Mack on Mets Cuts

SP Tobi Stoner, RP Roy Merritt, P Eric Niesen, P Nick Carr, SP Chris Hilliard, P Ronny Moria, P Steve Winnick, Lucas Stewart, Chase Green 

I see no big surprises here. 

None of them ranked in my top 50 “Keepers”. 

Merritt and Carr showed the most promise. Merritt was the darling of the ST camp three years ago, but he just couldn’t master his talent. Carr threw heat but was injured most of his minor league career and there are just too many healthy pitchers in camp that are putting out better results. Hilliard seems to be the one that was screwed the most here. 

 I only had two of them in my current “Keepers” and here’s what was there: 

69. RP Nick Carr 

Carr was drafted #41 in the 2005 MLB draft by the Mets. He came straight out of Twin Falls High School, where he posted a 17-4 record over his junior and senior year. Carr decided not to sign, and instead attended the College of Southern Idaho, where he went 5-3, 2.18 ERA, last year. 

 The Mets signed him as a draft-and-follow on May 24, 2006. Terms of his deal were not disclosed. 

Currently Carr is all speed, with a fastball that tops out at 95. OnDeck updated their ratings for the Appalachian League at the end of the 2006 season and ranked Carr the 10th best starter in the league (181.34 rating) and the 14th top league prospect overall (1st on the team). His stats were… well… ok: 12 Games, 11 starts, 3-3, 4.88, 1.50. 

 He did have 44Ks in 48 IP but gave up 23 BB as well. Carr started and ended the season with St. Lucie, but spent the middle with Savannah. 

His combined record for the year was: 3-12, 5.22. 

4-24-11: - Carr has been reborn as a reliever for St. Lucie in 2011 and, so far, so good: 2-0, 1.04, 6-G, 8.2-IP, 12-K, 1-BB.

 8-13-11: - Stock Up – RP Nick Carr – Carr has come off the disabled list for the umpteenth time and pitched the first inning for the GCL Mets on Saturday. Stat line: 1.0-IP, 0-R, 1-H, 1-K. I assume he will eventually be assigned to St. Lucie, even though he should easily be pitching AA-ball right now. Another high ceiling prospect that went down multiple times with injuries. 

97. SP Chris Hilliard 

Hilliard was a unanimous choice as the first team all-Region 23 starting left-handed pitcher after posting an 11-2 record with six complete games and a 4.41 earned run average for the nationally-ranked Itawamba C.C. Indians. 

 Hilliard was a 38th round draft pick by the Mets in 2008. He signed, and was assigned to the GCL Mets, where he went 1-0, 2.87, 1.28, in ten relief appearances. This included 17 strikeouts in 15.2-IP, and only two walks. 

 Hilliard pitched relief for the GCL Mets in 2008, going 1-0, 2.87, 1.28 in 10 appearances.This included 17 Ks in 15.2 IP. 

In 2009, he went 3-3, 2.83, for Kingsport, in 11 games, four of which he started. His strikeouts were down from his rookie year (27 in 41.1-IP) but his ERA remained under 3.00. 

1-1-10 Forecast: Hilliard turns 22 in October, and there’s a good chance he will bypass Brooklyn and go straight to Savannah. St. Lucie seems to be stocked in 2010 relievers, so I don’t think he’ll jump that high. But, he did start three games this year, so we’re not sure just what his role will be in 2010. 

7-12-10: - Chris pitched another good one for the Clones... 6.0-IP, 3-ER, 4-K, 1-BB. His yearly stats now stand at: 4-0, 3.72, 1.20, 29.0-IP, 20-K, 5-BB, 15.6%-K/PA, .313-BABIP, 3.26-FIP. Hilliard had a quickie appearance in Savannah but he was destined to pitch this year for Brooklyn. Opinion: I've been high on Hilliard since the day he signed and I expect him to start next season in St. Lucie. Hopefully, I'll get another look at him in Savannah before the season ends. 

9-23-11: - #87 – P Chris Hilliard – Chris is getting passed over. He had a banner year in 2010 (9-1, 3.74) for Brooklyn, but started the season dinged up. There was no room for him in Savannah so it was back to Brooklyn (3-1, 3.48, 8-starts). Now, there are just more draft picks ahead of him. Remember, there are only 20 slots in the four rotations for full season teams. I have him coming to camp as part of a Sand Gnat piggyback, but he’s destined for the pen. – ETA: TBD