Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 31-35

#31 – 1B/2B Josh Satin - I guess I should have Josh higher on this list, but the reason I don’t is my belief that Satin has reached the peak of his projectibility (I know that’s not a word, but I like it). Does a future big-league utility player warrant an “A” prospect rating. I have him going to Queens in the spring, as one of the 4-5 utility players. His hitting is similar to Daniel Murphy, but a better field player. Josh and I used to laugh when he was in Savannah when people would write that he sucked in the field. He simply doesn’t. He’s not a Golden Glove candidate at second, but, in my world, Jose Reyes gets signed and Ruben Tejada becomes the second baseman. I want Satin and Murphy’s bat coming off the bench. ETA – Mets utility opening day 2012

#32 – SP Taylor Whitenton – Whitenton has been a breath of fresh air since he was drafted out of Darwin Colege. He’s another of those finesse guys, hitting around 91. As we said before, we see a lot of pitchers that dominate A-ball and only time will tell if they survive past Binghamton. That being said, he’s currently ranked second in the Sally Leagee with a 2.70-ERA. He’ll pitch St. Lucie in 2011 and unless he comes up with a pitch with five more miles per hour than he throws, he’s project out as a bullpen possible. - ETA – 2015 Bullpen

#33 – P Angel Cuan – Angel and I sat in the Sand Gnats dugout before one of the games and I don’t think either one of us thought he would even start, no less have the great year he’s having. Cuan was piggybacked in the first month but had to step up due to injuries on the team. He did. He will join three of his former and current teammates in the 2012 St. Lucie rotation; however, I believe he is a strong candidate for the Mets bullpen in the near future. Batters tell me he’s very hard to hit. - ETA – 2015 Bullpen

#34 – P Colin McHugh – Colin is another of those mid-range starters that seem to dominate at the lower levels. He has successfully pitched at the AA level (6-2, 3.33, 1.26, 81-K, 29-BB, 78.1-IP) which most so-called pitching prospects never do. This will earn him a rotation spot in Buffalo and, depending upon what the Mets do with Chris Schwinden, sets him up as an emergency starter for Queens in 2012. Sadly for him, he will quickly be passed by the “Generation 2K” kids and his only chance will be either in the pen or as a multi-year AAAA starter in Buffalo. - ETA: - AAAA SP 2012-2015

#35 – RP Jack Leathersich – Jack’s been pitching baby steps every five steps since signing and is completely dominating early in the pen. This is another of the new guys that could project as either a starter or reliever, but one must respect the fact that “Generation 2K” will get first shot at the 2013-2014 Mets rotations. That means the best of the rest of the talent should be directed to the pen. I expect “Leather” to move fast. ETA: 2014 Bullpen


Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (5) –SP Chris Schwinden, Collin McHugh, IF Reese Havens, Jordany Valdespin, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis


Binghamton: (8) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski, RP Josh Edgin, IF Jefry Marte, OF Matt den Dekker, Cesar Puello


St. Lucie: (10) – SP Greg Peavey, Taylor Whitenton, Angel Cuan, RP Cory Mazzoni, Jack Leathersich, Chase Huchingson, IF Wilmer Flores, Aderlin Rodriguez, OF Cory Vaughn, Gilbert Gomez


Savannah: (3) – SP Akeel Morris, Alex Panteliodis, Erik Goeddel,


Brooklyn: (4) – SP: Michael Fulmer, Juan Urbina, IF Phillip Evans, OF: Brandon Nimmo


Kingsport: (2) – SP Luis Mateo, OF Vincente Lupo