The Keepers - #3 - SS Wilmer Flores

Michael G. Baron

2. Wilmer Flores – SS –



Flores was signed as an international free agent in October 2007.


Iin late January 2007, Baseball America ranked Flores as the 17th overall Mets prospect, adding: "should grow into his body and become a force with the bat ... ..internal comparisons to Miguel Cabrera for his present pull power and ability to use the whole field."


In February 2008, Baseball Prospectus named Florez a 3-star prospect, and ranked him as th 4th overall Mets prospect.


Also in February 2008, Rotoworld ranked Flores as the #15 Mets prospect.


In March 2008, Baseball America wrote: Ten prospects to watch out for in 2008: Wilmer Flores, SS Since Omar Minaya took over as general manager, the Mets have been extremely active on the Latin American scouting front. Flores is the latest high-profile prospect to join the system and the Mets are very excited about what he can do, especially after a strong showing at instructs. Flores is lean and tall and his best tool is undoubtedly his bat, drawing comparisons to a Miguel Cabrera when he first began his pro career. He'll stay at shortstop for now, but there's a chance he'll grow out of the position and end up at third. It's up in the air where he'll begin the year and the Mets will use Spring Training to determine if he's ready to go to Savannah on Opening Day or if having him stick around in extended spring training makes more sense


In late July 2008, ProjectProspect updated their “top 25 non-top 100 prospects” and guess who made the list: #10 Wilmer Flores SS What a way to start a career: .360 BA, .640 SLG, 5 HR in 75 AB


Also in late July 2008, ProjectProspect.com updated their top 10 Mets prospect list and Flores was ranked 6th


In August 2008, NYBaseballDigest wrote:Wilmer Flores was the top International Free Agent signed by Omar Minaya in the 2007 season. He was signed for roughly $800,000 in comparison to some other “top level” talent that got bonuses in excess of a million dollars, or like Michel Inoa who received over $4 million. Flores is quickly emerging as a premium talent, even being mentioned by Minaya in an article about the importance of Pedro Martinez and how his signing led to guys like Flores and Fernando Martinez signing.


Flores just turned 17 years of age at the beginning of August. He was expected to be brought to the US for this season, but it was widely expected he’d play in the Gulf Coast League where he’d still be young, as the average age of a player in the GCL is roughly 18-19. But instead, the Mets decided to push Flores and see what he could do in Kingsport against competition with an average age of 21-22.


Flores has responded. He has played in 53 games thus far, and is sporting a .332 batting average to go with 8 home runs and 40 RBI. His on-base percentage is at .374, while his OPS(on base+slugging) is hovering near .900 at .897. He also has 12 doubles, and 3 triples to go with his 8 home runs to make 23 extra base hits in 53 games. He will need to work on his plate discipline, as he only has 11 walks, with 25 strike outs.


Flores gets a lot of comparisons to Miguel Cabrera by scouts. Cabrera also was signed as a 16 year old out of the International Free Agent market for what was at the time the biggest bonus given to an international free agent at roughly $1.6 million. Cabrera came state side for his 16 year old/17 year old season, and played in the aforementioned Gulf Coast League with the average age of 18-19. Comparatively speaking he played against younger, and more raw talent than Flores has experienced in the Appalachian League.


Cabrera played in 57 games, hitting .260 with a .344 on base percentage, and had an OPS of .696. He hit 2 home runs, and drove in 22 runs with 10 doubles, and 2 triples. He struck out 46 times, while walking 23. It’s early to deem Flores the next superstar, or the next Miguel Cabrera, but statistically speaking based on age/level, he’s more than comparable. They both played the shorstop position at the 16/17 age. Flores is expected to outgrow short, and possibly be a third baseman, or a first baseman, or even a left fielder long term. Ironically those are the three positions Cabrera has played.


To compare, Flores has hit for a higher average, hit more home runs, drove in more runs, reach base at a higher clip, and OPS significantly higher. He has more doubles, more triples, struck out almost half as many times as Cabrera, but also has walked less. Flores ranked 10th on my Mets Top 10 prospect list back in July, I imagine end of the season list he will be much higher. Flores is very much a prospect to keep an eye on for the long term.



