John from Albany - The Alternative 50 Mets Prospects, Numbers 20-16.

For these next five, I grouped together 3 catchers along with a 2^nd Baseman and a Power Hitting Right Fielder.  Maybe some could be ranked higher or lower.  I was more interested in calling attention to them than the ranking. 

#20: Carlos Cortes, 2^nd Baseman, Bats Left, Throws Both, DOB 6/30/1997, 3^rd round, 2018 Draft. 

Not too many 2^nd Basemen are the third place hitter for their team.  Carlos spent a majority of his time in the three hole for both Brooklyn in 2018 and St. Lucie in 2019.  

2018: 47 games, 4 HR, 24 RBIs, .264 BA/.338 BA/.382 SLG for a .720 OPS.  2019: 127 games, 11 HR, 68 RBIs, .255 BA/.366 OBP/.397 SLG for a .733 OPS.  

However, when you look at his stats with men in scoring position last year for St. Lucie: 120 At Bats, .342 BA/.415 OBP/.508 SLG/.923 OPS.  

He made the All-Star team each year he has played.  When I saw him in Brooklyn in 2018, I thought he was one of their best players.  It is possible he will be in Binghamton this year where we will see how he handles the AA competition.

Tom had Carlos as his #20 Prospect. Mack had him as his number #24.  Really love this quote about Carlos that 213 Miles From Shea had the other day: “Also an important note, he’s ambidextrous. Throws left when he’s in the outfield, throws right when he’s at second. That’s pretty neat!”

Here is Carlos Cortes’ FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Carlos Cortes’ Baseball Savant page.

Video of Carlos hitting for Brooklyn in 2018.

#19: Andres Regnault, Catcher/DH, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 12/21/1998, Signed by the New York Mets as an International free agent on July 24, 2015.  

The last two years Andres has hit.  2019 in Kingsport, 44 games, 8 HR, 49 RBI, .292 Avg/.328 OBP/.489 SLG 2018 on the DSL Mets 1 team, 53 games, 9 HR, 45 RBI, .333 Avg/ .420 OBP/.523 SLG  Both of those years he split his time as a catcher and as a DH. 

Catching he threw out 9 of 31 attempted base stealers (29% average) and in 2018, 23 out of 62 (37% average).  

Tom had Andres as his #25 prospect. 

Many Kingsport players tend to head to Brooklyn the next year.  It is possible Andres could wind up in Columbia as well.     

Here is Andres Regnault’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Andres Regnault’s Baseball Savant page.

Real Short video of Andres hitting.

#18: Endy Rodriguez, Catcher, Bats Both, Throws Right, DOB 5/26/2000, Signed by the New York Mets as an International free agent on July 2, 2018. 

A switch hitting catcher with a .921 OPS while splitting time between the DSL 1 league and the Gulf Coast Mets.  In total in 2019, 31 games, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .294 BA/.411 OBP/.510 SLG He played 15 games behind the plate, 9 in the outfield, 1 at 1^st Base, the rest DH. 

He caught 5 would be base stealers out of 16 attempts for a 31% average.  

Mack had him as his #19 Prospect. He could get moved to another position in the future but the ability to catch and switch hit should help him advance.

Here is Endy Rodriguez’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Endy Rodriguez’s Baseball Savant page.

#17: Ali Sanchez, Catcher, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 1/20/1997, Signed by the New York Mets as an International free agent on July 2, 2013.  

One of the better defensive catchers in the Mets system, Ali hit .278 in AA Binghamton last year with .337 OBP and .337 SLG for a .674 OPS.  In 21 games in Syracuse Ali did not do as well with the Bat as put up a slash line of .179 BA/.277 OBP/.250 SLG. 

In last video link below, Ali talk about how he broke the hamate bone in his hand and had to adjust his swing.  He credited Binghamton Hitting Coach Tony Jaramillo with helping him succeed last year.  

However, the big news with Ali is his defense.  In 2018 he threw out 31 of 74 potential base stealers, a 42% average and last year he threw out 31 of 70, a 44% average.  

Tom had Ali as his #23^rd prospect.  

It is very possible Ali will be at Citi Field next year if they decide to go with Ali over Tomas Nido.  More likely, Ali will start in Syracuse.  I for one would think about having both Ali and Tomas on the team in flushing.  That way on days when Wilson Ramos rests, Wilson can be used as a late game pinch hitter for either Tomas or Ali and not have to go into the game. 

Here is Ali Sanchez’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Ali Sanchez’s Baseball Savant page.

Ali Sanchez hitting a homer for Columbia June 9, 2018.

Ali Sanchez and Andrés Giménez talk about time in the Arizona Fall League.

Ali Sanchez talks more about the Arizona Fall League and surgery in his hand.

#16: Freddy Valdez, Right Fielder, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 12/6/2001, Signed by the New York Mets as an International free agent on July 2, 2018.  

Freddy received a big signing bonus as part of the 2018 International Free Agent class.  He projects to be a power outfield bat.  

On the DSL Met 1 team he had a .790 OPS (one of the best in the Mets minor league system) with a slash line of .268 BA/.358 OBP/.432 SLG, 5 HR, 36 RBI. He ended the season being called up to the Gulf Coast Mets where he went 4 for 10 in 3 games with a HR and 3 RBI.  

I am thinking he will be in a short season league next year as an 18 year old.  Perhaps he may make it to Brooklyn. 

Here is Freddy Valdez’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Freddy Valdez’s Baseball Savant page.

Video of Freddy Valdez hitting at the international showcase.