Tom Brennan - Majoring on the Minors: Top 30 Prospects - Wuilmer Becerra - Vol.7

(TB is filling in for Mack today)

MAJORING ON THE MINORS: TOP 30 PROSPECTS – WUIMER BECERRA - VOL.7 – Tom Brennan

I’m doing my Top 30 Prospects articles a bit differently – in 2 lists:

·       A top 20 list of guys who are closing in on the big leagues.  Guys who could help us in the near future or be trade bait.

·       A top 10 list of lower minors guys who likely won’t show up until 2017 or later.

I started with the Top 10 List of Down-The-Road Mets Prospects.

Here’s my TOP 10 Lower Minors List So Far:

# 1 - Marcos Molina

#2 – Michael Conforto

#3 – Amed Rosario

#4 – Dominic Smith

#5 - Jhoan Urena

#6 – Vicente Lupo

So, getting down to business, today’s # 7 slot goes to:

WUILMER BECERRA

If asked the quiz question, who is Part III of the Trade That Keeps on Giving (Cy Young award winner R A Dickey for Syndergaard, d'Arnaud and....) the answer is Wuilmer Becerra.

Piece #3 was signed by the Jays internationally for well over $1 million at the age of 17.  Wuilmer's first short season ended abruptly when hit in the face by a pitch.  At 18, he put up so-so #s and continued to do so for 17 games in 2014. 

Then came game # 18. Becerra went on a machine-like tear for his last 41 games, going 50 for 152 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, and 6 HRs.  So THAT’S why he was the 3^rd piece in that deal! 

Becerra is a 6'4”, 190 righty hitter who IMO ought to skip short season Brooklyn and head straight on to Savannah.  I hope that is the plan. 2015 spent in a full season league at age 20 would go a long way towards seeing how good WB may really become and how fast that might happen.  

Hopefully, fellow 2014 Kingsport teammate Vicente Lupo will join Wuilmer in that race to the top and both will move into my Top 20 list of guys closer to major league careers a year from now.

As the pitching gets tougher, it will be interesting to see if Becerra falters or flourishes.  His strikeout #s were a tad high in 2014 (55 in 228 plate appearances) and represent a caution light going forward.

Let me add that he likes his lefties, with a .609 slug % in 46 at bats vs. southpaws in 2014.

Seven prospects down, 3 to go.  #8 in my next update.  Keep Reading.