Flores plAyed most of the 2008 season for K-Port, played one game for Savannah, and finished the year with Brooklyn. His combined stats were: .307/.347/.468/.815, 8 HRs, 42 RBIs, in 68 games. Flores won the Sterling Award as the the top Met player for the 2008 Kingsport team.



In October 2008, From Kevin Czerwinski/MiLB.com: It's not as if what Wilmer Flores was doing this season was without precedent. After all, Elvis Andrus played in the Gulf Coast and Appalachian Leagues as a 16-year-old in 2005, while Carlos Triunfel played in the Midwest and California Leagues last year just after turning 17. Yet it still remains remarkable that someone so young could do so much so far from home at such a young age.


Flores split the 2008 season between the Appalachian and New York-Penn Leagues. He didn't turn 17 until August, yet for much of his time in Kingsport, his batting average hovered around .340. Only a late-season slump -- he had three hits in his final 25 at-bats -- brought his average down to a still-impressive .310.


The Venezuelan native also spent a day with Savannah of the Class A South Atlantic League (he went 2-for-5) and finished up the season by spending two weeks with Brooklyn, where he hit .267 in 30 at-bats. Overall, Flores -- who missed a week in July with a strained oblique muscle -- hit .307 with eight homers, 42 RBIs and a .347 on-base percentage this season. Now, he's down in Port St. Lucie participating in the Mets' Florida Instructional League program, doing even more to prepare for what New York is hoping will be a big Sally League season in 2009.


“He's a very impressive young player," said Adam Wogan, New York's director of Minor League operations. "He's a very talented player and he's making great strides. He certainly is an impressive individual." Flores, though young, has never played as much ball as he did this season. While some may be fearful that he's worn down by this point in the year, Wogan and the Mets aren't concerned. They won't work the kid until he drops in Florida but they also aren't planning to let him skate through camp. Wogan said that New York's Instructional League program is a bit different than it was a few years back. He said there is much more focus on the mental side of the game and more attention is paid to intra-squad games. With that in mind, the Mets have targeted a program for Flores and all their prospects.


"His individual play will be based on specific areas rather than game activity," Wogan said. "There might be guys who signed later and aren't quite as far along that it might be more important for them to get into games than it is in Wilmer's case. But we're certainly not worried or concerned that it's too much for him."


Toby Hyde on: #2 - SS Wilmer Flores - Why Ranked Here: Flores is ranked here because he can hit, and really hit. His bat, says scouts, could well be an All-Star level piece of lumber. In an Appalachian Leauge season which he began at the tender age of 16, Flores had an extra base hit once every 6.9 at bats. Flores rolled through the Appalachian League while playing against players two, three, four even five years his senior. Flores, who committed 21 errors in 68 games in 2008, is not a good defender at shortstop, nor is he likely to stay at the position as he grows and fills out. Observers who saw him play regularly in Kingsport used words like “awkward” when describing his work at shortstop. At 6’3”, and still growing, Flores is unusually tall for a shortstop. There were only three SS in the top twenty VORP for their position, Hanley Ramirez, Derek Jeter and Ben Zobrist, listed at 6’3” in 2008. Generally speaking advanced fielding metrics consider the first two below average, if not well below average and Zobrist a strong defender. No MLB starting SS is listed as tall as 6’4”, a height Flores might well reach if he continues to grow. Should Flores reach the Majors at 6’4”, he would be the tallest SS in baseball. It’s not impossible for Flores to stay at short, but succeeding there would be unusual for a player his height. At age 17 in 2009, the Mets will certainly give Flores the opportunity to improve at short even if his MLB position lies in at an infield or outfield corner, where his bat might be good enough to make him a star. 2008: Flores finished fourth in the Appalachian League in total bases. All three players above him had at least three years on him. After crushing to a .331/.363/.554 mark through the season’s first two months, Flores slowed down in August, hitting a more pedestrian .278/.336/.392 in 24 games with Kingsport. The Mets promoted him to Savannah for one day on August 27th, before moving him to Brooklyn, where he had just one extra base hit in his eight games in the NYP. Projected 2009 Start: Savannah


