78. Juan Legares – OF – A – 21/yrs. –
Juan Mercado, the scout that found Jose Reyes, said in (2006) a Dominican newspaper that 16 year old SS Juan Lagares is better than Jose Reyes at the same age. Lagares was signed by the Mets in 2006 and assigned to the DSL team, where he played 57 games and hit .255/.339/.412. He was 3rd in the league in triples.
In March 2007, Lagares got his first taste of prospect-hype when this was written about him on the MiLB web site: “Remember the name Juan Lagares, a 17-year-old shortstop the Mets signed out of the Dominican Republic. It has yet to be determined where he will start the season, but he had a strong Instructional League in the fall and, according to Minaya, "does things ahead of what Jose Reyes was doing [at that age]." Lagares hit .255 in 57 Dominican Summer League games last year and collected eight triples and 12 stolen bases. "He's very talented," vice president of player development Tony Bernazard said. "He's going to be special."
In March 2007, Lagares got his first taste of prospect-hype when this was written about him on the MiLB web site: “Remember the name Juan Lagares, a 17-year-old shortstop the Mets signed out of the Dominican Republic. It has yet to be determined where he will start the season, but he had a strong Instructional League in the fall and, according to Minaya, "does things ahead of what Jose Reyes was doing [at that age]." Lagares hit .255 in 57 Dominican Summer League games last year and collected eight triples and 12 stolen bases. "He's very talented," vice president of player development Tony Bernazard said. "He's going to be special."
Lagares got off to a rough start in 2007 for Savannah, especially defensively, and was optioned back to extended spring training in early May. He returned on 5/12/07 and immediately was slotted back in the starting lineup, but eventually wound up on the IR list through the end of the season (.210/.262/.317 in 281 at bats).
Legares was born in Constanza, Puerto Rico. In September 2007, Baseball America ranked Lagares as 16th in the SAL in ‘speed score’.
In 2008, Juan started the season on the IR and eventually played for Savannah, where he went .254/.285/.337 in 181 at bats.
2009 brought a rehab stint with the GCL Mets (.208), and a return to Savannah for the season. It also brought a change in positions, designed to extend his baseball career. Playing left field, Lagares hit .274/.297/.323/.620 in 168 at bats.
Forecast: It seems like Legares has been around for ten years, but he will play 2010 at the old age of 21. The conversion to outfield seems to have extended his minor league career, though he’s still a long way from the prospect status he had at the time of signing. I can’t imagine the Mets making him play in Savannah again, so look for him to reunited with manager Tim Tuefel in St. Lucie.
Mack, What impressed me this year about Juan Lagares was his defense. He played left field for the Gnats this year for the first time-in 47 games he only made one error. He did struggle in 2007 playing shortstop for the Gnats, making 40 errors in 83 games.
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