HOW DID MY TOP 25 PROSPECTS DO THIS SPRING?
Normally, each spring,
lots of guys who won’t be on the Mets’ opening day roster get into spring
games.
Especially with young guys, it is
exciting to see them in action, however brief.
Really young guys tend to get late spring training cameos, presumably
once they have gotten into a groove in minor league camp and adjusted to being
around big league players.
Sadly, several of my top
25 really young prospects had not gotten that opportunity yet. Now they won’t, with spring training
truncated by COVID-19.
In any event, how did
guys in my top 25 do in this shortened spring training? Let’s take a look.
1.
SS Ronny
Mauricio –
still two weeks short of his 19th birthday, Mauricio still got to
the plate in 2 games and managed a single and strikeout. Sweet.
2. C
Francisco
Alvarez –
turned 18 four months ago. Had not
gotten into a regular spring game.
3.
SP Matt Allan – the youngster also had not gotten a game
yet.
4.
SS Andres
Gimenez –
only 6 for 28 (.214), but encouragingly, with 2 doubles, a HR, 3 walks and just
2 Ks. The mere 2 Ks in 31 plate
appearances to me is an exciting thing when looking forward.
5.
3B Brett Baty – another highly regarded youngster who hadn’t
gotten into a regular spring game.
6.
SP Thomas
Szapucki –
the not-so-young anymore lefty had not gotten into a game. A bit disappointing to me.
7.
3B Mark Vientos – the still very young Marky V did not get
into a game.
8.
SP Kevin Smith – the lefty rocketed up
to AA in 2019, but his spring outing was a bit rough, 4.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, a HR, 2
walks, and 3 Ks. Small sample, for sure.
9.
RP Stephen
Nogosek –
No Go had a great AAA 2020 season, but was NOT good in spring training: 3.2 IP,
3 hits, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 HRs, 4 Ks. Not
putting the best foot forward.
10.
SP Tylor Megill
– the 24 year old righty
power arm had not gotten a game yet.
11.
SP Josh Wolf
– the youngster also had
not gotten a game yet.
12.
SP David
Peterson –
the former first round pick had a disappointing 2019 with just 3 wins in 24
starts for a team with an anemic offense.
Spring training 2020 was another story altogether. 6 innings, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 Ks. Velocity up, too – the large lefty was
certainly impressing. Very heartening.
Good things ahead.
13.
RP Ryley Gilliam – climbed quickly in 2019 but was shut
down. This spring, rocky: 4 IP, 5H, 5 R,
2 HR, 2 BB, 3 Ks. My preliminary conclusion?
Needs another year in the minors. Of
course, relievers seem to get MLB opportunites during the season if they get
hot.
14.
SP Junior Santos– the super young giant also had not gotten a
game yet.
15.
IF Wilmer Reyes – King Wilmer II had not gotten into a
regular spring game.
16.
SP Garrison
Bryant – the
youngster also had not gotten a game yet.
17.
IF/OF Sam Haggerty – now with Seattle, Sam I Am was having a
great spring, with 5 for 14, 3 doubles, no Ks.
Come back, Sam.
However, in his place,
acquired minor league Johneshwy Fargas slots in at # 17 very
nicely. The extremely fast Fargas got
tons of spring playing time, going 8 for 29, hitting for the cycle, and
stealing 6 of 7 bases.
No doubt the Mets
are intrigued – now, can Fargas up his hitting tool? If so, he could be a great utility OF down the
road. The 25 year old averaged better
than a steal every 10 plate appearances in his minors career, including an amazing
97 steals in around 750 plate appearances the past two AA seasons.
18
RP Matt Blackham – the aging Matt has pitched well throughout
his minors career, with lots of Ks but a high walk rate. Great spring – except for
walks. 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 Ks, FIVE
WALKS.
19.
IF Carlos Cortes – 0 for 1 with a K.
20.
OF Freddy Valdez– the very young Freddy did not get into a
game.
21.
SP Harol
Gonzalez – After
a terrible 2018, a terrific 2019 followed by a rough AFL. SO far this spring, 1 scoreless inning, but 3
hits allowed.
22.
C Ali Sanchez – with a rep of stellar D and weak,
low K bat, he followed suit with 1 double in 8 at bats and just 1 K. I think his ability to put the ball in play
is far better than Tomas Nido, but with Nido out of options, Sanchez most
likely will get more minor league time to continue to grow the bat.
23.
OF Alexander Ramirez–
the super young Ramirez did not get into a game. May he become the next Manny Ramirez.
24,
C Andres
Regnault –
not one of the 8 catchers who had gotten into a game before spring ball was
suspended.
25.
1B/C Pat Mazeika – Pat had slid slightly
out of my Top 25, but two guys left. So
I am putting him at # 25. Heck of a
spring, 5 for 12, 3 doubles, a HR, 2 walks, just 2 Ks.
What a shame his spring
got suspended. He has to have turned
some heads. His lefty bat at catcher
could be very intriguing for the Mets to consider in 2020, if and when.
That’s it, folks.
What do you think?
4 comments:
Sadly, there were a lot of back field games that we have no stats on. It would be interesting to see them.
It sure would. The partial picture available to us can give a distorted view of how players are doing during the spring. For all we know, Quinn Brodey could have been tearing it up in those games. Anyone’s guess.
The minor league top 25 is not all that exciting at the upper levels. One can hope some of the lower level guys won't wilt or get derailed by off-field issues. Remember when we though El Paso's Eudor Garcia-Pacheco was the next big thing?
http://macksmets.blogspot.com/2014/07/reese-kaplan-out-in-west-texas-town-of.html
Eudor Garcia looked like it for a while. I nicknamed him incorrectly as the Human Rake.
Yes, Reese, little exciting in the minors here on thehititng side - we have to hope the few elite hitting prospects excel. I'd rather have one Pete Alonso than 10 Danny Muno types.
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