Mack's Mets: January 2023

1/31/23

NEW INFO -2023 Draft Prospect - SS - Walker Martin

Walker Martin

12-28-22 - 2023 MLB Draft – Top 50 High School Prospects

https://www.prospects1500.com/general/2023-mlb-draft-top-50-high-school-prospects/

23. Walker Martin, SS, Eaton HS (CO) – The best word to describe Martin’s game is “smooth”. He has smooth mechanics in the field and his left handed swing is as smooth as there is in the class. On top of that, he has some of the best bat speed and finds barrels. The ball leaves the bat on a line the majority of the time and, while there may be average home run power in the profile, the extra base hit potential is well above average. He has started to show the fact he can drive the ball to all fields with a couple solid opo doubles at the PG National and could be one of the better Colorado prep position players ever selected.

12-6-22 - 2023 MLB DRAFT - MOCK DRAFT 2.0 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022-mlb-mock-draft-n78w7-st9r4-wa35p-2n5ls-8addg-ed27s?s=03 -

29. Seattle Mariners

Walker Martin, SS, Eaton

The Mariners have gone high school heavy in recent seasons and it’s another solid year to do-so in the latter half of the first round. Martin is a bit of a hidden gem being tucked away in Colorado, but the 6-foot-3-inch shortstop displays an impressive hit tool with lightning quick hands and considerable pull-side power. He’s got more than enough arm to stick at shortstop as well. There’s a bit of Chase Utley in his game.

11-10-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: Gut Feel Guys

https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=21408&s=03

Walker Martin, SS, Eaton (Colo.)

Current Draft Board Rank: 53

Not a ton of draft prospects come out of the state of Colorado, but Martin may be one of the more exciting ones in recent history. The Arkansas commit possesses advanced bat speed that results in impressive exit velocity numbers. The power has shown up against quality arms already and will only continue to get better. Martin has shown enough athleticism to provide value on the dirt defensively. He will be an intriguing name to watch that should continue to climb up boards come spring time.

-Tyler Henninger

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td?s=03 -

58 SS

Walker Martin

Eaton

Martin is a super-athletic, tooled-up, top-of-the-class performer with a lefty bat and a feel for the barrel. There's a lot of projection here, but the tools are already showing out in a loud way with top-of-the-class bat speed and a proficiency for exit velocities. Evaluators believe this will be at least above average raw power at its peak. Martin is a good athlete, though it doesn't specifically show up in his solid average run times. He moves well around the ball and has twitchiness in his game that should lend well toward him staying on the dirt. He's also among the better athletic testers in the class, suggesting there's more exciting development in front of him so long as the body doesn't grow out of its present explosivity.

9-9-22 - 2023 OVERALL RANKINGS UPDATE

https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/PBR/2023-Overall-Rankings-Update-7531924608?s=03

WALKER MARTIN SS / 3B / EATON , CO / 2023

Rankings STATERANK: 1 / POS: 1 OVERALLRANK: 33 / POS: 11

A year after exploding at the PBR Future Games where he showcased one of the sweetest, purest strokes at the event, Martin appeared to have elevated his game to another level. Still oozing projection with a 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame that is already impressive, the left-handed hitter provided a glimpse at an impressive hit-tool against some of the top arms in the class. If that wasn’t enough, the Arkansas recruit demonstrated big power potential that is likely to be developed considerably in coming years.

All the 2023 Draft Prospects in the Mack’s Mets database can be viewed by going to www.macksmets.blogspot.com and clicking on 2023 DRAFT PROSPECT DATABASE found on the top, left of the front page of the site.

Mike's Mets - Jeff McNeil's Incredible Journey

By Mike Steffanos

Jeff McNeil began his career with the New York Mets when he was drafted in the 12th round of the 2013 draft after three seasons with Long Beach State. Jeff put up a .296/.356/.358 combined slash line with the 49ers with 0 HR over his college career. That makes it easy to understand why a future batting champion was drafted so low. Interestingly enough, another light-hitting infielder taken 2 rounds before McNeil in that amateur draft named Luis Guillorme also made it to the big leagues as a New York Met.

