In the last two posts, we wrote about the projected prospects that should come to Queens in the 2024 and 2025 season.
This post we will take a look at more prospects that are scheduled to graduate in 2026.
Caution. This is pretty far out and we might be talking about players that either never get this far or are left damaged after injuries.
Think Ryley Gilliam.
Names to consider for the 2026 are:
6-5/170
26 years old in March
14th Rd. Pk in 2022
Excellent 12-6 curve
Violent mechanics have caused control problems
Converted to reliever as a senior in college which resulted in a 12 save 1.86 ERA
Mets have pitched him as a starter with limited success
Future could be in the pen
SP Layonel Ovalles
20 years old
6-3/215
IFA 2019 DNP 2020 (Covid)
3/4 slot
Bread and butter is 88-95 FB with 2535 spin
Aldo throws curve, change, and slider
needs work on control
Will be 83 in April.
6-3/220 3rd round pick in 2019
Hasn't pitched since 2019
Excellent verticle life mid-90s fastball
Low 79s curve with tight spin
future sucess depends on future health.
It's had to believe that someone can put a ball down this long and come back and throw accurate 95 mph fastballs.
I believe his baseball future if there is one, is in the pen.
RP Eli Alkeney
23 years old
6-0/200 20th round pick 2022
H80s/L90-s/T91 fastball with good downhill angle
H70s slider with big break
totally in command so far in his professional career
Big surprise that has come out of nowhere
Could be a future closer.
Will move fast due to age.
OF Nick Morabito
Turns 21 in May
Plays center, right, and second base.
2nd round pick in 2022
Short compact swing and developing bat speed
Showing better raw power.
Borderline ++ runner.
Sub-par arm causing Mets to move him off short to center
May be the best prospect out there.
Should open up for St. Lucie.
OF Wilfredo Lara
Turning 20 in April
Plays third base, center, and right field
Looks excellent playing center.
Power is emerging with growing OBP, but his unconventional swing could bite him in the arse some day.
Very strong wrists.
Pull power is real
+ centerfield defense
Not considered a future impact prospect
There are other names that could emerge starting in the 2027 season.
Some are:
SP - Calvin Zeigler, Joel Diaz, Franklin Gomez, Luis Gordillo, Franyel Diaz
C - Ronald Hernandez, Julio Zayas, Yovany Rodriguez
1B - Yohario Cuevas
2B - Marco Vargas
SS - Diego Mosquera, Colin Houck, Christopher Laras, Jeremy Rodriguez
3B - Nolan McLean, Raiden Reyes
OF - Willy Fanas, Simon Juan, Anthony Baptist, Jostyn Almonte, Jeffry Rosa, Heriberto Rincon, Branny De Oleo, Edward Lantigua
... I'm gonna wear shades
.
Stanley Consuerga
ReplyDeleteRhylan Thomas
Jordany Ventura
You're welcome
DeleteAnd Joel Diaz
ReplyDeleteDiaz was listed in the article
DeleteSorry, I overlooked him.
DeleteI echo Gus on Consuegra who had something like 16 HRs in 49 road games in high A last year, which is quite the pace.
ReplyDeleteAnd I remain a steadfast Rhylan Thomas supporter, as I think last year's best hitter for average (.328) in the "above DSL" portion of the organization, extremely low strikeout rate, and his fielding award make him a definite watch - all he needs this off season is muscle, an easy to correct deficiency.
I like your list because it causes me to look at some guys I never do, like Cameron Foster, 14th rounder in 2022 who fanned 85 in 81 innings as a first year pro, and had a slightly better ERA away from Brooklyn. I imagine he starts in AA this year.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many guys who had fine years, and I am especially keen to watch these 8 (although all are worth watching):
ReplyDeleteTo see what Calvin Ziegler does, will he come on like gangbusters in 2024?
Lucas Gordillo (old for the DSL, but will his 1.21 ERA in 37 innings with 55 Ks translate into strong pitching stateside).
Catcher Ronald Hernandez is really one to watch. Likely future major leaguer.
Julio Zayas, catcher who will be just 18 in 2024, had a great DSL season with the bat.
Marco Vargas could well be a future MLB star.
Will Colin Houck wow us in 2024 in the low minors, and how much will fellow high draftee Nolan McLean progress as pitcher and hitter.
What will Jeremy Rodriguez do at age 18 after his terrific 2023 at age 17.
How time flies. Seemed like forever that Matt Allan has been down with injury. Looking forward to his return, but at 83 he may have lost a step. :)
ReplyDeleteDoesn't turn 84 until October
DeleteA great time to be a mets fan.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mack, this is a great list. I deeply appreciate all of your work and insight on the prospect side. It would certainly be great to see Matt Allen come back healthy and strong, but I agree, it’s a lot to ask after all the down time.