March 2009: My World Of Baseball listed the top Venezuelan born prospects and has Flores as number two: 2. Wilmer Flores SS (Mets) - As Wilmer develops he may end up looking more like Miguel Cabrera, which would make a stay at shortstop unlikely. As a below average runner who lacks first step quickness his best position may be third base or an outfield corner. Unlike Alcides, there is no question that Wilmer will have a powerful bat, but unlike Alcides his defensive tools are not suited for shortstop. The Mets will keep him there until he shows he becomes a liability at the position. As his bat develops don’t be surprised to see 30 homerun power.


In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect: For Flores to hold his own as a 16-year-old in the Appy League would have been quite an accomplishment. However, the native of Venezuela was actually one of the circuit's better players, amassing an 842 OPS in 245 at-bats before a couple of brief stints at higher levels. Seen as a future 30-homer guy, Flores has supplanted Martinez in having the greatest offensive upside in the Mets' system. He's not going to last at shortstop, and his most obvious landing spot, third base, is likely out as an option with David Wright entrenched. However, it's something the Mets won't have to worry about for a few years yet.


Project Prospect updated their top 200 prospect list in March 2009: #48 Wilmer Flores SS Went .310/.351/.490 with .356 wOBA in 265 R-ball PA; puts ball in play: 4.5% BB, 10.6% K


9-9-9 From http://www.hardballtimes.com/ : - Oh, Wilmer. Mets fans went wild last year when the 16 year-old Venezuelan (who looks about 12) hit .310/.352/.490 for Rookie Kingsport. This year, Flores jumped up to Savannah at the A level and held his own, batting .264/.305/.332. As a 17 year-old in the Sally, that's not that bad. However, scouts say he won't stick at shortstop and that he will have to move to another position (most likely third base). Still, the performance is quite impressive given his age.


9-15-09 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42  - 2. Wilmer Flores SS - It’s difficult to judge how good a player is based on his stats when he is considered one of the younger players in the league. Wilmer is 18 years old and playing at low A Savannah. Most kids drafted out of high school report to rookie ball and then if they are good enough may get an opportunity at low A the following year when they are 19. Wilmer is supposed to have some power, but it didn’t show this year. A .332 slugging and only three homeruns does not define power. Since many think he will be too thick to play shortstop as he ages, that power needs to come out if he wants to play in the show. He did hit .264 with a 22 to 72 walk to K ratio, which is not a lot of improvement from last year.


In 2009, Flores played the entire season for Savannah: .264/.305/.332/.637 in 488-AB, only 13 errors.


1-1-10 Forecast: - We never know if the 16-year old bonus babies are going to make out until three, sometimes four, years later. Most don’t, and, frankly, the string is still out on Flores. He had an okay season in A-ball… yeah, I know, he’s old three years old… still, there’s no rush here, what with Miquel Tejada in line to step in if Jose Reyes goes down (or away). I wish they’d play him again in Savannah, but he’s probably on his way to Florida.


I wrote on Feb 10: - Wilmer Flores – everybody on the Mets are still excitied about this kid… me too… he definitely looks like he has what it takes to make it big time. Watch for the Mets to move him to Lucy this spring and take his time with him. There’s no rush since I’m sure Jose Reyes is going nowhere soon. Look for Flores to graduate to Queens in 2013.


4-15-10: - SS- A-Savannah: The 18-year old prospect is repeating A-ball this year, which tends to tell me that the Mets have big, long range plans for Wilmer. As usual, he's starting the season off with less pop, but his .333 batting average after 30-AB leads the team in hitting. I stil look for him to be converted to either right field or first base in the future, but probably not this year.


