Tom Brennan - Mets Site Top 30 Prospects - Hitters - My Comments

Tom Brennan - Mets Site Top 30 Prospects - Hitters - My Comments

Previously, I tossed out a few articles on prospect starting pitchers and relievers.

Today, my favorite category - hitters.

The Mets' Top 30 Prospects list on the NYMETS.COM website has a very notable amount of 21 and under hitters, 13 in all, 7 of whom will be 19 or under in 2019. 

Exciting, while also a slap at the dearth of older hitting prospects in the system (and the few drafted hitting prospects cracking the Mets' list - most of these 13 guys 21 and under are international signings).

Let's run them down:

#1 - Andres Gimenez

Ranked as a 60 in hitting, arm, and fielding, 55 in speed and 35 in power.  Seems about right for him, and hopefully the power escalates in 2019 and beyond.  Plays all of 2019 at age 20.

# 6 - Ronnie Mauricio

A gifted SS who does not turn 18 until April, the Mets site lists him at a 50 overall rating, with 60 fielding, 55 arm, 50 hitting and running, and 45 power.  This international signee should add a lot more power as he cruises along.  I'd not be surprised to see him in Queens before he turns 21.  Should be headed to Columbia this season.  Talent rises quickly, and Brodie is aggressive, if you hadn't noticed.

# 8 - Mark Vientos 

The Mets' site grading makes him look like a better fielding version of Wilmer Flores with more power.  Just a 30 runner, but 5 power, 50 hitting, 55, arm and 50 fielding.

# 9 - Desmond Lindsay

He turns 22 in January, time to put up or shut up.  Job # 1 - stay healthy all season.  He is listed with 60 speed and 50 hitting, power, arm, and fielding.  Can he turn disappointment into delight in 2019?  In a very weak outfield prospects contingent above rookie ball, he has a chance to show he is the best of the upper minors OFs in 2019 - or a bust.

# 12 - Adrian Hernandez 

Turning 18 as spring training starts, the international bonus baby is 5'9", 210  - but fast - 60 speed fast.  45 in hitting, 50 in power and fielding, and 55 in arm.  I'd put him in Kingsport.

# 13 - Francisco Alvarez 

A $2.7 MM signee catcher, he will be making his debut as a 17 year old in 2019.  A 50 hit tool, with 55 power, a bit slow, but a 55 arm and 45 fielding.  Maybe he can become our Gary Sanchez power-wise.

# 14 - Sherveyn Newton 

The Mets' site describes the soon-to-be 20 year old from the Netherlands as having a very advanced hititng approach...drawing tons of walks...keeping his K rate relatively low."  He struck out 84 times in 56 games, so if that is relatively low, I am curious as to what relatively high might be.    Despite the Ks, he had a very good season in Kingsport.  He was rated in the Mets' listings with all 50 ratings, except for 45 power, which he has the size to add to significantly.  But the K rate must come down.

# 15 - Freddy Valdez

Really big at age 16 (6'3". 210), he will debut as a 17 year old with a $1.45 MM signing bonus.  55 power, 50 arm and fielding, and 45 hitting and running.  Outfielder unless he can't stick out there, otherwise, he may be pushing Peter Alonso at 1B in 5 years.

# 17 - Luis Carpio

He did not hit well in 2018, but had a very low BABIP, so that should improve in 2019.  The 21 year old SS/2B was bizarrely listed as having just TWENTY power, despite, having 21 doubles and 12 homers in 393 at bats in 2018.  Which looks like Wilmer Flores stats.  Which seems more like 40 or 45 power to me.  Highly ranked fielder with good speed, he needs to improve in 2019.  The clock is ticking and he needs to hit more to be relevant in a crowded field.

# 18 - Greg Guerrero

What can one say?  He missed a lot of 2017 and then all of 2018 with reportedly a shoulder injury.  Yet, the former $1.5 MM bonus baby rates as a 60 arm, 50 hitter, 45 power.  But can he be healthy enough to show the injuries are in the rear view mirror in 2019 as a 20 year old?  One thing's for sure - he ain't Vlad.

# 23 - Ali Sanchez

He made strides in 2018 in staying healthy and hitting, and had 20 doubles, a triple, and 6 homers in 328 at bats, but is also listed as having 20 power!   Seems more like 30-35 to me, and perhaps ready to rise some more - this catcher's calling card is a 65 arm and 60 fielding.   Big year to show if he can hit enough to make his stellar glove work in the majors.

# 24 - Luis Sanchez 

The 5'8', 175 second baseman had an outstanding offensive year in Kingsport (.348/.446/.471), in a hitters' league.  He should also vault to Columbia - lets see if the 19 year old can show size doesn't matter a la Altuve.  He was ranked as just having a 50 hit tool - let's see if that is underrated or not in 2019.

# 27 - Stanley Consuegra 

The 6'2", 170 outfielder hit not very well (.217) in the Gulf Coast League, but at age 17 - so his 45 hit tool rating seems conservative.  The $500,000 signee is rated to have a 60 arm, 55 speed and power, and 50 fielding.  To me, that says he has real future potential.  Probably to Kingsport to develop in 2019.

So, to recap, an exciting, very young batch of hitters above, only a few of whom came through the draft.  Glad, as a Mets' fan, that this contingent is wrapped as presents under our figurative Chrismas tree.  We should get some real good ones out of this bunch.

What about the older hitter prospects, though?

Yep, the Mets' Site's Top 30 had older drafted hitters too, but fairly few - just 6, in point of fact:

Peter Alonso at # 2 (and arguably # 1), light-hitting Tomas Nido at # 10, the oft-injured, getting-old-fast duo of Gavin Cecchini and David Thompson at #'s 16 and 19, recently acquired Will Toffey at # 21, lefty hitting catcher Pat Mazeika at # 25, and Quinn Brodey at # 30 (just .224 in his first 416 minor league ABs).  

Besides King Peter the Great, the other 5 ollder dudes don't scream "Future Major League Regular" to me, a testament to how weak the Mets' drafting of hitters has been over the past decade, frankly.  

Hopefully, Brodie's Boys will turn the Mets' drafting of hitters from MORIBUND to MARVELOUS.

And that, ladies and gents, wraps up my look at, and critique of, the Mets Site's Top 30 Prospects as listed.  I personally would have had some other guys in my Top 30, like Brooklyn Cyclones 2018 star  Ross Adolph instead of Quinn Brodey, but that is a subject for another day.

Happy holidays, you scalawags!