6/30/19

Mack - A Sign of Life At The Lower Levels


Okay...

Last week I wrote about how bad this team is. I especially targeted that claim on the lack of talent in the three upper level affiliates. 

This column is different.

This column takes a look at the last domestic and International draft, plus the players currently playing on short-season teams. 

There are things to get excited about here.

The first are the International 16-year olds that were signed in the 2018/2019 IFA draft. One uber prospect that is playing right now for the DSL-1 team, is 17-year old Freddy Valdez. The Mets gve him a $1.45mil bonus to sign and he's holding his own in his first professional season.

The other two that came out of the same draft as Valdez (last June) were both catchers. One, Francisco Alvarez, was paid a record $2.7mil bonus by the Mets. He still is developing in came and probably won't be assigned to a DSL team until next season.

The other is Fernando Villalobos, who was a holdout for more money. Reports are that the 'Boys From Boston', our new draft guys, put this together by upping the ante with money ($500K) they received from the Broxton deal.

My guess the signing bonus was in the $1.5mil range.

Villalobos was just assigned to the DSL-1 team so it's probably a good chance that we will see him play this season. The good thing is we finally have two red chip catchers in the organization and both can eventually start moving up the chain along side themselves for the two DSL teams.

Domestically, if reports are true, this may turn out to be the best draft I have ever seen since I started doing this is the early 2000s. The top three draft picks (3B Brett Baty (GCL), RHP Josh Wolf (still unassigned) and RHP, Matthew Allan represent three of the top 37 ranked prospects in the draft.


The addition of these three would instantly redefine the current GCL squad. You have two of the top five prep pitchers in this past draft and the best prep third baseman.

Next comes the soon to be signed CF Jake Magnum, out of Mississippi State. Yes, Jake is a senior, but he's also the real deal. He was mysteriously drafted only in the 32nd round a year ago, ironically also by the Mets. I have never understood why players chose to go back and play their senior year. It doesn't matter what you do. You are still going to be given a minimum signing bonus. 

The other thing is we drafted him last year as a pitcher. This year we picked him for his bat: .357/.415/.468, 1-HR, 71-R, 21-SB.

He is 23 and seasoned enough to start even in St. Lucie, but, my guess (especially after seeing how bad the bats are missing balls there so far this season) is he will open up in Brooklyn.

(stats through end Friday night)

Getting back to the DSL teams:

DSL-2 catcher, Jose Hernandez, is hitting 375/.531/.417 but is doing this in only 24 at-bats because the guy he is splitting time with, 

DSL-1 catcher, Endy Rodriguez, has 18-RBIs in 
9 games (27 at-bats), with 2-HRs and an OPS of 1.124, and now has to share time with Villalobos (4-AB, .500).

The DSL-1 team also has two middle infielders that are making noise. 

Luis Castillo is 17-years old and playing in his first professional season. So far, in 46-AB, his stat line is: .333/.407/.417/824

Federico Polanco  is 18-years old and is hitting .321 in his second DSL season, He hit only .201 in 249-ABs for the DSL-2 team last year. One can improve with hard work and age.

19-year old OF, Carlos Dominguez is another first year professional and he's currently hitting .321.

Pitching wise, 17-year old, Ronny Rincones, is a first pro-year starter and has given up only 2-H on 15.1-IP. His ERA/WHIP in 0.00/0.65.

20-yr. old, Jhonfran Escalona, and 18-yr. old Robert Ramirez have a combined 0.00-ERA in 11.1-IP. 

DSL-2 wise...

Two outfielders are standing out. 18-yr. old, Dyron Campos (.330) and 19-yr. old Kenedy Corona (.296) are turning heads early. They too are first year pros.

Starter wise, Emmanuel Almonte and Carlos Castro are both putting up good numbers; however, both are already in their twenties which eliminates them as a prospect at this level.

Relief wise, 19-year old Antonio Villalba pitched 1.77 in 22-outings last season. This year he's 0.00 in 18.2-IP. Why is this guy still across the pond?

Lastly, 18-yr. old RP, Marco Villegas is 0.00 through 11.2-IP.


This is a lot of good players and I haven't even discussed Kingsport.

There is talent in this organization. Now, we have to just add to it and not trade any of them away in bad deals.














11 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

So true...young guys are very exciting to focus on. They will help the Mets recover.

Hobie said...

MiLB does not seem to have a Kingsport stats page.

Game stats seem to show both catchers, Astudillo & Regnault over .300.
MLB pisses me off eliminating that sffiliates page on its Mets site.

Mack Ade said...

Hobie

Think that's bad?

The Mets had two players from the 69' team featured as being dead.

Neither are.

Gary Seagren said...

The problem is we don't know (Mack do u know?)after last winter how much the new FO was really involved in BVW's major league moves or are they just used for the minor league's,international and draft signs? I don't want to think that Brodie's thinking he's the smartest guy in the room because based on this years team we're really screwed.

Mack Ade said...

Gary

It is my understanding that Jeff, thru Brodey is pulling all the shots in Queens

Mack Ade said...

Hobie

I just talked to KPort GM and he is looking into the problem

Hobie said...

Mack,
>> Think that's bad? The Mets had two players from the 69' team featured as being dead. Neither are. >>

You sure they weren't talking about the 2019 BP?

jd said...

Francisco Alvarez is playing in the GCL. 1.362 OPS on the young season.

Mack Ade said...

Gary/jd

Just spoke to someone.

The analytical kids that came aboard this pre-season have it in their contract that they have 100% control of what goes on in both the domestic and International draft.

This past domestic draft was theirs and it tuned out to be a gem.

The catcher Villalobos sign last week was an unsigned top 30 IFA kid that no one had left the $$$ demands his 'rep' demanded.... the new "Boys from Boston" know that time was running out because the money they had left needed around 500K more to pull the deal off.

Remember... all monies go poof at the deadline before the next draft (July 2nd)

They pulled it off with the Broxton to Orioles deal for 500K Intl $$$ and we got a red chip catcher

Gary Seagren said...

Mack that sounds good it's just that I actually hope to live long enough to see this all come to fruition you know what I mean.

Tony said...

The red chip catcher is fine, but the Mets did give up quite a bit which was Wahl & two prospects for Broxton, then sending Broxton
to the Orioles for the money to choose the catcher