John from Albany - The Alternative 50 Mets Prospects, Numbers 45-41

#45: Jaison Vilera – Starting Pitcher, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 6/19/1997.  Jaison had a great 2017 and a great 2018.  In 2017 Jaison Vilera was named the Mets Sterling Award winner as the best player on the Gulf Coast Mets.  “Vilera was named to the Gulf Coast League All-Star team. He finished second in the League with a 1.88 ERA (13 earned runs/62.1 innings) and second in WHIP (0.96). Vilera also led the GCL in strikeouts (56). He went 3-1 in 11 games, eight starts and allowed just 43 hits in 62.1 innings”  3 HRs allowed (0.43/9), 8.09 K/9 and 2.45 BB/9.  In 2018 Jaison was even better and one of Brooklyn’s best pitchers going 5-2 with a 1.83 ERA, 13 starts, 13 games, 73.2 innings, 78 K’s (9.53 K/9), 22 walks (2.69 BB/9), just 1 HR allowed (0.12 HR/9).  In 2019?  Things did not go as well.  Unlike 2017 and 2018 where Jaison simply pitched for one team each year, Jaison split time in 2019 with Brooklyn, Columbia, St. Lucie and Binghamton.  In 17 games, 15 starts, he went 5-8, 5.25 ERA, 84 innings, 61 Strikeouts (6.54 K/9) and 36 walks (3.86 BB/9).  Jaison does not have over powering stuff so he needs to get ahead in the count to get batters to chase balls out of the strike zone for strike three.  Maybe next year, he can settle into one location and that can help him get back to the success he had in the previous years.  He will be Rule 5 draft eligible after next year.

Here is Jason’s FANGRAPHS’s page.

Here is video of Jaison Vilera striking out 8 in 2018. 

Also Ernest Dove posted this short video of Jaison last year pitching for the St. Lucie Mets.

#44: Matt Mullenbach – Relief Pitcher, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 10/6/1996.  The 2019 graduate from Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee was signed by the Mets as a non-drafted free agent.  In college, Matt had ERAs of 7.16; 7.24, 4.82 and 5.38, where he mostly started.  However in his senior year he did strike out 92 batters in 73 innings.  The Mets gave him a try in Brooklyn where in 19 relief outings he went 1 and 5 with a 2.84 ERA, 25.1 innings, 114 hits, 2 HR, 26 K’s, 13 walks, 1.07 WHIP.  Matt had 5 saves out of 8 save opportunities.  Probably the best indication of Matt’s highs and lows were on display August 30^th as Matt was brought into a game with Brooklyn leading Aberdeen 4-3.  Had they won that game, Brooklyn would have clinched the “Wild Card Playoff spot”.  In the 8^th Matt was electric.  Nine pitches, nine strikes, three strikeouts.  An “immaculate” inning.  Only two Major League Mets have ever done it.  Nolan Ryan in 1968, and David Cone in 1991.  Then in the ninth, Matt Mullenbach, did not record an out, as Aberdeen came back from a 4-3 deficit to beat the Cyclones 5-4 in a walk-off.  Here’s hoping we can see more of those electric highs from Matt in the future and the ability to extend those great results into additional innings. 

Here is Matt’s FANGRAPHS page.

#43: Jared Biddy – Relief Pitcher, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 7/25/1996.  Jared, another great undrafted free agent that the Mets picked up this year, had a tremendous 2019 professional year.  In 18 games and 31.1 innings between Columbia, Kingsport, and Brooklyn, Jared went 4-0 with 3 BBs, 35K’s and a 0.86 ERA.  Per the Times Record News: “Biddy uses a four-pitch arsenal on the mound. He throws two fastballs – a four-seamer and two-seamer. He averages around 89 to 92 miles per hour with each. The two-seamer has more bite that he tries to get inside on a hitter’s hands.”  In game one of the NY Penn Championship series, Jared earned the win throwing two innings with no hits and one walk. 

Here is Jared’s FANGRAPHS page.

#42: Billy Oxford – Relief Pitcher, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 10/22/1995.  Billy did not have the best year in 2019 for Columbia going 0-3, 4.73 ERA, 25 games all in relief, 32.1 innings, 39 hits, 32 Ks, 8 walks.  However I saw Billy pitch very well for Brooklyn a couple of different times in 2018.  For Brooklyn in 2018 Billy was 8-1 with a 1.34 ERA in 26 games, all in relief, 40.1 innings, 36 hits, 26 Ks, 14 walks.  In 2019 his ground ball percentage was down and his home runs allowed were up.  He gave up just 3 home runs in 2017 and 2018 combined.  In 2019 he gave up 6 home runs.  If he can keep the ball down next year, maybe he can make it to Binghamton in 2020.  He will be Rule 5 eligible next year. 

Here is Billy’s FANGRAPHS page. 

#41 Luke Ritter – 2^nd Basemen, Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 2/15/1997. 7^th round draft pick from Wichita State; Batting Average.245/ .351 OBP/ .371 Slugging, 4 HRs, 36 RBIs, 5 Stolen Bases, 56 hits, 50 Ks.  “Ritter the hitter” was often the number four hitter in Brooklyn’s NY Penn Championship lineup.  Second on the team in RBIs, Luke excelled at hitting at MCU park with a .317 home batting average.  He also provided great up the middle defense at second.

Luke Ritter’s FANGRAPHS page.

Luke Ritter talking about being drafted by the Mets.

Luke being interviewed by Brooklyn Cyclones broadcaster Dom Savino with game highlights.

As I said in the previous list, in putting this list together, I gave more credit to players I have seen play.  I also have tried to highlight players that others have not put on their lists, especially Tom and Mack.  Some may be a surprise.  Hence, I refrained from using the word “Top Prospects”.