Tom Brennan - Majoring on the Minors - Top 30 Prospects - Vol. 8 - Luis Guillorme

MAJORING ON THE MINORS: TOP 30 PROSPECTS – LUIS GUILLORME - VOL.8 – 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

#7 – Wuilmer Becerra

Drumroll, if you please.  Today’s # 8 slot goes to:

LUIS GUILLORME

Superior glove man at SS Luis Guillorme (LG) immediately throws his hat into the conversation of being a future major league prospect.  With all of the chatter about Wilmer Flores and his defensive challenges at SS, and a lot of names discussed as possible alternatives who are also considered to be less than superior defensively, it becomes clear that superior SS gloves are highly valued.  OK, glove, check.  Now to the bat of LG.

The 19 year old LG hit respectably in Kingsport in 2014, with a slash of .283/.340/.324 in 60 games.   Listed at 5'11" 170 pounds, let's assume he adds 20-25 pounds as he ages.  I could foresee a modest amount of doubles and perhaps a handful of taters a year (although he has yet to hit his first long ball after 101 minor league games). 

Dr. Brennan notes that LG got his shots and appears to be immune from the dreaded strikeout flu that strikes down many aspiring young lads, with just 45 Ks in 406 career at bats.  Very nice.

To get to the big leagues in a meaningful way, though, Luis will face real competition at SS in Matt Reynolds, Gavin Cecchini, Amed Rosario and Milton Ramos.  A logjam can slow a guy's progress to the bigs, so I see LG doing full seasons at each of the 4 long season levels and being ready for the big show in late 2018 or 2019. Whether that will be with the Mets or elsewhere, time will tell.  Logjams can be a real hindrance sometimes.

So – are you a fan of LG, or do you prefer Apple?  Let us know.