I was already paying close attention to the Mets' draft choices in 2013, but I don't remember reading much about McNeil coming out of that draft. College players drafted that low are generally organizational fillers rather than actual prospects. That was the case with Jeff, even though McNeil had a solid pro debut in 2013 in rookie ball with Kingsport — a team and league that were both victims of MLB's eventual contraction of the minors. First-round pick Dominic Smith and Amed Rosario were much more heralded teammates with Jeff on that club.

Jeff McNeil played at 2 levels the following season, 2014. At Low-A Savannah and High-A St. Lucie. Jeff slashed a combined .292/.367/.394, still displaying little power but managing 3 HR. Then, in 2015, McNeil spent most of the season in St. Lucie, again showing a solid hitting tool but little power (.312/.373/.383). He was sent to the Arizona Fall League after the season, where he did not impress (.230/.309/.246). I found a scouting report on Jeff McNeil from 2015 on Baseball Prospectus that was hardly bullish on his future:

McNeil's profile is extremely limited by his complete lack of power and strength and his average defensive abilities, which make second base his best fit. He could play short stop or third base in short stints, giving him a potential future as a utility player, but he would be exposed at either position if he played their for an extended period of time.
Offensively, McNeil does have plus bat-to-ball skills which lead to high contact rates and the ability to spray the ball to all fields when he stays through the hitting zone. His hit tool plays down slightly, however, despite his barrel control because his lack of strength and authority in his swing limits the exit velocity on even those balls that are well-struck.
At best, McNeil can hope to carve out a roll as a utility/bench option, which will be possible due to being left-handed and not striking out much. He's not likely, however, to ever be an everyday player, as his flaws would be exposed with regular playing time.

The above report was typical of what I heard about McNeil back then. It's a remarkable tribute to Jeff's talent and terrific work ethic that he added enough power to complement his bat-to-ball skills to make himself into a very productive hitter and a solid defender at both second base and in the outfield. While the scouting report quoted above obviously didn't age that well, the author was right in line with the general consensus on Jeff McNeil. Few foresaw what was to come.

To finish reading this article on Mike's Mets, please click here.

The Mack Report (Baptist, Mauricio, Perez, Jeff, 2027)

One of the top 3 International prospects signed by the Mets -

The club announced Monday it has agreed to terms with 27 players, including catcher Daiverson Gutierrez, the No. 27-ranked prospect on the top 50 international list. They also agreed to deals with outfielder Anthony Baptist, who ranks No. 29, and No. 43 Cristopher Larez.

Baptist is one of the fastest players in the class and also one of the most exciting. He is expected to start in center field and stay at the position as he develops, primarily because of his speed, but also because he has the potential to be an above-average defender. He can chase balls down in the outfield, and like all prospects his age, he is working on fine-tuning his routes and angles.

The hope is that his speed -- he has been consistently clocked at 6.1 seconds in the 60-yard-timed run -- will also come into play on the bases and he can develop into a base-stealer in the future.

He trains with Pedro ”Nube” Nivar, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, in the Dominican Republic.

Mack - you can’t ignore 6.1 in 60 speed. This doesn’t grow off of trees and when it comes your way, you develop it.

A centerfielder with speed… hmm… I sort of remember a couple of these drafted recently, both of which no longer play for this team.

New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

https://www.prospects1500.com/nl-east/mets/new-york-mets-top-50-prospects-2023/?s=03

3. Ronny Mauricio*, SS, 21, Double-A

Mauricio was absolutely elite in the recent 2022 Dominican Winter League in which he won league MVP. Mauricio had 54 hits in the DWL which led the league in 47 games. The former top 100 prospect will hopefully now get the respect he deserves and is hoping for another successful season in 2023. Mauricio continues to get bigger and showing power while stealing bases. At Binghamton, he was apart of the 20-20 club (26 HR – 20 SB). The strikeouts need improvement, but Mauricio could possibly be a trade piece for the aggressive Steve Cohen in 2023.

