altoona, serving in a swing role. He didn’t have a great season, with a 4.55 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. He had trouble with walks, allowing 5.1 per nine innings, and gave up 13 gopher balls in 83 innings. His performance didn’t differ much between starting and relieving. He was, however, far more effective in the second half. From April through June, he had an ERA of 6.86. From July through September, it was 2.20. His K rate went from 6.9 to 9.9. In 2024, Meis went back to Altoona and regressed. Opponents hit 280/370/484 against him, leading to a 6.44 ERA. He did at least strike out 10.1 per nine innings.
Stats
Transactions
July 12, 2021: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round, 283rd overall pick; signed on July 16.