"I'm impressed, and I'm keeping my eye on you."
You can have all the Top 30 and Top 50 prospect lists you want.
What I want to know is: who is impressing me RIGHT NOW?
Last year, in late April, one essentially unranked guy who was impressing the HECK out of me was Jeff McNeil.
Anyone following him now? He's done OK since, huh?
But this is 2019. Who is impressing me RIGHT NOW??
SIMEON WOODS RICHARDSON is one.
Last year, in GCL ball as a teenager, he fans 15 in 26 stellar innings.
So he skips the Appalachian League...and the NY Penn League...and heads right to the South Atlantic League. And impressed there. The dude will be 18 all year.
In his first 3 starts there, as a very young man for that league, he has done this:
First start: fanned the side in the very first inning, gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning in the 2nd inning. Walked none, fanned 4.
Second start: 3 innings, 2 hits, no runs, no walks, 2 Ks.
Third start: 3 innings, 1 hit, no runs, no walks, 5 Ks.
So, in 7 2/3 innings, no walks and 11 Ks.
Gooden-esque?
Count me IMPRESSED.
RONNY MAURICIO is another guy with huge upside.
Also just turned 18, he had two 4 hit games within a couple of days - who does that? - and is hitting .346 thru Wednesday.
He started at DH for the Mets in spring training in back to back games before turning 18, and was 3 for 7, a walk, and a sac fly.
He could be in Queens a lot faster than it takes to drive through congested midtown Manhattan.
RYLEY GILLIAM
In the "Mack, you're right AGAIN???" category, Gilliam has dominated opponent coming out of the St Lucie bullpen. 8.1 innings of 3 hit, no walk, 12 K ball? "Dominant."
Mack had "scouted" Gilliam and raved about him coming into the draft. Gilliam is proving Mack to be prophetic.
I wonder if "Prophet Mack" sees Gilliam reaching the NY Mets this season? Wouldn't surprise me.
BLAKE TIBERI
In St Lucie, Tiberi is hitting up a storm so far. As in .386/.451/.523. Let's hope the former 3rd round infielder keeps up the good work.
QUINN BRODEY
Last year's hitting struggles seemingly behind him, Brodey's first 13 games for St Lucie have resulted in a very fine .333/.375/.417 split. Also a former 3rd rounder, let's hope the swift outfielder keeps on smacking the ball.
MATT BLACKHAM
"How would you like your Ham, sir?"
"I'll take it Black, thanks."
Binghamton wished they had a double serving of Blackham.
Matt Blackham is relieving really well for them so far. 5.1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, and 9 Ks? Impressive. Oh, and career-wise, 13-7, 2.28, 161 innings, 223 Ks, 1.08 WHIP. Keep it up, Matt. Great pen help is hard to find in Queens.
TONY DIBRELL
The RHSP has 3 starts for St Lucie as he debuts there, and in 16.1 IP, just 9 hits allowed, an 0.86 WHIP, and a tiny 2.20 ERA.
The hard throwing righty has gotten off strong in 2019 - not surprising me at all. After all, Tony was my pre-season # 19 Mets prospect in - and I am confident he is headed for my Top 10.
TONY DIBS!!
TONY DIBRELL
The RHSP has 3 starts for St Lucie as he debuts there, and in 16.1 IP, just 9 hits allowed, an 0.86 WHIP, and a tiny 2.20 ERA.
The hard throwing righty has gotten off strong in 2019 - not surprising me at all. After all, Tony was my pre-season # 19 Mets prospect in - and I am confident he is headed for my Top 10.
TONY DIBS!!
LASTLY:
DILSON HERRERA
It is hard to be hot while hitting in a freezer called Upstate NY in April, but the former Mets can't-miss prospect, slowed by injuries, traded, and then signed back, is showing some very solid signs.
As in .282/.349/.538 and 9 ribbies in 13 games. Just turned 25, he is hoping for another big league opportunity.
I know it's early - but are you, the reader, impressed?
10 comments:
Tom -
It is obviously that Gilliam will be getting a promotion soon.
Whether it is to Binghamton or Syracuse is debatable.
Can he play Queens at the end of this year? Well, many scouts felt he had the talent and maturity to make it to the MLB level in one season.
If he keeps missing bats and the Mets pen keeps floundering... who knows.
Who knows is right, Mack. The way the Mets are pitching, if Gilliam can handle it, he may be here in 2019.
Meanwhile, just-turned-18 year old Ronny Mauricio has a stellar .390 OBP - can he do the unthinkable and be on the Mets in 2020? I think the unthinkable may be thinkable.
Tom -
Gilliam is mature enough. He was in his senior year as well.
(This year's Clemson choice... SS/3B Logan Davidson 146-AB, .288, 10-HR, 35-RBI)
Mack, Gilliam just needs to have one dominant relief outing after another.
Look where it has gotten Edwin Diaz, who was not a reliever in the minors.
Consistent excellence is what stirs the drink in this game.
If Gilliam continues to pitch like has for the rest of April, I'd promote him to AA.
Another month like that, AAA.
Another month like that, the Mets.
If I was Herrera I would beg to play SS and 3B as well as OF to increase versatility to enhance chances of another opportunity in the big leagues. There's somebody named Robinson Cano blocking his 2B opportunity.
Dilson Herrera could be a better offensive outfielder than Keon Broxton...hmmm...
I left out inadvertently one more prospect who continues to impress me: Tony Dibrell.
3 starts for St Lucie, 16.1 IP, 9 hits, 0.86 WHIP, 2.20 ERA.
The hard throwing righty has gotten off strong in 2019 - not surprising me at all. After all, Tony was my # 19 Mets prospect in pre-season - and I am confident he is headed for the Top 10.
So I am adding him to my article.
They all look promising, but others would have to be cut from the 40 in order to make room .Let's not rush things unless a need suddenly arises
I like two AA relivers the best, Stephen Villines and Joe Zanghi. Zanghi got the win in Binghamton's double header nightcap today though he gave up his first runs of the season. Binghamton and Syracuse both won double headers today
4 great innings Saturday evening from Simeon Woods Richardson.
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