3/1/12

The Keepers - #5 - 2B - Reese Havens


5.   2B      Reese Havens 

Havens was drafted in the 1st round of the 2008 draft by the Mets. He signed days later which included a $1.4mil signing bonus. 

2009 was an interesting year. On the down side, he only hit .247, but produced 14 home runs, which tied him for 6th in the league. His .422 slugging percentage ranked him 11th in the league and his .784 OPS put him in 10th place. 

Forecast:  Nothing but blue sky, now that he has changed to second base. Havens goes from the 3rd, maybe 4th SS prospect, to the #1 slot for 2B, and gives the Mets potential pop at that position. Look for some additional errors this coming season in Binghamton, but, as long as the bat produced, this will be your Mets second baseman in 2012. 

2-1-10:  - Reese Havens – most prospect pundits still have Havens as the top second base prospect in the organization, but I need to see one more season out of him before I place him higher on my list. So far, he hasn’t hit for average, though he is showing potential pop. Also, a little more defense won’t hurt either. His future as a Mets may be similar to guys like Dustin Martin. 

5-17-10: - Stock up: Havens was promoted to Binghamton after Friday night’s game for St. Lucie. The former first round draft pick is no longer kicking the ball around at short and has become a full time second baseman, in hopes of getting to Queens after Luis Castillo’s contract runs out after the 2011 season. No one is going to ever award Havens a Gold Glove, but did play A+ this season with zero errors in the field. In addition, his bat is coming around… at Lucy this year: .281/.369/.509/.878, 3-HRs in 57-AB. Look, Havens should be at AA and the rest of this season will be a good test for him. He also will fit in well with a lineup of Nieuwenhuis, Evans, and Lutz. No pitching around here. 

6-7-10: - Reese Havens hit another home run Sunday, his sixth in in Binghamton and ninth for the season. The 2011 battle for second base is starting to get very interesting, especially if Ruben Tejada plays the position well in Queens during the period he is there. I still think Tejada has a good shot at replacing Jose Reyes at short, simply because 2011 is Reyes last year, the Mets have an option to get out at 500K, and, most important, he’s one of the only players on the team that could warrant a one-for-one trade for an Oswalt-type starter. I’m not calling for a Reyes trade, but a team can’t win in this sport without a dominant starting rotation. Santana and Pelfrey aren’t enough.







6-12-10: -  Reese Havens was removed from the Binghamton game last night in the second inning for "soreness"... manager Tim Tuefel told a reporter that he's had this problem before, which makes one wonder if this is related to him oblique strain that kept him out earlier this season. Right now, he is listed day-to-day.



6-21-10: - Havens was placed on the 7-day disabled list Sunday for soreness in his left oblique. This is the same oblique that put him on the DL earlier this season, so it’s obvious that things aren’t healed yet. I have been told that this new hiccup is just that, a small set-back; however, I would hope that the Mets sit the boy down until he is fully healed this time. This, of course, may not be the Mets fault and the player could have sent the wrong signs to the trainer. It looks like Havens has a bright future with the Mets and he’s not part of any trade package, so let him heal, even if it takes the rest of the season.



8-31-10 - 2011 Forecast: - Look, whether this kid is playing or on the DL, he's the number one prospect second baseman in the organization. Injuries are injuries. Some are natural, and others happen when someone takes you out on a double play ball. Just because Strasburg is being operated on, doesn't make him the best prospect pitcher in baseball. That being said, it would be nice if Havens stopped trying to be like F-Mart.  Havens only had 125 at bats in 2010 (between St. Lucie and Binghamton), but they were impressive: .312/.386/.592/.978, 9-HR, 19-RBI. Project those numbers over a full season and you have an all-star. His latest injury is a nagging one, but shouldn't impede his growth. I do expect him to play winter ball, probably Hawaii, and there's a good chance he will compete for the Mets second base job, against Ruben Tejada, in spring training. Otherwise, expect him in Buffalo in 2011.



2-14-11: - The mystery of the disappearance of Reese Havens has finally been exposed by Adam Rubin. Seems Havens had rib surgery about eight weeks ago. Dr. James Andrews shaved some bone off of one rib that was irritating Reese’s oblique. Havens says he’ll be ready for spring training. Remember, the only thing that is preventing him from starting in Queens is his health. Trust me, if he plays big in Buffalo this year, the Daniel Murphy experiment at second base could end around September.



3-19-11: - Down: - 2B – Reese Havens - word from the camp is that Havens has not played an inning of spring training yet. This doesn’t fair well for his chances of starting the season for Buffalo. This guy just doesn’t seem to heal well.  Looks like Justin Turner, who has options left, will start for the Bisons.



3-24-11: - Down: - 2B - Reese Havens - word comes down from ST that Havens will not be assigned to Binghamton come opening day. Instead, he will remain back in extended camp still attempting to heal from last year's injuries. Not a great sign



6-4-11: - A real good sign down in Binghamton is what 2B Reese Havens has been doing since returning to the lineup this season. Last night, he went 3-5, raising his Binghamton batting average to .292. There’s never been a question regarding whether Havens can hit. He’s had a hard time staying healthy, but his injuries have not been career threatening. I’d like to see him finish the season in Buffalo so he can get on to Queens next year, but the most important thing is for him to stay in the lineup.



8-6-11: - Stock Up – I can’t seem to make up my mind about this guy. First, I hated the draft pick then I fell in love with his game. Now, once or twice a year he gets hot and I get excited, which is usually followed by some leg or back injury. He’s on a tear again. Had three hits, home run, double last night. .351 in the last 10 days. Havens turns 25 in October. It’s time.



8-21-11: - Observation -  #12 – Reese Havens – 2B – This is the closest thing the Mets have to a marriage of the good parts of Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy. He’s good enough in the field and is a professional bat. His only problem has been staying healthy due to a series of unlucky field injures that have left him with back/leg problems. He has only been cleared to play every day this week and yet he’s still hitting around .300. My hope is they let him sit through winter ball and place him on some lower body strengthening program. Then, play him at second base in Buffalo and target him for 2013. I still believe he’s the Mets best long term option at second. - ETA: Opening day, 2013

No comments: