The Daily Mets Minor League Update - July 14TH

 

Morning.

 

Draft News - 

CLICK HERE - Keith Law dissects every NL team’s players  

New York Mets 

The Mets didn’t pick until after the first round proper ended, moving back to pick 32 because their major-league payroll exceeded the luxury tax threshold, but did extremely well once they got into the fray.

 

Colin Houck (1) was 10th on my Big Board, making him outstanding value at pick 32. He’s a high school shortstop and quarterback from Georgia who has a surprisingly quiet approach at the plate for a two-sport guy who has never concentrated solely on baseball. He’s got a strong lower half that he uses well to drive the ball and should get to at least 60 power. His plate discipline is solid, although he’ll need more reps and needs to lay off high fastballs. I expect him to move to third base, and there’s star upside here if he hits enough to get to the power.

 

The Mets once again selected Florida right-hander Brandon Sproat (2), who declined to sign with them last year when they took him in the third round; Sproat probably didn’t help or hurt himself this spring, striking out way more batters but at a cost of more walks and three times as many homers allowed. He’s 94-99 mph with a 55/60 changeup and a 45 slider, showing below-average command and control but the stuff to overpower a lot of hitters, even in the SEC. He’s got a wide range of outcomes — I could see him being a No. 3 or 4 starter, or a power two-pitch reliever, or walking too many guys for any of that.

 

Oklahoma State right-hander Nolan McLean (3) was also drafted last year, but the Orioles walked away after his physical without further contact, giving the pool money to 17th-round pick Carter Young instead. The Mets announced McLean as a two-way guy; he’s got 80 raw power but swings and misses way too much for that, and I think he’s a straight reliever with two pitches, 94-96 with ride and run and a hard cutter up to 92 mph.

 

Nevada right-hander Kade Morris (3) sneaked on to the back of my top 100 despite a 5.42 ERA for the Wolf Pack because he might as well have been pitching on Mercury, since Reno is 4,500 feet above sea level. He has a four-pitch mix and a short arm action he can repeat, with a 55 slider that might be better when he’s closer to the earth’s core, and some deception from an arm slot below 3/4. I think he could be a back-end starter.

 

Right-hander Wyatt Hudepohl (4) transferred from Kentucky to UNC-Charlotte this year and became the 49ers’ top starter, striking out 29 percent of opposing hitters with a hard slurve and solid-average changeup. He’s mostly 90-94 mph but has touched 96 mph but hitters do hit that pitch harder than you’d like. He’s got a starter’s delivery and could be a 5 if he works away from the fastball more. AJ Ewing (4A) was No. 100 on my Big Board, a late add after he showed well this spring at the plate. He’s strong for his size with great hand speed that all helps generate hard contact. He was a shortstop in high school but almost certainly moves to second base, where his bat should still profile. He’s a bit older than his peers, turning 19 in August.

 

Missouri righty Austin Troesser (4A) has a high-effort delivery but it’s three pitches, a fastball at 94-95, a short but tight slider, and a changeup he barely uses but that has great fading action. He mostly pitched in relief in college and that’s probably his role.

 

Grand Canyon lefty Zach Thornton (5) is a command/finesse guy who’s mostly fastball/slider, neither pitch more than average, and gave up too much hard contact in his one season for the Lopes after transferring from Juco. Illinois right-hander

 

Jack Wenninger (6) is 93-95 mph with at least a 55 changeup; he can’t spin the ball very well but the fastball/changeup combo really works and he could at least get to Triple A as a starter.

 

Shortstop Boston Baro (8) will be an over-slot guy, a very underpowered high school shortstop who can field but isn’t a runner and might have 20 power. He’s committed to UCLA. 

 

Jay Cuda (@JayCuda) 

The last 10 years of drafts - % of each MLB team's picks that made it to the majors (for any team) 

30^th (last) - Mets 

                                                        Ernest Dove (@ernestdove) 

This kinda sums up the past 5+ Mets seasons in a nutshell.  Best organizations in baseball only get 20ish% of their picks to majors, so is it worth 'tanking

' rounds amongst the first 10 banking on a kid or 2 every year? Should they maybe only try it for bats not arms that break?

 

                                    Christopher Soto (@SotoC803) 

2021: 4 College Seniors to help pay for Kumar (oof.)

2020: 2 Seniors + a 3rd rd punt for JT Ginn (woomp)

2019: 5th - 10th rd all punted to afford Matt Allan (ouch)

2018: Mostly normal yr

2017: Punted rds 7-10 to pay for Vientos and took unranked guys in rounds 5+6 

 

Mike Mayer @mikemayer22 

The Mets have signed 7th round pick Noah Hall. 

The 22-year-old had a 3.29 ERA over 7 starts for South Carolina before a back injury cut his season short. 

Throws low-to-mid-90s fastball & had one of the best changeups in the draft (70 grade from BA).

 

Mets have signed undrafted free agent Dakota Hawkins to a six-figure bonus. 

