Morning Report – October 17 – Michael Conforto, Ruben Tejada, Top 10 2014 Drafted Outfielders, Miles Mikolas, Julian Hilario, Lucas Duda

The Bleacher Report predicted the ‘Top 10 Future Left Fielders in Baseball’…

#4 – Michael Conforto (Courtney Hawkins was ranked #6) - Michael Conforto is on the fast track to Queens. The left fielder, who the New York Mets selected with the No. 10 pick in June, took apart the New York-Penn League over the summer. In 42 games, Conforto clubbed 10 doubles and three home runs, while hitting .331. When He'll Arrive in the Big Leagues: Conforto is on track to begin the 2015 season in Low-A. However, the way he's hit so far, the left-handed batter will end the year in High-A or possibly even Double-A. Ccnoforto could join the Mets by the end of the 2016 season.

Mack – I have no problem with this prediction or ETA. It sets up a year before the end of Curtis Granderson’s contract, but having the two of them, Brandon Nimmo, and Juan Lagares all available is a good thing.

Oh… one more thing… the same article had another Dodger outfielder ranked 7^th… Scott Schebler… who slash lined at AA in 2014: .280 average, .365 OBP, .556 SLG, .921 OPS, 23 2B, 14 3B, 28 HR, 73 RBI, 10 SB, 45 BB, 110 K

Someone has to be moved here.

Ruben Tejada, shortstop  -  The Mets can’t get themselves a real shortstop fast enough. But they’ll have to spend some money this offseason to do it. Tejada once and for all proved he’s not the future at the position by hitting just .237 and showing no power. His ability to take walks was greatly outweighed by just 16 extra-base hits in 355 at-bats. Wilmer Flores gave you 20 extra-base hits in 100 fewer at-bats. It’s time to move on.  Grade: D  http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/mlb/2014/09/30/mets-2014-report-card/

Mack – It is time to move on. Now we just have to figure out how far to move. All the great shortstops that will be available in the off-season will go to all the big spenders. The best plan right now is to continue the internal maturation of Wilmer Flores. Then, pick a utility backup between Ruben Tejada, Wilfredo Tovar, or Matt Reynolds. Tejada has the experience but will cost the most. At this point, I don’t have a call here. I normally go with experience which means I’d pay the arbitration money to Tejada and take him to Queens with me, but I could change my mind by opening day.

Top 10 2014 Drafted Outfielders –

1.     1^st Rd/6^th overall – Alex Jackson – rookie – 84-AB, .274, 808-OPS

2.     1^st Rd/10^th overall – Michael Conforto – low-A – 163-AB, .331, 855-OPS

3.     1^st Rd/21^st overall – Brad Zimmer – low-A – 168-AB, .304, 867

4.     1^st Rd/23^rd overall – Derek Hill – low-A – 74-AB, .203, 487

5.     1^st Rd/32^nd overall – Braxton Davidson – rookie – 110-AB, .245, 730

6.     1^st Rd/37^th overall – Derek Fisher – low-A – 152-AB, .303, 786

7.     1^st Rd/38^th overall – Mike Papi – A – 135-AB, .178, 583

8.     1^st Rd/39^th overall – Connor Joe – never signed

9.     2^nd Rd/50^th overall – Monte Harrison – rookie – 180-AB, .261, 742

10.            2^nd Rd/51^st overall – Michael Gettys – rookie – 213-AB, .310, 795

(remember… my pick of the first round was:

            13. 2^nd Rd/69^th overall – Marcus Wilson – rookie – 131-AB, .206, 572)

Miles Mikolas - If there seems very little to compel you in Mikolas’ peripherals, remember that McHugh once had terrible numbers in the easier league. So, yeah, Mikolas doesn’t have a good swinging strike rate (7.5% career), nor does he have a great ground-ball rate (44%). He has shown the upside for great command in the minors, and he did improve his command this year. And now this, his curveball is interesting. An 8.8% whiff rate on the pitch may improve with better sequencing. His slider has a 17% whiff rate so far but he only threw it 100-plus times. And with a four-seamer that gets 7.3% whiffs and a sinker that only gets 41.5% ground balls, he’s actually primed for the same conversion that McHugh underwent. Drop the sinker! Throw the slider more! Never mind the homers. http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/finding-the-next-collin-mchugh-with-spin-rates/

Julian Hilario has never pitched above Class-A and he had an ERA of 5.79 this year, so he figures to take his lumps in the AFL. However, he throws hard and has some feel for his secondary pitches, so the Mets are hoping to challenge him and accelerate his development a bit in the hopes of turning him into a viable bullpen option down the line. - http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/10/07/arizona-fall-league-preview-for-new-york-mets-prospects/#slide_3

     Mack - as of Thursday morning, Hilario has made three Arizona Winter appearances, pitching six scoreless innings (0.00, 0.83). I guess we can't ask for better than that. 

Lucas Duda. When the Mets named Duda the starter at first base in early April, then traded away Ike Davis later that month, they opened themselves up potential criticism. Instead, Duda emerged into one of the top power hitters in the National League, giving the Mets lineup the third best home run hitter in the league this season. There is still greater upside for Duda heading into the offseason but he has already shown that even if he stays at this level, the Mets have a legitimate middle of the order hitter. http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2014/10/mets_7_best_things_about_their_2014_season.html

     Mack - Just some more positive Duda-news.