6/29/10

2011 DRAFT: - Matt Barnes, Travis Shaw, Travis Harrison, Tyler Beede... and Daniel Norris

Matt Barnes:



6-28 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/06/27/anthony-ranaudo-matt-barnes-dazzle-but-should-sox-pay-ranaudo  - Results don't always match the stuff and vice versa, but in this particular case there was no discrepancy. Barnes was filthy from the very first pitch of the game. He worked at 93-96 mph with his fastball, reaching 97 twice on my gun. For most of the game, he was steadily at 94-95 mph. And, while his secondary stuff was certainly there, it was his fastball that really set the tone. It showed big, late life and bored up and in on right-handed hitters all night long. Share When he was getting ahead in the count, his fastball was close to unhittable up and out of the zone. On top of that exploding fastball, the bad news for hitters was that he had his secondary pitches working as well. While his secondary pitches do not grade as highly as his fastball, he was able to consistently spot his breaking ball both for strikes and down out of the zone when he needed to. He threw some of his breaking balls at 74-77 mph with more of a curveball break, but more effective for him, was a harder, sharper two-plane breaking ball with a slider break at 78-81 mph. Barnes showed the ability to throw both breaking balls to the front door and back door to righty hitters, and coming off his plus fastball, there were a lot of paralyzed hitters taking called third strikes. Couple that with the quality changeup he flashed at 83-85 mph, an easy delivery and, at least to me, this is a top-15 talent heading into the 2011 draft.



Travis Shaw:


6-28 from: - http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2010/06/28/cape-cod-baseball-league-players-of-the-week-june-28th  - Travis Shaw, Bourne 1B/DH - Bourne slugger Travis Shaw (Kent State) has secured this week’s Coca-Cola Player of the Week award after putting together a stretch of four games that any Cape Leaguer will be hard-pressed to match this season. Shaw hit .714, with a .775 on-base percentage, slugging two home runs and knocking in seven runs. He batted .330 in his sophomore season at Kent State, with 15 home runs. Shaw was taken in the 32nd round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft out of high school by the Red Sox, but elected to attend Kent State.



Travis Harrison:


6-27 from: - link    - Day two at TOS - LF, Travis Harrison, 6'2 220, R/R, strong upper body, arm strength and power in his bat for sure, ran 4.5 to 1b on IF grounder, called a hit? Supposedly ran sub 7.0, 60, but this kids way to the next level will be the bat. It's definitely there and he's slimmmed down a bit since last year, another good indication of progress. Now lets find him a position and see if he can keep hitting.






Tyler Beede:


6-25 from: - http://www.baseballrumormill.com/  - The Tournament of Stars - a showcase event for USA Baseball held every June in North Carolina - is designed to be a forum to compile an 18-and-under team to represent the United States in the IBAF 18U World Championships this July. Keith Law from espn.com recently filed two reports from the event. Here are some highlights from Keith's reports. - •RHP Tyler Beede and LHP Phillip Pfeifer are both first round material, but could be hard to pull away from their Vanderbilt commitment. The pitchers are a contrast in style with Pfeiffer being raw, but with potential and Beede being the more polished of the pair.


6-27 from: - http://perfectgame.atinfopop.com/4/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=114295945&f=6174069131&m=3221081702&p=2   - Day two at TOS - Tyler Beede, RHP from Auburn, Mass, 6'3 195, loose arm with some pop, up to 92 with sink when down and run up in zone vs RHH. Most fb were 89-90 for limited outing last night.



Daniel Norris:


6-28 from: - link  – We too like Henry Owens, but the best left hander in high school baseball is Daniel Norris at this time. In fact, he is one of the best HS lefties we have seen. Mid 90s, (lots of 94s at the National in Tropicana Field) outstanding command, 3 potential plus pitches and competes. He lives and goes to HS in Tennessee and plays for East Cobb Yankees in the summer."