The 23-year-old had 92 strikeouts in 73 innings this year. Only 4 homers allowed in 14 starts. 

Hawkins was two-time National Player of the Week in 2023. 

 

CLICK HERE - 2024 MLB Draft: Mock Draft 1.0  

Mets 

5. Brody Brecht, RHP — Iowa 

The New York Mets are the third-biggest winner in this lottery system jumping four spots from 9th, where they’re expected to pick, up into the lottery at pick no. 5. 

It hasn’t been a good year for the Mets, but if it culminates in a top-five pick, it’s at least reasonable consolation. Brecht is one of the best arms college baseball has ever seen in terms of pure stuff. The fastball will touch 101. He throws two breaking balls and both of them project at least double-plus. There is a chance for three 70-grade weapons here. He’s an incredible athlete and if he ends up throwing more strikes in 2024, he could end up the no. 1 overall pick. 

It should be noted, however, this pick could fall ten spots once again if the Mets stay on pace of exceeding the luxury tax threshold by more than $40 million. 

 

Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) 

TRANSFER NEWS: 

Former Tennessee RHP Chase Burns announces on instagram that he has committed to Wake Forest. Burns was the No. 2 prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft class coming into the 2023 campaign. Massive get for Corey Muscara and the Deacons 

 

CLICK HERE - Injuries & Moves  

RHP Edwin Uceta (recovery from left knee surgery) 

Expected return: Possibly August

Uceta, whom the Mets placed on the injured list with a sprained right ankle in late April, underwent surgery in June to address a far more serious injury: a torn meniscus in his knee. That operation carries a typical timeline of about eight weeks, meaning Uceta is unlikely to return before August. 

Uceta has appeared in only one game for the Mets, who claimed him off waivers earlier this season. In a procedural move, the Mets transferred him to the 60-day IL in early July. (Last updated: July 3) 

 

OF Tim Locastro (recovery from right thumb surgery) 

Expected return: Mid-July

Just as he was nearing a return from a relatively minor back injury, Locastro sprained the UCL in his right thumb during the final days of a rehab assignment and he was transferred to the 60-day IL. Locastro underwent surgery on May 23 to repair the sprain, which carries a recovery timetable of six to eight weeks. 

The outfielder had his hard cast removed before the end of May and graduated to an even lighter protective pad at the end of June. He is due to begin hitting soon and, if all continues to progress as expected, Locastro should return around the All-Star break. (Last updated: June 27) 

 

RHP Sam Coonrod (right lat strain) 

Expected return: Second half 

Coonrod's recent scan showed improvement, and he has been given clearance to progress to long tossing and then start throwing on the mound in the next two weeks. The Mets are hopeful that he can progress to Minor League game action by July, which would put a second-half return on the table. (Last updated: June 4) 

 

Baseball In General: 

Yakyu Cosmopolitan @yakyucosmo) 

Roki Sasaki after last night’s start

 79.0 IP

1.48 ERA

0.78 FIP

1.11 xFIP

41.0 K%

4.7 BB%

0.1 HR/9

 

                                Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) 

Roki Sasaki is going to step into MLB as one of the best pitchers after he is posted and signs. Insanely nasty stuff. If you can afford to roster Sasaki in an open universe league, you should. He’s 21 years old but likely won’t pitch in the majors until 2027. 

 

Butch Baccala (@butchbaccala) 

I do not blame any player. I do not blame any coach for wanting this type of talent. I blame the system. College sports are now about money and everyone getting their piece of the pie. Loyalty, honesty integrity are no longer character traits of College sports 

 

Player Of The Day - 

FCL prospect SS, Nick Moribito continues to rebound from a horrible start this season.

 Yesterday, Nick went 3-5, 1-R, hit his 2^nd double of the season, and drove in  three in their victory over the Astros. 

His seasonal BA now stands at .301, with an .800-OPS 

FCL:. 

Syracuse 1B J.T. Schwartz played in his first rehab game, going 2-1, R, RBI, 1.000, 2.000-OPS. I’d say this works. 

LHSP Luis R. Rodriguez - 2-IP, 0-R, K

Notables - 

LF/2B Nick Moribito - 3-5, R, 2^ND 2B, 2-RBI, .301, .800

SS Diego Mosquera -  2-4, R, 310, .724-OPS

RF Willy Fanas -  3-1, R, RBI, .231, 6.92-OPS

CF Simon Juan -  0-4, .214

SS Jesus Baez - 1-3, .225

 

DSL:

 O Team - 

2B Samuel Camacaro - 3-3 2^nd 2B

RHRP Patricio Trinidad - 2-IP 0-ER, 2-K 

Notables - 

3B Railin Reyes -    0-2

SS Christopher Larez - DNP

DH/C Julio Zayas - 1-4, 1^ST 3B, .309, .901-OPS

LHSP Arlison Rodriguez -  4-IP, 2-ER, 4-K, 2.16, 1.00