A Top 10

Not the top 10 prospects on the team necessarily but the top 10 guys that excite me in terms of a potential 2012 debut. Names like Wheeler, Vaughn, Flores and Nimmo will not be appearing on this list because I just can't see any world in which they sniff the majors before 2013. Nobody I list is guaranteed a spot on the 2012 roster, a call-up or anything else. I DO believe that they all have shots at this point to come to Queens at some point in 2012 and make an impact.

1) Reese Havens, 2B B-Mets: Talk about Murphy and Turner if you will. I really love the guys as people but in terms of raw talent, Havens is in another class. He's a more natural fielder at second and he has more power than turner. Seeing him bat was something in itself. The guy has confidence at the plate that is really pretty awesome.


2) Matt Harvey, SP B-Mets: Clearly he's the #1 prospect on the team at this point but he's got almost NO shot of even competing for a roster spot in Queens until mid-way (later probably) in 2012. The fact that I'm talking about a guy who is only in his first year with the farm joining the MLB club next season should sorta speak for itself.


3) Jenrry Mejia, SP* Bisons: He's hurt and not just "a little bit." Mejia will need to come back, rehab and prove once again he can be the dominant pitcher (in the minors) we've seen him be. Because of his previous MLB experience I'd imagine the Mets would be more willing to try him out in the MLB before guys like Harvey or Familia.


4) Matt Den Dekker, CF B-Mets: Den Dekker is... well he's unique. He's a great outfield glove with some speed (that's common enough) who hits for... power. His extra base hits just seem to keep coming and that makes me wonder where to put his ceiling. Right now I've notched him ahead of another guy I think pretty highly of.



5) Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF* Bisons: If not for an injury, Captain Kirk would be in Queens now. Because of the injury I've had to put his 2012 in doubt (hence Den Dekker being ahead of him). My concern isn't if Nieuwenhuis will hit. My concern is if he can hit well enough to be a corner OF. OR... if he has the glove to be a full-time MLB CF.


6) Jordany Valdespin, SS Bisons: Jordany would excite me FAR more if he wasn't basically the Jose Reyes emergency plan. I'd also be more excited if he'd take walks and become a better base-runner. He's very good. He's got a hard level swing, he's fast and his range in the field is really good. I just can't get SUPER excited about a guy whose MLB 2012 means a departure for Jose.


7) Joshua Satin, 2B Bisons: Josh should earn a bench role for the 2012 team without tons of effort. His biggest roadblock is Justin Turner being a VERY similar player. I can deal with having two Justin Turner's on the bench. Satin's prospects of winning the STARTING 2B job are almost nil and I think most people would agree his glove isn't up to it.


8) Juan Lagares, LF B-Mets: Lagares could be a candidate within the RF race next spring. I put him this low only because I think the Mets won't let him win unless he blows Duda and others away. Frankly... he might. Frankly... the Mets might field a platoon 2B and a platoon RF given their options with Turner/Murphy and Duda/Lagares (Evans).


9) Fernando Martinez, RF* Bisons: The MIP (Most Injurable Player) that has teased Met fans for so long we lose sight of the fact he's still as old as a just drafted college player. If he could stay healthy... what could Fernando be? Who knows, we've yet to see it. I just don't think we can discount his true chance to WIN the job this Spring.


10) Chris Schwinden, SP Bisons: Can the Mets strike bronze twice? What I mean is, we already got more than expected out of Dillon Gee, could we do the same with Schwinden? Yeah, sure... that's the way odds work. He makes the list in place of Cohoon who FRANKLY needs another year in AAA. Schwinden would be no more than a 6th man... but that's all Gee was supposed to be.