1-25-23 - The Athletic

Ronny Mauricio remains a relevant name in the system because he’s also on the 40-man roster, but he must make better swing decisions before receiving serious consideration as an option somewhere in the near future. Though he had 26 home runs and 20 stolen bases last year in Double A, Mauricio’s .296 on-base percentage in 541 plate appearances at the level indicated he has work to do in recognizing pitches and laying off balls out of the zone. According to scouts in the Dominican Republic, Mauricio saw a lot of breaking balls and offspeed pitches over the winter. In 203 plate appearances with Tigres del Licey, Mauricio slashed .287/.335/.468 with five home runs. For the first time in his winter ball career, he played third base, which might be a better position for him than shortstop, where scouts said range and fluidity have been questions.

Mack - The Athletic has finally answered the question we all have been asking…. why isn’t this guy ranked in the top 100 prospects.

Keep your eye this season on his AAA OBP. If that doesn’t improve, well, he could easily be traded or fade away.

The Mets have resigned 30-year old catcher, Michael Perez. He was originally signed by Arizona in the 5^th round of the 2011 draft, out of the Colegio Vocacional Para Adultos, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

He came to the Mets last season from Pittsburgh. His combined 2022 stats were: -0.1-WAR, 121-AB, 6-HR, .149

Perez is everything that Francisco Alvarez isn’t. He can’t hit a lick, plays excellent defense, and has an arm like a cannon.

Mack - My assumption here is that Perez will join Alvarez in Syracuse for the start of the 2023 season. Everything Alvy needs help in can be found in Perez’s game. On paper, looks like a smart move.

“National League batting champion Jeff McNeil and the New York Mets are in agreement on a four-year, $50 million contract extension, pending physical, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. It includes a fifth-year club option that could take value to $63.75 million.”

Mack - We’ve talked and debated about this for weeks. And the fans have won.. Jeff McNeil will give up the two remaining arbitration years and, instead, will be under a Mets contract for a minimum of a period ending with the 2026 season. There also is a team option for the 2027 season.

Me? Well, it looks like someone will have to pry away Jeff’s second base glove in order to get him to play another position. Make no doubt about it, There will be no threat of McNeil losing his second base gig until possibly… possibly having Jett Williams take over in, when? Well, Williams played last year for the FCL Mets as a 19 year old so my guess he will play, at least, three more seasons in the minors. That would make 2026 as the earliest year he would be available, Jeff’s last year of his non-extended contract.

And they are paying him an AAV of $12.5mil. Max’s is $43.33 mil.

Wow, this is a perfect fit, team friendly deal.

One last thing.

Mets fans always cry that Atlanta has done a greay job of locking up their talent for years to come.

Well, here are the Mets that are under team control through 2027:

Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, Kodai Senga, Jeff McNeil,Tylor Megill, Francisco Alvarez, and Brett Baty.

Tom Brennan - Is Alvarez Ready? The One Word Answer Starts With a Y

Do you tilt up or down with Alvarez as a 2023 Met?

An oft-debated question, isn't it? “Is he ready?”

I'll answer it for you.

I say yes. Yes, yes, yes.

Even if the Mets want to slow the Alvarez Express just a bit.

Ready is he. Right now.

Why?

Baseball is a series of adjustments.

When Frankie Alvarez got hot in AA, he went to AAA and struggled for a while. Still got on base at a good rate, but struggled briefly.

Much was made of that struggle by many doubters and "let's-slow-him-downers".

He was coming around, though, in mid-to-late August in AAA, but then hurt his foot/ankle area (post-season surgical touch up eventually followed).

That led to 2 1/2 weeks on the IL.

Then an 0-4 return to AAA in his first game back in September.

Then...the following "I've adjusted, thank you" was obvious and huge:

He went 17 for his last 43 at bats in AAA, with 10 walks. And 3 HRs, no doubt bombs.

So, is 17 for 43 with 10 walks good enough for you? On base > 50%.

