6/26/09

Prospect Update: Under The Radar



Dillon Gee – SP – AAA – on the DL. Gee’s stock has faded in 2009 and his future as a Met is in question. I believe the best he can hope for is a trade or a pen slot. Has pitched only 9 games so far this season and sits at 1-3, 4.10, not a bad start for a new pitcher at the AAA level.

Mike Antonini – SP – AA – Antonini was demoted to the pen this past week, which is quite a fall since pitching in spring traing against the parent club in one of the charity games. 5.26 ERA at AA and 12.27 at AAA. He’s back in Binghamton, where he’s trying to work out his problems in the pen.

Emary Frederick – RP – A+ - Frederick has been under the radar all his Mets career and I think I’m the only Met writer that ever has anything nice to say about him. Has consistently had one of the highest K/IP ratio in the organization, so far this season he’s a combined 2-4, 3.00 at AA/AAA. Will return to AAA as soon as all the rehab cases go through the system.
Greg Veloz – 2B – A+ - went 1-5, 1-RBI, 2-K on June 23… June 24: 0-1, picked off, pulled, and never came back for game two… has laways been my pick as the future 2Bman of the Mets, 2009 so far has been a quiet year for Veloz. Always a streaky hitter, got in the dog house last week for being picked off. Watch him light up now.
Kirk Nieuwenhaus – OF – A+ - 6-24: 2-5, 1-RBI… June 24: 1-3 in game one… 6-25: 0-4… Niewenhaus is like most outfielders drafted by the Mets; okay, but not good enough to make a prospect list. So far, just trudging along in the .250 range, and showing occasional pop.
Scott Shaw – SP – A+ - June 23: 2.2 IP, too many pitches, 3 ER… 6 walks, 2 Ks… control pitcher who everybody easily forgets about… 13 starts so far at Lucy this year, the 6-5 Shaw is 2-4, 3.63, but opponenets have hit .250 against him. Again, typical of a Met draft pick, okay in Pittsburgh, but not in New York.
Jeffrey Kaplan – SP – A+ - Kaplan pitched extremely well the first half of the season at the A level (4-2, 1.46) and is now making the difficult adjustment to A+ (0-2, 5.06). He’s a converted reliever who we knew very little about until this season. We’ll see.
Jenry Marte – 3B – A – All the hype and all the rookie ball stats couldn’t put Marte together again… .222 batting average, easily leads the team in both errors and strikeouts (69 in 279 at bats). Has walked only 11 times. Years away, if ever. But, he’s only 16, so we’ll give him a push this year.

Sean Ratliff – OF – A – June 21: 2-3, 1-RBI… June 25: 2-4, double, 2-RBI – definitely the hitting star for Savannah this year. I was surprised he wasn’t called up to St. Lucie at the all-star break, especially since they could use a good hitter in the outfield. His next big test is the adjustment to A+.

James Fuller – RP – A-rookie –June 24: 6.0, 0-R, 0.00… 21st round pick in 2008, he impressed last year in Brooklyn (2-0, 1.00 in 8 appearances, 1 start) and is off to a good start on the Cyclones this year.Only 5-10, but he looks like someone we should keep an eye on.

Michael Powers – RP – A-short – 31st rounder in 2008, pitched relief last year for Kingsport and Savannah (2-2, 2.88, in 18 appearances), and so far this year, combined at Savannah and Brooklyn, he’s 1-0, 2.81, in ten games. Another of the many talented, young relievers in the system.

Cesar Puello – OF – Rookie – Puello had an outstanding rookie year in 2008 after receiving his visa… I expected higher movement this season from him, but he’ll be a star at K-Port this season. June 23: 0-4, 1-K…
Alonzo Harris – 2B – Rookie – Harris was a late signing draft pick that had a very good season in rook ball in 2008. I had expected him to play in Brooklyn this year, even possibly Savannah, but he never came out of the extended camp, quite possible because of an injury. The Met never talk about injuries to kids, so, the good news is he’s healthy now, and playing for K-Port… June 23: 2-4, 1-RBI…

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