Tom Brennan - METS PROSPECTS # 16 THRU # 20

Tom Brennan - METS PROSPECTS # 16 THRU # 20

In the first 3 in this series of 10 articles on the Mets Top 50 prospects, I explained why I felt Messrs. Alonso, Gimenez, Peterson, Mauricio, Kay, Vientos, Szapucki, Lindsay, Alvarez, Richardson, Kilome, Hernandez, Nido, Valdez, and Santana were my indisputable #1 thru # 15, respectively.  

Indisputable, until, well, uhh, Brodie V decided to trade Mr. Santana as part of the bounty to reel in J D Davis from the Astros.  So, sliding into the # 15 slot is:

# 15 JORDAN HUMPHREYS  RHSP

Not sure if he was named after a middle eastern country or a former basketball mega star turned baseball prospect turned basketball mega star Part II, but Jordan Humphreys had Tommy John surgery performed by Mack the Knife late in the 2017 season, and should be back ready and raring to go in 2019.

The fine righty was part of a killer 1-2 starter tandem in 2017 with former Mets prospect Merandy Gonzalez.  Humphreys was 10-1, 1.79 with 83 Ks in 81 IP in A ball before the arm barked in mid-2017.  Let's hope he can pick up healthily right where he left off, dominating, probably starting for St Lucie in 2019.

I now move on to the indisputable # 16 thru # 20 dudes.

# 16 SHERVEYN NEWTON  IF

A 6'4" youngster from the Netherlands who has impressed many folks, he just needs to work on his K rate.  

He fanned 84 times in 266 ABs for Kingsport in 2018 as a 19 year old. But he walks a lot, too, and might be trying to develop plate acuity, with the downside of temporarily higher K rates.

Despite that K rate, he went .280/.408/.449 after a fine DSL season the prior year.  

I think folks in the know expect him to be able to reduce the K rate, and see a guy who could have big power.  2019 will be a great season to watch Wayne Newton's son (not really, but I know I had you there for a second) truly blossom.

Fielding wise, 11 errors in 54 games is quite solid at that age, and in his last 118 games spanning 2017 and 2018, 11 triples and 14 of 18 steals shows he's not a slow poke.  He could blossom into a future MLB starting position player with refinement.

# 17  WILL TOFFEY   IF 

Acquired in the Jeurys Familia trade, he performed pretty darned solidly (.254/.394/.433) for Binghamton despite shoulder woes, which thankfully did not require surgery. 

Perhaps that malady led to his 16 errors in 80 games at 3B in 2018.  

Just the second season for the former 4th rounder and already in AA, which is quite impressive. Good size at 6'2", 205, too.  He could move right on up in 2019.

# 18 ALI SANCHEZ  C

Terrific defensive catcher, the best in the organization hands down. Sorry, Tomas. 

Ali has been often injured, but less so in 2018.  His bat needs to produce more hits, although progress was made in that regard in 2018, as were the first signs of any power.  His .387 slug % was a big improvement over 2016 and 2017, and he strikes out (but also walks) relatively little.  

Hopefully, the catcher, who will be just 22 during 2019, has been camped out in the weight room and batting cage this off season.  Add some more bat proficiency and pop, and his glove gets him to the big leagues, perhaps for many years.

# 19 TONY DIBRELL  RHSP

Tony the Tiger had a fine year in A ball, with 147 Ks in 131 IP, and a 7-6, 3.50 ERA.  Two bad starts, in which he gave up 16 earned runs in 10.2 IP, boosted that ERA.  In his other 21 starts, his ERA was a stellar 2.62.  That's terrific, from where I sit.

As he further refines his craft in 2019, as a 23 year old in St Lucie, I expect big results from the hard thrower, and a Top 10 Mets prospect ranking next year.  Maybe he will be Justin Dunn II.  Maybe Queens in 2020, too.

# 20 JUNIOR SANTOS RHSP

Listed at 6'8", 218, the teenager, who only turned 17 in August last season, pitched in the DSL and briefly stateside in the GCL.  Having grown up only a stone's throw from a Burger King in the Dominican Republic, what did "Whopper Junior" do exactly, shortly after his Sweet Sixteen party?

Pitched great, that's what.   In 50 innings, just 39 hits allowed, an amazing 6 walks (wild man Steve Nogosek is sure amazed) and 39 Ks and a 2.52 ERA. In 3 of his DSL outings, he threw a total of 15 innings, allowed 4 hits and no earned runs.  I'm impressed.

Baseball-farm.com wrote about him as follows: 

"Santos has hit as high as 94 on the gun, which is insane for a 16 year old, and lives 90-92. More impressive yet is that he works in a sharp low 80s slider with bite that flashes 50 and a plus plus change with both sink and tumble that mimics his fastball arm action and is a swing and miss pitch with good velo separation from his heat. It is a nasty changeup."

Sounds like a future ace to me.  

Could he possibly be their # 1 prospect this time next year?  Seems he has that potential, even if Simeon Woods-Richardson might say, "Hey, not so fast!!!!"

Next up: Mets prospects 21 thru 25.  All indisputable!