#30 OF Wuilmer Becerra (LR: #27)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 4" Weight: 190 lb
Acquired: Trade from Toronto w/Noah Syndergaard and Travis d'Arnaud for R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole, and Mike Nickeas
2013: (R) .243/.351/.295, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 5 SB (45%), 20 BB, 60 K
2012: (R) .250/.359/.375, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB (0%), 4 BB, 7 K
Last year was our first true look at the wild card pick up in the R.A. Dickey trade. While the stat line isn't sexy, its not bad for 18 yr old with only 11 games of previous experience. As with most 18 yr old international prospects his K rate was very high 29.1%, but on the plus side, his BB rate was a decent 9.7%. Despite not showing much power last year, Becerra's height, quick wrists, and upright stance suggests that he could develop into a nice speed/power combo OF in the future.
Defensively, Becerra used to be a SS but was immediately moved to the OF because his arm strength was considered below average, however, he racked up 8 OF assists last season in 52 games played which is nice plus. There is hope that he could develop at least a league average RF arm but if not his bat will have to carry him if he makes the transition to LF.
Anticipated Assignment: (SS-A) Brooklyn Cyclones starting RF
Ceiling: Solidly above average LF.
Floor: Complete bust.
#29 1B/3B Aderlin Rodriguez (LR: #18)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 3" Weight: 210 lb
Acquired: 2008 international signing, Dominican Republic
2013: (A+) .260/.295/.427, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 1 SB (50%), 11 BB, 43 K
2012: (A/A+) .263/.321/.476, 24 HR, 83 RBI, 2 SB (100%), 37 BB, 101 K
2011: (A) .221/.265/.372, 17 HR, 78 RBI, 2 SB (66%), 29 BB, 109 K
2010: (R/A) .300/.350/.532, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 3 SB (75%), 21 BB, 53 K
2009: (R) .290/.389/.387, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB (50%), 9 BB, 15 K
Another year, another inconsistent year for Ad-Rod. The Mets brass finally moved him off 3B, where he was downright terrible committing 117 in 360 games, in favor of learning how to play 1B full time. However that plan came crashing down when Rodriguez suffered a myraid of injuries this season including a sprain and deep bone bruise in his wrist, eye irritations, and an elbow injury. Couple that with practically zero improvement year over year in his pitch recognition and the loss of one of his plus tool (arm strength) due to the move to 1B and you have yourself plenty of reasons to fall off the Top 25 list.
Despite the poor season the same premium tool remains. Elite power abilities that could potentially produce 30+ HR seasons in the MLB. If he can figure out how to play 1B effectively and somehow some way maintain his OBP near .330 he'll get to the major leagues. However time is beginning to run for Ad-Rod, especially with Jayce Boyd and Dominic Smith quickly coming up on his heels
Anticipated Assignment: (AA) Binghamton starting 1B.
Ceiling: Low Avg, High power hitting 1B/DH (Adam Dunn)
Floor: Career Minor Leaguer
#28 RHSP Matthew Bowman ('13 Rank: #28)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 0" Weight: 165 lb
Acquired: 2012 draft, 13th round, Princeton University
2013: (A/A+) 10-4, 3.05 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 1.150 WHIP
2012: (SS-A) 2-2, 2.45 ERA, 9.2 K/9, 0.6 BB/9, 0.955 WHIP
The team's newest Ivy League member built upon his successful 2012 with a solid performance last year at the significantly harder Florida State League. His unique delivery, which is very comparable to Tim Lincecum's, allows him to mix in some deception with his generally average stuff. His low 90's fastball can be cranked up to as high as 95 which mixes well with his hard slider, a curveball, and change-up. Thanks to the teachings of Frank Viola and Ron Romanick, he's also added a split finger fastball to his arsenal this season making him one of the few prospects in the system with a 5 pitch repertoire.
What makes Bowman such an intriguing prospect is the fact that while he does have a deep arsenal, unlike normal pitching prospect, he actually uses all of his pitches. In fact when Bowman was in Brooklyn he recalled the Cyclones coaches "nearly bit my head off every time I threw a first pitch curveball." Because of the fact that he got a significant amount of innings in Port St. Lucie, I would not be surprised to see the team give him the tougher assignment to AA this season.
Anticipated Assignment: (AA) Binghamton starting rotation.
Ceiling: Back End Rotation Starter
Floor: Career Minor Leaguer
#27 2B Daniel Muno ('13 Rank: #29)
Bats: S Throws: R
Height: 5' 11" Weight: 175 lb
Acquired: 2011 draft, 8th round, California State University- Fresno
2013: (AA) .249/.384/.379, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 15 SB (58%), 92 BB, 97 K
2012: (A+) .280/.387/.412, 6 HR, 39 RBI, 19 SB (86%), 50 BB, 53 K
2011: (SS-A) .355/.466/.514, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 9 SB (29%), 43 BB, 39 K
Muno continues to hang around just outside the Top 25 for the 3rd consecutive year. The 24 year old continues to showcase the advanced tool of patience and pitch recognition. Even at the significantly tougher AA level he was able to maintain his premium 1:1 K to BB ratio. In addition he showed that he is more than comfortable at 2B after being moved off SS last year. In 2014 he committed only 10 errors in 115 games as compared to his 8 last year in only 55 games.
While his batting average does not look very its worth noting that it was dragged down by an awful May when he hit only .179 for the month. He followed that month up with .291 and .329 averages in June and July. In addition, despite being a switch his L/R splits are significant as well. When facing lefties he slugged only .261 which is paltry especially when comparing it to his .417 SLG against righties. However his OBP is identical against both (.377 vs .386). For his career he is a significantly better left handed batter which could possible net him at least a platoon job in the future.
Anticipated Assignment: (AAA) Las Vegas starting 2B.
Ceiling: 2B Platoon Starter
Floor: Solid Bench Player, valuable late inning pinch hitter
#26 RHSP Cory Mazzoni ('13 Rank: #23)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 1" Weight: 190 lb
Acquired: 2011 draft, 2nd round, North Carolina State University
2013: (AA) 5-3, 4.36 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 1.348 WHIP
2012: (A+/AA) 10-6, 3.93 ERA, 6.5 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 1.316 WHIP
2011: (SS-A/A+) 2-1, 1.38 ERA, 12.5 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 1.154 WHIP
Mazzoni falls out of the Top 25 for the first time this pre-season due to two primary reasons. A) He couldn't stay healthy this season. The "Maz" only made 13 starts this season for Binghamton due to an elbow injury in the beginning of the year and then a hamstring injury in mid July. B) There have been significant talk this off-season to move him to the bullpen full time. If such a move is made this reduces his ceiling from a #4 starter to a late inning reliever and his floor from middle reliever to AAAA pitcher.
That said, Mazzoni does have the makings of an solid late inning reliever. His mid 90's fastball has good movement and he controls it well and his slider should grade out to be at least league average quality. Although his ERA was high last year it was primarily driven by a high BABIP against him of .361. His K rate returning back to above 10 while keeping his BB rate near 2.5 bodes well for future success at the next level. He'll get a legitimate to be a part of the Mets bullpen in 2014 but my bet is that he'll start in the minors and be one of the first call-ups in case of injuries.
Anticipated Assignment: (AAA) Las Vegas late inning reliever.
Ceiling: Late inning reliever
Floor: Taxi squad AAAA pitcher
