Stock Up: - Josh Thole, Eric Niesen, Eric Campbell, Stefan Welsh... and John Church

C Josh Thole – AAA/Buffalo – Thole has managed to play through his first professional slump in which he batted .172 in April. He has now followed that with a .323 May and a sizzling .440 June. The overall numbers are back to Tholian levels: .284/.357/.459/.817. Still only two home runs, but his 18 doubles leads the team. Just as important, he has committed only three errors. I’m sure Josh will finish the season in Queens, and my guess at this point he will be the Mets’ backup to Rod Barajas for the 2011 season.

SP Eric Niesen – AA/Binghamton – Niesen returned to AA this season, got drilled in the head by a thrown ball from his own catcher, and still has managed to put together the best (2.94) ERA on the Binghamton staff. Niesen needs more consistency, which will come from more work. So far, he has given up only 11-ER in 33.2-IP, but two of those outings resulted in 5-ER in 2.2-IP. That leaves 6-ER in 31.0-IP, a stat any manager can live with. I expect him to stay with the B-Mets this season, move on to Buffalo in 2011 and compete for a spot in the Mets pen in 2012.

1B/3B Eric Campbell – AA/Binghamton – Campbell has really snuck up on a lot of us that are prospect crazy. The 8th round 2008 pick ho hummed himself through the 2008 (.260) and 2009 (.249) season, and frankly, I didn’t expect to see him sticking around this season. All he has done is combine for stats of .323/.397/.502/.899 in 235-Abs for St. Lucie and Binghamton. Campbell also has showed some pop (7-HR), and has an incredible K/BB ratio (27-K/26-BB). Lastly, he can play first base, third base and all the outfield positions. Campbell turned 24 this past April and, if he can keep up these kinds of numbers, he will play Buffalo next season and compete for a utility position in Queens in 2012.

1B – Stefan Welsh – A+/St. Lucie – Yes, I know the Mets aren’t currently in need of a first base prospect; however, it’s not bad news to have someone down on the farm that can fill in some day in the future. For now, that would be either Mike Jacobs or Nick Evans, but come 2012, Stefan Welsh may wind up to be the first option of something bad happened to Ike Davis. Welsh was wallowing in Savannah last year as a third option and was sent to St. Lucie to get some play time. The rest, as they say, was history. So far this season, at Lucy, Stefan has produced: .308/.360/.477/.837 in 237-AB, which includes 4-HR, 18-2B, and 43-RBIs.The 6-3 Aussie turns 22 in August.

RP – John Church – A/Savannah – it figures it would be a pitcher if we are talking about a Sand Gnat player. Church is one of many young arms that is leading the SAL in just about every pitching stat that’s kept. The 23rd round 2009 pick has been in 21 games so far this season, pitched 35.1 innings and has posted stats of 3-0, 1.53, 1.13, 34-K, 12-BB. John turns 24 in November, so it’s time for him to get on to higher levels in the organization. The Mets have an interesting decision to make regarding the 2010 Savannah pitching staff. Firstly, there are 6-7 guys who have already mastered this level. Secondly, most are ex-college juniors and are getting a little long in the tooth, pitching at the A-level. Thirdly, not many pitcher are burning up the Lucie squad, fourthly, there is some pressure to keep most of these guys down in Savannah to keep up what seems like the only chance the team will have to create a minor league pennant winner this year. And lastly, no one has idea who to promote to Savannah of all these moves are made because the lion share of the effort right now is to staff the short season teams. Interesting couple of weeks ahead.