2/3/23

The Mack Report (Allan, 2016-2020 SP Draft Picks, Parada, Vientos, Figgy, D.J.)


 

New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

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

11. Matt Allan, RHP, 21, Single-A

Matt Allen has the most interesting case in the Mets organization because he hasn’t pitched since 2019. A once top 5 prospect, Allen continues to slip due to his multiple arm procedures. He looked decent in his 10.1 innings in 2019 with great fastball potential. He projects to be ready for the 2023 season and can fly up the list if he performs without any injury. Definitely one to watch. 

                        1-25-23 - The Athletic

If all had gone according to plan, right-hander Matt Allan, 21, would’ve been a prime candidate for a debut by now. However, injuries have disrupted Allan’s development and timeline. Allan, formerly a top-100 prospect, missed all of 2022 after undergoing a second elbow surgery in January following his 2021 Tommy John surgery. He has not pitched in an affiliate game since 2019. Eppler said he is in a throwing program the Mets developed to build length and velocity. 

Mack - Here’s a guy I really had big plans for. It’s hard to project Allan going forward. The first thing the Mets have to do is keep him out of the Mash tent.

There were seven top shelf starters drafted between 2016-2020. It included Allan. Let’s take a quick look at all of them and their progress so far: 

2016:  Justin Dunn - 1st round - traded to  Seattle as part of the Edwin Diaz trade. 2022 stats: -0.1-WAR, 1-3, 6.10 

            2016:  Anthony Kay - 1st round - Traded to Toronto for Marcus Stroman. 2022 stats: 0.0-WAR, 0-0, 4.50.  Has been consistently inconsistent throughout his career. Was released last week and currently a free agent.. 

2017:  David Peterson - 1st round - still a Met,  2022: 0.9-WAR, 7-5, 3.83. Projected to start  in Syracuse and play the role of the emergency SP6. 

2018:  Simeon Woods-Richardson - 2nd round - traded to Toronto for Marcus Stroman. 2022 stats: -0.1-WAR, 0-1, 3.60. Projected to be in the 2023 Minnesota Twins rotation. 

2019:   Josh Wolf - 2nd round - traded.to Cleveland as part of the Francisco Lindor trade. 2021-2022 minor league ERAs were 5.61 and 6.35. So far, no loss for the Mets. 

             Matt Allan - 3rd round - Still a Met. TJS. Hasn’t pitched in 3-years. Who knows at this point? 

2020:    J.T. Ginn - 2nd round - Traded to Oakland as part of the Chris Bassett trade. Pitched at the AA level in 2022: 10-starts, 6.11-ERA. 

So far, no damage, though the SWR trade will, in the long run, probably haunt the Mets. Other than that, it looks like the right guys were traded, regardless of all the pissing and moaning you read on Twitter. 

 

The Athletic - Keith Law

44. Kevin Parada, C, New York Mets

Age: 21 | 6-1 | 197 pounds

Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Drafted: No. 11 in 2022

Last year’s ranking: Ineligible

Parada was one of the best college hitters in the 2022 draft class, hitting .361/.453/.709 for Georgia Tech and striking out in just 10.4 percent of his plate appearances, and he continued to get on base in his 13 games in pro ball after signing. He’s a bat-first catcher who has an unusual setup at the plate, holding the bat over his back shoulder like it’s a golf bag, but he gets the bat head to the zone on time, even against better stuff. I wouldn’t rule out someone trying to change that eventually, but for now, it works for him. 

He made a lot of hard, loud contact, including 26 homers, tying him for sixth among all Division I players even though he faced good quality pitching in the ACC. Behind the plate he’s a bit rough, with some scouts questioning whether he’d stay at the position. He has a 55 arm and he’s fine blocking, but has trouble framing and some issues receiving better stuff. 

He’s a sneaky good athlete who has already improved substantially on defense since high school, and doesn’t have that much farther to go to be average-ish with the glove. His bat is the carrying tool, with high contact rates and the potential for 20-25 homers a year. 

                New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

            Prospects 1500 

4. Kevin Parada, C, 21, Single-A

The 1st round, 11th overall catcher Parada attended Georgia Tech where his bat was valued slightly higher than his defense. Parada is a decent defender who probably won’t be able to be an everyday catcher, but will definitely find his way in the lineup because of his plate approach. A great hard contact hitter to all fields will definitely hit for average, but don’t be surprised to see 20 homer seasons and some power along the way. 

Mack - It’s going to watch how the two catcher prospects play out. 

I happen to think Parada is the keeper and Alvarez should be traded (when Parada is ready) for a young arm, but the Mets could try and convince one of them that their future is as a DH.  That might work, but probably just through the arbitration years. 

Imagine if they kept that catcher prospect they traded for Joey Lucchesi? 

 

1-25-23 - The Athletic

The Mets asked Mark Vientos this winter to work on his agility in an effort to enhance his defensive value and versatility. Vientos, primarily a third baseman, played 27 games at first base for Triple-A Syracuse last year. Eppler said he anticipated Vientos continuing to see action at first base and third base. 

In 16 games with the Mets last season, he mostly served as a right-handed designated hitter; rival scouts said he lacked enough foot speed for the outfield and wasn’t quick enough for third base. 

Some team officials were encouraged by Vientos’ pre-game on-field work with the Mets and how he seemed to quickly learn the demands in the majors as far as preparation and work ethic. 

Mack - I consider Vientos a one demensional player. Total value going forward is as a designated hitter, no matter how many fly balls are hit to him in practice. I also think the Mets missed the trading boat this off season on this guy. His huge HR/AB ratio in Syracuse should have brought him some offers. 

The future of the DH position could, long term, lie in the two top catcher prospects. 

 

Michael Mayer @mikemayer22

The Long Island Ducks announce Nelson Figueroa Jr. will be their pitching coach for the 2023 season.

Wally Backman continues as the manager 

Mack -  Nelson and I are friends. I remember the day he joined Twitter and added me as his first follower. This gig is pure enjoyment for a guy that the Mets totally screwed as a player, but came back anyway to work on-air, then was screwed by the team again. Have fun, Figs. 


This might be Khalil Lee’s replacement… 

The Mets signed veteran outfielder, D.J. Stewart and invited him to camp this spring. He had reached the Orioles; major league level three times, for a total of 26 home runs in 622-ABs, with an excellent 13.2% walk rate. His downside is his overall .213 batting average and his rated sub-par defense in the field. 

Stewart joins Tim Locastro, Abraham Almonte and former Reds’ farmhand Lorenzo Cedrola among non-roster outfielders who’ll be in big league camp. 

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