Tom Brennan: Repost - 2019 GCL Mets Season Recap

I thought it might be fun to re-post some old articles involving 2019 Mets minor leaguers, since 2020 is indefinitely delayed. 

Here is a repost of my GCL Mets recap from last Sept...

GCL METS FELLERS SURE COULD HIT.

In the 18 team Gulf Coast League, in 54 games (30-24) played, they accomplished this:

291 runs (5.4 per game) - first overall; 437 hits - first overall; 95 doubles - first overall; 244 RBIs - first overall; 245 walks (2nd by one walk); 29 homers - 4th overall.

Specific terrific performers included:

SS Warren Saunders from the Bahamas had a great pro debut, hitting .323 in 33 games.

3B Jose Peroza had a Ruthian .766 slug % in 16 games before he headed off to Brooklyn.

OF Kenedy Corona hit .311 in 42 games - and hit 5 homers.

And Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty hit the snot out of the ball in their several pre-promotion games.

OF Zach Ashford hit .295, too, after a brief struggling start as a pro in Brooklyn.

Only 17 year old bonus baby William Lugo struggled, hitting .158 in 43 games.  He probably will make it all back as an 18 year old, though.

PITCHING?  NOT SO BAD EITHER:

ERA of 3.55 (8th); 465 Ks (4th overall); 16 homers allowed (5th best); 204 BBs (7th best).

Just having 2nd rounder Josh Wolf and 3rd rounder Matt Allen make very brief but successful debuts in the GCL would have been enough - DAYENU.

But Jhoander Suarez was 1-0, 1.79 with 47 Ks in 40 innings, which is nice.  

And Franklin Parra in 21 innings was 1-1, 2.57 with 10 hits allowed in 21 innings, with 29 Ks.  Sweet.

All in all, a good season for the GCL laddies, who got cut a bit short by approaching Hurricane Dorian - here was the press release on August 29:

The Gulf Coast League today announced it has canceled the final two games of the season and the league playoff series as Florida prepares for the impact of Hurricane Dorian.

Games scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 29, will be the final games played. The league's three division champions have already been decided with the GCL Marlins winning the East division, the GCL Phillies West claiming the North division title and GCL Orioles clinching the South division championship.

"In an effort to ensure that all players, coaches and staff members have a chance to evacuate and prepare for the storm, we have decided to cancel the final two regular season games, as well as the playoffs," said Tim Brunswick, Minor League Baseball's senior vice president of baseball and business operations. "After discussing the options with the teams, the decision to end the season early was the best choice for the safety of everyone involved as that is our top priority."