Tom Brennan: HRs by Mets Minors Infielders

Tom Brennan: HRs by Mets Minors Infielders

In 2017, the major leagues set a record for homers in a season (6,105, per Baseball Almanac), Stanton just missed 60 and Judge hit 52, and the Mets hit a team record 224 HRs.

How exactly did the Mets Minors Minions do in homers? 

Are we developing HR hitters to joint that HR Hit Parade?

Well, that is kind of a broad question, so on Thursday, I put out an article focusing on Mets minors outfielders – not at all a pretty picture.  Plenty of Duds.

While the majors had bushels full of HRs, the Mets minors outfielders were clearly stuck in the dead ball era.

Today, let’s focus on the 7 Mets minors teams' infielders.

One would expect to have 1st and 3rd basemen and perhaps catchers with real power if the organization is truly looking to develop legit big leaguers from within.  In that regard:

I’ll save my comments – mostly – until the end.  You, the reader, can evaluate my listed raw data first for yourselves.  I listed guys who were predominantly infielders (IFs) and excluded purely journeyman short term signee types, since whether they hit a bunch of HRs or not, they'd have no future MLB impact.

As the list of all 7 teams' IFs would get quite exhaustive, for the 3 rookie league teams, I listed each squad's top IF HR hitters, then summarized the rest.

For the 4 full season squads, I listed guys who hit 10 or more, and summarized the rest:

LAS VEGAS 51’S (56-86) – AAA:

Dominic Smith 1B – 16 HR in 114 G (9 more for the Mets).

Phil Evans – IF – 11 HR in 127 G.

Kevin Plawecki – C – 9 HR in 64 G (3 more with the Mets).

Amed Rosario – SS – 7 HR in 94 G (4 more with the Mets).

Others: Xorge Carillo – 9 HR (70 G - some pop there); Gavin Cecchini (7 in 530 minors/majors ABs); others: very few. 

BINGHAMTON PONIES (85-54) – AA:

David Thompson – 3B – 16 HR in 133 G.

Others: C Tomas Nido – 8 HR (102 G); all others – just 16 HR in total in 139 games.  How do you spell "DEAD BALL ERA"? 

ST LUCIE METS (63-75) – HIGH A:

Peter Alonso – 1B – 18 HR in 93 G.  BOOM!

Jhoan Urena – 1B/3B – 14 HR in 135 G (may switch to OF).

Others: C Pat Mazeika – 7 HR; Burdick 7HR (217 ABs).

All others had 9 HRs total. Punch and Judy laddies.

COLUMBIA FIREFLIES (68-70) – FULL A:

Brandon Brosher – C – 13 HR in 217 ABs (but 103 Ks).

Dash Winningham – 1B – 13 HR in 114 G (but .237).

Michael Paez – 2B/SS – 10 HR in 127 G (2 in 63 G in St Lucie).

Others: Andres (the Great) Giminez 4 HR; Luis Carpio 3 HR.

All others had 0 to 2 HRs.  Slap hitters, or crap hitters?   

BROOKLYN CYLCLONES (24-52) – ROOKIE:

Jose Maria – C – 5 HR in 39 G.

Rest of Cyclone IFs: 8 HRs, total.  Edge of your seat stuff. 

KINGSPORT METS (29-37) – ROOKIE:

Jeremy Vasquez – 1B – 8 HR in 67 G.

Juan Uriarte – C – 5 HR in 52 G (hopeful).

Hansel Moreno – SS – 4 HR in 57 G.

Other Kingsport Mets IF: 12 HRs. 

GCL METS (19-37) – ROOKIE:

Mark Vientos – SS – 4 HR in 47 G. There's hope here.

Robbie Kidwell – C - 4 HR in 21 G (but a .172 hitter).

All other GCL Mets IFs, total: 5 HRs. FIVE? REALLY?  
BP MUST BE FUN TO WATCH, EVEN RIVETING.

Summary: 

Very few home run hitting threats other than Smith, Rosario, and Plawecki, the trio who've already been called up.  Pounding Pete Alonso is the sole near-term legitimate power threat in the system not yet promoted, and maybe Downtown David Thompson.

Further down the dusty trail, Vientos is likely to develop into a power threat.  Uriarte could, too, as could Giminez and Paez.

Many guys (names not listed) who hit 0 HRs on 1 HR. Come on!!!!!
Prescription from Dr. Brennan: Weights, gentlemen, lift weights.

NOT MANY BOPPERS – OVERALL, NOT PRETTY AT ALL.

PLENTY OF DUDS.

SANDY, PLEASE - DRAFT MANY MORE POWER HITTERS:

INFIELDERS AND OUTFIELDERS.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE (METS PEOPLE)!