Does it convince you?

It convinces me.

Sure, he came up very late in the season to the Mets and went 2 for 12 with 2 walks. Adjustment process.

I look at the positive there, though - even during that mini-adjustment period in a true pressure cooker, he got on base 4 of 14 times.

- That's about the overall OBP rate of the Mets' catchers in 2022.

And his two hits were monstrous - a HR and double both in the 110 MPH range.

That velocity provides a downside buffer cushion - when his batted balls are hit that fast, the outfielders have less time to track them down. Those they can't track down are - you guessed it - HITS. Those that scream past outfield fences are - you guessed it - HITS. And hits large and small help your batting average.

Alvarez will have all spring training to adjust further.

He's ready. September’s hot streak? Well,to me, that proved it.

I am not a doubter - and I hope you adjust your "inner evaluator."

Of course, the WBC tournament will open up MANY spring at bats for Alvarez. You can have management pre-planning to send you down, which may be their plan, but then find themselves unable to do so if you (in this case Alvarez) hit like Pete Alonso did in spring training in his 2019 rookie season:

.352/.387/.620 in 22 games.

Just do that, kiddo, and you stay. Schedule the launches. With a DH slot, I see no reason to not have Narvaez, Nido, AND Alvarez on the opening day roster.

QUIZ QUESTION:

You’re the GM. How many 2023 at bats will each of the following get?

Alvarez

Baty

Vientos

Mauricio

I will reserve my own answers for my responses tomorrow.

1/30/23

NEW INFO - 2023 Draft Prospect - OF - Gavin Grahovac

Gavin Grahovac

OF Villa Park HS (CA)

12-28-22 - 2023 MLB Draft – Top 50 High School Prospects

https://www.prospects1500.com/general/2023-mlb-draft-top-50-high-school-prospects/

22. Gavin Grahovac, OF, Villa Park HS (CA) – You will get a ton of different opinions on where Grahovac ends up defensively long term, some think he can stick as a catcher, some see him in the dirt, but ultimately it will probably be a corner outfield spot. He doesn’t have a cannon of an arm, but he has enough and it is accurate which will keep right an option, and he makes really good reads and takes efficient routes so there is an outside shot he can make it in center.

At the plate is where he stands out though, as he has a strong wide base hips that clear well and really good balance allowing him to make plenty of contact and the loft in his swing it suited well to drive the ball out of the ballpark.

11-28-22 - #BBG @BBGenerations_

Gavin Grahovac triple! (@GavinGrahovac) Class of 2023 Texas A&M commit. OF/UT out of Orange, CA. One of the top prospects in his class, all tools stands out and can play all over the field. https://t.co/Jtet2IPGiQ

11-10-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: Gut Feel Guys

https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=21408&s=03

Gavin Grahovac, OF/C, Villa Park (Calif.)

Current Draft Board Rank: 76

Grahovac is one of the better athletes in the entire prep class and shows an intriguing offensive profile to go along with it. The Texas A&M commit has the bat speed and strength to drive balls to all fields. Defensively, Grahovac has shown the ability to play in the outfield, on the dirt, and behind the plate.

He likely ends up in the outfield where quality speed should provide value. The multitude of ways that Grahovac can impact a game should draw interest from clubs.

8-26-2022 - Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic

@PGAllAmerican

OF Gavin Grahovac driving balls to all fields using a simple, balanced stroke

https://t.co/VN61CWzP0V

7-28-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects -

84 OF/C

Gavin Grahovac

Villa Park, Orange, CA

One of the better hitters on the West Coast, Grahovac has an all-fields approach and an willingness to take velocity the other way. He's got a strong frame with present power. The bat carries here as many evaluators think he has a fringy shot at sticking behind the plate, but the pure athlete and runner will fit completely fine in a corner outfield role.

7-20-2022 -

2023 MLB Draft mock

https://www.mlb.com/news/2023-mlb-draft-mock -

14. Orioles: Gavin Grahovac, Villa Park HS (Orange, Calif.)

Grahovac hits the ball, and hard, on a consistent basis, recording high exit velos in PDP League play and picking up two hits, including a 98-mph double, at the All-American Game.

