Those of you familiar with my regular contributions to this blog are probably aware that I share an affinity for numbers and how they can help identify player performance or even a player on the verge of a "break out", if you will.
Some fans (not naming any names) find statistics boring and/or a waste of time. To those folks, there is no need for statistics or fancy analytics when you can simply rely on your own eyes, also knows as the "eye test". On the continuum that encompasses the "eye test" on one side and full blown analytic analysis on the other, I would fall heavily on the analytics side of things but I can also appreciate those who have the talent to identify good baseball players simply by watching them play the game.
With that being said, once in a while, a player comes along who just has "it" and it is as plain as day that they will eventually become an impact player at the major league level. There are no statistics or analytics needed to define their trajectory.
No, I am not talking about they mythical Jarred Kelenic who is probably going to be the "one who got away" before all is said and done. Instead, I am going to go out on a very tenuous limb here and identify a brand new Mets' prospect who could become that type of player.
I would like to nominate Robert Dominguez as the next great Mets' prospect.
At this point, some of you might be wondering if I have been drinking too many IPA's (perhaps) and others might not even know who Robert is. Well, let me give you some basic information so that you can join me on the bandwagon.
Robert is an 18 year old, right handed pitcher from Venezuela that the Mets picked up in the most recent International Free Agent (IFA) class. From what I can gather, he was one of ten players that the Mets successfully obtained and the really interesting part is that he wasn't even the most highly sought after. Nope, future outfielder Alexander Ramirez garnered that honor as he was signed by the Mets for just over 2 million dollars.
As a matter of fact, eight of the ten players were signed for more cash then my new "man crush" was given. For the relatively paltry sum of 10 grand, the Mets landed a future stud who can throw a baseball through a brick wall (a slight Sidd Finch exaggeration, but not far from the truth).
Robert just turned 18 years old last November, so he will play the entire 2020 season at that age, which is remarkable. Furthermore, he is already 6-4 and 200 pounds, unless he has grown a bit or added some weight in the last two months. Seriously, he is already built like an NFL linebacker and he is just old enough to vote in this country. Give him a few years with MLB training and nutrition and he will most certainly get bigger and stronger which is scary.
Better still, he already has a fastball that hits 99 miles per hour! You read that correctly......he is already throwing as hard as Noah Syndergaard and he is just a baby developmentally.
Folks, a fastball traveling 99 miles per hour covers roughly 146 feet per second. A pitcher's mound is 60 feet and 6 inches from home plate, which we can round down to approximately 57 feet once a pitcher competes their wind up and drives towards home plate. In other words, a batter would have less then 0.38 seconds to decide if they wanted to swing at one of his offerings or get the heck out of the way!
Granted, he has some things to work on, like gaining experience, improving his breaking ball and possibly adding a change up to his arsenal but he has time on his side. Where will he be in two or three years if he harnesses his potential and climbs the prospect ladder?
You can teach someone a lot of things, but you simply can't teach a pitcher how to throw 99 miles per hour (or faster by the time he reaches his ceiling). I am not the only one who is excited since he was just named the BEST pitching prospect in the aforementioned IFA class despite his low profile status earlier in the year.
Maybe he flames out in the next few years, but just allow yourself a moment to dream about his potential. At worst, he becomes a devastating weapon out of the bullpen or at best he is a front line starter in the mold of our very own Thor. If Robert accelerates his time line a bit, he just might be ready to replace said Thor if he is not re-signed.
So, the hype train has officially left the station.....who is with me?
5 comments:
I am. I was reading the same article you did the other day. He probably will need to go through TJ surgery at some point, though.
I seem to be the only Debbie Downer about this guy.
The 99 doesn't impress me. Thowing it accurately in a game does.
I have never said he doesn't deserve to play this game and I will re-evaluate my opinion during his first season.
He is old enough to open up at GCL. I hope he does.
There's a fine line between accuracy and velocity. There are any number of hard throwers (Leathersich, etc.) who could blast the ball at amazing speed but didn't know where it was going. Then there are folks who can thread a needle with a pitch but can't blow it by anyone. You kind of need some of both.
With all the criticism of our farm system, people overlook our combination of 2 factors:
1) Our system is "bottom - heavy", with few prospects at the upper levels but many at the lower ones.
2) Our ML team is young, with a solid core (Amed, Pete, Squirrel, Nimmo, Smith, Stroman, Thor, et al) that should be productive for years to come.
Two of our few 30+ players (Yo and Lowrie) will be gone after this season, and Ramos after the next (unless we re-sign him as backup or DH).
By '22, players now at Lucie or higher should be ready to be at Citi.
Young core + talent 2 or 3 years away= a formula for success.
Flame throwers are welcome in the Mets organization, as far as I am concerned.
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