2011 DRAFT - Seiler Mock

1. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice


2. Matt Purke, LHP, TCU

3. Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA

4. Daniel Norris, LHP, Science Hill HS (TN)

5. Archie Bradley, RHP, Muskogee HS (OK)

6. Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Texas

7. Travis Harrison, OF, Tustin HS (CA)

8. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso HS (OK)

9. Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt

10. Jackie Bradley, OF, South Carolina

11. George Springer, OF, Connecticut

12. Christian Lopes, SS, Edison HS (CA)

13. Mikie Mahtook, OF, LSU

14. Dillon Howard, RHP, Searcy HS (AR)

15. Dillon Maples, RHP, Pinecrest HS (NC)

16. Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA

17. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia

18. Alex Dickerson, OF, Indiana

19. Matt Barnes, RHP, Connecticut

20. Dwight Smith, OF, McIntosh HS (GA)

21. B.A. Vollmuth, SS, Southern Miss

22. Brett Mooneyham, LHP, Stanford

23. Deshorn Lake, RHP, Menchville HS (VA)

24. Tyler Greene, SS, Roswell HS (GA)

25. Dylan Davis, RHP, Redmond HS (WA)

26. Zach Cone, OF, Georgia

27. Christian Montgomery, RHP, Lawrence Central HS (IN)

28. Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde Academy (FL)

29. Bubba Starling, OF/RHP, Gardner Edgerton HS (KS)

30. Logan Verrett, RHP, Baylor

31. Ricky Oropesa, 3B, USC

32. Josh Tobias, 2B, Southeast Guilford HS (NC)

33. Andrew Suarez, LHP, Columbus HS (FL)

34. Jason Esposito, 3B, Vanderbilt

35. Henry Owens, LHP, Edison HS (CA)

36. Michael Kelly, RHP, West Boca HS (FL)

37. Austin Slater, SS, Bolles HS (FL)

38. Alex Meyer, RHP, Kentucky

39. Joe Ross, RHP, Bishop O'Dowd HS (CA)

40. Hudson Boyd, RHP, Bishop Verot HS (FL)

41. Philip Evans, SS, La Costa Canyon HS (CA)

42. Harold Martinez, 3B, Miami

43. Tyler Beede, RHP, Lawrence Academy (MA)

44. Jack Armstrong, RHP, Vanderbilt

45. John Stilson, RHP, Texas A&M

46. Dante Bichette, 3B, Orangewood Christian HS (FL)

47. Noe Ramirez, RHP, Cal State Fulllerton

48. Ryan Carpenter, LHP, Gonzaga

49. Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgia Tech

50. Preston Tucker, 1B, Florida

Jenrry Mejia to DL

Please be advised of the following transactions:


June 29


UTL Jon Malo transferred from Buffalo (AAA) to Binghamton (AA).


RHP Jenrry Mejia placed on 7-Day Disabled List (right posterior cuff strain).


Mark Cohoon switched his number to #17. Roy Merritt switched his number to #45.

Bisons Notes 6/29/10 - Syracuse at Buffalo (7:05 p.m.)

from press release


Buffalo Bisons  vs. Syracuse Chiefs 

Tuesday, June 29, 2010 (7:05 p.m.) - Coca-Cola Field

RHP Dillon Gee (6-5, 5.31) vs. RHP Erik Arnesen (2-3, 3.48)

Radio: WWKB AM 1520, http://www.bisons.com/



TODAY’S GAME: Tonight, the Buffalo Bisons host the Syracuse Chiefs in the first game of a two-game series from Coca-Cola Field (7:05 p.m.). The Herd is coming off a 3-1 series loss with the Charlotte Knights. The Bisons went 3-5 on an eight-game roadtrip that ended last night. After this two-game series, Buffalo will continue its homestand with a three-game series against the Rochester Red Wings, starting Thursday, July 1.



vs. CHIEFS: The Bisons are just 1-5 against the Chiefs this season. Syracuse swept the Herd in a two-game set from Alliance Bank Stadium, April 12-13, and also took a 3-1 series win from May 31-June 3 at Coca-Cola Field. Since 2008, the Bisons are just 12-26 in their last 38 games against the Chiefs.



