Tom Brennan - ANDRES GIMINEZ VS. WILMER FLORES
Andres Giminez was one exciting prospect for the Mets in 2017 - at age 18, excelling most of the season in Full A ball with the Columbia Fireflies before a late season fade in which he hit .204 in August.
After being in the league's top 10 in hitting much of the season, he finished 23rd with a .265 average in 92 games.
In his prior season's 2016 DSL debut, the then-17 year old was a destroyer: .350/.469/.523.
He did not start the season with the Fireflies, much to my disappointment - I figured he was slated for a season's start in June in Brooklyn - thankfully, though, the Mets' powers that be deemed him ready to go by late April, and in his first game with Columbia on April 29, he had a single and homer. Nice.
His season power numbers were light, with just 15 XBHs and a final tally of .265/.346/.349, but for an 18 year old, that is some special stuff, and most likely, the team emphasized to him to go for contact 1st, power 2nd in 2017.
And contact? He made plenty, with just 61 Ks in 92 games.
And contact? He made plenty, with just 61 Ks in 92 games.
Listed at 5'11", 176, it is certainly not beyond expectation that he starts next season at 185 or so, so the power should ramp up at least a bit. In essentially a full season's worth of games spanning 2016 and 2017, he stole 27 of 43 and managed 8 triples, so his speed seems to be at least somewhat above average.
DEFENSIVE WIZARDRY: Amazingly, he made just 12 errors in 89 games at SS in 2017 - at age 18. Amed Rosario at age 18? He made 14 errors, but in just 58 games.
In his first two (age 19 and 20) seasons, Luis Guillorme played a similar number of games to what Giminez played this year - 97 - but made twice as many errors - 24.
Giminez's superior fielding at such an early age as compared to those 2 current reputed Mets' glove wizards demonstrates how fantastic Giminez's fielding has been.
As amazing as Giminez was as an 18 year old in 2017, how did he compare to another former young riser, Wilmer Flores, at age 18?
Clearly, in the field and on the base paths, the slow-footed Flores was (and still is) no match for Giminez.
But what about with the bat?
As impressive as Giminez was in 2017, Flores at age 18 was clearly a better stick.
Flores split his 2010 season between the Full A level Giminez was at, and in High A St Lucie. In 133 games, Wilmer had 36 doubles, 3 triples, 11 homers, 84 RBIs and a .284 average!! Talk about an advanced bat for his age!
And just 77 Ks.
And just 77 Ks.
So I call it a draw - Flores the better bat at that age, with more power, and Giminez with more speed and vastly better defense.
If they were both still just turning 19 and I had to pick one, I'd pick Giminez, though.
My sense is that his bat should at least approach what Flores is capable of, and his superior fielding and speed give him exactly the two key tools that have been missing in Flores' arsenal and kept him (so far) from being a slam-dunk every day major league player.
My sense is that his bat should at least approach what Flores is capable of, and his superior fielding and speed give him exactly the two key tools that have been missing in Flores' arsenal and kept him (so far) from being a slam-dunk every day major league player.
What I hope for in Giminez is that he will become the next Edgardo Alfonso - or better.
Of course, he sadly is unlikely to have as high a ceiling as the one the Mets were unable to reel in, Vlad Guerrero, Jr.
Vladdy Boy, 6 months younger than Giminez, played 119 games in A and High A in 2017, and as a 3B, hit a jaw-dropping .323/.425/.485. A major league debut at age 19 late in 2018 certainly seems plausible to me for Vlad. Maybe he will turn out to be the Barry Bonds to his father's Bobby Bonds...which would be scary.
Giminez looks like a future star, Guerrero a future game-changing superstar. I'm so happy we have a coming star in Giminez, but this organization needs to get better at signing/drafting and developing superstar types like Vlad.
Interesting as a side note, when addressing international prospects like my article does, that in the NY Post today, an article noted that with all of the international funds the yanks have available, now that they are going to miss on Otani, that those funds are available to shop the prospects that the Braves lost due to their shenanigans.
