1/29/15

Tom Brennan - Majoring on the Minors: Top 30 Prospects - # 8 Matt Bowman


MAJORING ON THE MINORS: TOP 30 PROSPECTS – # 8 MATT BOWMAN - VOL.23 – Tom Brennan

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

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

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

Here is the list so far:
20.   Daniel Muno
19.   Michael Fulmer
18.   Miller Diaz
17.   Dario Alvarez
16.   Jayce Boyd
15.   Rob Whalen
14.   Hansel Robles
13.   Gabriel Ynoa
12.   Gavin Cecchini
11.   Jack Leathersich
10.   Cory Mazzoni
9.      Cesar Puello

Today, selection #8:


Matt is another Mets arm that impresses the heck out of me.  A lean 6'0" righty, he throws in the low 90s with good secondary offerings and, most importantly, succeeds and proceeds.  

And has succeeded and proceeded quickly since being drafted out of Princeton in 2012 in the 13th round, no less, having reached Vegas and pitching well there in the latter portion of 2014. In fact, he tossed 6 great starts there, and only had a 3.47 ERA in AAA because in his final outing, in relief, he gave up 5 runs in 1/3 inning.  Shoulda taken a sick day, Mr. B.

Some pundits peg him for long relief or spot starts because of a crowded rotation.  Me?  I say let the dude compete and set his own ceiling.  Maybe those Princeton brains of his can help him wedge his way into a starting role on this team some time in 2015, no matter how daunting the competition.

More likely, he could be a fine trade chip. Why wouldn't another team want a competent starter making $500K?

A 13th round draftee who's climbed 5 minor league levels, sports a 22-14, 3.06, with 270 Ks in 291 innings? Overachiever.  But wait, shoppers...there's more.  Just 2 errors in 57 games.  As Mel Allen would say, “How 'bout that?”

And pitchers in the NL do have to hit. Matt has gone 5 for 17 with just 3 Ks.  Impressive.

Maybe this guy is a slightly inferior version o the NL's rookie of theyear in 2014, what was his name again? Oh, yeah, Jake deGrom.  Matt's minor league stats actually resemble those of deGrom.  Hmmm...   Is Bowman to be deGrom, Part II?

Whaddya think, readers?  Me?  Me like!


MY TOP 10 LOWER MINORS LIST:

# 1 - Marcos Molina

#2 – Michael Conforto

#3 – Amed Rosario

#4 – Dominic Smith

#5 - Jhoan Urena

#6 – Vicente Lupo

#7 – Wuilmer Becerra

#8 – Luis Guillorme

#9 - Casey Meisner

#10 - Milton Ramos

2 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Matt is my overall # 11.

James Preller said...

I saw him come out of the pen for Brooklyn and was impressed. Just a nice motion and a guy who seemed to have an idea out there. Maybe the Princeton pedigree got into my head a little bit, easy for me to assume he's a "smart" pitcher.

Nothing about his stuff particularly impressed; they wasn't a lot of obvious talent that I could see -- the way, say, when John Maine came up with that high fastball and you sort of sat up in your seat. Hmmmm.

The reference I always think of is old Bobby Jones, who did more with less. Dillon Gee is latest incarnation. Always easy to root for guys who fit that description. Maybe Bowman can pull off that trick, but it's not easy one to master. Seems like a Torres type at best -- and there's value in that.