Weekly Report - True Prospects

The 2010 Crop:

Fernando Martinez – OF - AAA – All Martinez is going in Queens this week is proving he should still be in Buffalo. The 20-year old needs, at least, an entire year at AAA to learn, learn, learn. I sure wished they let him alone. Word I’m getting now is that, currently, it doesn’t matter if the Mets protect him from a future trade; right now every team has second thoughts about him.

Jon Niese – SP – AAA – Niese continues his recovery from a miserable start. He pitched both on June 25 and June 30, gave up three earned runs in 14.0IP, and now has strung together 5 great outings dating back to June 7: 35.1 IP, 5 ER, 35-K. Niese has returned to the top pitching prospect on the team and is back to being projected as either the SP5 next year, or the anchor on a blockbuster trade after the all-star break.

Roy Merritt – RP/CL – AA – Merritt was named this week to the Eastern league All-Star team. Merritt, who turns 24 this year, is, in my opinion, ready now, but the Mets do not want to rush him and create another Eddie Kunz situation. He finished last year with a 2.16 ERA, in 31 appearances, and, so far this season, he’s got a 2.95 in 32 appearances. That’s 24 earned runs in 86.2 innings pitched. July 2: Just when I said something kind… 2.0-IP, 2-ER, 2-K… yearly ERA up to 3.26. Bad management decision… team was down 10-1, why bring in your closer?


The 2011 Crop:

Jenry Mejia – SP – AA – Mejia hasn’t pitched since June 23, when he gave up five earned runs in 5.2 innings. Mejia will continue to be shut down through the July 4th holidays. Frankly, I haven’t heard of any specific injury here, though I’m sure there’s something going on. St. Lucie is a very secretive organization, who puts very little on their web site, never sends a press release out after a game, and even the local newspaper is from hunger. Strange for such a town dominated by Mets baseball.

Brad Holt - SP – AA – Holt pitched on June 27, going 0.1 innings, and giving up five earned runs (135.0 ERA). Even with this horrendous start, Holt’s minor league stats over two years stood at: 9-5, 2.73, 1.09, 153-K, 122.1-IP. Holt had another disappointing outing on July 2, when he went: 3.1-IP, 4-ER, 6-K, 2-BB, 1-HR, 9.90.


The 2012 Crop:

Jeurys Familia – SP – A – Familia had an excellent outing on June 29 (6.1-IP, 1-ER, 7-K)… his last two outings at that point were 2-ER in 12.1 IP… Familia’s ERA has held up well during a season in which he hasn’t always had the hitting support of his team. He never has been a big strikeout pitcher, but let’s remember that he’s only 19-years old. The web site says he-s 6-3, but I stand 6-2, and, next to him, he’s a good two inches taller than me.

The 2013 Crop:

Wilmer Flores – SS – A – Flores is quietly starting to heat up during the summer. In the last ten games, he has batted .400, with four doubles and three RBIs… still not showing the kind of power Savannah had hoped for, but seems to be back on track for a .300 season. Has struck out only 35 times in 258 at bats, but has walked only 12 times. Not bad for a 16-year old.