Mack’s Morning Report - 7-3 – Third Base, Top 10 Pitching Prospects In June, Helium Alert, International Signings

Morning.

Most of the other Mack’s Mets writers continue to keep you up to date with what’s going on each day in Queens-ville. I will continue to try and target some prospects out there we might be able to wrap a deal around, using a year-ending contract like Addision Reed, and let’s say a key 25-man player like Wilmer Flores or Travis d’Arnaud. Calm down Wilmer fans… just using his name as an example, but one top guy like Reed and another team controlled player could pull away a top prospect from a team.

Here, according to MLB, are the top third basemen in their current Top 100 Prospect List –

#12 - Rafael Devers/Red Sox - Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55 - Scouts considered Devers the best left-handed bat on the international market in 2013, and he has lived up to that billing since the Red Sox signed him for $1.5 million out of the Dominican Republic. The third-youngest regular (age 19) in the Class A Advanced Carolina League in 2016, he scuffled below the Mendoza Line for the first two months before batting .326/.367/.539 in the second half. Devers' signature tool is his prodigious power to all fields, the product of impressive bat speed and strength. He's more than just a slugger, however, which he proved yet again with his ability to make adjustments in high Class A. While he can get aggressive at the plate, he recognizes pitches well for his age and understands he's at his best when he tries to drive the ball from gap to gap and just lets his power come naturally.

#20 – Nick Senzel/Cincinnati - Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55 - Senzel first started to raise his profile in the Cape Cod League in 2015, then with a strong junior season at Tennessee in 2016. The top pure college hitter in that Draft class, he went No. 2 overall to the Reds, signing for $6.2 million, the top bonus in the Draft, albeit below pick value. Senzel kept on hitting during his pro debut, spending most of it hitting over .300 in the full-season Midwest League. The right-handed hitter has both strength and bat speed to go along with an advanced approach at the plate. He uses all fields and draws walks, which should help him continue to hit for both average and power. His speed plays up thanks to outstanding instincts which allow him to be a base stealing threat. Senzel has worked hard on his defensive craft and there are no longer questions about his ability to stay at the hot corner long-term, with a strong arm, good hands and quick feet.

#83 - Jeimer Candelario/Cubs - Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55 - Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $500,000 in 2010, Candelario became part of a Cubs collection of position prospects that is unrivaled in recent memory. Many of those hitters fueled Chicago's drive to a 2016 World Series championship and others were used in trades that contributed to the title run. Candelario, meanwhile, had a strong second half in Triple-A and made his big league debut in July but remains hopelessly blocked at third base by Kris Bryant. That's a shame, because Candelario is a talented offensive player who could start for several clubs. A switch-hitter with a fluid stroke from both sides of the plate, he makes consistent hard contact and draws a healthy amount of walks. Most of his power has come in the form of doubles to this point, but he could develop into a 20-homer threat as he adds strength and experience.

#87 – Matt Chapman/Oakland - Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Arm: 75 | Field: 70 | Overall: 55 - When the A's gave Chapman $1.75 million as the No. 25 overall Draft pick in 2014, they saw a toolsy-but-raw college player with untapped potential at the plate. After an uneventful pro debut, the Cal State Fullerton product paced Oakland's system with 23 home runs in his first full season -- despite playing in just 80 games -- and then finished third in the Minors with 36 in 2016 while reaching Triple-A for the first time. Chapman always possessed impressive raw power, but it wasn't until he entered pro ball and worked with the A's hitting coaches that he learned to consistently get to it during games. The power plays to all fields, too, thanks to his quick bat, leveraged swing and huge extension through point of contact, and it could make him a threat to hit 30-plus homers annually. But with that power comes quite a bit of swing-and-miss, and some scouts question his ability to hit for average at the highest level. Revered by scouts as a future Gold Glove award-winner at third base, Chapman makes it look easy with his excellent hands, smooth actions and plus range, as well as arm strength that's among the best in the Minor Leagues.