OF JASON PRIDIE was activated off the disabled list today. Pridie missed 39 games with a right hamstring sprain suffered on May 18 against Charlotte. The outfielder played in three games with Single-A St. Lucie from June 25-28 and hit .400 (4-10) with two runs, a double and two walks. To make roster room, INF JONATHON MALO was sent to Double-A Binghamton.


 INF RUSS ADAMS was 3-6 with a pair of home runs last night. It was Adams’ first multi-homer game since August 2, 2005 against the Chicago White Sox. Adams enters tonight’s game with a five-game hit streak over which he has averaged .455 (10-22) with five runs, two doubles, three home runs and five RBI.

Press Release: - OF - Jason Pridie

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



June 29, 2010



Bisons Activate OF Jason Pridie off DL


INF Jonathan Malo Transferred to Double-A Binghamton

The Buffalo Bisons today announced that OF JASON PRIDIE has been activated off the disabled list. INF JONATHAN MALO has been transferred to the Double-A Binghamton Mets.


Pridie missed the last 39 games due to a right hamstring strain. The outfielder suffered the injury on May 18 against Charlotte as he beat out an infield bunt single.


Pridie played three games, June 25-28, rehabbing the injury at Single-A St. Lucie of the Florida State League. He hit .400 (4-10) with a doubles, two walks and two runs scored.


Prior to the injury, Pridie hit .282 (46-163) with six doubles, one triple, three home runs and 19RBI in 39 games with the Bisons. He also stole nine bases in 12 attempts for the Bisons. All 37 of Pridie’s starts have come as the Bisons leadoff hitter.


Malo has spent two stints with the Bisons this season and has hit .231 (3-13) with an RBI and two runs scored in eight games.

Wilfredo Tovar, Kevin Mulvey, Wright For MVP, Beltran Update... and Jonathan Niese

Wilfredo Tovar:



Tovar has been recently transferred to Savannah from St. Lucie, IMO, a good move by the Mets. He went 3-3 in the first game Monday night…


Tovar was signed as a heralded international prospect and began him professional career with the 2008 VSL Mets (.203/.269/.301/.570).

He returned to the VSL Mets in 2009 (.289/.364/.421/.785), but finished the season with the GCL Mets (.243 in 148-AB).

Tovar was in extended camp for the beginning of the 2010 season, waiting for the half-season teams to begin, when injuries at St. Lucie created an early rise to the A+ level. He held his own (.246/.276/.305/.582 in 118-AB), especially since he was playing at two levels above where he should be at this point in his career.


Tovar is quickly adding his name to the Mets’ growing list of raw prospect talent at the lower levels. I expect him to finish the season in Savannah, play Lucy in 2011, and who knows… after a couple of trades could wind up the heir apparent to Jose Reyes someday.



Kevin Mulvey:


Kevin Mulvey is a former second round draft pick with the Mets, having signed on August 9, 2006. Mulvey was later the “player to be named later” in a late-2009 deal the Twins consummated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, sending pitcher Jon Rauch to the Twins. For the Diamondbacks, Mulvey is currently on the 40-man roster, having appeared in two games for them this season. His stats are abysmal, but he’s still young so he can certainly work out the kinks as he matures. - link 


Wright For MVP:



However, the Mets currently sit ten games above .500, and they hold the National League Wild Card lead. They're also being led offensively by Wright, who's hitting .301 with 14 homers (four more than all of last year) and 61 RBIs, which leads the National League. Wright may have been happy getting a Comeback Player of the Year award this season the way last year went. But so far, he's looking like a front-runner in the NL Most Valuable Player race. At the moment, Wright is on pace to hit 30 homers and drive in 131 runs, all while maintaining a batting average above .300. Not only would Wright be the first Met to ever win the MVP award, but he would break the current string of Giants, Phillies, and Cardinals players winning the award. A player from one of those teams has taken home the trophy every year since 2000. - link 
Beltran Update:


