So…we kept them.
We didn't trade them.
So…how are they doing?
"They" being the Mets' top hitting prospects?
Good. REAL good, actually. (Stats thru Friday)
FRANCISCO ALVAREZ:
In his last 14 games through Friday, he had been on base 25 times via hits and walks, hit 5 absolute bombs, and knocked in 14.
Might his bat help the Mets in September? The numbers say YES.
BRETT BATY:
Last 51 games (all from June forward): 10 doubles, 15 HR, 46 RBIs, .350.
Eastern League Player of the Month in July. Then in his next game, 2 hits, a HR and 3 more RBIs. Then promoted to AAA. Wow.
Ready to help the Mets in 2023? The numbers say YES.
RONNY MAURICIO:
A star SS in Queens (initials FL) had 19 HRs and 74 RBIs in 108 games.
21 year old Mauricio in just 87 AA games? 20 HRs, 65 RBIs. 21 doubles, too. Then, on Sunday, he added a 3 run shot. Big power.
Ready to help the Mets in 2023? Maybe late 2023. He makes a lot of SS errors and needs a new position, and his OBP needs improvement. But his XBH production and RBIs? Stellar.
MARK VIENTOS:
An absolute HR Machine - when he plays.
He misses a few too many games, not sure why, and has fanned a lot in 2022, but if the Mets were not in a pennant race right now and played for Pittsburgh, he’d be in the big leagues right now.
He should have a real role with the Mets in 2023. The numbers say YES.
ALEX RAMIREZ:
Despite a very slow debut in Brooklyn, he got red hot, and in 24 games there, .284/.526 slug, and 21 RBIs.
Still 19, ready for the Mets starting outfield by mid-2024. The numbers say YES.
WYATT YOUNG:
Credit where credit is due.
You know the tale, because I've told the tale. Just 92 rookie league at bats in 2021 (.370), then he leaps tall minor league levels in a single bound, and is .276/.361/.376 in 87 AA/AAA games this year. He has a 14 game hit streak in AA, and an incredible 19 hits and 11 walks in his past 12 games. He has been on base an impressive 145 times in 89 games this year.
On base 30 times in his last 12 games? Who does that?
Ready for the Mets, when, you ask? Right now, frankly, based on those last 12 games. He may have less than 120 minor league games under his belt, but the numbers say YES. And an excellent fielder, too.
There is, however, no room for him now in Queens. A shame.
But he's still....uhh....Young, right?
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Of course, Kevin Parada and Jett Williams ought to jump right in once they start playing minor league games. Jett actually started out in the FCL, going 1 for 3, a walk, and an RBI.
But let's skip them for now. Which 4 currently playing hitters would round out the Mets' Top 10 Prospect Hitters:
7) Omar De Los Santos - the 22 year old's 120 Ks in 376 St Lucie plate appearances are a big red flag, but his 56 steals, 50 RBIs, 12 HRs, and 36 XBHs makes you sure hope he can cut down those Ks. Career .272/.348/.437, with 83 of 99 steals. There is hope in one regard - the righty hitter has hit just .212 with 28 Ks in 71 PAs against lefties, but .283 against righties. That lefty thing ought to be fixable - just give him a lot of extra hitting against lefties in BP.
8) Junior Tilien - 19 years old, with a 3 HR and 2 HR game under his belt this year - 64 games, "just" 63 Ks, and 23 extra base hits. .269/.318/.450. Just 7 errors in 34 SS games and 3 in 26 games at 2nd, which for a 19 year old is solid stuff.
9) William Lugo - 20 year old, 6'3", 215 teammate of Junior T.
Walloping Willie Lugo has 17 doubles, 2 triples, 10 HRs and 45 RBIs in 83 games, plus on base 40 times via walk or HBP. Hitting .258/.346/.423. Solid fielding - 12 errors at SS, 1B, and (mostly) 3B in 83 games is good. He was just .217 with a HR and 7 RBIs in 16 April games, so he has really hit well thereafter. Just 62 Ks in 67 games after April. (Just got promoted to Brooklyn)
Omar, Junior, and William are all ready for a promotion to Brooklyn, if you ask me.
10) (tie) Brandon McIlwain, Stanley Consuegra, and Jose Peroza - Consuegra got promoted to Brooklyn already, and the 21 year old 6'2" OF has hit .248/.319/.436. 11 steals and 45 RBIs and 55 runs scored in 92 games. 108 Ks are a bit high, but he's young and progressing nicely.
Jose is 22 and has had a disappointing year for Brooklyn, but turned it up significantly once the calendar turned July. 29 for 91 (.319), 11 walks in 26 games.
Brandon is having a very solid year, but turned 24 in July. Between A and AA, Brandon is a very solid .279/.364/.446 this year.
HONORABLE MENTION: Travis Blankenhorn, having a fine AAA year (post-May - in April and May, for some reason, he hit just .190) June July Aug? Hitting .370.
