Tom Brennan – METS ROOKIE BALL PLAYERS WHO ARE SOARING, STABILIZING, AND STRUGGLING

Tom Brennan – METS ROOKIE BALL PLAYERS WHO ARE SOARING, STABILIZING, AND STRUGGLING

The seasons for the Mets’ 3 rookie ball squads (Brooklyn Cyclones, Kingsport Mets, GCL Mets) are rapidly flying by, nearing the half way points.

For some recent draftees who may have signed a little late, they are still just rolling, like Carlos Cortes, who has only logged 15 games through Tuesday.  (Tuesday was my cut off, except for a few exceptional performances on Wednesday and Thursday that I noted).

But the season rolls on nonetheless. In about 5 weeks, finito.

So, thus far, who’s SOARING?

First the hitters:

BROOKLYN:

C Nick Meyer - hitting .318 in 17 games, with just 5 Ks.  Considering he was drafted with a focus on his defensive prowess, this is highly encouraging.

OF Anthony Dirocie - .286 in his first 12 games with Brooklyn, .357 overall in 26 games between there and Kingsport.    Tremendous on base % and slugging % so far this year (.471/.595).

1B Chase Chambers – power is a little lacking so far, but in 32 games, .296/.369/.383…so far, so good.  (Hey, after the above, on Thursday, a single and HR, 4 RBIs (now has 18), sweet!)

OF Ross Adolph has 6 steals, 5 triples, 17 ribbies, .263/.348/.424, but 29 Ks in 27G. (Hey, on Thursday, 2 singles, a triple, a HR, 3 RBIs (now has 20), up to .288!)

KINGSPORT:

2B Luis Santana (.360/.464/.465), CF Raul Beracierta (.349/.459/.556, 7 steals), 1B Gavin Garay (.344/.373/.623), CF Willie Granadillo (.323/.388/.333, 8 steals), SS Sherveyn Newton (.298/.413/.518 in 140 plate appearances, with 25 walks, but 49 Ks, which tells me that unlike Amed Rosario, he is trying hard to learn the strike zone), and Mark Vientos (.233/.310/.398, but 4 homers and 20 RBIs in 24 games) are all doing great in a hitter-friendly league.

GCL METS:

SS Ronnie Mauricio is killing it at age 17 - .322/.336/.504, and 23 RBIs in 30 games through Tuesday.  And a great game on Wednesday to boot.

LF Edinson Valdez in 16 games is .333/.390/.426, with just 3 Ks.

Who’s STABILIZING?

BROOKLYN:

2B Carlos Cortes – since the 3^rd rounder signed, he is hitting .241/.328/.333.  I like his K rate (only one every 8 plate appearances).

KINGSPORT:

3B Yoel Romero – after his killer year in the DSL last year, he is hitting .235/.365/.329 – I do love those 17 walks in 23 games, though.

GCL METS:

None to speak of!

Who’s SPUTTERING?

BROOKLYN:

Three 2018 draftees (SS Manny Rodriguez – 10^th round - .192, OF Dave Miranda – 2th round - .195, and 3B Brian Sharp – 26^th round - .224 with 31 Ks in 20 games) and C Kevin Hall (19 Ks in 38 plate appearances) are finding it tough sledding so far.

KINGSPORT:

OF Jarred Kelenic – the first rounder is hitting just .170 since being promoted to Kingsport, but still hitting .285 overall in nearly 100 ABs, and 8 for 8 in steals.  My guess?  Just growing pains and we’ll be thrilled in the years to come.

C Phil Capra – 15^th rounder, just 8 for 45 so far.

GCL METS:

OFs Stan The Man Consuegra (.208), and Jhoander Saez (.229, 38 Ks in 27 games) are finding stateside ball to be a little challenging.

Now, on to the PITCHING:

This is getting long, so I will stick just to soaring pitchers:

SOARING STARTERS:

Brooklyn:

RHP Jaison Vilera – THE CREAM OF THE CROP, TOP OF THE HEAP IN ROOKIE BALL.  Please see my article from Tuesday for more.

RHP Christian James – 2-2, 2.02 in 10 starts. 49 innings, but just 33 Ks, sometimes a warning indicator as a guy moves higher.

Kingsport:

RHP Willie Taveras – 20 year old, 5’11”, 160…33 innings, 31 Ks, 3-1, 1.91 ERA, split between the GCL and Kingsport.

RHP Jose Butto – 20 year old, 6’1”, 152, 33 IP, 3-0, 1.93, 31 Ks.

GCL METS:

RHP Oscar Rojas – 3-1, 2.67 in 6 starts.

SOARING RELIEVERS:

BROOKLYN:

Billy Oxford (4-1, 1.19 in 12 games), Yeudy Colon (3-0, 0.59 in 12 games with 21 Ks in 15 innings), and especially 7^th rounder Kevin Smith (6 games, 14 innings, 3-0, 0.64, 19 Ks, 0.57 WHIP) are doing dandy. 

5^th rounder Ryley Gilliam has thrown 4 scoreless innings and fanned 7, too (and then another scoreless inning with 2 Ks on Thursday - so far, so impressive).

KINGSPORT:

Jose Moreno has tossed 9 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 12 Ks.  Dude is stingy.

GCL METS:

Rockin’ Ronnie Taylor, Jr. in 14 innings has surrendered 6 hits, 1 earned run, and fanned 14.

There you have it, folks.  After the horrible Yoenis Cespedes news (although they do have undisclosed levels of insurance on him, I heard), I hope some of this has you soaring a little bit.

And, of course, congrats to good guy Jeff McNeil on his highly deserved promotion to the Mets after a truly SOARING minor league campaign year to date.  He is living proof to not give up, after his last 2 tough years.

Only on base in 5 of his 6 initial major league plate appearances - gotta work on that 6th one Jeff....this .833 OBP stuff just doesn't cut it LOL.  CONGRATULATIONS!

But wait, there is even more...

GCL catcher and 2018 29th rounder Nelson Mompierre hit not one but TWO homers Wednesday, and in limited playing time so far, the 22 year old's lefty bat is at .205/.415/.462. 

I asked Steve Sommers what he thought and he said, "I like his plate approach so far, with what, 12 walks and just 9 Ks in 13 games already.  What's not to like?  Mompierre and croissants with a gendarme already."

And I like the French surname, too.  I can just hear the fans at Citifield in about 4 yelling, "MOMPIERRE, MOMPIERRE!", can't you?