The Mack Report - Monday, June 13th

Today’s featured Mets minor leaguer is a relief pitcher that has had a very quiet, successful career so far for the Mets. 

24/yr. old Hunter Parsons is a 6-3/200 RHRP, that was drafted by the Mets in the 19^th round of the 2019 draft, out of Parkside HS (MD). 

He started as a Mets reliever for short season A Brooklyn in 2019, going 11-apps, 1-1, 2.89, 18.,2-IP, 21-K. 

Last year, Parsons pitched for St. Lucie and had a stat line of 4-apps (inj.), 2-0, 1,80, 10-IP, 18-K. 

And this year, he first went 12-apps, 3-0, 1.69, 21.1-IP, 25-K for Advanced A Brooklyn. He’s now in Binghamton, where he has gone 2-apps, 2.25 so far. 

His fastball only hits around 93, but he possesses great control of it. He compliments it with a 11-5 mid-70s curve, upper-70s slider, and a 77-80 change with late tumble. 

How he finishes in Binghamton this year could determine whether or not he has a future in Flushing someday. 

 

I am sure all of you are beginning to look over your shoulders at both the Braves and Phillies. A combined 19-0 win streak (going into last night’s game) can do that. 

Still, not any of them came against us so there is little we could have done to control this situation. 

In a 10 game period ending Friday night, The Braves opponents were 67 games below .500… while, at the same time, the Mets last 10 opponents were 42 games over .500 

Yes, we may have stumbled a little in the past 10 games, but, there is a ray of sunshine looking forward. 

Remember, we know this past 31 game stretch, that included two trips out west, was a bitch, but that is now over with. 

Here’s the good news… the Mets have the 5th easiest remaining schedule. 

Relax. 

 

Kumar Rocker is starting to really piss me off. 

But, at the same time, so are the Mets that made the decision to not sign him last year. 

In his second rehab start this off-season, he went 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 47 P, with a fastball that hit 97.3-mph. He is starting to make the Mets decision on passing on him look silly. 

And it’s not like the Mets didn’t give big bonuses before to pitchers that had to sit out their first Mets season due to TJS healing. 

I start my series of the top 10 pitchers that will be available to us next and it doesn’t include Rocker. I believe he will go in the draft’s first 10 picks. 

 

We continue today with the next five projected bats that should be available to us either with the 1.11 or the 1.14 pick. 

They are:

 

RHP Dylan Lesko 

6-3 170 Buford HS (GA)

2021 Buford High -

0.35 ERA with 112 strikeouts in 60 innings.

Age At Draft: 18.9

93-96, T99 FB (1900-2300 rpm) , + 78-81 change (2700-3000mrpm), slider, curve

Change is one of the best seen in years.

Card is full of pluses, from his athleticism to mechanical operation.

Seemingly the only guaranteed pitch to be drafted this year in the first round.

Projected SP1  -  Vandy Boy commit 

 

LHP Brandon Barierra 

6-1 170 American Heritage Plantation HS (FL)

82-IP, 125-K, 1.02 WHIP

Age At Draft: 18.4

92-94, T97, FB, low-80s wipeout slider, mid-80s change-up, 76-78 curve

Some of the best stuff in the 2022 class.

Stress-free operation with very little effort.

Comes right at hitters with a bulldog mentality, Slider seems to be setting up as his go-to pitch.

Fiery and competitive demeanor.

Lots of projection left here.

Vandy commit

 

 RHP Brock Porter 

6-4 220 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Mich.) HS

Age At Draft: 19.1

52-G, 52.2-IP, 81-K, 0.91 WHIP

93-95, T-99 fastball.

++ 76-78 change with 1400 rpm spin rate.

Tremendous arm-side fading action.

77-79 curve.

Cold weather pitcher - Projected SP1

High ¾ slot.

Athletic and projectable with huge arm speed.

Clemson commit 

 

LHP Cooper Hjerpe 

6-2 190 Oregon State

2021 Oregon State stat line -

16-G, 16-ST, 3-6, 4.21, 1.17, 77-IP, 98-K

2022 -

10-ST, 5-2, 2.52, 60.2-IP, 97-K

Age At Draft: 21.3

Four pitch mix, and the ability to throw strikes.

Low-90s FB, a cutter, a slider and a changeup.

 Velocity was reportedly much better in the fall, sitting in the 93-97 mph range.

He limits walks and gets a ton of swing-and-miss.

Some trouble remaining consistent.

Spent this past winter adding zip to fastball and optimizing the slider.