Carlos Beltran will have his knee checked out in about a week and will not advance past Single-A Port St. Lucie until he does. "Somewhere, in about a week's time, we are going to evaluate him again," Mets GM Omar Minaya said Monday. If everything checks out, he will likely head to Triple-A Buffalo for a few tuneup games before returning to the big league roster. The Mets are hoping to have him back soon after the All-Star break. - link





 
Jonathan Niese:


THT Award - Good luck division - Jonathan Niese allowed six runs in four and two-thirds. He was bailed out by Fernando Nieve, who relieved him and while Nieve allowed a runner that he inherited from Niese, he held the Tigers scoreless for two more frames. Niese also was helped by Justin Verlander, Jay Sborz and Fu-Te Ni, who combined for 13 runs allowed. Niese walked away with a no-decision. - link

USA Baseball Team Roster

The USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials roster is as follows:

Name, Position(s), Hometown

Albert Almora, OF, Hialeah, Fla.

Tyler Beede, RHP, Auburn, Mass.

Dante Bichette, Jr., IF, Orlando, Fla.

Hudson Boyd, RHP, Ft. Myers, Fla.

Daniel Camarena, LHP/IF, Bonita, Calif.

Nicky Delmonico, IF, Knoxville, Tenn.

Adam Duke, RHP, Salem, Utah

Phillip Evans, IF, Carlsbad, Calif.

Parker French, RHP, Austin, Texas

Austin Hedges, C, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

John Hochstatter, LHP, Danville, Calif.

Ricardo Jacquez, RHP/IF, El Paso, Texas

Kavin Keyes, IF/C, Sandy, Utah

Francisco Lindor, IF, Clermont, Fla.

Marcus Littlewood, IF, Saint George, Utah

Christian Lopes, IF, Canyon Country, Calif.

Michael Lorenzen, OF, Anaheim, Calif.

Dillon Maples, RHP, West End, N.C.

Kenny Mathews, LHP, Diamond Bar, Calif.

Lance McCullers, RHP/IF, Tampa, Fla.

Chris McFarland, OF/IF, Lufkin, Texas

Christian Montgomery, RHP, Indianapolis, Ind.

Henry Owens, LHP, Huntington Beach, Calif.

Phillip Pfeifer III, LHP, Knoxville, Tenn.

Brian Ragira, OF, Arlington, Texas

Joe Ross, RHP, Oakland, Calif.

John Simms, RHP, The Woodlands, Texas

Kyle Smith, RHP, Lake Worth, Fla.

Eric Snyder, OF, Huntington Beach, Calif.

Elvin Soto, C, New York, N.Y.

Bubba Starling, OF/RHP, Gardner, Kan.

Blake Swihart, C, Rio Rancho, N.M.

Wayne Taylor, C, Houston, Texas

A.J. Vanegas, RHP, Alameda, Calif.

Dan Vogelbach, IF, North Ft. Myers, Fla.

Tony Wolters, IF, Vista, Calif.

Cyclones' 6/29 news and notes


The Cyclones are in first place in the McNamara Division after 11 games, with a 7-4 record. The team is undefeated at MCU Park with a 5-0 record in front of Cyclone fans. Brooklyn travels to Hudson Valley Tuesday night, before returning home for two games.

Who’s hot

The two highest-drafted hitters on the Cyclones have not disappointed in Brooklyn after 11 games. Darrell Ceciliani, a fourth-round pick in 2009, and Cory Vaughn, this season’s fourth-round selection, have led the Cyclone offense. Ceciliani, a centerfielder, has been a great top-of-the-order threat and tablesetter for the Coney Island squad. His .409 on-base percentage and 1.023 OPS make him one of the league’s best players through two weeks. After a somewhat disappointing stint in Kingsport in 2009, Ceciliani has exploded in Brooklyn; hitting a whopping .476 at MCU Park. His 14 runs lead the New York-Penn League. Vaughn is providing plenty of power in the middle of the Cyclone order. He is tied with Batavia’s Nick Longmire for the league lead in home runs with three, and has driven in 10 runs. An impressive athlete, the problems scout have with Vaughn is his plate discipline and ability to make contact, but the former San Diego State standout has only struck out five times in 40 at bats, while walking six times—which is a very good sign. The right fielder has shown in the short time he has spent on Coney Island that he has star potential and if he can make contact at a good rate as he progresses through the system, he could be a good Major Leaguer one day. One of his best tools is his power. His OPS is 1.343 at MCU Park, traditionally a pitcher’s park.

