The Morning Report – December 16 – Curacao, Cesar Puello, John Sickels

These are the kind of stories I love passing on… poor kids playing on fields covered with rocks… and yet they go on to become major league baseball players[i]

Curaçao did not produce a major leaguer until 1989, but in 2014 alone there were seven, and that does not include Wladimir Balentien, who in 2013 set the single-season home run record in Japan, with 60.

In addition to Didi Gregorius, Andrelton Simmons, Jonathan Schoop and Jurickson Profar (who missed the season because of a shoulder injury), Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, pitcher Jair Jurrjens (who played for the Rockies) and outfielder Roger Bernadina (who split time with the Reds and the Dodgers) are from little Curaçao. The seven gave the nation the most major leaguers per capita in the world last season. –

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[i] http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/15/sports/curacao-becomes-unlikely-supplier-of-major-league-players.html?smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0

I never have been able to figure out the plus and minus of playing winter ball. I mean, it is baseball and you are on teams that have around 1000 players on their roster so it’s like you’re being called upon every day to over-produce. 

The Mets currently have two players on their 40-man roster that are playing in Latin America. Wilmer Flores has pretty much been granted the opening day shortstop position and he seems to be proving that decision a wise one, what with a winter stat line of .345/.390/.509/899, in 55-Abs.

The other is Cesar Puello, who seemed to have been relegated to cleaning the mud out of the spikes of other players when the league started this season. As of Monday, his stat line read .355/.375/.516/.891 in 31-Abs.

We can safely assume that the signing of Jon Mayberry was a wake-up call to Puello, who is out of options and would have to be designated if the Mets removed him from the 40-man roster.

I’m rooting hard for what looks like his last shot with the team.         

          

John Sickels[i] 39 preliminary New York Mets prospects –

          Dario Alvarez. LHP

Wuilmer Becerra OF

Gavin Cecchini SS

Michael Conforto OF

Victor Cruzado OF

Miller Diaz RHP

Michael Fulmer RHP

Eudor Garcia 3B

Sean Gilmartin LHP Grade C

Robert Gsellman RHP

Dilson Herrera 2B

Jack Leathersich LHP

Vicente Lupo OF

Steven Matz LHP

L.J. Mazzili 2B

Cory Mazzoni RHP

Jeff McNeil 3B

Casey Meisner RHP

Marcos Molina RHP

Rafael Montero RHP

Akeel Morris RHP

Brandon Nimmo OF

Kevin Plawecki C

Josh Prevost RHP

Cesar Puello OF

Milton Ramos SS

Matthew Reynolds SS

Hansel Robles RHP

Amed Rosario SS

David Roseboom LHP

Ali Sanchez C

Dominic Smith 1B

Champ Stuart OF

Noah Syndergaard RHP

Blake Taylor LHP

Johan Urena 3B

Logan Verrett RHP Rule 5, analyze then transfer to Orioles system

Robert Whalen RHP

Brad Wieck LHP

Gabriel Ynoa RHP… -

First, a name I have never seen before on a prospect list… RHP Josh Prevost. He’s a 6-8, 4-year RHRP out of Seton Hall that was drafted in the 5^th round of the 2014 draft. Had 11 appearances for Brooklyn last season (1.83, 1.17) with an underwhelming 14-K in 20-IP.

I did find a few names I thought were missing…

SP Matt Bowman deserved to be on this list as much as many of the other ‘secondary SP prospects like Miller Diaz. He’s got a lifetime 3.07 minor league ERA but, even more impressive, is his 3.47 last year in the hitting-crazy PCL. 

          RP – Paul Seward - Sewald is a 4-year graduate of Univ. of San Diego that is buzzing through the Mets organization (3-yrs: 94-appearances, 1.85, 1.01) at the age of 24. He finished the year at the AA-level and could be ready for a trip to Queens by next September.   

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[i] http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/12/13/7388097/new-york-mets-preliminary-prospect-list