Mike hit his third home run of the season for Binghamton on Sunday. He’s been a .231 lifetime hitter going into this season, so his current .310 BA is a welcomed surprise for the 27-year old.
Comments: I have become a very big fan of Nickeas, both as a player and a possible ctching coach. He is a very intelligent human being who has been a great influence on players like Josh Thole. He also, by the way, has a great swing and is a very nice person He has always treated me with respect, which isn’t the norm for a Mets writer. I’m not convinced he will ever get a chance to start in Queens, but, if the pitchers had a say, he would. Reminds me of a young Mike DeFelice. This is the catcher you want to work with your prospects is AAA and AA.
Some old stuff on Mike:
Nickeas attended college at Georgia Tech. He was selcted in the 5th round of the 2004 draft by Texas. In 2005, He batted .202 (49-242) with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs and 24 RBI in 68 games with Frisco in 2005. He also, hit .286 (6-21) with 1 double, 1 home run and 1 RBI with the rookie-level Arizona Rangers.
Nickeas was named the best defensive catcher in the Rangers' organization by Baseball America in 2005. In 2006, Nickeas appeared in 17 games with Bakersfield (A) of the California League this year, batting .297 (19-64) with 6 runs scored, 4 doubles and 6 RBI. Mike missed three weeks of action in May with a pulled hamstring before he was promoted to Frisco (AA) of the Texas League on May 28th. Nickeas hit .248 (28-113) with 15 runs scored, 7 doubles, 2 home runs, 15 RBI with 21 walks and 22 strikeouts in 39 contests with Frisco.
The Mets acquired Nickeas from Texas in exchange for OF Victor Diaz. He was assigned to the B-Mets after the trade and managed to get in 12 at bats before the season ended.
Nickeas is a fundamentally sound defender with average catch-and-throw skills and an athletic background. Born in Canada and raised in California, his English-born father was a professional soccer player. Despite his international background, Nickeas caught for Team USA last summer and as a prep player on the junior national team. He has average tools across the board, though he's a below-average runner. He struggled at the plate this season, with his average and slugging numbers down considerably from 2003. He isn't afraid to draw a walk, but scouts say he's been passive at the plate this season.
In January 2007, www.GothamBaseball.com surprisingly (IMO) listed Nickeas as the 10th top Mets prospect. Also in January, Rotoworld had him as the 15th top Mets prospect.
Nickeas started the 2007 season ‘extended’, but was transferred to Binghamton in late April (.271/.281/.278 in 212 at bats).
In September 2007, Nickeas was assigned to play in the Arizona Winter League (which is always a sign that the organization wants to invest more time and money in you)
Marte is one of the… now… many 16-year olds that the Mets rush off to the States to work with in hopes of developing someone they can send to Queens as fast as IF Ruben Tejada and P Jenrry Mejia got there.
The good news was the fact that Jefry was playing next to another 16-year old, SS Wilmer Flores, that got most of the press and kept the pressure off of him.
The bad news was the fact that Jefry was playing next to another 16-year old, SS Wilmer Flores, who made him look like a second-class citizen.
Add to that the fact that Marte plays defense like an antelope in highway traffic, and, needless to say, it’s been a slow start for the prospect.
The just turned 19-year old went 3-5 Saturday night, that included two home runs, one triple and four RBIs His season stats at Savannah are modestly: .239/.319/.384/.703, 6-HR, 37-RBI, .145-ISOP, .283-BABIP.
Opinion:
Work slowly with this kid… let him finish his second season at Savannah and give him a shot at St. lucie in 2011. The Mets have to keep trying to find a position for someone that simply can’t play well in the field. Some think he will eventually move to third base while others say right field. Bottom line… no one is going to play in Citi Field that can’t play excellent defense at either position. Marte is a future trade chip in a deal that is years away.
Marte was signed as an international free agent in 2007.
In late January 2007, Baseball America listed Marte as the 27th top Mets prospect, saying: “very raw but has big power potential”
In August 2008, ProjectProspect wrote: Overshadowed by organization-mate Wilmer Flores, Marte is another exciting teenage infielder the Mets are developing. Although he isn’t playing in the Appalachian League like Flores, what Marte is doing at such a young age in the GCL should not be overlooked. With a wOBA over .380, he's starting to build up his reputation. Marte has shown good power (.197 IsoP) while striking out in just 16.8% of his at-bats -- impressive for someone his age. Now 143 plate appearances into his pro career, Marte has shown just about everything you can ask for out of a 17-year-old third baseman, and he seems like a strong bet to succeed going forward.
In 2008, Marte played a full season with the GCL Mets, hitting .325/.398/.532/.930 in 154 at bats, which included 14 doubles 3 triples, 4 home runs, 24 RBIs (in 44 games), and 19 errors.
In September 2008, Baseball America listed the top 20 prospects coming out of the GCL league, and Marte was ranked 3rd.. He also won the Sterling Award as the the top Met player for the GCL team.
In September, Toby Hyde wrote: Marte has precocious and precious power for a 17-year old. In the games I saw him play, he showed bat speed, strength and some plate discipline. However, Marte was trying to pull nearly everything. Only when a pitcher got in on his hands and jammed him, did he send a ball (accidentally) to the right side. The Mets were pleased with Marte’s progress at third, although he remains very raw. He has enough arm for the position, but must learn to attack groundballs more aggressively. This, like hitting to the opposite field, will come with time and experience. Marte’s bat makes him one of the Mets better prospects. Projected 2009 Start: Marte will have an opportunity to win a 3B job at Savannah coming out of Spring Training
In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect: While he was overshadowed by Flores, Marte was another big-time success story last season after being signed as a 16-year-old in 2007. He stood out in the GCL because of his ability to drive the ball the other way. It's likely that he'll keep hitting for strong averages all of the way up the ladder. His power will result in more doubles than homers, but he might have the bat to make it at first if his glove forces him off third. He's not going to be an option at the hot corner in New York anyway.