Third baseman Joe Bonfe and shortstop Rylan Sandoval have opened eyes in Brooklyn. Bonfe is continuing his success after posting a .888 OPS at Kingsport in 2009. A 21st-round pick in 2009, Bonfe is batting .357 at Brooklyn thus far. Sandoval, originally drafted by the Mets in 2007 out of junior college, before opting to attend Long Beach State for two seasons, the shortstop was picked up in 2010 by the Mets as an undrafted free agent. He is sporting a .982 OPS through 10 games with the Cyclones, with five doubles and a home run. Hot hitting by Bonfe and Sandoval have kept former Mississippi State star Jet Butler from getting consistent at bats. Butler was drafted in the 26th round of the 2010 draft.

First baseman Jeff Flagg, down from Savannah, has hit well, too. He is batting .341 with a team-high 12 RBIs. Catcher Juan Centeno has been a nice surprise after struggling mightily in Brooklyn last season. The 20-year-old is batting .278 while splitting time with Tyler Freeman behind the plate.

Strong pitching

Good starting pitching has been the back bone of the Cyclones for the past nine seasons, and this one is no different. Lefties Chris Hilliard, Angel Cuan and Mitch Houck all sport sub-2.00 ERAs after two starts. Hilliard and Cuan have 1.50 and 1.64 ERA’s, respectively, while Houck has the team-best 1.32 ERA. He also has 14 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched, but he has walked six. Hilliard has done a good job keeping hitters off base with a 0.92 WHIP. Wes Wrenn, who is in Brooklyn for the second straight season, has posted a 2.25 ERA so far. Hamilton Bennett and A.J. Pinera have been reliable relievers with 1.80 and 2.57 ERAs. Pinera has five strikeouts and one walk through seven innings pitched, while Bennett has struck out two in five innings. Johan Figuereo has three saves, along with 10 strikeouts in just 4.2 innings, but he has given up four earned runs, too.

Struggling

J.B. Brown was a popular pick in 2010, but the second baseman has not started hitting yet. Brown has just three hits in 32 at bats, while striking out nine times. He was the Mets’ 14th-round pick in 2010. Outfielder Cody Holliday is hitting .208 in nine games. Pitcher Yohan Almonte has given up eight earned runs over 16.2 innings pitched, for a 4.32 ERA—a high number for a pitcher-friendly league.

More help to come?


Four of the Mets’ top five picks remain unsigned. First-round pick Matt Harvey, third-round pick Blake Forsythe, fifth-round pick Matt den Dekker and sixth-round pick Greg Peavey all could potentially be assigned to Brooklyn upon signing.

Juan Urbina, Mitch Houck, Pedro Zapata, Robert Carson... and Darrell Ceciliani

Juan Urbina:



Super-prospect Juan Urbina continues to impress at the GCL-level. On Monday, Urbina tossed: 4.2-IP, 1-ER, 6-K and finished the day with a seasonal 0.93 ERA for his first two starts.


I wrote last year:

                                      Urbina was signed this past year as a 16-year old international free agent. Reports are that he is already “hitting 90”, but that’s what everybody says about everybody, including their grandmother.

The same experts have said that he was the top pitcher to come out of the international kiddie signing day. In the past, the Mets used to start these newbies off in Latin America, but not anymore. Watch for him to debit in Florida with the GCL Mets.


The Mets may be clogged with low-level SPs, but that won’t prevent them from holding Urbina back, especially if he keeps pitching this way. My guess is he will finish this season in Brooklyn so Queens will get a good look-see.



Mitch Houck:


Mitch Houck pitched his second gem in a row Sunday for the Cyclones, 7.0-IP, 2-ER, 8-K, 2-BB.


Houck was drafted in the 17th round of the 2008 draft by the Mets.