4-24-10: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2010/269874.html  - Team: low Class A Savannah (South Atlantic) - Age: 18 - Why He's Here: .370/.481/.741 (10-for-27), 2 HR, 4 2B, 11 RBIs, 6 R, 3 BB, 5 SO - The Scoop: Flores struck out for the first time this season last Friday, in his ninth game. But as his contact rate has declined since then, his power has spiked through the roof. Six extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in a week would have been practically unheard of last season, but it could be a sign of a more mature Flores learning to identify pitches he can drive and not simply swinging at the first thing near the zone. Bear in mind, he hit all of three home runs in 488 at-bats for Savannah last season


4-28-10: - Wilmer Flores – SS – A-Savannah – the 18-year old Flores is off to his best professional start. This is his third pro-season and he’s still three years away from the legal drinking age. More important, is the fact that his pop has come around these past couple of weeks, especially on the last road trip. Stats for the season: .338/.384/.525/.909


5-5-10: - SS Wilmer Flores – A-Savannah – 19/yrs. old – Flores went over 100 at bats on Tuesday and has impressed once again at the A level: .327/.376/.535/.911. He especially has stepped up power wise in the last month and seems to be primed for the next level. The only shortstop prospect ahead of him is Reese Havens, who’s playing second base lately. If you live around the Savannah area, get a game in quick. Flores won’t be around long.


5-18-10: - http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=10895  - Wilmer Flores, SS, Mets (Low-A Savannah) - Breakout confirmed? The Mets expected Flores to take a big step forward this year after getting a feel for full-season baseball in 2009, but the advancements so far have been nothing less than staggering, as Flores is 19-for-36 in his last eight games to lift his season averages to .364/.419/.589. The key to everything has been in his approach—his walk rate is way up and his strikeout rate is way down—and scouts are universal in their belief that this is all very real. The continuing thickening of his frame leaves almost no chance of staying at shortstop, but the bat is starting to move into that special category, as Flores is still the same age as many potential high school draftees next month. –


SS Wilmer Flores: Wilmer is dominating during his second year at Savannah. He currently is batting second in the league with a .343 batting average. This is a kid with a. 946 OPS and he doesn’t turn 19 until August. I’ve had the pleasure of watching him first hand for two years and this is the real deal. Expect him to be switched to right field next year and it’s going to very difficult to keep this kid in the minors past the 2012 season.


5-24-10: - Wilmer Flores – 3B – A – this is Flores’ second year in Savannah and he definitely looks ready to move on: .330/.388/.520/.907 in 179-AB. He also is leading the team in home runs, with five. The problem with any movement is the fact that St. Lucie gave their shortstop job to 19-year old Wilfredo Tovar, who is holding his own at the A+ level. Yes, Flores is scheduled to eventually be moved to the outfield, but that won’t happen until winter ball. Neither Flores or Tovar would hold their own at the AA level, so my guess is, even though Wilmer deserves the promotion, he probably is going nowhere.


6-17-10: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/405671-mets-prospect-watch-five-young-future-metropolitans  - Just 18 years old, Flores is a shortstop by trade and he has plenty of time to develop. At the moment, his path to the Major League level is blocked by Jose Reyes. There isn’t really any predicting where Reyes will stand with the Mets in four or five years when Flores will be fully ready, but it could be safe to assume that Flores will not be a shortstop when his time in the bigs arrives. He could convert to second base, but he’ll need to fend off fellow second base prospect Reese Havens. Flores bats righty, and Havens lefty, so the Mets must determine who fits their lineup better. Flores could end up trade bait, but there is always the potential for Havens to switch positions again. Flores is hitting .285 with the Savannah Sand Gnats right now, and he has some pop as well. He won’t need to be restricted to shortstop. Mets fans will begin to hear his name regularly as the 2013 season goes on.


7-9 from http://www.baseballamerica.com/ : - Adam Wogan on Flores: “Carlos Beltran played with him for St. Lucie during his rehab and he raved about his maturity as a hitter. He has the ability to put the barrel on the ball, and he’s done it with increased power. He’s got a great idea of the strike zone. He doesn’t chase pitches. He doesn’t swing and miss, but he hits it hard.”


