Tom Brennan - JEFF MCNEIL, PETER ALONSO, AND JUAN SOTO
I just saw the following regarding the contending Washington Nationals in an MILB article:
Juan Soto's astronomical rise through the Minor Leagues this season .... the Nationals are expected to call up their second-ranked prospect from Double-A Harrisburg to make his big league debut. He reportedly will meet the club in Washington for Sunday's series finale against the Dodgers.
Soto opened this year with Class A Hagerstown, hit a ton for 16 games (.373/5/24) before advancing to Class A Advanced Potomac, where he went .371/7/18 in 15 games.
On to AA, where he's hit 10-for-31 (.323) with 2 homers and 10 RBIs.
In just 39 games, that is 52 RBIs. Already.
At 19 years old, Soto will become the youngest player in the Majors.
Meanwhile, the Mets plod on with Jose Reyes (.179 OBP, 1 RBI in 60 plate appearances.
Love that Jose smile, though - don't you?
Even if he has 51 less RBIs than Soto on May 20.
The Mets have no super solutions, no prospects like Soto, but they do have old-timer Jeff McNeil, 26 years old - too old to rush to the Mets. At 26, he can't possibly be any good.
Unlike Reye's 1 RBI and .179 OBP, Jeff has had 11 doubles, 3 triples, and 11 homers in 33 AA games. He is hitting .328/.407/.719. In May, he is .373/.440/.806.
But he is in AA, so you can't rush him - who calls up players directly from AA, anyway?
The Nats, for one - calling up Soto after just 31 AA at bats at age 19.
And, if the Nats can call up Soto after just 31 AA at bats, how about Peter Alonso? He already has 51 AA games under his belt, in which he has hit .344/.455/.639.
By Sandy's calculations, he should be ready for call up in - oh - about 2 years.
Only other teams move GOLD up quickly.
9 comments:
Thomas, the Mets have a leader at first base. Those guys don’t grow on trees for the league minimum. Appreciate it. He will tutor Dominic Smith, when Smith is standing in RF. But, we can’t put him there, I forgot, we just signed a known stiff for 3 years. Sorry, no room for the kids.
Morning Tom -
A few thoughts this morning...
1. I followed last night's game on the Net and watched the highlights this morning. Kids are winning us games. What a revelation.
2. Tom, I have no idea why Reyes is still around. hat if Guillorme was hitting in that spot when there was bases loaded and he lashed a double? Wouldn't need a ninth inning rally.
3. Dominic Smith is playing outfield now in Vegas... I LIKE THAT IDEA... let him play and learn that position there for the remainder of the season and let Alonso move up as next first baseman up.
4. The Ricco-Mets are NEVER going to operate like the Nats. The Nats aren't afraid to take chances. The Mets are. You would think the rapid movement of Conforto (and once Reyes) would come into play here.
5. I expect Reyes to eventually be DFA'd, but would the Mets have the palle to promote McNeil over Cecchini? I think not.
6. And what about Evans when either Cespedes or Frazier come back?
Texas Gus, Smith is not hitting nearly as well as Juan Soto. Hit your way back, Dom.
Mack, bold leadership is needed. Instead, we get OLD leadership.
Braves release 3B Jose Baustista
One Jose released, one to go.
I seem to remember a kid named Conforto being jumped from AA. And one named Flexen. And Strawberry. And Gooden.
It's an individual vs need thing.
Didn’t Gooden come straight from A+ Lynchburg after 300 strikeouts in 191 innings?
Sure did, Texas Gus.
But Ed Kranepool came out of high school at 17. They loved his speed.
McNeil wins Eastern League Player of the Week - give it a read: https://www.milb.com/eastern/news/mcneil-and-keller-win-weekly-awards/c-277659508
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