Tom Brennan - METS PROSPECTS # 26 THRU # 30
In the first 5 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, Humphreys, Newton, Toffey, Sanchez, Dibrell, Santos, Cecchini, Mazeika, Winaker, Paez, and Vilera were my indisputable #1 thru # 25, respectively.
OK, OK, newly acquired guys like RHP Kyle Dowdy should be in my list, and aren't yet, but he is a top 20 Mets prospect to me, based on my logic in a recent article on Kyle (read it if you missed it) - I will add him after this 10 part article series is finished.
OK, OK, newly acquired guys like RHP Kyle Dowdy should be in my list, and aren't yet, but he is a top 20 Mets prospect to me, based on my logic in a recent article on Kyle (read it if you missed it) - I will add him after this 10 part article series is finished.
Today, I move on to the indisputable # 26 thru # 30 dudes.
# 26 DAVID THOMPSON IF
I think the issue with our David Thompson, the one who did not play in the NBA and who, to my knowledge, does not have a 50 inch vertical leap, was always whether he would stay healthy.
That and a less than powerful arm were factor in where he was initially drafted, in the 4th round, of 2015.
Also, if I were him, I would change my name from David, since it seems to be synonymous with lengthy injury in this organization.
His 2017 season in Binghamton was decent enough (.262/.325/.429) - but not great. So, to me, the bloom has kind of come off the rose here. He has not yet ascended to even Zach Lutz levels. And he needs to be better than the former Mets prospect Lutz to break into the bigs.
# 27 CARLOS CORTES IF
The Mets' 2018 third round pick, another shorty standing at 5'7", 200, did fairly well in Brooklyn in 2018: .268/.338/.382, with 34 Ks in 47 games and just 1 steal.
Let's see what he can do in 2019 before I get too psyched here. He won't turn 22 until the end of June, so let's see what he produces in the upcoming season,
Let's see what he can do in 2019 before I get too psyched here. He won't turn 22 until the end of June, so let's see what he produces in the upcoming season,
Personally, I think the Mets draft / sign too many short guys, especially in early rounds - short guys, by and large, face (ahem) an uphill climb - may Cortes and the other 5'8"-and-unders prove me wrong.
# 28 RYLEY GILLIAM RHRP
Another Brooklynite, the 2018 fifth round reliever had a great career start in 2018, with 31 Ks and a 2.08 in just 17 innings out of the Cyclones pen.
He did walk 13 in those 17 IP, so that aspect needs improvement.
Hard throwing (96 MPH, with a plus curve ball and cutter) - so, is Gilliam a future NY Mets pen arm? Sure could be. Almost tempted to write sure WILL be. Perhaps as early as 2020.
He did walk 13 in those 17 IP, so that aspect needs improvement.
Hard throwing (96 MPH, with a plus curve ball and cutter) - so, is Gilliam a future NY Mets pen arm? Sure could be. Almost tempted to write sure WILL be. Perhaps as early as 2020.
# 29 QUINN BRODEY OF
So far, Quinn has been as hot in his career as Quinn the Eskimo. BRRRR!!!
Just .217/.287/.389 in A ball in 2018 for the 2017 third rounder. But unlike Matt Winaker, who was drafted at the same time and who I have at # 23, Brodey played 31 games for St Lucie, a level Matt has yet to reach.
In those 31 games, Quinn hit better at St Lucie than lower Columbia (.245/.313/.382), so perhaps a Brodey surge is in store for 2019.
Who knows?? Maybe Brodey can impress Brodie this year.
The lefty hitter and thrower has, to his credit, stolen 21 of 26, with 9 triples in his first 728 pro plate appearances, so he is swift and has moderate OF power...but can he hit enough? We'll see if he can ramp the average and OBP up in 2019.
In this age of handheld devices, Hanhold had to be in my Top 30.
Just .217/.287/.389 in A ball in 2018 for the 2017 third rounder. But unlike Matt Winaker, who was drafted at the same time and who I have at # 23, Brodey played 31 games for St Lucie, a level Matt has yet to reach.
In those 31 games, Quinn hit better at St Lucie than lower Columbia (.245/.313/.382), so perhaps a Brodey surge is in store for 2019.
Who knows?? Maybe Brodey can impress Brodie this year.
The lefty hitter and thrower has, to his credit, stolen 21 of 26, with 9 triples in his first 728 pro plate appearances, so he is swift and has moderate OF power...but can he hit enough? We'll see if he can ramp the average and OBP up in 2019.
# 30 ERIC HANHOLD RHRP
In this age of handheld devices, Hanhold had to be in my Top 30.
The fireballing 6'5" righty did fine with Binghamton's pen, but not so good with the Vegas squad (19 innings, 15 runs, 20 Ks), nor in his brief cup o' Joe in 2018 with the Mets (2.1 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs).
A former 6th round pick of the Brewers, we'll see if he has what it takes in 2019 to rise to the top in a very crowded bullpen group of pen wannabes
30 prospects down, 20 to go, all indisputable, using impeccable, irrefutable logic (sure, right).
Next article we dip down to # 31 thru # 35.
We cant give up on Thompson yet.
ReplyDeleteHe was an RBI machine until his broken hand last year.
He easily can become the starter at 3B in Syracuse, return to being a ++ hitter and, in the BVW method of operation, become trde bait
Agreed on Thompson......good competition along with the kid they got at the trade deadline last year (Toffey?) and eventually, Vientos.
ReplyDeleteThird base is looking solid.
I also like Gilliam and think he will be much higher on these lists, this time next year.
I hope you are both right - hard, in Brodie World, to see Thompson being more than trade bait.
