Tom Brennan - HOW DID MY TOP 25 PROSPECTS DO THIS SPRING?

HOW DID MY TOP 25 PROSPECTS DO THIS SPRING?

Normally, each spring, lots of guys who won’t be on the Mets’ opening day roster get into spring games.  

Especially with young guys, it is exciting to see them in action, however brief.  

Really young guys tend to get late spring training cameos, presumably once they have gotten into a groove in minor league camp and adjusted to being around big league players. 

Sadly, several of my top 25 really young prospects had not gotten that opportunity yet.  Now they won’t, with spring training truncated by COVID-19.

In any event, how did guys in my top 25 do in this shortened spring training?  Let’s take a look.

1. SS Ronny Mauricio – still two weeks short of his 19^th birthday, Mauricio still got to the plate in 2 games and managed a single and strikeout.  Sweet.

2. C Francisco Alvarez – turned 18 four months ago.  Had not gotten into a regular spring game. 

3. SP Matt Allan – the youngster also had not gotten a game yet.

4. SS Andres Gimenez – only 6 for 28 (.214), but encouragingly, with 2 doubles, a HR, 3 walks and just 2 Ks.  The mere 2 Ks in 31 plate appearances to me is an exciting thing when looking forward.

5. 3B Brett Baty – another highly regarded youngster who hadn’t gotten into a regular spring game.

6. SP Thomas Szapucki – the not-so-young anymore lefty had not gotten into a game.  A bit disappointing to me.

7. 3B Mark Vientos – the still very young Marky V did not get into a game.

8. SP Kevin Smith – the lefty rocketed up to AA in 2019, but his spring outing was a bit rough, 4.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, a HR, 2 walks, and 3 Ks.  Small sample, for sure.

9. RP Stephen Nogosek – No Go had a great AAA 2020 season, but was NOT good in spring training: 3.2 IP, 3 hits, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 HRs, 4 Ks.  Not putting the best foot forward.

10. SP Tylor Megill – the 24 year old righty power arm had not gotten a game yet.

11. SP Josh Wolf – the youngster also had not gotten a game yet.

12. SP David Peterson – the former first round pick had a disappointing 2019 with just 3 wins in 24 starts for a team with an anemic offense.  Spring training 2020 was another story altogether.  6 innings, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 Ks.   Velocity up, too – the large lefty was certainly impressing. Very heartening.  Good things ahead.

13. RP Ryley Gilliam – climbed quickly in 2019 but was shut down.  This spring, rocky: 4 IP, 5H, 5 R, 2 HR, 2 BB, 3 Ks.  My preliminary conclusion? Needs another year in the minors.  Of course, relievers seem to get MLB opportunites during the season if they get hot.

14. SP Junior Santos– the super young giant also had not gotten a game yet.

15. IF Wilmer Reyes – King Wilmer II had not gotten into a regular spring game.

16. SP Garrison Bryant – the youngster also had not gotten a game yet.

17. IF/OF Sam Haggerty – now with Seattle, Sam I Am was having a great spring, with 5 for 14, 3 doubles, no Ks.  Come back, Sam. 

However, in his place, acquired minor league Johneshwy Fargas slots in at # 17 very nicely.  The extremely fast Fargas got tons of spring playing time, going 8 for 29, hitting for the cycle, and stealing 6 of 7 bases.  

No doubt the Mets are intrigued – now, can Fargas up his hitting tool?  If so, he could be a great utility OF down the road.  The 25 year old averaged better than a steal every 10 plate appearances in his minors career, including an amazing 97 steals in around 750 plate appearances the past two AA seasons.

18 RP Matt Blackham – the aging Matt has pitched well throughout his minors career, with lots of Ks but a high walk rate. Great spring – except for walks.  3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 Ks, FIVE WALKS.

19. IF Carlos Cortes – 0 for 1 with a K.

20. OF Freddy Valdez– the very young Freddy did not get into a game.

21. SP Harol Gonzalez – After a terrible 2018, a terrific 2019 followed by a rough AFL.  SO far this spring, 1 scoreless inning, but 3 hits allowed.

22. C Ali Sanchez – with a rep of stellar D and weak, low K bat, he followed suit with 1 double in 8 at bats and just 1 K.  I think his ability to put the ball in play is far better than Tomas Nido, but with Nido out of options, Sanchez most likely will get more minor league time to continue to grow the bat.

23. OF Alexander Ramirez– the super young Ramirez did not get into a game.  May he become the next Manny Ramirez.

24, C Andres Regnault – not one of the 8 catchers who had gotten into a game before spring ball was suspended.

25. 1B/C Pat Mazeika – Pat had slid slightly out of my Top 25, but two guys left.  So I am putting him at # 25.  Heck of a spring, 5 for 12, 3 doubles, a HR, 2 walks, just 2 Ks. 

What a shame his spring got suspended.  He has to have turned some heads.  His lefty bat at catcher could be very intriguing for the Mets to consider in 2020, if and when.

That’s it, folks.  What do you think?