Top 5 Mets Prospects To Watch in 2010

Top 5 Prospects To Watch:


We all know about Josh Thole, Fernando Martinez, Ruben Tejada, and Ike Davis.

All four will be playing AAA in 2010, some or all will get a promotion in September, and all four are expected to make their way to Queens in 2011. The one exception may be Tejada, due to his age, or lack of it. One more year at AAA would give him the bones needed to make it in the Bigs; however, he is currently on pace to hit Queens at the same age that Jose Reyes made it there.

This article is not about the four of them and what they may or may not accomplish.

This is about the next wave that is currently being developed.

Watch for these names. You may be hearing more about then this year:

OF Kirk Nieuwenhius – Kirk was the third round pick of te Mets in the 2008 draft and immediately made his presence known. From the Hardball Times:

Nieuwenhuis, a centerfielder out of Azusa Pacific University, was having a pretty good year until August started. Then he had an excellent year. Nieu's combination of speed and power was a lethal combination, leading to a .193 ISO and sixteen stolen bases in twenty tries. With a .383 wOBA in St. Lucie, the lefty, who spent most of the year as a 21 year-old, moved up to Binghamton and finished the year strong, hitting .406/.472/.656 in 36 plate appearances.

He will play 2010 at Binghamton and has a major league ETA of 2012. Currently, he is ranked as the top Mets outfield prospect, ahead of Fernando Martinez.

RP Brant Rustich: - Brant was a 2nd rounder in 2007 and finished that year at first at K-Port, going 1-0, 0.87 in 5 games, 2 starts, and then Brooklyn (2-0, 2.13, 0.39). he rose as high in the prospect rankings as 4th (scouts,.com); hoever the 2008 season brough multiple injuries that limited him to a 3-4, 3.62, in 20 games for Savannah. In 2009, Rustich dug in to St. Lucie and produced an all-star season: 1-1, 2.45, 1.28, 19 appearances, 3 starts, 46-K, 47.2-IP. Rustich is injury free, has a lifetime professional record over 3 seasons of 7-5, 2.77, 1.09, and will play 2010 as a 26-year old. He is one of the premier Mets relievers in the system and may be ready for the fast track. Watch for 6-6 right hander to start the season with Binghamton, and if he dominates, could wind up in Queens by September.

RP Roy Merritt: - Merrit was a 29th rounder in 2007 and started his mtes career that year for K-Port (17 appearances, 1-2, 2.88, 1.12). In 2008, Merritt pitched a combined 3-0, 2.16, in 31 appearances for Brooklyn and St. Lucie.

2009 was a mixed year for Merritt. He was on the fast track out of spring training and actually stood a chance to make it to Queens on a September call-up; however, a hot start turned cooler later on in the year. AA stats: 4-5, 3.45, 1.48, 14-Sv, 56-K, 56-G, 62.2-IP. A lot more was expected of Merritt this past year. The Mets brass fell in love with him in spring training and everyone expected him to be a September call up. He has ++ talent and could make it there by the end of this year if he aces AAA.

OF Carlos Guzman: - The Mets signed Guzman as an undrafted free agent out of Brookdale Community College. Guzman is a native of Brooklyn, NY, and attend John Adams High School, in Richmond Hill, New York, where I grew up. In 2006, Guzman was named to the 1st team NJCAA all region team – Region 19.

In 2007, Guzman played exclusively for the GCL Mets (.215/.358/.392 in 130 at bats). He was called up to the Sand Gnats in May.

In 2008, Carlos played the entire season for Savannah, and played it well: .269/.314/.405 in 294 at bats.

The very good job in Savannah got him a bump to St. Lucie in 2009, and Guzman started out the year leading the league in just about every hitting category. In Lucy, he hit .290/.347/.453/800 in 472 at bats, with 15 home runs (5th in league) and 64 RBIs (8th in league) He was also 8th in the league in OPS.

Forecast: Guzman had had very little respect as a professional baseball player, yet he keeps hitting his way through the levels. He will start 2010 in AA, play AAA in 2011, and then, either make his way to Queens or be packaged in a deal.

3B Zach Lutz: - The Mets drafted Lutz in the 5th round of the 2007 draft. He was signed and played the 2007 season for Brooklyn (1 game, 2 at bats).

Lutz played the entire 2008 season for Brooklyn, going .333/.442/.514/.956 in 72 at bats. This included 4 doubles, 3 HRs, and 12 RBIs in 24 games.

In 2009, Lutz mastered A+ ball, going .284/.381/.441/.822, with 11-HR and 62-RBI in 356-AB and 99-G. He was ranked second in the league in OPS, and seventh in slugging percentage.

He had a cup of coffee at the end of the season for Binghamton, where he will play 2010.

I have never met anyone in the Mets organization that isn’t high on this kid. Lutz’s pro career spans three years at three levels and he has a combined .438 slugging percentage and an .823 OPS. The srtange part is the lack of press he has been getting. If we assume he hits at the same pace in Binghamton this upcoming season, and he plays the season at 24 years old, and he plays 3B, where the hell does he go? I expect to start seeing him, like everyone else in the organization, to play second base soon.