ReplyDeleteMike, Ryley Gilliam needs to come out firing bullets in 2019. Then, maybe he'll be firing bullets for the Mets pen in 2020.
Thompson couldn't approach solid AVG levels in the PCL, so while I hope for the best I expect a tad less. Trade bait would be seem to his future and at age 25 he may just turn into chum.
ReplyDeleteReese, David Thompson was here last season - his name was Phillip Evans
ReplyDeleteAnother former Met gone onto greener pastures...
ReplyDeleteThomas Brennan:
ReplyDeleteA link to your Dowdy article would be helpful. I had to use a search engine to find it.
FYI in the article you incorrectly state that Dowdy was obtained via waivers when in fact he's Rule 5.
That waiver inaccuracy has you then saying he could be called up late 2019.
But the reality is he has to say with the Mets all season on the 25 or get injured and on DL in some combo to remain Mets property, or pitch so bad he passes through waivers or Indians don't want him back.
I expect Dowdy to remain a Met because Brodie really likes him as future starter depth with upside which the team needs. So if he has a solid/respectable spring, count Dowdy as arm in pen or even rotation should someone sustain injury.
If he doesn't pitch well but Mets like the talent, Brodie and crew have big decision to make on a team with playoff aspirations. Can they afford to carry an arm they may not often use? I don't think we know what Mets will do.
ReplyDeleteAt least Thompson was drafted in 2015. He could still reach the majors but it's in his interest to play other positions and that should be the Mets plan if they have any intention of keeping him.
I feel bad for Cecchini's plight having been drafted in 2012 and thus having a few cups of coffee and now blocked. Must be very frustrating for struggling through several excess error seasons and injury. I think Gavin is untapped talent. Depth for us but his future on this team doesn't look good for a few years at least if he doesn't find his way onto the roster as utility option.
LongTime, I will look into adding links. Cecchini is still not old...make great play happen.
ReplyDeleteThomas B.
ReplyDeleteThanks, re: link.
At 25 Cecchini isn't old but considering when he was drafted, and in first round - and his high expectations of self, I suspect he's disappointed and now frustrated having lost opportunity through injury and struggle. Now he's blocked at second after losing SS to Rosario several years ago.
Gavin's going to need to prove himself in spring training and give the Mets reason to move him up the depth chart.
His best opportunity would be as back up SS with some speed which we don't have. That's where he can carve out an opportunity in spring training for 25-man or call up DL replacement for Rosario if he hits and fields well. The would put him ahead of Guillorme.
longtime, I think when Cecchini got drafted Abner Doubleday was still alive. Kidding aside, Luis G to me was born in the wrong era. 15 position players, and much more small ball, back in the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteFranklin Square, NY native and 1969 WS hero Al Weis hit well under .200 his last 5 major league years, as a frequent late inning defensive replacement. But got in nearly 500 games in that stretch. The strictly defensive replacement with no pop role no longer exists in MLB.
Gavin, if he can field and hit with some power, to me is more likely be a viable MLB sub, I agree with you.Unless Luis finds a bunch of power.
One Fan's Obnoxious Opinions, And Expect Nothing Less Than That, Okay.
ReplyDelete1. Why don't they put them there two veteran type players vying for the starting second base Mets' job this season, into a half/half kinda' platoon and leave it at that. Then when one has to go out injured the other one will be primed and lubed ready to go full time.
2. Kyle Dowdy has not totally arrived yet (as a whole pitching package) I don't think anyway. Has like a 20-20 MiLB record mark or somethin' like that anyway. Kyle does have impressive strikeout to innings ratios consistently and season to season as well. I say let the kid play and see, there is always time for all of us fans to complain later on per usual as we always do. It's our job. Give the Kyle kid a shot from long relief maybe first, if the pen ain't too full already.
3. Make Todd Frasier the backup catcher behind Wilson Ramos. I bet he liked the "Bull Durham" movie as much as I did, and he does favor that Crash Davis guy some I have noticed. Why not. Bein' creative or at least trying to.
4. Now, third base is open for Jeff McNeil. Thank you Lord. Jed Lowrie and Robbie Cano share second in a platoon, Todd "Crash Davis" Frasier is cheerleading from the bench and playing behind Wilson Ramos in the backup catcher role, swinging for the fences in a pinch hitting role, which the Mets have needed since like Rusty played here, not counting Jay Bruce of course.
5. One more starter maybe? Could see. A good one with veteran success to his credit. Why in the world do that you ask? A: Because injuries happen and more often here then on most teams. Boom, Jake could go down, Lord forbid. Or boom Zach or maybe Noah, oh no! Say one does, in like May sometime. Then what Einstein? Corey Oswalt cannot assume their replacement, not yet, he's too new. Seth Lugo may be purring in the pen again, do you then move him into a starter role for three weeks? That's maybe why. Who knows. Makes some sense maybe.
Personally, I like Mike Minor or Clay Buchholz (on a minor league contract) would make some sense maybe. But there are others out there too. What about Dallas Kuechel on a last second one year same as the 2018 deal with Houston? He's old but look at his stats of recent and then back a ways too. Nice WHIP man!
Look, if it came down to getting an often injured Pollack for the Mets' outfield or Keuchel (a left handed starter BTW), I'd go with Dallas. He makes a little less yearly than Pollock is asking for, and the commitment to Keuchel would hopefully be for just one year. Then for 2020, he could re-do a longer term contract with another club, after the Mets win the 2019 WS. Gotta' love it.
Imagine though, a rotation of Jake, Noah, Zach, Dallas, and either Steven or Jason. Booyah!