Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 41-45:

#41 – OF Juan Lagares – This is one of the great positive stories of the 2011 season. Lagares almost played himself off the map after the 2009 season, but what do you expect from a teeneage who originally came up as an infielder. Right now, he’s the top hitting outfielder in the system. He has a combined A+/AA BA of .354/.391/.508/.899, with 9-HR and 67-RBI. The Mets have already announced that he is playing winter ball in Arizona which is probably a combination of more experience plus an opportunity to showcase. Where is he going? Well, I have him in Buffalo in 2011 with F-Mart, Captain Kirk, and Mike Baxter (though Baxter may be in Queens). This is a real good problems. ETA: part of a pre-2012 trade.

#42 – 3B Zach Lutz – Yes, Lutz has been on the DL alot the past two seasons, but none of the injures were genetic or career threatening (broken wrist, broken finger, hit by ball). When he does play, he hits. He currently is hitting over .300 again (.302) and has 11-HR, 31-RBI in 212-AB. Like his predecessor, Shawn Bowman, he only plays third base which doesn’t give a Mets prospect that much to look forward to each spring. He’ll be back at AAA next year as an insurance policy and you’ll probably see him in Queens next month for a peek. ETA – 2013 MLB team

#43 – SP Logan Verrett – Verrett was a 2011 draft pick that didn’t get any play this season. He’s a three-pitch guy with a fastball that hits 95. His slider has been inconsistent and he does need some control work. His junior year stat line at Baylor was: 17-G, 15-St, 7-6, 2.93, 101.1-IP, 96-K, 31-BB. Like Greg Peavey and Erik Goeddel this season, the Mets will send many of their college draft pitches to Savannah next spring. One, IMO, will be Logan. ETA: - 2016 Pen

#44 – P Christian Montgomery – Montgomery was consistently placed in the first round of all the early mock drafts last June through August. Andy Seiler had him as the 27th overall pick. Sully Draft had him 33rd. The scouting reports had him in the 94-95 range coming out of his junior year in high school. He led the USA 18U team to victory and more mocks posted him: MLBProspects: 28th… Pat Hickey: 38th. Then, something happened. He lost his velo and was eventually shut down. The Mets found him still around in the 11th round, did their due diligence, and signed him on the last day for a $250,000 bonus. Could be either the dark horse of the draft or the second coming of Nathan Vineyard.. I have him doing baby steps next spring in Kingsport. ETA: TBD




photo by Allan Greene

 #45 – RP T.J. Chism – TJ has been taking baby steps since coming out of LaSalle University in 2009. He explained to me last season that a chance in delivery turned things around that are still going well this season in Brooklyn: 3-0, 1.27, 25-G, 4-SV. We joked then about him being #109 on the Keepers list and his desire to crack the top 100. He doesn’t have to worry about that anymore. Chism will start the season as a 23-yr. old, so there’s no reason to come to Savannah. I have him playing Lucy come the spring of 2011 – ETA: 2015 pen.


Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (11) –SP Chris Schwinden, Collin McHugh, RP Robert Carson, IF Alan Dykstra, Reese Havens, Jordany Valdespin, Zach Lutz, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Mike Baxter, Juan Lagarus


Binghamton: (9) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski, RP Josh Edgin, Brad Holt, 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: (5) – SP Akeel Morris, Alex Panteliodis, Erik Goeddel, Logan Verrett, RP T.J. Chism,


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


Kingsport: (3) – SP Luis Mateo, Christian Montgomery, OF Vincente Lupo