He pitched most of the 2008 season for GCL, going 2-2, 1.08, 0.84 in 6 appearances.He was called up to Savannah for the last week of their season, where he went 0-0, 2.25 in 2 appearances.

Houck had TJS in the off-season and spent the entire 2009 season on the DL. Frankly, I didn’t think he’d be back.


So far this season he has stats of: 2-0, 1.32, 1.24, 13.2-IP, 14-K, .324-BABIP, 2.98-FIP

Pedro Zapata:


As pointed out on the Gnats’ pre-game press release on Monday:


Pedro Zapata had his nine-game hitting streak snapped Saturday night. He’s still hit safely in 19 of his last 21 contests. In his last nine games, Zapata is still hitting .415 (17-for-41). He’s up to fifth in the SAL in hits (81) and is hitting .354/.409/.418 in 19 completed games in June. His OPS by month: April- .645, May- .728, June- .827.


Zapata was signed in 2006 as an undrafted international free agent.

Zapata’s 2007 pro debut with the DSL Mets was an impressive one: .325/.382/.425 in 160 at bats. He also had 23 stolen bases and an OPS of .807. Had 17 multi-hit efforts in 41 games and stole 23 bases in 29 attempts.

Zapata was named the winner of the Sterling Award for the Mets MVP for the DSL Mets in 2007.

He had a disappointing year in 2008 with Kingsport, hitting only .221 in 226 at bats. He did lead the team with 12 stolen bases.


The Mets send Zapata back to Kingsport in 2009 to do it again, and he did: .329/358/.421 in 152 at bats.

From the Kingsport Mets web site at the end of this season:

The outfield, led by, Cesar Puello (.296/5/23/15), RJ Harris (.293/5/25/13), Pedro Zapata (.329/0/21/15) and Kurt Steinhauer (.364/5/22), was collectively an outstanding unit


Forecast I wrote in January 2010:: Zapata is one of the fastest Mets in the system, but you know what that means. No pop. Actually, Zapata has never hit a home run as a professional. The Mets will probably send him to Savannah, though Brooklyn is an option.

Robert Carson:

Carson did everything he could to throw a shutout Monday night… his first seven innings were close to perfect, but he eventually tired in the 8th inning, giving up four runs (7.2-IP, 4-ER, 9-H, 4-K, 1-BB). He did get the victory (6-4), and his ERA ended up at 4.54.


There’s been a bunch of negativity in the scouting world involving Carson… many question whether he has that “something special”needed to make it someday in the Bigs. No one has every questioned his confidence (his Facebook name is Robert “Imdestinedforgreatness” Carson.) Let’s hope this is another sign that his game is returning.


My notes of Carson:


Carson had a disappointing senior season at Hattiesburg, finishing 3-5 with only 36 Ks. The bright spot was his 2.65 ERA. As a junior, he went 5-2 with 2 saves and a 2.15 ERA with 60 Ks.

The Mets drafted Carson in the 14th round of the 2007 draft. He signed and was placed on The GCL Mets roster, where he went 1-0, 5.00 in 4 games, 1 start.

Scouts say he has a “big time arm” and throws a “heavy” fastball. Carson features 4 pitches, a fastball, changeup, cutter and curveball. His fastball sits 90-92, and has topped out at 94. His changeup sits around 75-80, while his curveball is low to mid 70s.

In 2008, Carson started out with the GCL Mets and pitched impressively: 1-0, 1.57, 0.74. He was promoted to Kingsport, where he went 2-3, 1.76 in 6 starts.

