Juan Lagarus, Akeel Morris, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jose Reyes

Juan Lagares:


7-26-11: - amazinavenue.  - OF Juan Lagares - STOCK UP - Lagares has seemingly come all the way back from one of the worst botched prospect mishandlings of the Minaya era. It's a testament to his talent that he's lived up to his initial billing as an IFA Robin to FMart's Batman back in the summer of '05. Lagares was only recently called up to Binghamton but in his time with St. Lucie he was tremendous, posting a .339/.389/.495 triple slash. He's added a lot of muscle to his athletic frame which has meant far more in-game power yet he's still showed good speed, even filling in at CF when needed. The reason why he toiled away at Hi-A for so long is the plate discipline, or lack thereof. Yes, the .339 average is nice now but do not forget, Lastings Milledge once batted .337 with Binghamton leading many to minimize his poor on-base skills, yet I'd say they caught up with him quickly and thoroughly. However, like Valdespin, Lagares has made strides in the BB% department this season which is a good sign going forward. Despite more room for improvement his excellent tools and emerging production are forcing his name into the discussion as a top tier prospect in this system.


Akeel Morris:


7-30-11: - I was quite disappointed that Morris didn’t start this season for a full season team. He is a true pitching prospect who brings a lot of heat to the table. Tonight, he pitched five more innings for Kingsport and produced nine more strikeouts. That’s 23 in the last three games and 49 for the season in 34.2-IP. This is Akeel’s game and, hopefully, he will refine the rest of it as he matures. Don’t forget this guy. He has the potential to go all the way


Matt Harvey:


7-31-11: - http://www.baseballdigest.com/2011/07/31/nl-east-mid-season-mailbag  - Matt Harvey, Mets – The Mets first round draft pick from 2010 has had an impressive pro ball debut. His 8-2 record, 2.37 ERA and 92 K’s in 76 innings for Single-A St. Lucie was enough to promote him to Double-A Binghamton. While he hasn’t fared as well since the promotion, he’s shown that he has four reliable pitches (fastball, slider, curve, changeup) which is enough to give hope to many in the Mets organization right now.



Zack Wheeler:


7-31-11: - http://www.baseballdigest.com/2011/07/31/nl-east-mid-season-mailbag  - Honestly, it really is something of a coincidence that these 2 pitchers rank 4th & 5th on my list; it’s not me trying to be cute. Since being taken as the 7th overall pick in the 2009 draft, the tall righty has shown plenty of raw talent. Like the other pitchers on this list, Wheeler has a low/mid-90′s fastball that can be dialed up a little from time to time. His curveball has reportedly improved somewhat from what it was last year with Single-A Augusta. The Mets were certainly looking at his ceiling when they acquired him from the Giants in return for Carlos Beltran this past week. Most reports sum Wheeler up by saying that he’s got great stuff but also has control issues. In other words, this talent needs to learn how to pitch. The Mets obviously believe in their organization’s ability to teach and in Wheeler’s ability to learn.


Jose Reyes:


By now all Mets fans know that nobody on their team has ever pitched a no-hitter, not one in 50 years, as close as Mr. Seaver came against Jimmy Qualls that time. Mets fans know that the way they know about 1969 and "ya gotta believe" and "it ain't over 'til it's over" and Mookie's roller through Buckner's legs in the bottom of the 10th, late one World Series night at Shea in 1986. Something else the Mets have never had, in all the years since Casey Stengel? They have never had a National League Most Valuable Player. - http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2011/07/31/2011-07-31_the_new_york_mets_have_never_had_an_mvp_but_jose_reyes_is_playing_like_it_while_.html?r=topnews  

Ray Knight, Mike Hebert, Josh Satin, Juan Lagarus, Brandon Moore

Ray Knight:


Knight originally came up with the Reds and spent 1974-1981 with the team. He did not get much playing time until 1979, when Pete Rose signed with the Phillies. He appeared in the 1980 All-Star Game, but got traded a year later to the Astros when Johnny Bench converted to third base. Knight played both first base and third base with the Astros and made the All-Star team again in 1982. He hit well in 1983, but not as well in 1984. As a result, the Astros decided to trade him to the Mets at the end of August 1984 for three prospects. - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/770405-new-york-mets-top-10-third-basemen-in-team-history#/articles/770405-new-york-mets-top-10-third-basemen-in-team-history/page/9  


Mike Hebert:


7-24-11: - https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/1315e3490421b5fb  - Making his first start as a Savannah Sand Gnat, RHP Michael Hebert was brilliant over six shutout innings to send the Gnats to a 4-2 victory over the Lexington Legends Sunday afternoon at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats (19-11/58-41) have won four games in a row. Hebert had made one relief appearance for Savannah in 2011 and two in 2010, but cruised in his first South Atlantic League start on Sunday. He retired the first eight hitters he saw and then after C Roberto Pena’s single with two outs in the third, set down eight more batters in a row. All told, he threw six innings with nine strikeouts, just two singles allowed, both to Pena, and no walks to earn his first win as a Sand Gnat.


Josh Satin:


7-24-11: - http://buffalo.bisons.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110724&content_id=22244656&vkey=news_t422&fext=.jsp&sid=t422  - Josh Satin's first Triple-A home run pushed the Bisons ahead in the eighth, but Lars Anderson responded with his own two-run homer, taking a 7-6 Pawtucket win Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field. Satin had a chance for a walk-off, but center-fielder Che-Hsuan Lin made a running catch to end the game and strand two runners. "I hit it well, barely off the end of the bat," Satin said. "It's just a learning process for me. I wish I could've come through for the team, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. Satin hit 11 home runs in Double-A Binghamton, where he started the season.


Juan Lagarus:


7-25-11: - Lagarus made it known last night that his recent promotion to AA-ball should have happened earlier. Juan went 5-5, with two doubles, a triple, three runs scored and one run batted in, raising his AA-BA to .667. Remember, he’s still only 22-years old and could be someone we will be talking a lot about next season.


Brandon Moore:


7-25-11: - We haven’t talked much about Moore this season simply because he got off to a struggling start this season in AA. Last year he went 5-9, 3.56 for three levels and Binghamton would be the test all prospect pitchers have to master to someday be considered as a call-up. Last night, Moore tossed 6.0-IP, 0-R, 6-K, 0-BB, 2-H and lowered his season ERA to 3.73 in 19-starts. I expect Moore to finish the season with the B-Mets, but start 2012 with AAA-Buffalo. One note of caution: 5.35 ERA vs. lefties (2.69 vs. righties).