Just turned 26, seems AAAA, but some of us felt the same way about guys like Phil Evans and Matt Reynolds, who is hitting .250 for the Reds in significant ABs this year. Travis needs a similar opportunity to play for another major league team that needs infielders in 2023.
I like our top 12 hitters down under - a lot. How about you?
2022 Draftees Update:
We drafted them - signed most of them - and now, finally, some are starting to play in games.
Finally seeing some movement with those guys in the Florida Complex League. As mentioned above, 1st round Jett William 1 for 3 and a walk and RBI, and 11th round Rhylan Thomas went 1 for 4. Zebulon Vermillion (10th round) is on the FCL roster but not yet get in a game. All I know so far.
Mets Up 7 Games:
Bassitt great, and the Mets beat former Met Justin Dunn 5-1. The Great Marte had a 2 run shot, his 12th.
The Mets fell to 38-21 on June 8 in a 13-2 loss, and actually had a game where they allowed double digits two games after that, and another one 3 games after that.
After that 38-21 start, they won just 9 of 18 to sit at 47-29 at the end of June. Then they got a huge jolt in a brilliant return from injury on July 5, even though the Mets lost 1-0. They were just 20 games above .500 when Max started - and won - his next start on July 11. Since July 10, they are 20-8, including 8 wins in 10 games against Atlanta and the Yankees.
Now that deGrom is back with sheer brilliance, a few trades were made to fill holes in the offense and fire it up (namely, the uber-productive Vogelbach and Naquin, and Ruf, too), Max has been brilliant post-injury, and Edwin is an intergalactic talent that renders mere mortal hitters defenseless with his Sugar Ray Gun, the Mets suddenly feel invincible, don't they?
Vogelbach has a .480 Mets on base % so far, Naquin hitting .346 in 9 games, Ruf 3 for 11 with 3 ribbies. Even the catchers' bats show some signs of productive life.
All Systems Go.
Hi Tom,
ReplyDeleteI know that you do not pay attention to the DSL, but I brought it up to you last year about Diaz and now he is high up on everyone’s prospects list. I now have a new pitcher for this year except instead of being a starter he is a reliever. The Mets signed this young man at 19 years old this June. His name is Cristofer Gomez and his ERA after 17.2IP is 0.51. He has 29 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.91.
See what you think. I think he should be promoted to FCL.
RAW
ReplyDeleteMight be a little late in the season for that.
Tom
ReplyDeleteGood bullet points.
It is obvious why ESPN now ranks the Mets system as the 5th most talented.
A top of the Mack cap to the young suits over there.
Excellent report (as usual), Tom. I follow our system results daily at MILB.com, but they only cover Lucie and higher levels. Where do you access FCL results?
ReplyDeleteHere you are Bill:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.milb.com/dominican-summer/scores
Sorry Bill, that’s the DSL stuff. Here is what you asked for:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.milb.com/florida-complex/scores
Too, Tidwell makes his debut today.
What team?
DeleteThanks, Gus. That's the league I was looking for. I wonder why the MiBL site doesn't include them.
DeleteIt has been a long time since you could track so much talent in the Mets' farm system. Yes, some of them won't make it all the way through the gauntlet, but this is a great time for stability as a power team.
ReplyDeleteRaw, great call on Joel Diaz. On Gomez, I'd be just a touch concerned about his 9 walks in those 17.2 IP and the fact that he is 19 pitching to younger kids. That said, I think I would leave him in the DSL, let him get more innings in, then jump him to the FCL next year briefly and then on to St Lucie by the time he turns 20 next mid-May. But...you could twist my arm and promote him now. Another problem is some of our drafted pitchers are about to start hurling in the FCL, so my guess is Gomez stays in the DSL.
ReplyDeleteBill, stats-wise, I find if I google Mets DSL Ref, and Mets FCL Ref, Baseball Reference has all the Mets' stats. For some odd reason, MILB only has league leaders, which was very frustrating. Also odd, since they used to have stats for Mets teams in Kingsport, GCL, and DSL prior to the contraction of teams.
ReplyDeleteSee if you can find it that way, as that is how I found it, or get back to me, and I will look back and try to get the actual links for you.
Nice on Tidwell pitching today. They start early, so he is probably warming up already.
ReplyDeleteMack, correct me if you can think of someone else, but I have never seen a prospect who was in rookie ball in his draft year, and playing AA and AAA as well as Wyatt Young, and getting on base 30 times in 12 games. He is the only guy I can think of who I think could have gone to the majors this year in his first full year and been able to hold his own there. Everyone else seems to need to move one level, adjust, and then to the next level. Except him. He might not hit more than .210/.300/.300 as a major leaguer right now, and he is not needed clearly, but to me, he could be playing in the majors right now for a team that needed a utility IF. Remarkable.
ReplyDeleteSeems best of all worlds - acquisitions got us a potent offense and we kept all our top prospects for 2023. Remember how wonderful 1986 was, but Knight did not come back and changes began to be made. These top prospects will get better and better and are to some mix the club's future.
ReplyDelete