Perfect Game -

https://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=607463

Gavin Grahovac is a 2023 OF/C/IF with a 6-2 210 lb. frame from Orange, CA who attends Villa Park. Large, athletic frame with broad shoulders and physical strength proportioned well throughout frame.

Runs well, posted a 6.78 60-yard dash. Primary outfielder, fields the ball to side, comes through it well and utilizes a shorter arm path through the back, one hop accuracy to the intended base with quickness to arm stroke; similar arm action on throws across the infield, higher slot on throws, shows carry across diamond and will continue to refine overall actions.

Right-handed hitter, begins with a wide and even base, has moving parts in lower half working into contact. Above average bat speed already through the zone, shows a handle for the barrel with a full swing path through the zone. Loud contact off the barrel, went deep out to left-center field in BP and picked up an opposite field double in live action; combination of bat speed and strength at impact stand out, easy power projection moving forward. Excellent student. Verbal commitment to Texas A&M.

Paul Articulates – Cost to compete

The New York Mets have made quite a splash in the off-season, signing contracts with regularity using a very fine grade of golden ink. The 2023 team will smash MLB payroll records and incur luxury tax at the highest rate. Some of this spending was absolutely necessary to build a team that can win in the short term yet also be competitive over the long haul.

With the signings slowing down now, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the presumed starters in each position group to find out the “cost to compete” in each area. I also kept an eye out for the longevity of each group by looking at how many years of contract remain beginning in 2023.

Infield: The Mets have returned the entire starting infield from last year. Although there is much speculation about how they will break spring training at third base, the other three positions are fairly well locked up. For now I will presume that Eduardo Escobar starts at third to fill in an infield that boasts Francisco Lindor, Silver Slugger Jeff McNeil, and Pete Alonso.

These four players are guaranteed to be together for only the upcoming year, as Pete is on a one-year deal for his second arbitration-eligible year and Eduardo is in his last contract year although there is a player option for 2024. This group, which accounted for 19 WAR last year, will cost the team $68.5M for 2023.

Outfield: The Mets were able to entice Brandon Nimmo to remain in New York for the long term, which made everyone smile including Brandon, who signed for an average annual value of $18.25M. He joins Starling Marte and Mark Canha who were both awarded multi-year deals last year. Canha is only guaranteed the 2023 season, but there is a club option for 2024. Marte is good through 2024 with the Mets. These three outfielders provide great range, strong fielding, and solid at-bats to the Mets at a cost of $48.25M next year.

Starting Pitching: The Mets had to put a lot of money into re-building their staff for 2023 after many took their talents to free agency. The signings of Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, and Jose Quintana gave great hope to fans for the upcoming season, but since that talent had to be purchased rather than elevated from the farm system it sports a very hefty price tag. Their combined 14.7 WAR from last year [note: Senga has no calculated WAR from the NBL] will cost the team almost $127.7M in 2023.

Relief Pitching: The relief staff is not set, and there will inevitably be some shuffling around of the rosters at the end of spring training. If you read Tom Brennan’s excellent post on Sunday “Remaining Options and Pen Arms in Metsville”, you are aware of the tough choices ahead for the front office with several players running low or out on options.

For the purposes of this article, I will just look at five relief pitchers that I believe are a lock to start the MLB season and we will fill in the blanks in early Arpil. Those five will come with a $40.8M price tag and don’t even include long relief.

Needless to say, these are some very expensive position groups, and there are not many teams around that need such a fleet of Brinks trucks to compensate their players. However, I think you can agree that there is strength in every group, and the team should be very competitive in the upcoming season.

As the farm system begins to produce new talent for future seasons, team control of their early years will allow the average salaries to settle down a bit and the price to succeed will be much lower.