Grading systems:

FaBIO score of 99 (100 is the max)

DIGS grade of 89 (100 is the max). 

 

RHP Blade Tidwell 

6-4 200 Tennessee

Update - working his way back slowly at the end of the season

Update - 1-27: Sidelined with shoulder soreness. Out indefinitely. Could affect draft status if lasts throughout season.

2021 Tennessee stat line -

18-starts, 10-3, 3.74, 97.2-IP, 90-K

2022 -

13-app, 9-starts, 3-2. 3.00, 39-IP, 51-K

Age At Draft: 21.1

Draft-eligible sophomore.

Many believe is the best college arm in the country.

93-95 fastball, tops off T 99.

Sharp low-80s slider.

Mostly works with the FB and a low-to-mid-80s slider.

Slider produces a 37% whiff rate last spring.

Low-80s change-up with fade.

 

Mack - I keep changing my mind here. First Lesko, then Porter, then Tidwell. The benefit of Lesko is he is the premier pitcher in this draft. Tidwell represents someone just about as talented than Lesko, but still is building strength from his arm problems, And Porter is ready right now to start contributing. 

If I had to make a decision right now on 1.11, I would go bat and see what pitchers are left at 1.14.

 

Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) 

Second Base: 

1) Alan Roden, Creighton

2) Chandler Simpson, GT

3) Joe Lampe, ASU

4) Robert Moore, Arkansas

5) Chase Meidroth, USD

6) Tyrese Turner, USC

7) Andrew Kachel, Fresno State

8) D'Andre Smith, USC

9) Nate Furman, Charlotte

10) Danny Serretti, UNC

10b) Jorel Ortega, Tenn

 

Mack - I consider Joe to be the top draft dude out there and it’s obvious that his top 10 list has Jace Jung at third and Termarr Johnson at short.. Names you should remember going into the draft. 

 

Syracuse roster moves - 

-IF Mark Vientos activated off the 7-day Injured List

-RHP Trevor Cahill promoted from FCL Mets

-OF Matt Rudick transferred to High-A Brooklyn 

Mack - I wouldn’t write home about Cahill. Could be an option if 19 more pitchers go down. Good to have Mark back. Didn’t even realize Rudick was on the roster.

MINORS ON SUNDAY:

Tom chiming in…

Beach Boys singing “Good Vibrations.”

Perhaps the best minors day in Metsville all year. Except St Lucie lost 5-4 in the 9th on an unearned run.  But they usually win, so, get 'em next time.

My personal highlight? A scoreless, hitless, walkless, 2 K inning in AA by Dedniel Nunez, who is totally doing something right since returning from his prolonged injury absence.Since his return, 6.2 IP, 3 runners, no runs, 10 Ks. I’d not be surprised one bit to see him in the Mets bullpen soon.

Other highlights?

Jaylen Palmer grand slam. Oh, what a relief it is.

Jose Peroza with 3 hits and perhaps a turnaround day to a tough season.

Grant Hartwig…3rd save, 4-0 this year, too.

Mark Vientos back off the IL with a HR.  Welcome back.

Dom Smith a HR AND 2 singles. 

Bopping Palka 13th HR and 40th RBI.

A 3 up, 3 down Montes de Oca inning.  Like to see it.

Consuegra a HR and 3 RBIs.

Alex Ramirez got tired of all my attention being to Junior T and Alex the Great had 2 hits and 2 walks.  Hitting .311, one point behind the league leader.

Junior Tilien just 1 for 5, but no Ks, Mack.  Tillen's 7 HRs were compiled in roughly half the at bats of virtually everyone with 7 or more in the league.  His .591 slug %?  Highest in the league by 40 points.

Michel Otanez walking the bags full, going to 3-2, and then getting an inning-ending punch out, was big…and he then got the win for Syracuse.  A 1-0 lead at the time turned into a 10-1 win.

Alvarez HR, his 13th. Aww, heck, just bring him up.  Why are we even debating it?  9 in his last 14 games.

Baty remains hot.

Yamamoto (remember him?) got the AA win in relief.

Zwack excellent again…8 Ks in 4 frames.

AND:

A great 4-1win to wrap a challenging road trip. Walker was Wonderful, Díaz wasDazzling. Davis was Delightful, McNeil (with 3) was Multi-hitful.  He is hitting .320, just 7 points out of the NL batting lead.

16 Mets' pitchers' Ks. Lagares punched out thrice.

Marte back strong, Nimmo showing a spark. 

Monday a well deserved day off.

Braves?  11 straight and playing the Nats next. Ugh!