John From Albany - 2020 Syracuse Roster Projection

Reese Kaplan laid out the projected shortened season 26 man roster this past Saturday.

We now move to the projected rosters for the Mets Minor leagues.  First up, the Syracuse Mets.

Granted, with the delayed season and the potential expanded rosters in the majors, it will not be a typical year.  

However, for now, I am projecting the minor league rosters as if it was a normal year.  Once the 2020 season format becomes final, we can adjust from there.

I really think Syracuse has the chance to have a great starting rotation. 

First, David Peterson impressed a lot of people things spring when he went 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 3 games, 6 innings, 6Ks, 3 Walks, 5 hits.  The Mets 2017 1^st round draft pick looks to be the first pitcher up in 2020 should the Mets need him but in the meantime, I am projecting him to lead the Syracuse staff.

Corey Oswalt who has been up and down with the Mets, was 10-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 16 starts for Syracuse last year.  Corey and this next pitcher were a big part of Syracuse having the best record in the International League after the all-star break. 

Harol Gonzalez, Harol had a tremendous 2019 for Binghamton and Syracuse.  After going 6-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 17 games for Double A Binghamton (including a combined no-hitter with Ryder Ryan), he went 6-0 for Syracuse with a 2.68 ERA in 8 games for Syracuse.   

Last year Stephen Gonsalves battled injuries in Minnesota, Rochester and elsewhere appearing in just 7 games in the majors and 8 games in the minors.  However, in 2018 he went 12-3 with a 2.76 ERA, 1.17 WHIP in 23 games (4 AA/19 AAA).  If he is now fully recovered, the Syracuse rotation will be stocked.

Erasmo Ramírez had a rough year with Seattle and Boston last year but was very impressive this spring going 1-0, 1.13 ERA, 4 games, 8 innings, 1 Ks, 1 HR, 1.00 WHIP.  I think he could be another early option should the Mets need a starter in Queens.

That’s my prediction on the Syracuse starting rotation: David Peterson; Corey Oswalt; Harol Gonzalez; Stephen Gonsalves; Erasmo Ramirez.  

I think the Syracuse Bullpen also looks to be great.

For a spot starter/long man I think it will be Pedro Payano.  Pedro started 4 games for the Rangers last year and 27 games in his minor league career but was used in relief for 5 games for Phil Regan’s Toros Del Este in the Dominican League last winter.  I could see him both starting and relieving. 

The rest of the pen looks solid as well.  Ryder Ryan 3-1 3.05 ERA 25 games in 2019 for Binghamton will join Matt Blackham 3-0 2.30 ERA in 12 games 2019 Syracuse; Stephen Nogosek 3-0, 2 saves, 1.15 ERA, 31.1 innings; 30 Ks; Paul Sewald 3-3, 3 saves, 3.35 ERA, 52 Ks, 51 innings; Daniel Zamora 2-1, 4 saves, 4.20 ERA, 30 innings, 36 Ks and Tyler Bashlor 3-2, 8 saves, 3.41 ERA, 37Ks, 37 innings. 

Here are the other pitchers currently listed on the Syracuse Roster - Joe Zanghi; Adonis Uceta; Chasen Shreve; Yefry Ramírez; Francisco Rios; Nick Rumbelow; Ezequiel Zabaleta; Corey Taylor (possibly starting the year on the DL);

In addition, I have Drew Smith in Syracuse as he battles back from Tommy John surgery.

That makes 21 pitchers.  Minor League rules allow for a 35 player AAA Roster - 25 active – 10 reserve. I think Syracuse will go with 13 pitchers on the active roster leaving some on DL, some inactive, and others on the above list possibly released.  

That will leave 12 position players as follows. 

Catching: Patrick Mazeika and Ali Sanchez.  Patrick Mazeika led Binghamton last year with 16 HRs and 69 RBIs.  He had a slash line of .245/.312/.426 while playing 55 games behind the plate and 53 games at first.  Ali Sanchez is considered one of the best defensive catchers in the Mets system and he hit last year too: 1HR, 33 RBI, .261/.326/.322 (71 games for Binghamton – 21 games for Syracuse). 

Austin Bossart and David Rodriguez are also listed on the Syracuse Roster along with Rene Rivera.  It is possible that one of these may also be in Syracuse with Mazeika mostly manning first.  I am going with Reese that Rene will be in Queens.  My guess is that at least Bossart or Rodriguez is in Binghamton. 

First Base: MLB Veteran Matt Adams.  Matt hit .226 with 20 HR and 56 RBI in just 310 at bats for Washington in 2019. 

Second Base: Luis Carpio. Luis split time between St. Lucie and Binghamton last year.  I think he is ready for Syracuse. His combined 2019 stats: 4 HR, 34 RBI, .282/.361/.380; 

Shortstop: Top tier Mets prospect Andres Gimenez.  The 2019 Mets Minor League Defender of the year in 2019, Andres led the Arizona Fall League last year with .371 batting average and a .999 OPS.

Third Base: David Thompson.  After hitting .280 with 11 HR and 95 RBIs in 2016 for Columbia and St. Lucie and then 16 HR 68 RBIs and .263 in 2017 for Binghamton, Dave was considered one of the top 3B prospects on the Mets.  Then in 2018 and 2019 he battled injuries.  Last year, Dave split time between Syracuse and Binghamton and in 405 at bats he hit .217 with 9 HR and 45 RBIs.  Hopefully this is the year he gets back on track.  If he produces like he did in 2016 or 2017, Syracuse will have a very potent infield.   

Rounding out the infield are minor league free agents Max Moroff 2B/SS who also plays the outfield - .251/.358/.382 in an 8 year minor league career, and Jake Hager 2B/SS who also has seen time in the outfield - .259/.312/.376 in 9 minor league seasons. 

The outfield could be real interesting.  First, there are only three outfielders currently listed on the Syracuse Roster. The most notable one missing is Tim Tebow as Tim is currently listed on Binghamton.  This could be a temporary roster move with the intention to move him back to AAA when the season starts or they could have put him in AA to get his confidence back after his .163/.240/.255 season in Syracuse last year.

Some people are calling for the Mets to try Andres Gimenez in Center Field.  Maybe by having just three outfielders on the roster, they plan to try that.  Instead, I think they will fill in with Moroff and Hager but I see the outfield shaping up like this:

Ryan Cordell, RF, the 7 year minor league veteran and former White Sox looked good this spring.  He has a .273/.334/.458 slash in his minor league career.

Johneshwy Fargas, CF, also impressed this spring with his speed, his outfield play and hitting for the cycle one game.  He stole 50 bases last year in AA Richmond.  Think he will do great in Syracuse. (FYI, he is currently listed on Binghamton's roster).

Jarrett Parker, LF, the former Angel hit 24 HRs last hear in the Pacific Coast League with a .266/.394/.535 slash. 

Travis Taijeron, 1B/OF, back again in Syracuse after a 24 HR, 70 RBI season with a .229/.364/.496 slash line. 

According to MiLB.com: “No Minor League team has gone a longer period of time without winning it all” than Syracuse. “The last Syracuse club to do so was the 1976 Chiefs.”

2020 could be the year Syracuse finally breaks through.  Let’s hope there is a 2020 Syracuse Mets season because it sure could be a lot of fun.