Reese Kaplan -- Contact Hitting Isn't Valued Like Other Metrics

In the realm of New York Mets' financial transactions that have taken place this off season, the recent news about the contract for Jeff McNeil comes as a piece of somewhat unexpected and frankly underappreciated news. According to the terms disclosed among various professional sportswriters, McNeil is slated to earn $12.5 million per season for the next four years.

The first piece of news is the good one. The Mets have not been all that good in their recent pre-Cohen past about extending their own ballplayers unless it was about preventing them leaving for free agency. While it's been common practice for the Braves, Dodgers, Astros and others to ensure their in-house resources remain that way for a long, long time, it was surely not the Mets way of doing business.

Now throw into the mix the variable of someone who was not given a great 2023 salary and who was looking to submit to the whims of an arbiter, it seemed as if the days of Jeff McNeil continuing his playing career in a Mets uniform were coming to a bitter end. Now it was somewhat understandable given the pipeline that contains Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio and further down in the pipeline Jett Williams, but the manner in which the current major league batting champion was being treated in terms of compensation and his roster spot on the team seemed highly questionable.

Now we come back to the contract and the money securing McNeil's future in the Mets lineup. $12.5 million isn't exactly chump change and pretty much any one of us would be head over heels in salary orbit if our bosses treated us with that much financial love.

Baseball, however, is a business in which information about salaries, contract terms and the competitive nature of fellow players is well known by fans, media and fellow baseball executives. For the number two player in the game at the position of second base, it seems a bit on the light side, particularly when less accomplished players on the roster like one Brandon Nimmo got granted a deal for twice as long and for more than triple the amount being paid.

If we're going to go down the list of compensation given to other players, it starts to get somewhat ugly very quickly. Look at the twin pair of $40 million plus given to the top two starting pitchers. How about the $15 million per season extended to a guy who's not yet thrown an American major league pitch? Smiling Carlos Carrasco is going to earn $14 million for the upcoming year as the fifth starter. Then there is the two year deal for pitcher Jose Quintana that cost an extra $500K per season over what they're giving McNeil.

It starts to get really difficult when you look at the other long term player deals. Everyone is well aware of the $341 million forked over to secure the services of shortstop Francisco Lindor for pretty much the rest of his career. Edwin Diaz most definitely deserves his $21 million per season for five more years.

Where it will really get interesting is when the financial architects behind the McNeil deal set to work on crafting one for teammate Pete Alonso. Not only do chicks dig the long ball, so too do bankers. The Mets generously reached the $14.5 million 2023 salary through an offer to head off arbitration after his 2022 season with 40 HRs and league leading 130 RBIs that was worth 4.4 in WAR. Given the $8 to $9 million each WAR is worth, $14.3 million for Alonso is certainly a bargain.

By the way, Jeff McNeil's 2022 season was worth 5.1 using the same WAR credential. His new deal is worth $12.5 million per season for more collected value but not as a slugger. The game of baseball continues to create significantly less value for contact hitters.

Bear in mind I am not at all complaining here about the contract offered to Jeff McNeil. He is every bit as much a critical part of the team's future as are these other players on the roster. Jeff McNeil and his people obviously felt it was a fair deal and no one held a gun to his head to force him to sign it.

What it does open up is the question about what it will cost to get Pete Alonso to ensure a cleanup hitting spot in the Mets lineup for likely twice as many years? We can all hazard guesses here but Jeff McNeil's deal will look like chump change by comparison. An eight year Pete Alonso contract will be well north of a quarter million dollars. No one will feel empathy for the Steve Cohen financial situation as long as it keeps the best of the Mets for the foreseeable future. His tax burdens will help keep fannies in the seats and that is something was as Mets fans have not experienced before under the Wilpon regime. I think we'd all like to get used to it.

1/29/23

NEW INFO - 2023 Draft Prospect - SS - Colin Houck

Colin Houck

SS Parkview HS (GA)

12-28-22 - 2023 MLB Draft – Top 50 High School Prospects

https://www.prospects1500.com/general/2023-mlb-draft-top-50-high-school-prospects/

14. Colin Houck, SS, Parkview HS (GA) – Houck might be one of the tougher signings come next July as he is committed to Mississippi State to play baseball and quarterback on their football team, but he has plenty of upside on the diamond. The swing is incredibly quiet and balanced, but he has good bat speed and the ball really jumps off his bat.

