#30 OF Wuilmer Becerra (LR: #27)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 4" Weight: 190 lb
Acquired: Trade from Toronto w/Noah Syndergaard and Travis d'Arnaud for R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole, and Mike Nickeas
2013: (R) .243/.351/.295, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 5 SB (45%), 20 BB, 60 K
2012: (R) .250/.359/.375, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB (0%), 4 BB, 7 K
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 4" Weight: 190 lb
Acquired: Trade from Toronto w/Noah Syndergaard and Travis d'Arnaud for R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole, and Mike Nickeas
2013: (R) .243/.351/.295, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 5 SB (45%), 20 BB, 60 K
2012: (R) .250/.359/.375, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB (0%), 4 BB, 7 K
Last year was our first true look at the wild card pick up in the R.A. Dickey trade. While the stat line isn't sexy, its not bad for 18 yr old with only 11 games of previous experience. As with most 18 yr old international prospects his K rate was very high 29.1%, but on the plus side, his BB rate was a decent 9.7%. Despite not showing much power last year, Becerra's height, quick wrists, and upright stance suggests that he could develop into a nice speed/power combo OF in the future.Defensively, Becerra used to be a SS but was immediately moved to the OF because his arm strength was considered below average, however, he racked up 8 OF assists last season in 52 games played which is nice plus. There is hope that he could develop at least a league average RF arm but if not his bat will have to carry him if he makes the transition to LF.
Anticipated Assignment: (SS-A) Brooklyn Cyclones starting RF
Ceiling: Solidly above average LF.
Floor: Complete bust.
#29 1B/3B Aderlin Rodriguez (LR: #18)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 210 lbBats: R Throws: R
Acquired: 2008 international signing, Dominican Republic
2013: (A+) .260/.295/.427, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 1 SB (50%), 11 BB, 43 K
2012: (A/A+) .263/.321/.476, 24 HR, 83 RBI, 2 SB (100%), 37 BB, 101 K
2011: (A) .221/.265/.372, 17 HR, 78 RBI, 2 SB (66%), 29 BB, 109 K
2010: (R/A) .300/.350/.532, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 3 SB (75%), 21 BB, 53 K
2009: (R) .290/.389/.387, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB (50%), 9 BB, 15 K
Despite the poor season the same premium tool remains. Elite power abilities that could potentially produce 30+ HR seasons in the MLB. If he can figure out how to play 1B effectively and somehow some way maintain his OBP near .330 he'll get to the major leagues. However time is beginning to run for Ad-Rod, especially with Jayce Boyd and Dominic Smith quickly coming up on his heels
Anticipated Assignment: (AA) Binghamton starting 1B.
Ceiling: Low Avg, High power hitting 1B/DH (Adam Dunn)
Floor: Career Minor Leaguer
#28 RHSP Matthew Bowman ('13 Rank: #28)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 0" Weight: 165 lb
Acquired: 2012 draft, 13th round, Princeton University
2013: (A/A+) 10-4, 3.05 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 1.150 WHIP
2012: (SS-A) 2-2, 2.45 ERA, 9.2 K/9, 0.6 BB/9, 0.955 WHIP
The team's newest Ivy League member built upon his successful 2012 with a solid performance last year at the significantly harder Florida State League. His unique delivery, which is very comparable to Tim Lincecum's, allows him to mix in some deception with his generally average stuff. His low 90's fastball can be cranked up to as high as 95 which mixes well with his hard slider, a curveball, and change-up. Thanks to the teachings of Frank Viola and Ron Romanick, he's also added a split finger fastball to his arsenal this season making him one of the few prospects in the system with a 5 pitch repertoire.
What makes Bowman such an intriguing prospect is the fact that while he does have a deep arsenal, unlike normal pitching prospect, he actually uses all of his pitches. In fact when Bowman was in Brooklyn he recalled the Cyclones coaches "nearly bit my head off every time I threw a first pitch curveball." Because of the fact that he got a significant amount of innings in Port St. Lucie, I would not be surprised to see the team give him the tougher assignment to AA this season.
Anticipated Assignment: (AA) Binghamton starting rotation.
