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."
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.
5-15-11: - There’s a 22-year old outfielder in St. Lucie hitting .302/.340/.479/.819. He has four home runs, knocked in 19 runs in 27 games, has struck out only ten times and has stolen three bases. The only problem is we gave up on this guy three years ago, plus he’s been around for what seems like ten. It’s Juan Legares, the once top infield prospect that broke his Mets cherry in 2006, when he was 16. I had the pleasure (?) of watching him for three years in Savannah and, honestly, I forgot he was still around. Well, this is what happens when you sign 16-year olds. Some of them grow up and become baseball players.
6-17-11: - We need to take another look at Juan Legarus. It’s easy to forget about him because he’s been around so long, but he is still only 22 years old. Right now, he is the the most solid outfielder in the system. He’s playhing for St. Lucie, hitting .339/.379/.495/.873 in 192-AB.This comes off a 2010 where he hit .300 for Savannah. Yes, he doesn’t ealk that much (12), but he also doesn’t strike out much either (29). Defensively, he only has two errors all season. And there’s not much more he can do at this level. Lagarus isn’t know for his pop, but he does have five home runs this season and definitely deserves a promotion to Binghamton as much as Matt den Dekker. He will; however, start slow there, which is his motis.
7-11-11: - Top 10 Minor League Performances in 2011 - 3. Juan Lagares – OF – A+/St. Lucie: .343/.382/.496/.878, 6-HR, 43-RBI, 268-RBI – I give Lagares the top ranking for hitters because no one expected to ever see stats out him like this in 2011. No one likes his BB/AB ratio, which is about his only weakness right now in his game.
7-25-11: - Lagarus made it known last night that his recent promotion to AA-ball should have happened earlier. Juan went 5-5, with two doubles, a triple, three runs scored and one run batted in, raising his AA-BA to .667. Remember, he’s still only 22-years old and could be someone we will be talking a lot about next season.
7-26-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/26/2287253/mets-mid-term-farm-system-review-2011-binghamton#storyjump - OF Juan Lagares - STOCK UP - Lagares has seemingly come all the way back from one of the worst botched prospect mishandlings of the Minaya era. It's a testament to his talent that he's lived up to his initial billing as an IFA Robin to FMart's Batman back in the summer of '05. Lagares was only recently called up to Binghamton but in his time with St. Lucie he was tremendous, posting a .339/.389/.495 triple slash. He's added a lot of muscle to his athletic frame which has meant far more in-game power yet he's still showed good speed, even filling in at CF when needed. The reason why he toiled away at Hi-A for so long is the plate discipline, or lack thereof. Yes, the .339 average is nice now but do not forget, Lastings Milledge once batted .337 with Binghamton leading many to minimize his poor on-base skills, yet I'd say they caught up with him quickly and thoroughly. However, like Valdespin, Lagares has made strides in the BB% department this season which is a good sign going forward. Despite more room for improvement his excellent tools and emerging production are forcing his name into the discussion as a top tier prospect in this system.
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