The Mack Report (Vasil, Juan, Soto, Beltran, Morabito, Coonrod)

 

New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

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

12. Mike Vasil, RHP, 22, Single-A

Vasil has risen up through the organization prospect ranks after a great 2022 debut season. The strong 6’5” starter pitched to a 3.53 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 17 starts (71.1 IP). He was apart of the rising stars game in the AFL this year featuring his four pitch mix, beginning with his speedy four seam. Right now, it’s probably best to project him as a back end starter. 

                            2-6-23 - Keith Law's Top 20 Mets Prospects -

                                                10. Mike Vasil, RHP

Age: 23 | 6-5 | 244 pounds

Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Drafted: No. 232 in 2021

Vasil earned raves from scouts who didn’t have history with him as an amateur, but the changes the Mets made to his delivery, allowing his natural athleticism to dictate its movement and tempo, have brought back better velocity and offspeed stuff. He can get up to 95-96 mph with high spin and pairs it with a 55 slider and 50 changeup that has late action but not enough deception. 

He has to throw strikes, though — he walked 15 in 33 innings after a promotion to High A, then nine more in 15.1 innings in the Arizona Fall League. It’s good stuff but not good enough to carry a 12 percent walk rate. If he cuts that down, he’s a No. 4 starter. 

Mack - Vasil is one of the projected mid-rotation starters that needs to step up now that Matt Allan seems lost for the entire 2023 season. 

The 22-year old Vasil was an 8^th round pick in the 2021 draft, out of  the University of Virginia. As stated above, he had a wonderful debut pro season last year for three teams (FCL, A, A+) but he was even more impressive in the Arizona Fall League (6-G, 5-starts, 3-0, 2.9315.1-IP, 18-K). 

Vasil had eight starts for Brooklyn last season so there is a good chance he starts off this season in Binghamton.

 

 New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

18. Simon Juan, OF, 17, Rookie (DSL)

The 2022 Mets top international signee struggled a bit this summer at the DSL. The 6’2” prospect shows great power and speed already at 17 years old. He hit .219 and stole 16 bases along with 14 extra base hits (2 HR) in 201 at bats. There is no limit to his upside being only 17 and the Mets will take their time with an exciting player like Juan. 

Mack -I’m going to give him a pass for his first pro season. He was only 16. My hopes is he comes stateside in the spring and is part of the FCL Mets’ rotation. 

I understand there was an Instagram post this week put up by someone that said once Juan Soto signed with the Mets, he would be the first “500 million dollar man” in baseball history. I also understand  Soto “liked” the comment which cause some Mets fans to go bonkers. 

Me? I think it was a liking of the 500mil, not becoming a Met, that caused his response… though I don’t know any other owners that would pay this kind of money for one, single player.

 

 Jon Heyman @JonHeyman

Post exclusive: Carlos Beltran is leaving YES broadcast booth to work in Mets front office 

Mack - I’m not sure how I feel about this. Steve Cohen seems to like having a lot of baseball minds around him, but too many sometimes leads to conflict between the super-ego suits. I don’t care about the cheating thing. He paid his price already by losing the manager gig with the Mets. 

I need his role explained more get my blessing. Is he going to help the young centerfielders play better defense? I like that. Or, is he going to stand behind Buck in the dugout and bug the shit out if him? Don’t like that. 

 

New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)

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

15. Nick Morabito, OF, 19, Rookie (FCL)

Morabito was drafted 75th overall in the 2022 draft out of Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. He is listed as an outfielder, however he played SS in high school but it is unclear as of now where he will play. That’s the least of the worry at the moment because of his smooth swing and speed on the base paths. 

The 5’11” right hander consistently makes hard contact with underrated pop. He had a tough go in rookie ball but there is confidence he will rise up the organization. 

2-6-23 - Keith Law's Top 20 Mets Prospects -

9. Nick Morabito, OF

Age: 20 | 5-11 | 185 pounds

Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Drafted: No. 75 in 2022

Morabito was the Mets’ second-round pick, although he was their fourth pick overall, as a projection high school hitter who shows plus raw power in BP and 70 speed. He played a lot of short in high school but wasn’t good there, so the Mets moved him full-time to center field to take more advantage of his speed. He may take longer to get there than most high schoolers but there’s 20-homer/30-steels upside. 

Mack - Law has more contacts with scouts, team officials, and league personnel than most in this business. Trust me… he didn’t sit behind the plate at this kid’s high school  games all season. 

There’s very little we can draw from his pro career so far… 22 at-bats for the FCL Mets with only two hits. I am extremely surprised he is this high on Law’s list and I would gladly take a 20-HR/30-SB in the outfield some day. 

 

The Mets signed veteran reliever, 30-year old RHP Sam Coonrod off waivers from Philadelphia and designated outfielder Khalil Lee for assignment. 

He was originally drafted by the Giants in 1994, in the 5^th round, out of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (the same school as Dave Steib).

Coonrod has a 5.27 ERA in 4 big league seasons. Last season, his stat line for the Phillies was -0.3-WAR, 0-0, 7.82. 

His claim to fame so far was his statement made when he refused to take a knee in a team statement on the George Floyd murder: 

“I just can’t get on board with a couple things I’ve read about Black Lives Matter, how they lean towards Marxism, and … they said some negative things about the nuclear family, I just can’t get on board with that.” 

DFA a woman beater… replace him with this guy. Such a deal.