ReplyDeleteI’d like to throw a dark horse in here, a mostly overlooked guy who I’m tabbing to shoot up the rankings this year with a chance to see Queens sometime in 2025.
William Lugo has + power, hitting 14 HR, with 40+ XBH, a good-to-advanced eye (10.5% BB) and reasonable K rates as a 20 yr-old across A/A+ in 2022. Last season he hit a couple of absolute bombs in big league ST but then got hurt and missed the first month + of the season. When he got back, it took him the whole first half to get going at all offensively. Listed at 6’2, 230 he was still sticking at SS last season, which speaks highly of his athleticism (though he’s almost certainly a 3B). He’ll play the entire ‘24 season at 22 yrs old and should be in AA if not to start the year, than shortly thereafter. I’m wishing young William good health, and looking for a breakout season with 20++ HR and the chance to put himself back in the conversation as next in line if Baty/Vientos don’t settle the 3B question this year.
Thank you Adam for your compliments on my posting
DeleteNot as easy as the old days when I wasn't writing these from my bed.
And I especially like how you respectfully added another player to consider.
Not just diving into other names as if this was a contest
The names you and others added here could develop into a major league player. They could. Not achieving those levels doesn't mean they arented talented
Again thanks for first.thanking me
Great list . .thanks for the info. My eyebrows were raised at Matt Allan's advanced age, then decided we have been talking about him for so many years it could not possibly be wrong. What really did surprise me when I was doing some research earlier this month is that is is still ONLY 22 (23 in April). He has some time to right the ship if he is healthy and did not forget how to pitch. I am a believer that he will see the majors by the end of 2025. I'm going out on a limb to say he will shoot through Brooklyn and Binghamton this year and perhaps hit Syracuse at the end of '24.
ReplyDeleteAnother guy to keep an eye out for and has lost some ink, although he probably more in the generation of Williams/Gilbert/Acuna is Matt Rudick.
I think Tom touched this in a comment, but does McLean stay on the mound? If so, what capacity and how good a prospect is he? I thought I read at one point where his long term role will be as a pitcher, not as a position player, but that may be alternatative facts.
McLean has the talent to go both ways
DeleteWould that make him the first bi-mat?
McLean has big power and a 98 heater, but not expected to have a high average. Would you take a hitter like Schwarber that pitches like Craig Kimbrel?
DeleteWord from camp is Allan is ready to go and up to his old speed
DeleteAwesome news! Thanks Mack. Nice to have friends…..
DeleteGreat on Allan, Mack. Still be surprised to see him in Queens before mid 2025.
ReplyDeleteI think McLean could be a power pen arm and back up DH
ReplyDeleteRespectfully withholding judgement on McLean until he demonstrates that he can do even one of those things at an advanced level. Otherwise, I’ll continue to suspect that his draft status was enhanced by the Ohtani mirage effect, and that the Mets drafted a guy who may top out at 3/4 of a big league talent on both sides, which, while impressive in its own right, isn’t all that helpful.
DeleteAgain I love your stuff Mack
ReplyDeleteThere is always the late round unexpected guys that come up and we hope to hit on but I am odds guy so it’s alway been hard for me to put much stock on guys who do not have consensus top prospect status. While we always will need contributions from guys like butto those don’t move the needle for me. I hope some of these guys break through and become the Mcniels and Seth Lugos of the world I have always been try to identify when thier at thier peak value and maximize that value… I alway think back to 2018 when we lost that play off game vs the giants. I didn’t believe in that team but what I wanted most was actually getting in to the main part of the playoffs so guys like Lugo and gsellman could pitch. Had they been able to pitch well (even in losing) how we could have parlay them into pieces that really could have made this team a winner. Alas we did nothing and they were never at the same value.
What the braves did with Shelby miller (I believe was the guy) and traded him at the height of his value Swanson and other
Was thought of a dumb move but was a stroke of genius…. I have alway wanted that from us ..: Be Bold…
I am by no means a scout and do not spend my time watching minor leagues but when I saw Baty , pelfrey (and he was once 11-1) I never said wow that’s a stud… I am quick to say trade them now
Eddie
Adam, I have no real reason to support this supposition, but with McLean, I think Trevor May.
ReplyDeleteWith the bat, Ivan Wilson.
Mack, "wriing from bed"? You sound like a later day Hugh Hefner.
ReplyDeleteYou should see Mrs. Mack
DeleteEddie, when Pelfrey had that record, my brother Steve had three words to say: TRADE HIM…NOW!
ReplyDeleteHe’d seen enough of Pelfrey to know he’d come back to earth.
The Mets need to stay bold…and be brighter doing so.