Ceiling: Back End Rotation Starter
Floor: Career Minor Leaguer
The team's newest Ivy League member built upon his successful 2012 with a solid performance last year at the significantly harder Florida State League. His unique delivery, which is very comparable to Tim Lincecum's, allows him to mix in some deception with his generally average stuff. His low 90's fastball can be cranked up to as high as 95 which mixes well with his hard slider, a curveball, and change-up. Thanks to the teachings of Frank Viola and Ron Romanick, he's also added a split finger fastball to his arsenal this season making him one of the few prospects in the system with a 5 pitch repertoire.What makes Bowman such an intriguing prospect is the fact that while he does have a deep arsenal, unlike normal pitching prospect, he actually uses all of his pitches. In fact when Bowman was in Brooklyn he recalled the Cyclones coaches "nearly bit my head off every time I threw a first pitch curveball." Because of the fact that he got a significant amount of innings in Port St. Lucie, I would not be surprised to see the team give him the tougher assignment to AA this season.
Anticipated Assignment: (AA) Binghamton starting rotation.
Ceiling: Back End Rotation Starter
Floor: Career Minor Leaguer
#27 2B Daniel Muno ('13 Rank: #29)
Height: 5' 11" Weight: 175 lb
Acquired: 2011 draft, 8th round, California State University- Fresno
2013: (AA) .249/.384/.379, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 15 SB (58%), 92 BB, 97 K
2012: (A+) .280/.387/.412, 6 HR, 39 RBI, 19 SB (86%), 50 BB, 53 K
2011: (SS-A) .355/.466/.514, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 9 SB (29%), 43 BB, 39 K
Muno continues to hang around just outside the Top 25 for the 3rd consecutive year. The 24 year old continues to showcase the advanced tool of patience and pitch recognition. Even at the significantly tougher AA level he was able to maintain his premium 1:1 K to BB ratio. In addition he showed that he is more than comfortable at 2B after being moved off SS last year. In 2014 he committed only 10 errors in 115 games as compared to his 8 last year in only 55 games.
While his batting average does not look very its worth noting that it was dragged down by an awful May when he hit only .179 for the month. He followed that month up with .291 and .329 averages in June and July. In addition, despite being a switch his L/R splits are significant as well. When facing lefties he slugged only .261 which is paltry especially when comparing it to his .417 SLG against righties. However his OBP is identical against both (.377 vs .386). For his career he is a significantly better left handed batter which could possible net him at least a platoon job in the future.
Anticipated Assignment: (AAA) Las Vegas starting 2B.
Ceiling: 2B Platoon Starter
Floor: Solid Bench Player, valuable late inning pinch hitter
2011: (SS-A) .355/.466/.514, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 9 SB (29%), 43 BB, 39 K
Muno continues to hang around just outside the Top 25 for the 3rd consecutive year. The 24 year old continues to showcase the advanced tool of patience and pitch recognition. Even at the significantly tougher AA level he was able to maintain his premium 1:1 K to BB ratio. In addition he showed that he is more than comfortable at 2B after being moved off SS last year. In 2014 he committed only 10 errors in 115 games as compared to his 8 last year in only 55 games.While his batting average does not look very its worth noting that it was dragged down by an awful May when he hit only .179 for the month. He followed that month up with .291 and .329 averages in June and July. In addition, despite being a switch his L/R splits are significant as well. When facing lefties he slugged only .261 which is paltry especially when comparing it to his .417 SLG against righties. However his OBP is identical against both (.377 vs .386). For his career he is a significantly better left handed batter which could possible net him at least a platoon job in the future.
Anticipated Assignment: (AAA) Las Vegas starting 2B.
Ceiling: 2B Platoon Starter
Floor: Solid Bench Player, valuable late inning pinch hitter
#26 RHSP Cory Mazzoni ('13 Rank: #23)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 1" Weight: 190 lb
Acquired: 2011 draft, 2nd round, North Carolina State University
2013: (AA) 5-3, 4.36 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 1.348 WHIP
2012: (A+/AA) 10-6, 3.93 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 1.316 WHIP
2011: (SS-A/A+) 2-1, 1.38 ERA, 12.5 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 1.154 WHIP
Mazzoni falls out of the Top 25 for the first time this pre-season due to two primary reasons. A) He couldn't stay healthy this season. The "Maz" only made 13 starts this season for Binghamton due to an elbow injury in the beginning of the year and then a hamstring injury in mid July. B) There have been significant talk this off-season to move him to the bullpen full time. If such a move is made this reduces his ceiling from a #4 starter to a late inning reliever and his floor from middle reliever to AAAA pitcher.
