2009 Mets Draft Analysis

2009 Mets Draft Analysis 

This had all the makings of a bad draft. First, they had no first round pick and, secondly, it was not considered a very deep draft, talent wise. The Mets would need some luck here and they seemed to gout of their way to pick high school players and college players from small schools.

Number of draft picks:  49

Number of High School picks:  15

Number of college picks:  34

Number of players unsigned:  14

Number of players that have made Queens so far:  0

Number of players still in the organization:  14

 

2 (72) P Steven Matz -  Matz continues to have problems after his TJS surgery. He came back strong last season (Kingsport, 2-1, 1.55, 6-starts), but had to be put back on the shelf due to tightness. He still has age on his side and I still think he has a good future as a Met, but probably now as a reliever. There simply isn’t any projectable room for him in the rotation.

3 (103) SS Robbie Shields  -  Shields has been disappointing and reports are that he really took a step back this past season in St. Lucie (.232). None of the usual post season cuts have been announced yet, and there is an outside chance you might see his name on that list. If not, the only slot open for him would be SS in Binghamton (over TJ Rivera). My guess is he repeats Lucy as a utility player.

4 (134) CF Darrell Ceciliani -  another talented kid hurt by one recurring injury… lifetime .288 hitter (4-seasons), who did finish strong in 2012 (.329, 85-AB) for St. Lucie. DC is being pushed to Binghamton (Brandon Nimmo, Gilbert Gomez, Cesar Puello, Travis Taijerson) whether he’s ready or not. I think he’s ready.

5 (164) P Damien Magnifico – this one hurt… he did not sign and was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012.  Had a rough start last season in the Pioneer League (0-3, 5.82, 1.66, 9-G, 1-ST, 21.2-IP, 25-K). Lots of raw talent and can hit 100 consistently.

6 P (194) P David Buchanan – never signed… was drafted by Philadelphia in 2010… finished 2012 at AA… 3-5, 3.86.

7 (224) P Darin Gorski – a good pick, maybe a great oone. 2013 will be his critical year to prove that he can pitch in a major league rotation. I’m just not sure.

8 C (254) John Freeman – never figured out this one… basically was used one year as a bullpen catcher in Kingsport before being cut. Why do you draft a catcher as high as the 8^th round and do this? I have no idea.

9 (284) C Jeff Glenn -  Was given a full shot in Kingsport in 2011… hit .255/.326/.408/.733. Hit .227 for Broolkn last year and is now out of the organization.

10 (314) RF Nick Santomauro – hit .207 over two seasons and cut after playing for Savannah in 2010… played in the CamAm league the past two years.

11( 344) 1B Sam Honeck – Honeck worked his way to Savannah and played a full season there in 2011 (.227). Hit .133 back in Savannah for 15-Abs in 2012 and was cut.

12 (374) 2B James Ewing  - Injuries cost Ewing his professional career. Had only 14-Abs for Brooklyn (.143), was cut, and resurfaced this past season playing three teams in the Reds system. Career .168 hitter.

13 (404) P Zachary Dotson – has had nothing but problems and is still currently on the Kingsport roster trying to get his act together. You may see him cut before the spring.

14 (434) CF Ronald Harris  - played for two seasons… had 251-Abs for Savannah in 2010 and hit .191… cut after the 2010 season.

15 (464) P Casey Schmidt – never signed and never played for anyone else either.

16 (494) OF Chase Greene – basic roster fill pick that was cut at the end of the 2011 season.

17 (524) OF Alex Gregory – roster fill college senior that was cut after the 2010 season.

18 (554) OF Cody Holliday – high school kid that, simply put, shouldn’t have been drafted… .203 lifetime batting average over two years and cut after the 2010 season.

19 (584) C Nelfi Zapata – still hanging on in the system, though he may get cut before the season starts… basically, a bad pick.

20 (614) OF Joey August – August was a surprise cut after the 2010 season with St. Lucie (.262/.330/.367/.697. Not the greatest year, but it didn’t seem like one worth a cut. Maybe there was more here, but I never heard it.

21 644 3B Joe Bonfe – Bonfe got off to a fantastic start for Kingsport in 2009 (.327). Things just got better in 2010 for Brooklyn (.326) and he had a credible year for Savannah in 2011 (.254).  Hit .318 in 44-at bats for Binghamton last season and (I think) was cut. Somebody help me out here.