7-14 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/14/1567569/mets-farm-system-mid-term-review  - A lot has been said about Wilmer so I doubt I need to go into too much detail for everybody but obviously he's having an excellent season. He got off to a sensational start batting .341 in April while matching his 2009 homer total (3) in the first month alone. Though he did cool off quite a bit come June, his developing power (33 XBH already vs. 25 all of last year) and improving batting eye (23 BB thus far vs 22 all of last year) coupled with his already tremendous contact ability really give Mets fans reason to get their hopes up. After fueling Savannah's first half title, Flores hasn't missed a beat since joining Hi-A despite facing off against players 4-5 years his senior. I suppose a couple more homers wouldn't hurt but after a recent doubles binge his SLG is actually higher than it was in Savannah. Apparently scouts have even been surprised by how much better he looks on defense than last year, but don't get greedy as he still probably won't stick at short.


7-28 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/7/28/1592006/mets-farm-q-a-with-basebal  - If we were doing a Top 100 Prospects list now, Flores would rank around 50. I know he struggled last year in low A, but he was also 17. He has a chance to have a very good bat down the road. He's not going to be a shortstop, and he may be more of an outfielder than a third baseman, but he'll have enough bat wherever he winds up.


8-3-10: - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/428260-mets-july-organizational-report-players-of-the-month  - A Adv. St. Lucie Mets - Position Player of the Month: Shortstop, Wilmer Flores - One of the Mets' top prospects at his level, Flores seems to adjust quickly to each level after every call-up. Moving up to St. Lucie has only seen Flores continue to post consistent hitting numbers. In 29 games in July, he hit a solid .279 with three home runs, 18 runs knocked, 34 hits, and 13 runs. A righty batter, he is also mashing against left-handed pitching, batting over .400 against southpaws. This kind of all-around game will assist him in rising the ranks very quickly in the Mets farm system.


8- 5-10: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/8/5/1606179/2010-top-20-new-york-mets  - Wilmer Flores, SS, Grade B+: .291/.335/.432 for Low-A Savannah and High-A St. Lucie. He doesn't turn 19 until tomorrow...made huge progress this year.



9-15-10: - ST. LUCIE (A) OF THE FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE: WILMER FLORES (INF) - Height: 6-3 Weight: 175 Bats: Right Throws: Right - Born: 8/6/91 Resides: Valencia, Venezuela - Obtained: Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2007 - Signing Scout: Sandy Johnson, Ismael Cruz & Robert Alfonzo. - The 19-year-old shortstop began the season with Savannah before moving to St. Lucie during the final month of June. In 67 games in the Florida State League he hit .300 (83-277) with 18 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 40 RBI. The 2008 Sterling Award winner for Kingsport hit an astounding .508 (32-63) against lefthanded pitching with St. Lucie while combining to drive in 84 over his two stops in the organization, which ranked second among all Mets minor leaguers.



10-5-10 from : - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2010/2610756.html  - Flores played half the season at Savannah, batting .278/.342/.433 at age 18 and as the fourth-youngest regular in the league. He was on some of the earlier versions of the list, but after Bill Ballew talked to more scouts and managers while putting together the Top 20, Flores wound up just missing out. Flores' bat is obviously his best tool, but SAL observers knocked the rest of his game. He's not going to stay at shortstop, and some scouts questioned whether he'd be able to play third base because he has below-average speed and agility. There were concerns about him giving less than full effort at times. Flores spent last year in the SAL as well—he ranked 10th on last year's Top 20—and it's possible that SAL observers expected more improvement out of him this year.


10-6-10 from http://www.baseballamerica.com/ : - “Managers and scouts like 19-year-old Mets SS Wilmer Flores’s bat speed and his ability to square up the ball… Flores may have enough bat for any position. For a teenager, he has uncanny recognition of what pitchers are trying to do to him. He has the bat speed and hand-eye coordination to be a plus hitter for both average and power… He’s already a well below-average runner who will get slower as he continues to fill out, which may prevent him from (from shortstop) to the outfield. He has enough arm for third base, but if he doesn’t have the lateral range for the hot corner, first base may be his only option.”