In March 2009: My World Of Baseball on: Jefry Marte 3B (Mets) - While Wilmer Flores may not be able to stay at short for the Mets, Jefry has the tools for third base. If Wilmer moves to third Jefry has the speed that he can play the outfield, though he may not develop the power to fit at a corner position and his speed is not adequate to cover center. His .325 average his indicative of what he should do, hit for high average with enough power to be a run producer at third base. What he has to be careful of is that he uses the whole field and doesn’t try to force power by pulling the ball, sacrificing his average but not hitting for enough power to make the balance worthwhile. Next year should be his first year in a full season league.
9-15-09 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42 - 6. Jefry Marte 3B - Like Flores, he was an 18 year old playing in Low A. His numbers were also unimpressive, .233, 6 homeruns and only a .338 slugging. His 25 to 117 walk to K ratio was much worse than Flores and needs to show improvement if he wants to advance. With David Wright at third, a decision does not need to be made soon whether it is Marte or Flores who is the player they will keep as their future third baseman. The loser may have to move to the outfield. Marte needs to learn that he is no Vladimir Guerrero and can not hit breaking pitches that are out of the strike zone.
Forecast: Let’s face it, Marte has no future as a Mets’ third baseman, and the sooner they move him to either the outfield or first base, the sooner all of us will be able to start analyzing him at that position. Most minor league organizations don’t like to screw around with someone defensively before they get their act together offensively. Marte did neither in Savannah this year, so expect him back as a Sand Gnat, and still playing third base as a teenager.
2-1-10: - Jenry Marte – Marte rode the prospect train of Wilmer Flores last year and proved he has a long way to go before he will be ranked again in the top 10 list. Marte makes fielding a ground ball into a contact sport. Watch for him to remain in Savannah until he gets his defense down, or until the Mets wash their hands of him.
6-12-10: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2010/2610180.html - Jefry Marte, 3B, Mets. Marte struggled throughout the 2009 season, but it could be explained away by the fact that he was one of the youngest players in the South Atlantic League. Marte, 18, is still one the league's younger players, but a second trip through the league hasn't made hitting any easier. Marte is hitting .231/.313/.333 this season and is in the midst of a 3-for-21 slump this week. There are signs of hope though—Marte has upped his walk rate and cut his strikeout rate this year, he's just not yet driving the ball with much authority
Chris pitched another good on efor the Clones... 6.0-IP, 3-ER, 4-K, 1-BB. His yearly stats now stand at: 4-0, 3.72, 1.20, 29.0-IP, 20-K, 5-BB, 15.6%-K/PA, .313-BABIP, 3.26-FIP. Hilliard had a quickie appearance in Savannah but he was destined to pitch this year for Brooklyn.
Opinion: I've been high on Hilliard since the day he signed and I expect him to start next season in St. Lucie. Hopefully, I'll get another look at him in Savannah before the season ends.
Hilliard was a unanimous choice as the first team all-Region 23 starting left-handed pitcher after posting an 11-2 record with six complete games and a 4.41 earned run average for the nationally-ranked Itawamba C.C. Indians.
Hilliard was a 38th round draft pick by the Mets in 2008. He signed, and was assigned to the GCL mets, where he went 1-0, 2.87, 1.28, in ten relief appearances. This included 17 strikeouts in 15.2-IP, and only two walks.
From http://goresports.wordpress.com/ : - Itawamba Community College’s Chris Hilliard was drafted late this (Friday) afternoon by the New York Mets in the 38th round in day two of the annual Major League Baseball Draft. The former North Pontotoc High School star was a unanimous choice as the first team all-Region 23 starting left-handed pitcher after posting an 11-2 record with six complete games and a 4.41 earned run average for the nationally-ranked Indians. “I really wasn’t that surprised with the Mets picking me,” said Hilliard, whose 11 wins led the MACJC (15 schools). “They really showed me the most attention of any of the teams.” Hilliard added that he had an extended conversation with a New York Mets scout after his impressive win over Pearl River CC at the regional in Poplarville when the Ecru native went eight plus innings, struck out a season-high 13 batters, gave up just three runs, two were earned, on five hits in a 6-3 victory against the host Wildcats. ICC head coach Rick Collier knew his stellar southpaw would get the call today. “Chris is too good of a pitcher not to be picked in the draft,” said Collier, who often said this year that he had wished Hilliard would have gone straight to his program from high school instead of pitching in less than 10 innings during his freshman season at Meridian Community College. “He throws three different pitches for strikes and that’s a key to Chris’ success.”
Hilliard pitched relief for the GCL Mets in 2008, going 1-0, 2.87, 1.28 in 10 appearances.This included 17 Ks in 15.2 IP.
In 2009, he went 3-3, 2.83, for Kingsport, in 11 games, four of which he started. His strikeouts were down from his rookie year (27 in 41.1-IP) but his ERA remained under 3.00.
1-1-10 Forecast: Hilliard turns 22 in October, and there’s a good chance he will bypass Brooklyn and go straight to Savannah. St. Lucie seems to be stocked in 2010 relievers, so I don’t think he’ll jump that high. But, he did start three games this year, so we’re not sure just what his role will be in 2010.
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