Former 8th round pick Tylor Megill was a DRAFT HIT.
He has provided value above his draft round expectation.
We all know the draft is a crap shoot, right, Mack?
Riley Gilliam was the Mets’ 5th rounder in 2018, # 140 overall.
Started out real good, then not real good at all, stymied by arm issues.
Now 27, still not pitching in games, on the 60 day IL.
Deceiving is “60 days”.
His last minor league game was in July 2021. His ERA that season? 9.88.
Meanwhile:
Drafted in the same round at # 165 was Stephen Kwan, a 5’9” lefty OF.
WHAT IS KWAN UP TO THIS YEAR?
YOU HAD TO ASK….
He has been up 205 times for the Cleveland Guardians.
He is hitting .397/.456/.554. WHAT???
Freaky sick numbers. He has fanned just 14 times.
You win some, you lose some, I guess. (Can we win some, too, though?)
But…the Mets have two minor league guys like him:
Nick Morabito
And Rhylan Thomas
Both slightly taller. Both promising hitters.
Maybe one will become known as the next Steve Kwan.
PAUL GERVASE IS COOKING AGAIN
Last 4 outings in AA, the 6'10" righty has done this: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 11 Ks.
And he is not in Syracuse yet because?????
Career 140 Ks in 84 IP in relief. This year, 28 Ks in 16 IP.
And 48 Ks in 26 IP in AA in 2023 and 2024. 16.6 Ks per 9.
Give me some of that in Queens.
He missed a month, from late April to late May, but is razor sharp now.
He has outgrown AA.
He no doubt wants to get to know Syracuse better.
Oh...and he was a Mets' 12th rounder in 2022.
Sometimes, the Mets do get their man.
ANOTHER DRAFT PICK SITUATION TO PONDER
I really like Nolan McLean, but despite his prodigious power, with 9 doubles and 8 HRs in 130 ABs, but 74 Ks, he seems to have an uphill battle to be a MLB hitter.
Hopefully, however, he’ll become a very good MLB pitcher.
He was the 91st pick in 2023.
Two picks later, a guy named CJ Kayfus was picked in the third round at # 93 by Cleveland. After being drafted, he had 19 RBIs in 59 at bats in 2023.
Fluke? No.
This year, in his first full pro year, the 22 year old 1B/OF in high A and AA, and is hitting .349/.456/.590! Incredible. And .391 in AA so far.
Mets first round hitters NEVER hit like that, much less Mets 3rd rounders.
JEREMY RODRIGUEZ IS HUMAN AFTER ALL
The highly regarded FCL Met IF went 0 for 4 with 4 errors today. He’s still 17 and tomorrow is another day. 18 year old Simon Juan is doing fine, with 7 HRs, 22 RBIs, and .297 in 30 FCL games. Vast improvement.
- Both are Top 30.
BRAVES UNRAVELING
Poor, poor Braves…Strider and Acuna already out for 2024. Now this:
Starting RHP Hurston Waldrep was placed on the injured list with (uh-oh) right elbow discomfort.
CF - left hamstring strain for Michael Harris. An MRI exam showed the 2022 ROY suffered a Grade 2 strain. It is likely the center fielder will be sidelined at least a month.
The Mets don’t catch and pass the Braves? Then, shame on them.
TONG TERRIFIC
Jonah Tong threw 5 innings for Brooklyn, and he was…well…terrific.
1 hit, 7 Ks in 5 innings, and a winNice.
Brandon Sproat, meanwhile, allowed 4 runs in 6 innings in AA and picked up a win, too. Two of the opposition’s hits were by…you guessed it…the aforementioned CJ Kayfus.
IS LA ACUNA ALMOST READY?
Once again, I urge our reading audience to consider strongly not to look at full season stats when evaluating a player.
Acuna? Started out hitting an awful 5 for 38 in the frigid Northeast in late March and early April. He also walked just twice. Starting April 12, though, he left that .132 hitting behind and has hit .270 since, with 20 more walks.
He also has hit .280 in May and June.
He has 16 XBHs in his last 255 ABs since April 12, but to compensate for some under-power, he has stolen 26 bases in 67 games. He fields well.
So, ignore those first 9 games, where wind chill factors likely averaged in the 20s or 30s, and the young man has performed solidly.
I’d say he could be ready to replace Jeff McNeil in July if Jeff is moved.
He also, BTW, can capably handle SS if (heaven forbid) Lindor is out for any period of time.
TGIF.
ReplyDeleteTHANK GOODNESS IT’S FRANCISCO (X 2)
I say don't rush Acuña. Let him play AAA this season
ReplyDeleteMack, they can do that and elevate Iglesias. They may be stuck with McNeil. Owed nearly $40 million, and other teams know he has hit .198 with a .245 OBP and .280 slug % in May and June.
ReplyDeleteBaty was sent down after hitting .229/.306/.327. The only thing keeping McNeil out of a much-deserved assignment to the minors is his contract.
Stearns would have to eat 75% of Jeff's $
DeleteKeep him as UT/mentor to Mauricio
If they can find a trade partner for McNeil they can get off the hook for the $$$.
DeleteThe Yankees are unhappy with Gleyber Torres' fielding. Maybe they'd take on McNeil.
Mack, that may be the solution. But they do want to reduce the team payroll. They have to feel confident that Jeff will come out of his major 2024 swoon, to be at least close to average.
ReplyDeleteHome Run Machine Nolan McLean becomes Strikeout Machine Nolan McLean as he takes the mound tonight in AA.
ReplyDeleteWhile the normally high average 32 year old Jeff McNeil is in the .190s over the past two months, the normally low average Kyle Schwarber at age 31 is in the .290s the past two months. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Jeff will figure things out.
ReplyDeleteAcuna got hurt last night. Strained shoulder. Might be vacationing with his older brother… LOL, I’m cruel.
ReplyDeleteHow many teams picks the shortstop from Stetson in the ninth round? Why punish yourself this way Tom?
McLean yesterday: 2-run HR and 3 K’s
I keep reading how Stearns wants sustained success over short term success, and how he has to “thread the needle”. Can someone translate?
Gus, better than sustained failure over short term failure. If Acuna to IL, then Wyatt Young re-promoted?
ReplyDeleteBill, Gleyber looked super duper early and so did Miguel Andujar, until they slipped a lot.
ReplyDeleteOddly in just under 100 ABs, Andujar is hitting .330 for Oakland in the outfield this year.