Reese Kaplan -- Mets Arizona Fall League Candidates in Brief

Looking ahead to the Arizona Fall League, many Mets fans were excited and anticipating the best of the best in the system to play in an extended competition when the minor league seasons are done.  There are any number of folks in the Mets prospect lists who would generate great interest and lure many sports media types to cover them as they continue to deliver on the ballfield.

If you are unfamiliar with the structure and purpose of the AFL, it consists of six multidisciplinary teams operating on Spring Training complex fields beginning in late October and running through late November (or early December).  In total 90 games are played with the six teams divided into an eastern and western division.  The Mets are joined by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers on the Salt River Rafters who call Scottsdale home at Talking Stick Baseball Field where the Diamondbacks and Rockies prepare for their major league season.  

In the MLB-run league, teams can nominate seven players to become a part of their roster.  Catchers are not included in the mix as they are sort of drafted to fill out each team's playing needs.  Nominated players can choose to participate or decline as they see fit, but it's a great opportunity for them to see fellow up and comers in organized competition.  When more than seven are nominated, some are part of a taxi squad of additional players who can be used as needs arise. At one time there were restrictions to how many players from each level were allowed, but now it is an open call to include anyone in a team's minor league system.

When the announcement was made recently about who in the Mets farm system will be there in Arizona, the list generated a number of head-shaking reactions or the even less flattering, "Who?" question from all but the most minor league faithful.  

The current list of prospective New York Mets includes pitchers Grant Hartwig, Troy Miller, Franklin Sanchez, Christian Scott and Mike Vasil.  On the offensive side of the ledger the Mets will send outfielders Stanley Consuegra and Brandon McIlwain, shortstop Kevin Kendall and infielder Luke Ritter. 

Missing from this list are players like Francisco Alvarez (who has an ankle problem likely in need of rest or medical attention), Ronny Mauricio, Jose Butto, Wyatt Young and Jose Peraza.  

Grant Hartwig is a bit of a latecomer after college, now at age 24 but having played in just 45 games.  However, his numbers in the minors are much better than his college career.  Thus far he's gone 4-3 with a 2.07 ERA, a WHIP of just 1.133 while striking out 12.5 per 9 IP.  

Troy Miller is likely nominated to this list not for his unimpressive stat sheet, but because he's missed a lot of time in development due to injury.  He is not what you'd call a prospect anymore.  

Franklin Sanchez is a true youngster, having just turned 21 this season.  He's switched back and forth between starting and relieving, but isn't really making the highlight reels in either role.  

Christian Scott has pretty much been converted into a relief pitcher where his best stat is his 11.8 strikeouts per 9 IP.  The ERA, WHIP and other numbers are not impressive and he's already 23 years of age never having made it to AA.  

Mike Vasil is easily the most impressive pitching prospect on this list, ranking as high as number 11 on the Mets ratings for its minor league players.  He has started 20 of 21 games in the minors, going 4-2 with a 3.33 ERA along with a 1.021 WHIP.  At age 22 he's not yet advanced to AA but his performance thus far suggests he should be on a steady climb up the ladder.

Stanley Consuegra is a big slugger with a strikeout issue to address.  In 206 games he's fanned 206 times.  He has clubbed 19 HRs and driven in 108, but his batting average is a Kingman-like .237.  Whether or not he can refine his game is anyone's guess.  

Brandon McIlwain is another one of those fringe types who has a little bit of everything in his game but nothing approaching star status.  He has a little power, a little speed but a career minor league average of just .253 at age 24 with a handful of games in AA doesn't suggest the team should plan for anything from him other than a bench role. 

Kevin Kendall is a shortstop in a team with several notable names in front of him on his quest to make the majors.  However, in very limited minor league play he holds a .312 batting average and is recovering from injury, so it makes sense to send him to Scottsdale to allow him to play more innings against better competition.

Luke Ritter has hit with more power than you might expect, having hit 34 HRs and driven in 141 in just over two aggregate seasons worth of at-bats.  Unfortunately, that power is accompanied by a woeful .221 batting average and already age 25, it's unlikely he's going to become a major league starter.  

Since they are all indeed a part of the Mets empire, it will be interesting to see how they fare during this extended look in Arizona.  Aside from pitcher Mike Vasil and recovering shortstop Kevin Kendall, the rest appear to be long shots at best.