The quiet swing allows him to make plenty of contact which gives him a plus hit tool, and I am confident the power manifests as above average power when all is said and done given how well it does jump currently. There are little doubts he sticks at short, so he is a true shortstop with a plus hit tool and potential for power, not many teams will frown on that.

https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/PBR/2023-National-Rankings-Updated-2768549031?s=03

COLIN HOUCK SS / 3B / PARKVIEW, GA / 2023

Rankings STATERANK: 1 / POS: 1 OVERALLRANK: 13 / POS: 4

Houck, a Mississippi State recruit, has long been a favorite in this class, and culminates a steady rise in being ranked at the top of Georgia's 2023 class. The QB1 prospect is still throwing up big numbers on the gridiron, but it is the powerful outputs on the diamond that have the scouting community buzzing. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder produces effortless power, and combined with obvious athleticism, is easy to dream with regards to the upside that the bat still holds.

11-4-22 - Perfect Game 2023 MLB Mock Draft 1.0 -

https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=21422&src=hmrep&s=03

23. Seattle Mariners | Colin Houck, SS, Parkview HS (Ga.)

The Mariners tend to lean college when it comes to their first round pick, but they’ve gone back-to-back preps with Harry Ford in 2021 and Cole Young in 2022. Houck would fit the mold of a high schooler the Mariners like with excellent athleticism and big summer performance. Houck also plays quarterback for his high school team, but his finish the last couple months on the circuit puts him firmly in the first round range. -VC

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td?s=03 -

44 SS

Colin Houck

Parkview

A decorated two-sport athlete, Houck has plenty of opportunities to play quarterback at the D1 level should he elect to go that direction. On the diamond, he's a twitchy, athletic shortstop with a strong arm and hittability that evaluators believe could really surge if he gives up the gridiron. Houck is quiet and compact at the plate with average bat speed, though his willingness to spray the ball deep gap-to-gap is what has scouts excited. There's some questions as to whether power will ever be a huge part of his game, but who knows what can happen once he dedicates to his craft. The floor here is a true shortstop with a solid hit tool.

9-9-22 - 2023 OVERALL RANKINGS UPDATE

https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/PBR/2023-Overall-Rankings-Update-7531924608?s=03

COLIN HOUCK SS / 3B / PARKVIEW, GA / 2023

Rankings STATERANK: 2 / POS: 2 OVERALLRANK: 14 / POS: 4

Houck’s status as a 3-star quarterback made him a high profile dual-sport target for many schools, but his stellar showing this summer might ultimately steer him towards focussing all of his attention on the diamond in the future. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound shortstop checks plenty of boxes on the diamond thanks to his elite athleticism (6.6-runner, 90 mph across). His ability to impact the baseball from the right side with effortless power is what is sure to excite MLB scouts along with a poised demeanor and innate ability to slow the game down while playing fast. Houck committed to Mississippi State at the end of the summer.

9-12-22 - Prep Baseball Report @prepbaseball

SS/3B Colin Houck has elite athleticism and the ability to impact the baseball with effortless power.

@colin_houck

7-26-22 - 2023 MLB DRAFT - TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL PROSPECTS -

https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-38awn

46 SS

Colin Houck

Parkview, Lilburn, GA

NEW INFO - 2023 Draft Prospect - SS - George Lombard Jr.

George Lombard Jr.

SS Gulliver Prep (FL)

12-28-22 - 2023 MLB Draft – Top 50 High School Prospects

https://www.prospects1500.com/general/2023-mlb-draft-top-50-high-school-prospects/

24. George Lombard Jr., SS, Gulliver Schools HS (FL) – The son of Detroit Tigers bench coach, the Jr. Lombard is, unsurprisingly, very fundamentally sound. His transfer from glove to throw is super quick and will keep him up the middle even if some don’t love his arm, I think it is enough to stay at short. The ball really jumps off the bat thanks to his quick bat with a short swing to the zone. There might not be a plus tool in the mix, although raw power is close, but he doesn’t have a tool that is below average either.

