Player development is sometimes overshadowed by the bright lights of the big leagues, so as the Mets and Yankees play to a national audience, there are many players working hard on their games to try to reach that level. Some succeed, some fail. Here is a current look at some of those players.
A special shout-out to Herm Card for the terrific in-game photo of Gilberto Celestino!
UP
Hayden Senger really maximized his opportunity with the Mets during his assignment to back up Luis Torrens while Francisco Alvarez was injured. Playing well at the MLB level must have given his confidence a boost, because Senger, who normally hits around the Mendoza line, is now batting .261 for Syracuse.
Rumble Ponies’ pitching is keeping them in first place in their division. Highly touted Jonah Tong (.212 ERA/1.00 WHIP), Nolan McLean (1.37 ERA/1.22 WHIP), and Jack Wnninger (3.19 ERA/0.98 WHIP) have been getting the job done! Douglas Orellana and TJ Shook have been steady out of the pen.
Jett Williams is playing well at AA Binghamton. After missing most of last season with injuries, he needed to re-establish himself as a top prospect. I think he has done that by showing he can hit (.291 average), hit with power (.513 slug), and field (22 starts at SS, 4 in CF, 1 at 2B, .924 fielding %). He won Mets MiLB player of the week in April, ran off an 8 game hitting streak, and has also shown speed on the basepaths with 8 stolen bases in 11 attempts.
Gilberto Celestino , acquired as a minor league free agent after being released by the Cubs, is hitting .294 in 37 games with the Syracuse Mets in right field. This is by far his best season in the minors, as he seems to have discovered something in his swing. He has also been flawless in the outfield this year on 70 total chances.
D’Andre Smith brought his bat with him when he was promoted from Brooklyn to Binghamton. So far he has hit .282/.317/.410 with the Rumble Ponies. He has also shown some versatility, playing RF for the Ponies after showing a skillful glove at 2B in the last few seasons.
DOWN
Syracuse pitching seems to be a black hole for otherwise promising prospects. Blade Tidwell (4.08 ERA), Dom Hamel (4.57 ERA), and previously untouchable Brandon Sproat (5.85 ERA) are learning hard lessons in the International League.
Drew Gilbert started well in Syracuse after coming off the IL, but has faded since then. His .238/.383/.357 line is not going to get him a call-up.
Kevin Parada has not found his swing. This is the second consecutive year that he has not been able to put up offensive numbers although his bat was the main reason the Mets drafted him. Time is getting short.
15 comments:
I'm always enamored by the way prospect starters blow up and fade at the AAA level.
The good news is you only need five major league starters at the same time.
Good to see Jett finally living up to expectations, our hitting outlook in the minors is not looking promising.
I have the rest of my positional org analysis reports later this week with three real deal outfield prospects
I was flying yesterday
What were the defensive flues yesterday?
I was driving, Mack. Didn't see the flubs. The biggest flubs are the impotent bats, though.
I'd imagine Celestino could be a 5th OF. But Morabito is heating up, which I touch on tomorrow, as I get into WHO IS HOT in the minors.
Petes can't throw to home plate. Soto should have beat out that ground ball to second. No timely hitting.
Amazing were doing as well as we are based on horrible RISP numbers. Soto being a Nogo ain't helping either but it's "only" 15 years...........Mack you and I will probably be looking down from heaven then lol
Vientos displayed a ground ball and Alonso air mailed a throw to Alvarez
Misplayed
Vientos is looking pitiful at 3B this year. I thought he made major strides last year, very distressing.
At the very least, Baty should be starting at 3B vs every RHP, with Vientos at DH. The difference in their defense is significant. AJ Ewing with yet another terrific game. I know it’s still early, but he and Reimer both look too good for A+. Zack Thornton ran into some trouble (3 hits to the first 3 batters of the inning, 2 runs) in the 5th, but was dominating to that point, and did manage to get himself out of the 5th with no further damage. 6’3 lefty who threw 68 total innings his first pro year in ‘24, is already up at AA. Big ground ball guy who has walked only 3 with 43K in 40 IP this season. His mom was an all-American Heptathlete, and his dad a state champ in track, so likely a very good athlete himself. A definite sleeper candidate for the ‘26 starting rotation.
Last year people were saying that Vientos had improved so much on defense. I never saw it. He just handled some ground balls that came his way. The range plays and the charging plays are where he has always lagged, and it is still the case. He is not a fast runner, and he also is not quick. Not a good combo for an infielder except at first base. Pete is better there, so DH seems like a natural role.
Vientos' bat was supposed to cover all sins. But he is 6 for 44 with RISP this year (.136) - atrocious.
Vientos needs to kick it in gear. In a couple years the boys now in Brooklyn could be taking his job
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