John From Albany - 2020 Binghamton Rumble Ponies Projection

Having done our projection of the Mets Major League Roster, and the AAA Syracuse Mets Roster, we move on to the projected roster of the AA Binghamton Rumble Ponies. 

This last Thursday at 6:15 the Binghamton Rumble Ponies were to open their season at home against the Akron RubberDucks.  No opening day yet, as the season is postponed until at least May 10^th, but in the meantime, here’s who I am projecting to be on the team. 

Just like Syracuse, I think the starting rotation looks real good:

First, there are two who didn’t pitch at all in 2019, Franklyn Kilome and Rob Whalen.

Kilome, the prospect the Mets received for Asdrubal Cabrera in 2018, is one of the top rated pitching prospects in the Mets system.  The 6-foot-6, 175-pound right-hander, threw in the high 90’s before Tommy John surgery.  His lifetime minor league record is 22-27, 3.55 ERA, 471.1 innings, 419 Ks, 195 walks.  It is possible his innings will be limited as he builds his arm strength.

Also trying to build back arm strength, Rob Whalen will piggy back starts with Franklin as he missed 2019 after retiring from baseball last year.  Rob is very happy to be back with the Mets organization.  Before being traded along with John Gant to Atlanta as part of the Juan Uribe/Kelly Johnson trade, Rob had a great season in 2014, 9-2 1.94 ERA, 69.2 innings, 63 K’s, 0.99 WHIP. 

The staff ace will most likely be Kevin Smith - last year’s Sterling Mets Minor League Pitcher of the Year, 3-2, 3.45 ERA, 31.1 innings, 6 starts, 25 hits, 15 walks, 28 Ks, 1.28 WHIP, last year in Binghamton;

Tylor Megill- last year in Columbia, St. Lucie and Binghamton, 71.2 innings with 92 strikeouts and 25 walks while allowing just 2 HRs all year, 6-7 with a 3.52 ERA.

Thomas Szapucki - in 2019 he split time with Columbia and St. Lucie and made one start for Binghamton in August.  His 2019 line: 1-3, 2.63 ERA, 21 games, 18 starts, 61 innings, 72 Ks, 26 walks, 1.22 WHIP.    

Tony Dibrell - I think Tony has the chance to be this year’s Harol Gonzalez.  In 2018 Harol went 0-9 in nine Binghamton starts with a 7.79 ERA but bounced back in 2019 going 6-4 with a 3.14 in 17 games for the Ponies.  In 2019, Tony went 8-4, 2.39 ERA, 90.1 innings for St. Lucie but 0-9, 9.31 ERA for Binghamton.

I think the bullpen will also be good:

Yeizo Campos, real good last year in St. Lucie – 1-0, 1.10 ERA, 19 games, 32.2 Innings; 0-3, 5.42 ERA, 8 games, 14.2 innings, in Binghamton. 

Ryley Gilliam, one of the Mets top relief pitching prospects.  His combined 2019 numbers for St. Lucie/Binghamton/ Syracuse was 5-0. 6.05 ERA, 29 games, 39.2 innings, 56 Ks, 18 walks, 1.552 WHIP. Shut down last July with an injury, he was sent to the Arizona Fall League where he had a 0.96 ERA in 7 games, 9.1 innings, 11 Ks, 2 Walks, 1.071 WHIP.

Stephen Villines, last year in Binghamton, he pitched to a 2-1 record with a 1.20 ERA, 42 Ks, 45 innings in 28 games.  I have him back in Binghamton only because I see Syracuse’s pen all filled and he will get regular work in Binghamton.

Thomas McIlraith, 4-6 2.89 ERA, 23 games, 43.2 innings, 42 K’s, 1.15 WHIP combined for both St. Lucie and Binghamton. 

