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.
