The 2008 VSL Mets - Recap

2008 VSL Mets - Recap

The VSL Mets completed their 2008 season, going 26-42, and finishing in next-to-last (7th) position in the league. Te team actually started the season 10-2, but finished with a miserable 16-40 run.

The following players should be remembered. They will either come stateside in 2009 and play for either the GCL Mets or Kingsport, or they will most likely return to the DSL roster for another season. They have earned an invite back:

Jose Bellorin SS R R 6-0 160 12-14-90 Anzoategui, Venezuela

Bellorin started the 2008 season with the VSL Mets. His year end stats were: .262/.347/.320 in 172 at bats.

Jose Brito P R R 5-11 170 4-28-91 Anzoategui, Venezuela

Brito started the 2008 season with the VSL Mets. His year end stats were: 1-1, 3.67, 1.42 in 11 appearances (6 starts).

Rafael Castro RP R R 6-2 200 8-8-91 Columbia

Castro pitched for the VSL Mets in 2008, going 0-2, 3.96, 1.24 in 9 appearances (2 starts). He had 26 Ks in 25.0 IP.

Yoel Contreras P R L 6-3 180 1-1-86 Caracus, Venezuela

Contreras pitched for the 2008 VSL Mets, going 0-0, 2.45, 1.91 in 2 appearances.

Angel Cuan SP L L 5-11 150 5-29-89 Panama City, Venezuela

Cuan was a 2007 International free agent signing. In 2008, he pitched for the VSL Mets, where he led the league in strikeouts (74). He was also 10th in the league with the lowest WHIP (1.14), while going only 1-8.

Observation: Cuan was the top prospect out of the VSL team in 2008. I’m sure the Mets will send him stateside next spring.

Quinton De Cuba C R R 6’3” 180 9-9-87 Curacao, Venezuela

De Cuba started the 2008 season with the VSL Mets. His year end stats were .263/.329/.467/.796 in 137 at bats He also led the team with 7 home runs.

Ruben Delgado P R R 6-4 182 8-18-89 Acarigua, Venezuela

Delgado pitched for the VSL Mets in 2008, going 1-0, 2.84, 0.95 in 3 appearances.

Jose Diaz RF S R 6-0 172 7-26-89 Herrera, Panama

Diaz played for the 2008 VSL team, hitting .265/.339/.367/.706 in 166 at bats.

Luis Duarte P R R 6-1 180 8-7-87 Managas, Venezuela

Duarte pitched for the VSL Mets in 2008, going 1-2, 2.55, 1.36 in 4 appearances (2 starts).

Dennis Gutierrez P R R 6-2 180 12-22-88 Acarigua, Portugal

Gutierrez began the 2008 season with the VSL Mets. He started 4 games, going 1-1, 3.60, 1.53.

Ramiro Peralta P R R 6-3 180 9-8-89 Panama City, Panama

Peralta pitched for the 2008 VSL Mets, going 4-2, 2.74, 1.24 in 13 appearances (4 starts).

Adrian Pirela OF R R 6-0 205 12-23-88 MaraziboZulia, Venezuela

Pirela played for the VSL Mets in 2007, hitting .051/.288/.051 in 39 at bats. He returned to the VSL Mets for the 2008 season, where he led the team in hitting (.282/.387/.432/.819).

Observation: Pirela was the one shining light offensively for the 2008 VSL team. I’m sure, especially since the Mets system is light on prospect outfielders, that he will go stateside in the spring of 2009.

Luis Rojas P R R 5-11 176 1-24-89 Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela

Romas started the 2008 season for the VSL Mets, going 0-0, 4.38 in 12 relief appearances.

Jhonathan Torres P L L 5-11 170 3-20-90 Caracus, Venezuela

Torres started the 2008 season with the VSL Mets. He pitched great, going 5-2, 3.39, 1.19 in 13 starts.

Orlando Tovar P L L 6-3 213 3-26-88 Caracas, Venezuela

Tovar played the 2006 season for the VSL Mets, going 1-0, 2.20 in 6 appearances.

He returned to the VSL Mets in 2008 for a 2nd season, pitching well (0-1, 1.54, 1.07 in 8 starts). He also struck out 52 batters in 41.1 IP.

Ray Van Gurp SS R R 5-11 165 1-2-89 Willemstad, Curacao

Van Gurp played for the 2007 VSL Mets, batting .077/.077/.077 in 133 at bats.

Ray returned to the VSL Mets for the 2008 season, and had a half-way decent season, coming on strong at the end. Stats: .275/.343/.351 in 222 at bats, 29 SB.

Observation: There’s no rush on pushing young shortstops, but I would expect Van Gurp to start for the GCL team in 2009.