Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 76-80

We’re getting down the barrel here, and we first need to position some of the upper level guys and whether or not they have earned a proper position in the near future. We’ll move on to the short-season kids after this.

76 – P Yohan Almonte – Almonte had a halfway decent season in Savannah (7-8, 4.11, 23-G, 23-starts), but there’s no room for him in next year’s St. Lucie’s rotation (I already have Taylor Whitenton, Greg Peaevy, Tyler Pill, Ryan Fraser, and Angel Cuan there). He also only had 76-Ks in 116.0-IP. Will pitch 2012 as a 23-yr. old, so I think it’s time he gives the bullpen a shot… in Florida. ETA: AAA in 2014

photo by Allan Greene

77 – P Gonzalez Germen – Like Almonte, another Savannah starter that will have to move to the pen if he wants to remain part of this organization. Germen hasn’t done a lot of bad. There just is too much good intermediate talent at these levels right now and the Mets drafted a fair amount of quality college arms that need somewhere to spend their bonus money. ETA: AAA pen in 2014

78 – RP Brandon Sage – We fell in love with Sage when he pitched in Savannah in 2010. Since then, he has stumbled in A+ and almost fell apart in AA. He was sent back to Savannah this year, but that’s not a good sign for a 25-yr. old reliever. I look for him to make it or break it next spring for Binghamton. Lucy’s pen is full and Savannah isn’t an option anymore. ETA: OOS 2015

79 – C Kai Gronauer – Kai started the season off on the DL and just didn’t get it together offensively all season (.248 for Binghamton, 149-AB). That being said, he’s much more known for his defensive skills and how he handles the pitchers. He’ll move on to Buffalo in 2012 and may start to become that AAAA catcher that Mike Nickeas has been for the past few seasons. ETA: AAAA

80 – IF Richard Lucas – Can we really get excited about a .297 batting average from a 5-yr. Mets veteran that is still playing short-season ball? Lucas was a prospect that stumbled, hit .212 in 2010 for St. Lucie, and was sent back two levels to start over. I have the 24-yr. old splitting time with Brian Harrison in Savannah next spring, a team he played for in 2008. Go figure. ETA: OOS 2015




Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (17) –SP Chris Schwinden, Collin McHugh, Brandon Moore, RP Daniel Herrera, Robert Carson, Rhiner Cruz, Eric Beaulac, Jose De La Torre, IF Kai Gronauer, Alan Dykstra, Reese Havens, Jordany Valdespin, Zach Lutz, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Mike Baxter, Juan Lagarus


Binghamton: (20) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski, Armondo Rodriguez, RP Mike Powers, Brandon Sage, Jeff Kaplan, Nick Carr, Josh Edgin, Brad Holt, IF Juan Centeno, Stefan Welsh, Rylan Sandoval, Wilfredo Tovar, Jefry Marte, OF Matt den Dekker, Cesar Puello, Pedro Zapata, Travis Ozga


St. Lucie: (19) – SP Greg Peavey, Taylor Whitenton, Angel Cuan, Tyler Pill, Ryan Fraser, RP Hamilton Bennett, Cory Mazzoni, Jack Leathersich, Yohan Almonte, Gonzalez Germen, Chase Huchingson, IF Albert Cordero, Alonzo Harris, Wilmer Flores, Robbie Shields, Aderlin Rodriguez, OF Cory Vaughn, Gilbert Gomez, Darrell Cecilliani


Savannah: (10) – SP Akeel Morris, Alex Panteliodis, Erik Goeddel, Logan Verrett, Marcos Camerena, RP John Church, T.J. Chism, IF Cam Maron, Brandon Brown, Richard Lucas


Brooklyn: (5) – SP: Michael Fulmer, Juan Urbina, Domingo Tapia, IF Phillip Evans, OF: Brandon Nimmo


Kingsport: (5) – SP Luis Mateo, Christian Montgomery, Steve Matz, OF Vincente Lupo, Eudy Pena


GCL: (0) –


DSL: (1) – IF Elvis Sanchez