Tommy Wilson, solid last year in St. Lucie and Binghamton as a starter.  His combined A and AA numbers last year were 8-7, 3.80 ERA, 21 Games, 113.2 innings, 1.14 WHIP.  He easily could be in the rotation with Kilome or Whalen opening in the pen as they return to pitching. 

Villines and Gilliam could easily end up in Syracuse.  I have them in AA to get regular work and as the AAA bullpen looks full.

Other pitchers currently listed on the Ponies’ roster: Michael Gibbons; Colin Holderman; Darwin Ramos; Luc Rennie; Marcel Renteria; Joseph Shaw; and Peter Tago.

Catching: Austin Bossart, David Rodriguez; Since I think Patrick Mazeika and Ali Sanchez will spilt the catching duties in Syracuse, I see Bossart and Rodriguez in Binghamton manning things in Binghamton.  Plus the Rumble Ponies simulated 2020 Opening day game had them both on the team.   

Both can catch.  The 24 year old Rodriguez impressed this spring with the bat going 2 for 5 and glove throwing out a base runner in 5 game appearances.  

Bossart, who will turn 27 in July, hit 3 homers against Binghamton two weeks before being traded to the Mets in the Jason Vargas deal. 

In the Infield is St. Lucie’s double play duo of 2B Carlos Cortes and SS Manny Rodriguez jumping up together.  This will make room for Ronny Mauricio at SS in St. Lucie. 

Carlos Cortes, a clutch hitter who hit .342 with men in scoring position as part of an 11 HR, 68 RBIs, .255 BA/.366 OBP/.397 SLG 2019 season.

Brooklyn born Manny Rodriguez made 25 errors last year in St. Lucie.  I saw him two years ago for Brooklyn and again this spring with the Mets and thought he looked much smoother at short.  I have seen him make a nice play going into the hole to get the ball only to make an errant throw.  He has all the tools.  He just has to put it all together.  He slashed .242/.314/.313 last year in St. Lucie.

At the corners I have Jeremy Vasquez at first – 5 HR, 61 RBI; .273/.357/.369 in 2019; Will Toffey at third limited to 91 games last year due to injury, 5 HR, 27 RBI, .219/.347/.349; 

Backing them up I have Edgardo Fermin who can also play the outfield; and switch hitting veteran Joey Terdoslavich who will back up at first and DH.

In the outfield, I am projecting that Hansel Moreno and Wagner Lagrange will be brought up from St. Lucie with Moreno in Center and Lagrange in Left. 

Wagner split time last year in Columbia and St. Lucie and in 107 games/385 at bats, he delivered a .286 BA/ .337 OBP/ .421 Slg. and a .758 OPS with 4 triples, 6 homers, 26 doubles.  I think he deserves the promotion.

Hansel produced the a .783 OPS at Columbia last year with a slash line of .276 BA/.344 OBP/.440 Slg.; 116 At Bats, 32 hits, 4 doubles, 5 HRs, 14 RBIs, 13 walks, 26 Ks.  Hansel struggled a little in St. Lucie with a .216 BA/.274 OBP/.297 Slg.

I also have four other outfielders fighting for time: Quinn Brodey (130 games last year split between St. Lucie and Binghamton 10 HR, 62 RBI, .266/.323/.403 – good arm in right); Braxton Lee (another good defender with a good arm who can play CF, .271/.342/.357 split between AA and AAA last year) and Tim Tebow and Sebastian Elizalde.

Tebow and Elizalde are both corner outfielders with power. 

After slashing .163/.240/.255 for Syracuse last year, I have Tebow, 32, starting in AA to get his swing and confidence back.  He slashed .273/.336/.399 for Binghamton in 2018. 

Elizalde, 28, should get lots of at-bats.  In 10 minor league seasons he has 60 HR, 356 RBI, .286/.349/.425.

That’s my projection for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.  You Tube had the Rumble Ponies Vs. the Akron Rubberducks virtual season opener.  

Let’s hope for some great upstate weather this year and let’s hope we play some real ball this summer.