In September 2008, Toby Hyde wrote: LHP Robert Carson – 1-0, 1.57 ERA, 5 GS, 23 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 25 K - A pair of dominant outing in July, 12 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 16 K, proved that big lefty was ready for challenges beyond the GCL and earned him a promotion to Kingsport. Carson missed much of 2007 after being struck on the head by a ball, but had a healthy and productive ’08. Carson is the only player in this GCL review who I didn’t see play live, since he threw the day before I arrived in Florida. His fastball sat was 90-93, and his secondary offerings were a slider and a changeup. He told me in July that he was very pleased with the development of the slider this year. As a lefty with good size and velocity, I really like Carson’s ceiling – which could be an MLB rotation sometime around 2012 or so. Projected 2009 Start: Savannah

9-9-9 From http://www.hardballtimes.com/ : - Speaking of that 2011 St. Lucie rotation, Carson is another young pitcher who impressed for Savannah this year. Jumping from Rookie ball in 2008 to A ball this year, the 20 year-old lefty features a low 90's fastball (tops out around 92 MPH) that helped him to a 3.21 ERA and 3.37 FIP. Carson has to work on getting more whiffs if he wants to compete at higher levels.

In 2009, Carson pitched a full season for Savannah and went: 8-10, 3.21, 1.40, but only 90-K in 131.2-IP. He also walked 45 batters.

Carson’s 3 year pro stats are: 12-13, 2.87, 1.34.


Forecast on Jan 1, 2010: - Carson would have been ranked higher if he finished the season strong, but he didn’t. The Mets should have bumped him to St. Lucie at least two months prior to the end of the season, but they didn’t, and that could have been hanging over Carson. There’s a hell of a lot of talent here along with his confidence and bravado. I look for a tremendous season at St. Lucie in 2010.
Darrell Ceciliani:


Cecilliani went 3-4 Monday night, which raised his 2010 Brooklyn batting average to .409. Yes, all three were singles, but he still has produced six extra base hits this season, only two less than he did all last season for Kingsport. Cecilliani was a questionable fourth round draft pick last season and most draft experts had him in the 8-15th round projected area. That being said, he’s off to a great start this season, and hopefully we’ll see his first professional home run soon.


My notes on Cecilliani:


Cecilliani was drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 draft by the Mets.

6-10-2009 from: - http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2009/06/10/608528/mid-columbia-talent-ready-for.html  - Darrell Ceciliani has waited his whole life to be a professional baseball player. "Ever since I could hold a bat," said Ceciliani, a 6-foot-1 right-fielder for Columbia Basin College. He put himself on the radar of many a major league scout with a solid season at the plate while leading CBC into the NWAACC championship game. The left-hander hit .364 and led the Hawks with six triples, four home runs and 40 RBIs as the team's No. 3 hitter. Ceciliani is expected to be chosen somewhere between rounds 4-6 of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft, which began Tuesday with the first three rounds and concludes today with rounds 4-50 in Secaucus, N.J.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/ : - Darrell Ceciliani, a freshman out of Columbia Basin College, hopes to begin a professional career with the New York Mets after being selected in the fourth round, 134th overall. The 6-1 right fielder out of Madras, Ore., hit .364 and led the Hawks with six triples, four homers and 40 RBIs as the team's No. 3 hitter. But unlike Conley, Ceciliani missed his own selection while sitting in his business salesmanship class at CBC. Once he found out about his selection, however, "I ended up just leaving," he laughed. "I'm definitely leaning toward going pro right now. We're still kind of negotiating contracts and money right now. "I probably won't go for anything less than $250,000."

http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090611/SPORTS05/906110387/1009/NEWS01&nav_category=NEWS01  - After not getting drafted out of high school, Ceciliani, a left-handed outfielder, turned heads immediately at Columbia Basin with his speed and athleticism. The former White Buffalo led CBC in runs scored, doubles, triples, home runs, runs batted in, walks and slugging percentage while helping the Hawks to a 44-7 record. “Being in the Pacific Northwest, you’re under the radar,” said Ceciliani’s father, who also is named Darrell Ceciliani. “Plus, he was in Central Oregon. … He was a three-sport athlete, so he didn’t go to a lot of camps and he had to work (on the family) ranch. But my deal always was, ‘If you’re good enough, you’ll get noticed. They’ll find you.’ ” With a hot start at CBC in the wood-bat Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC), Ceciliani’s name spread like wildfire among pro baseball scouts.

He immediately signed and played the entire season for Kingsport, going .234/.313/.310/.623 in 158 at bats. Only eight of his 37 hits went for extra bases.