Reese Kaplan -- Syracuse Mets' Pitching a Strength

In their inaugural season as the Syracuse Mets the AAA version of the big league club looks to be putting a pretty solid product on the field.  That’s important for the local folks in Syracuse but also it bodes well for the Mets in Queens should they need to bring up someone to help fortify the roster due to injuries.

In the outfield the Syracuse team looks to have former big leaguers Rajai Davis, Carlos Gomez, Gregor Blanco and Rymer Liriano available for them, along with Las Vegas 51 carry over Kevin Kaczmarski.  Of this group, Gomez is likely to be the first call-up if he can show that 2018 was a blip on his otherwise productive major league record.  He’s not the defensive standout he once was (in fact, sporting negative DWAR numbers in CF), but he has affiliation with the club and a track record of success in the past.

Rajai Davis has been something of a one-trick-pony in the big leagues, stealing bases with aplomb, but offering up a pedestrian .262 batting average for his career with single digit power.  It's been reported that if he doesn't make the big club he can become a free agent so he may or may not be there.

Rymer Liriano has hit as many as 20 HRs in a minor league season, but like many power hitters he had trouble making contact, striking out pretty often.  His brief major league trials in 2014 and 2017 resulted in .220 hitting.  

Gregor Blanco doesn’t have quite Davis’ speed nor Liriano’s power.  I expect he will be the reserve in the mix.  Kevin Kaczmarski has hit .296 across his four minor league season but with neither power nor speed on his resume.  Still, at age 27 he’s likely a better bet for playing time over the 35 year old Blanco or the 38 year old Davis. 

Photo by Ed Delaney

The name people are waiting for, of course, is former Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow whose work ethic and larger-than-life personality doesn’t exactly match what he’s accomplished on the diamond.  However last year he was off to a great start in AA with a .273 batting average before a broken bone in his hand ended his season prematurely.  He may get ticketed to Binghamton, but Syracuse is most definitely in his 2019 future.

Photo by Ed Delaney

On the infield you likely have a few weeks of Pete Alonso to enjoy upstate before he makes his way to Citifield.  Then you have Gavin Cecchini penciled in at 2B.  Gavin can hit and perhaps can be passable in the field at the somewhat less challenging position of 2B, assuming Adeiny Hechavarria sticks around to play SS with Danny Espinosa either on the bench or released.  David Thompson, also of the broken bone fate, will likely begin the year at 3B.  He can also hit.  Behind the plate you have Devin Mesoraco (if he doesn’t break camp with the big club) or Tomas Nido with Colton Plaia and other warm bodies behind him.   You also have returning suspect, er, prospect, Dilson Herrera.  

Photo by Ernext Dove

In the starting rotation you have a nice mix of Corey Oswalt (who was making it look easy in spring training), the newly svelte Chris Flexen, P.J. Conlon, Drew Gagnon and Walker Lockett.  Hector Santiago would have been a decent arm to stash in AAA but he has an opt-out if he doesn’t come north and he’s likely to exercise it to get a chance in the majors with another club.  Still, based upon past history, that’s pretty good rotation.

Photo by Ernest Dove

In the bullpen you will have a couple of guys who were perfect before being reassigned to the minor league camp – Joshua Torres and Corey Taylor.  Then you have some other possibilities including Steve Villines, Blake Taylor and familiar faces Paul Sewald and Jacob Rhame.  Their bullpen has the potential to be one of the best in the league. 

While the offensive side of the ledger might be a bit suspect (particularly after Pete Alonso departs), the club’s pitching should keep them in the thick of things all year long.  I suspect Tim Tebow might make a quick ascent to AAA to correspond with the Alonso promotion.