22 674 P  Zach Von Tersch – basic roster fill that pitched very little in two seasons… cut after the 2010 season.

23 704 P John Church – an interesting pick who’s story isn’t completed yet. Church has been slowed by injuries, but the 25-yr old needs to pitch more. So far, he’s gone 15-10, 3.45, 1.35, 130-G, 14-ST. Looks to be a lock to be in the 2013 Binghamton pen.

24 734 P Michael Johnson – walked away from the game after six appearances for Brooklyn in 2009 (6.48).

 

2009 25 Josh Dunn –   roster fill pick that hit .182 over two seasons with Kingport

26 (794) OF John Semel – actually, hit very well for Kingsport in 2010 (.301) but it would be his last year in the organization.

27 (824) OF Kurt Steinhauer – turned some head in Kingsport in 2009 (.364/.457/.623/1.80),  but didn’t past the litmus test in  Brooklyn in 2010 (.141) and was cut.

28 (854) P Brian Needham – another roster fill pick that hung around with four teams over two seasons (5.70).

29 (884) OF ZeErika MCQueen – looked like a rough diamond in 2009 for the GCL Mets (.297) but steadily declined until he was released during the 2012 season.

30 (914) P Jordan Harrison – didn’t sign… was drafted in 2012 by Tampa… got his feet wet in rookie and A ball this past season (1-3, 2.09).

31 (944) OF Mitchell Haniger -  didn’t sign… went back to three years at school… was drafted by Milwaukee in 2012 in the 1^st round (38^th overall)… had 49-Abs last season in A-ball (.286).

32 (974) P T.J. Chism – this could be the find of the draft… Chism has almost been unhittable these four past seasons… total stats from Kingsport to Savannnah: 12-3, 2.07, 1.16.  Definitely part of the St. Lucie pen, maybe even Binghamton.

33 (1004) 3B James Schroeder -  roster fill pick who was cut at the end of the 2010 season.

34 (1034) C  Camden Maron -  another great late pick… local boy had an outstanding offensive season last year in Savannah (.300). Needs to work on his defense, especially throws to second, but he’s a definitely a catching prospect in the system.

35 (1064) P Wes Wrenn -  senior college roster fill who was cut after the 2010 season.

36 (1094) P Lance Hoge -  another roster fill cut after the 2010 season.

37 (1124) P Brandon Sage -  Sage started out strong at the lower levels but hit the wall in AA-Binghamton. Injuries then cost him most of the 2012 season and his time might be up.

38 (1154) OF William Cherry -  roster fill pick cut after the 2010 season.

39 (1184) P Taylor Whitenton – another primo late pick find… became a premier reliever in 2012 for St. Lucie (7-3, 2.24, 56.1-IP, 68-K, 41-appearances). Look for Whitenton to try and duplicate this at Binghamton in 2013.

40 (1214) 2B Jerome Pena -  didn’t sign… was drafted by Baltimore in 2011… finished last season at the A+ level.

41 (1244) 1B Travis Ozga -  senior roster fill pick who, frankly hung around longer than expected. Cut during the 2012 season.

42 (1274) C Ryan Gunhouse -  never signed and never heard of again.

43 (1304) OF Bobby Rinard -  never signed… played one year in Yankees organization after signing as a free agent and played Frontier ball last season (.283)

44 (1334) P James Wooster -  never signed, was drafted by the Marlins in 2010, where he played A-ball last season (.260)

45 (1364) P Jacob Johansen -  didn’t sign, went back to college, and was signed in 2012 by the Pirates.

46 (1394) P  John Pilkington – never signed and was never heard of again…

47 (1424) 2B Ryan Mollica – 5-year college roster pick that was cut after the 2010 season…played CanAm ball last season (12-HR, 65-RBI, .313).

48 (1454) P Joe Mantiply -  never signed and went to Virginia Tech… never drafted again and never heard of…

49 (1484) P Joshua Easley -  didn’t sign and went back to college… never signed with anyone again.

50 )1514) P  Zach Godley – didn’t sign and currently pitching senior year at Tennessee. 

Summary: It seemed like the Mets were going to keep drafting outfielders until they got right. They didn’t.  No one is going to come out of this draft as a star though there might be a couple of late picks (Chism, Whitenton) that make it all the way. Still, not a draft you want to remember.

Rating:  F+