Q and A - Minors Prospect Team Projections

Frank asks:

Hey, Mack. It’s obvious all the attention this week is on finding a new outfielder, but do you have any idea where some of our key minor leaguers are going to play in 2013?

Mack:

Hey Frank. All I can do at this point is give this a stab, but here goes my initial thoughts on the pitching in the organization:

SPs:

Terry Collins announced yesterday that Jenrry Mejia will start the season as a starter, Jeurys Familia will either be in the Mets or Vegas pen, and Darin Gorki may be called upon to be the lefty LOOGY in Queens. This does clear up a few areas. I especially find the possible Gorski  interesting. He really has no chance to make the Mets rotation someday so this is good thinking ahead by the Mets brass.

IMO, you have 16 key starters in the system right now. The rest are, sadly to say, fillers. I have the 16 as follows:

            AAA – Zack Wheeler, Jenrry Mejia

            AA – Rafael Montero, Logan Verrett

            A+ - Michael Fulmer, Domingo Tapia, Luis Mateo, Tyler Pill, Jake deGrom

            A – Gabriel Ynoa, Rainy Lara, Luis Cessa, Hansel Robles, Julian Hilario

            A-low – Steven Matz

            Rookie – Christian Montgomery

I have Montero a level high because he’s being pushed by five other starters. He really should start the season in St. Lucie, but you can’t prevent progress and these five guys are being pressed by last year’s Brooklyn rotation.

As usual, there are far more ‘prospects’ at the lower levels. This is how the game works. The mass excels early and the assent is a pyramid.

Regarding the relievers, I have eight targeted:

            AAA – Darin Gorski, Elvin Ramirez, Jeurys Familia

            AA – Jack Leathersich, Jeffrey Walters, Adam Kolarek

            A+ -   TJ Chism, Marcos Camerena

There are others at lower levels that have impressed but I need to see another year out of them.

Regarding the AAA threesome, they could all wind up in Queens this spring, but my guess is only ‘E’ has a chance for that. The threesome in Binghamton may be the best threesome the Mets have had coming out of the same pen in a decade. Let me tell you… if the starter in Binghamton leaves the game in 2013 leading… he’ll get the win.

There’s a ton of guys I have on my AAA list which deserve watching. Newly signed sidewinder Greg Burke is already being spoken of making Queens out of camp. Once top prospect Brad Holt actually had a decent season last year as a reliever so it will be interesting to see how he handles AAA ball. And Greg Peavey, once an SP1 in the system, doesn’t seem to have a defined role right now.

Everyday Players:

            AAA – Eric Campbell, Reese Havens, Wilmer Flores, Matt den Dekker, Kirk Nieuwenhuis

            AA – Danny Muno, Aderlin Rodriguez, Cory Vaughn, Cesar Puello

            A+ - Phillip Evans, Cam Maron, Darrell Cecilliani, Gilbert Gomez

            A -  Gavin Cecchini, Brandon Nimmo

            Rookie – Leon Canelon, Adrian Abreu, Ahmed Rosario, Pedro Perez, Manuel Hilario, Vincente Lupo.

I had hoped that Nimmo would go straight to Lucy, but those that are close to the situation say it will be Savannah. Grayson Stadium is one of the most hated baseball stadiums by hitters. The humidity there just drives the ball into the grass and I estimate at least half of the home runs that come off the bat wind up as routine fly outs. All eyes will be on Havens this spring to see if he, first, can get out of the dugout without injuring himself, and, secondly, get his game back together. Word out of Florida is that Evans only projects out now as a utility infielder, but will still play a level ahead of Cecchini. All of the rookies listed come out of the DS system and most will play on the new GSL team.