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td?s=03 -

78 SS

George Lombard Jr.

Gulliver Prep

Lombard possesses just about every tool a team could ask for in a prep prospect. There's a hit tool here, significant power in a long, athletic frame, and a the ability to really run the bases with present above average speed. He's a pretty big kid, so his future may ultimately be at second base or left field; his arm strength and throwing motion adding to that notion. Regardless, this is one of the premium bats available on the prep side in the 2023 class with a definitive chance of going on day one.

7-28-22 - 2023 MLB DRAFT - TOP 150 PROSPECTS

https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects

46 SS

George Lombard Jr.

Gulliver Prep, Miami, FL

7-28-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects -

46 SS

George Lombard Jr.

Gulliver Prep, Miami, FL

Tom Brennan - Remaining Options and Pen Arms in Metsville

Connor Grey - MiLB.com

Don't be surprised if Grey gets a few Mets outings in 2023: got all his options left, even if he's not on the 40 man roster and was only 5-6, 6.38 ERA in Syracuse in 2022, and is soon to turn 29. Pitchers usually get their brief shot.

In my third article over the past several days regarding young players being treated like chattel:

The speed of the annual bullpen shuffle in Queens (like the spin cycle in a clothes washer) is heavily dictated by remaining options of pitchers.

I have noted that the pitching game in baseball has drastically changed over time, as in 1969 and 1986 the Mets used just 15 pitchers, but over the past two seasons, annual pitcher usage has averaged in the mid 30s.

More hurler ups and downs than a Coney Island Coaster.

Spotrac is a neat site which, among other things, notes the number of options remaining of Metsies.

Steve Nogosek, in that light, is now a happy man, because he has no options left. He cannot be sent down without risking losing him to another team. Which makes him less likely to be sent down. Or at some point in 2023 more likely to pitch in the majors elsewhere.

Since first appearing in a Mets game in 2019, he has gotten into 20 games totaling 32 innings, going 1-3, 4.55, with most of that in a much-improved 2022, when in 12 games, he was 1-1, 2.45 in 22 innings. Since 2019, though, he’s had many more (97) minor league appearances, with 2 of the 3 years involved being excellent, including a 1.07 ERA in 50 innings, and in 2022, a 2.30 ERA in 43 minor league innings.

If the Mets don't keep him on the roster, my guess is based on that 2022, some team will snatch him.

Brooks Raley, meanwhile, joins Steve in the Nogosek life raft, also having no options left.

Options remaining include the following:

Three Options Left:

Bryce Montes de Oca, Tylor Megill, Zach Greene, Stephen Ridings.

Two Options Left:

David Peterson, Tayler Saucedo, Jose Butto, Jeff Brigham, Joey Lucchesi, Drew Smith. (Saucedo was just DFAd to make room on the roster for Tommy Pham.)

One Option Left:

John Curtiss, Elieser Hernandez.

Of course, a guy who has yet to make it to the majors, but is likely to do so in 2023, Eric Orze, has 3 options just waiting to be used. Also, guys like Grant Hartwig and Connor Grey and their 3 available options could come into play in 2023 as well.

And one non-option way to shuffle the pitching roster is to send a guy to the IL, which does not burn an option.

Which is a reason David Peterson has 2 options left and Megill has 3 left. They have both been on the IL during their Mets' tenures.

All in all, these options give the Mets plenty of pitcher flexibility in 2023 - but will lead to many, if not most, of these guys spending time in the minors in 2023, especially the ones with options left.

Of course, management has to be prudent in using up player options in 2023, because they will need lots of pitchers with options left to be used in each and every subsequent year.

One inescapable conclusion:

With available information like this, reading Macks Mets is not optional.

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