ReplyDeleteMaitan and a good catcher are among the Braves pickings that could be available with Yank Bucks. Mets, apparently, have relatively little int'l $$, so they I am guessing won't be players for any significant Braves prospect.
Probably not.....it is worth noting though that the MLB is allowing clubs to dip into next year's bonus pool for the Atlanta prospects.
DeleteMets still have about half of that remaining after their verbal commitments so far
Is there still time to make trades for pool money, if the Mets want to bid for the Braves losses or others in June or July?
ReplyDeleteI will leave Bill's question to others - I am tied up today.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if under the new braintrust Flores actually gets a chance to start.
ReplyDeleteRe: the Question asked in the title...
ReplyDeleteI am troubled with how Gimenez finished out the season; however, we must remember that he was not supposed to play at this level yet. He only arrived there after an injury to who was playing shortstop there.
That being said, he is way ahead of where he should be... going in April to Columbia for his first A-ball game. Instead, he will open up with St. Lucie.
I have him as my #1 prospect in the Mets chain. I also have him MLB ready on opening day on 2021, slowed up with the fact that I also have Amed Rosario and Luis Guillorme as being highly successful middle infielders for the Mets.
What happens next is 'who the heck knows'.
I had this debate before on Giminez’s last month. Prior to his terrible last month, which he was hurt, he did quite well. Giminez was drilled 16 times last year, and half of those came in the last month of August! Further, he hurt his shoulder and had to battle through - as a future Met he had to show he could play hurt.
DeleteAlso, in August he had only 11 K’s compared to 12 BB. Seems team’s had figured out that he was Columbia’s best hitter and they treated him accordingly. When adding up his shoulder injury, the opposing teams’ approaches and the beanings, the kid was most likely completely taken out of his game.
@Metsiac
ReplyDeleteyes there is certainly still time to trade for additional bonus pool money. Teams have until mid June 2018 in this current IFA pool window.
Then there is a 2 week break before the 2018-2019 Signing Period begins.
@Metsiac
ReplyDeleteSpecifically.....if I have all my information correct.....the Mets can still acquire ~ $2.5M of signing pool money via trade if they can find a team willing to give up some. (Since the Orioles are officially tapped out now)
Thanks, Chris. Is there any deadline on this?
DeleteDidn't the Mets pick up $1MM pool money from the Nats for Milton Ramos? This was AFTER signing the 7 headed by Mauricio & Hernandez.
ReplyDeleteI never understood why the $100K available figure kept coming up wrt Ohtani.
intl bonus slot are traded in chunks of $250K, unless the remaining value a team is trading for is under the 250k size. So its, 250, 500, etc. Im not sure how many of these you can trade for at once but thats how the money is divided up.
ReplyDeleteAny club can acquire up to 75% additional bonus pool money.
ReplyDeleteFor the Mets they started with $4.75M and acquired $1M from the Orioles when they traded Milton Ramos.
Essentially, all of that has been spent already leaving the club with $100k left for the 2017-2018 signing period which ends June 15th, 2018.
The club COULD (if they could find a partner) acquire an additional $2.56M worth of pool money before that June 15th deadline.
So Flores biggest fault is his fielding and where do teams in the NL hide those players? 1B. So the question is, do you prefer Flores at 1B to hit 25/30 hrs, drive in 80 or more while batting at least 270 or do you want Smith, who can't stay in shape, doesn't have the same power, but who they think could hit for a higher average and field better?
ReplyDeleteWhat happens if you have an average glove 1B like Flores and you pair him with a potential gold glove at 2B like Guillorme? Wouldn't that mean that Flores can stay closer to 1B and let Guillorme's plus range cover the rest?
If works the same way if Flores is at 2B with Smith (who is supposed to be good) at 1B although I didn't see that this past year at 1B. Flores is either average at 2B or slightly below average and Smith is supposed to be above average.
Just the Viper..thinking and drinking his own poison.
Flores for 2018 MVP. Think big.
ReplyDelete