10-28-10 from: - http://scoutingthesally.com/2010/10/new-york-mets-wilmer-flores-heads-the-list-for-top-sally-third-base-prospects  - Wilmer Flores - If I could call Arenado and Flores 1A and 1B I would, but it seems like a cop out so I opted for the best combination of both offense and defense. Flores’ bat does not have the projection of Arenado, but I’m confident he can at least play an average third base at the big league level once his time at shortstop comes to an end. With excellent hands, a strong arm, and enough bat to project a high average and twenty or so home runs annually, he’s a much safer play than most give him credit for.

11-1-10 from: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/11/1/1775558/season-in-review-st-lucie-mets  - STOCK UP - Not much I can say that we haven't all heard or read before. Wilmer had a very strong year, acquitting himself very nicely in his first exposure to upper level pitching in St. Lucie and even improving his play at short, working hard at his agility and quickness. More importantly, he addressed concerns about his '09 season at the plate, like his lack of power and his poor plate discipline: Especially impressive when you consider that half of 2010 was spent in the Hi-A FSL, generally a pitcher's league where the average age is usually around 23 years old (Wilmer was 18 for most of his stay there). I know I personally take it for granted sometimes but it's really remarkable to think what he's doing at such a young age. In hindsight commentators question FMart's previous superstar rankings as he was merely surviving as an extreme youngster yet never flourishing. Well, Flores not only has age on his side but proved this year that he can flourish as well. Despite a lack of any one plus-plus raw tool, his advanced hitting skills (namely, the ability to not just make contact but consistently make hard contact) at such a young age against advanced competition is what gives him the potential to be special. Carlos Beltran probably hit on it best during his rehab with St. Lucie, stating "When I was 19, I had no idea of the things [Flores] knows."



http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/top-10-prospects-the-new-york-mets  - 11-16-10 from: -http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/new-york-mets-prospects-top-tier - Because you’re reading this website I know I don’t have to tell you where that logic veers off course. I really like Wilmer Flores as a prospect, and while I don’t believe he’ll achieve his highest potential outcome, there is little reason to believe he won’t develop the power requisite for his prospect status. I think he’ll be able to get up to 25-30 home runs, but there is a development path we have to acknowledge that he could max out with 15-25. Either way, given his contact abilities and the assumption that more line drives are forthcoming, he should be a .300 hitter, too. Where his power potential exists somewhere in that 15-30 range, it’s far more difficult to predict his walk rate. It will be so hard for him to exceed a .360 wOBA should his walk rate not improve by a significant number



11-25-10 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/2010/11  - 4. Wilmer Flores SS - Wilmer is still playing shortstop but many feel that the Mets should just face reality and put him at a position he is defensively best suited to play. If he makes it as a shortstop he will be one of the better offensive players seen at that position, but he will not show a lot of range defensively. He hit .289 with 11 homeruns at Low and High A, showing less patience in the Florida State League with a 9/40 walk to K ratio. A calf injury stalled his winter campaign, but he is back hitting .429 with two homeruns in seven games. Most expect him to eventually settle into right field. Whereever he plays his bat will always be one of the best at the position he plays.



11-24-10 from: - http://www.metsgeek.com/showthread.php?658-Mets-Top-Twenty-Prospects&p=187156  - 1. Wilmer Flores. Of any Mets farm hand not named Juan Lagares, I’ve seen Wilmer the most. Mostly everything they say about the kid is true. He won’t be a shortstop in the big leagues but plays good enough defense that a move to the hot corner in 2012 or 2013 will probably be seamless. I expect him to take a giant step forward this year, hopefully starting the season in Port St Lucie and then moving up to double A. Best case scenario sees him becoming a perennial batting champion candidate with the ability to hit 25 or more home runs a season . Worst case scenario would be for him not to make the proper adjustments and having trouble transitioning to the upper levels of the minor leagues.