IMO: Top 10 Pitching Prospects (in June) –

1.     Marcos Molina - Binghamton:  3-G, 0-3, 4.26, 1.42, 19-IP, 18-K

2.     Jordan Humphreys – Columbia/St. Lucie:  4-G, 2-0, 2.73, 23.1-IP, 10-K

3.     Merandy Gonzalez – Columbia/St. Lucie:  3-G, 1-1, 0.98, 18.1-IP, 13-K

4.     Justin Dunn – St. Lucie:   4-G, 1-2, 2.75, 1.42, 19.2-IP, 16-K

5.     David Peterson – did not play/unsigned draft pick

6.     Anthony Kay – did not play/season ended TJS

7.     Chris Flexen – Binghamton:  - 4-ST, 3-1, 1.69, 0.64, 26.2-IP, 29-K, 0-BB

8.     Thomas Szapucki – Columbia: 4-G, 1-1, 2.82, 1.12, 22.1-IP, 21-K

9.   Corey Oswalt  – Binghamton:  3-G, 1-0, 0.66, 1.17, 13.2-IP, 10-K

10. Nabil Crismatt – St. Lucie:   4-G, 1-2, 1.95, 1.05, 27.2-IP, 27-K

Helium Alert –

Ivan Santana is a 23-year old pitcher for one of the DSL Mets teams. It’s his third year in the DSL chain which is never a good sign that he will come stateside someday. The DSL year is dominated with 17-21/year old players, so it’s odd to see the kind of numbers Santana has produced over the last three seasons without a stateside promotion:

2015 – 13-G, 1-start, 3-0, 2.92, 1.35

2016 – 17-G, 6-starts, 9-1, 1.89, 1.05

2017 –  5-G, 4-starts, 2-1, 0.46, 1.47, 19.2-IP, 1-ER, 20-K

I was very upset to not see his name last week when the GCL Mets roster was announced. I don’t know what more this guy can do.

And lastly...

Yesterday was International Signings Day and, so far, the Mets have announced and walked away with the following players –

            Ronny Mauricio, SS, Dominican Republic (No. 3 prospect), $2.1 million.

Position: MIF      Bats: Switch     Throws: Right   Date of Birth: 4/4/2001     Age: 15  Height: 6’2″     Weight: 165 lbs.  -  Analysis: Ronny Mauricio is a very athletic, switch-hitting shortstop, whose actions are similar to Jurickson Profar. Mauricio carries a projectable frame which will add some muscle and strength. He can pick it with soft hands and the ability to throw from different angles with a fast glove/hand transition. For a switch-hitter this young, he shows a very advanced feel from both sides. Mauricio is one of the most projectable shortstops in the international class of 2017. link

Adrian Hernandez, OF, Dominican Republic (No. 16 prospect), $1.5mil

Hernandez, born February 8, 2001, is an athletic outfielder with five-tool potential. At the plate, he has shown the ability to consistently square up on the ball and drive it all over the field, for both average and power. With his a plus arm and plus speed—the youngster from Santo Domingo is among the fastest in the showcase Dominican Prospect League—he should remain in center field for years to come. link

OF Stanley Consuegra, OF, $500K

           In addition, the Mets are the favorites to sign 16-year-old outfielder Stanley Consuegra out of the Dominican Republic. He ranks No. 40 on Badler’s list. Here’s what Baseball America had to say about him: “He’s a solid-average runner and his best tool is his outstanding arm, which already shows glimpses of being a 70 tool. A righthanded hitter, Consuegra shows good bat-to-ball skills against live pitching and isn’t a home run threat right now but makes loud, quality contact.” link

Eduardo Salazar, OF, Venezuela

Jorge Polanco, SS, Dominican,

Eduardo Salazar, OF, Venezuelan,

Mack - This seems like a good international signing year for the Mets, but let's remember that these kids are 15 and 16 years old and we might not see them play for the DSL teams until 2020 or 2021.

We also have to remember that we will never see a third of them again. Give a 15-year old over a million dollars that lives in a slum with his penniless family and, well, you get the picture.