That said, Mazzoni does have the makings of an solid late inning reliever. His mid 90's fastball has good movement and he controls it well and his slider should grade out to be at least league average quality. Although his ERA was high last year it was primarily driven by a high BABIP against him of .361. His K rate returning back to above 10 while keeping his BB rate near 2.5 bodes well for future success at the next level. He'll get a legitimate to be a part of the Mets bullpen in 2014 but my bet is that he'll start in the minors and be one of the first call-ups in case of injuries.
Anticipated Assignment: (AAA) Las Vegas late inning reliever.
Ceiling: Late inning reliever
Floor: Taxi squad AAAA pitcher
Height: 6' 1" Weight: 190 lb
Acquired: 2011 draft, 2nd round, North Carolina State University
2013: (AA) 5-3, 4.36 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 1.348 WHIP
2012: (A+/AA) 10-6, 3.93 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 1.316 WHIP2011: (SS-A/A+) 2-1, 1.38 ERA, 12.5 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 1.154 WHIP
Mazzoni falls out of the Top 25 for the first time this pre-season due to two primary reasons. A) He couldn't stay healthy this season. The "Maz" only made 13 starts this season for Binghamton due to an elbow injury in the beginning of the year and then a hamstring injury in mid July. B) There have been significant talk this off-season to move him to the bullpen full time. If such a move is made this reduces his ceiling from a #4 starter to a late inning reliever and his floor from middle reliever to AAAA pitcher.
That said, Mazzoni does have the makings of an solid late inning reliever. His mid 90's fastball has good movement and he controls it well and his slider should grade out to be at least league average quality. Although his ERA was high last year it was primarily driven by a high BABIP against him of .361. His K rate returning back to above 10 while keeping his BB rate near 2.5 bodes well for future success at the next level. He'll get a legitimate to be a part of the Mets bullpen in 2014 but my bet is that he'll start in the minors and be one of the first call-ups in case of injuries.
Anticipated Assignment: (AAA) Las Vegas late inning reliever.
Ceiling: Late inning reliever
Floor: Taxi squad AAAA pitcher
11 comments:
any chance Muno can play SS?
@Anonymous
Muno currently does have the ability to make spot starts at SS.
While he seems to handle the position well, and claims he his very comfortable there, I question his range at the position. The arm is also fringy there whereas as, along with his range, they are plsu tools as a 2B.
I was glad to see an article that highlighted Danny Muno's post-May surge, as most just say he hit .249 with a prettyy good on base % last year, and it should be noted that he scored a ton of runs and knocked in quite a few from June onwards as a lead off hitter.
I will be very attentive to what he does in this career-defining, just-short-of-prime-time season, to show what his ceiling really might be.
My take is Boyd has a higher ceiling than A Rod Jr, but Boyd's shoulder injury (that needed off-season surgery) hampered his 2013 - and he still hit .330 with low K's. Hopefully 100% healthy in 2014, and we'll see what he can do in AA. Maybe an Olerud Light?
@TommyB
You are correct. We currently have Jayce Boyd higher than Ad-Rod.
YOu'll just have to keep visiting everyday to see how much higher he is.
:)
Anon -
Soto gave the best answer about Muno.
I'm going to address your question in a broader sense in tomorrow's report, but, the last place a ballplayer should be trying to mater a new (or old) position, is at the major league level
Tommmy -
I got a real good look at Boyd last year.
He's a pure gap hitter who bulked up 15 pounds in hopes of developing more HR power.
i have no idea what happened with his injury though it did nt prevent him from DHing in St. Lucie.
An Olerud-type is a good comparison... he's a really good hitter
Mack,
Boyd was suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome last season.
Having suffered from this once, I can tell you that at times this can be extremely painful to the point where you cannot sleep laying down.
It basically feels like your shoulder is frozen in place and For a few weeks I had sleep sitting upright in a recliner just to remain comfortable.
Structurally, generally nothing is wrong. Its the pinched nerves that cause all the pain. Especially when you lift your arm up such as in a throwing motion.
This explains why he could still hit (horizontal motion) but was recommended not to field/throw (vertical movement)
Chris, great article. Im going to enjoy reading the complete list.
Thanks Greg.
This year was a bit tougher than last because of the additional depth that the system now has.
Chris has Bowman in the 25-30 range, but iv'e seen him as high as 13 on another list.
Kieth Law had Tapia in the 10-15 range, and Sickles cut Tapia from his preliminary list of 40.
Its nice to see such a variety of names out there for these prospect lists...it speaks well to the depth of this farm system.
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