Pitchers
RHP Mickey Jannis: 1-3, 2.33 ERA, 8.0 K/9, 1.7 BB/9, .223 Average Against- After a strong 2nd half of 2017 with the (AA) Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Jannis followed it up with an equally strong performance for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Among SPs , Jannis led the team in Ks, ERA, and fewest HR allowed (0). In the entire Arizona League, only top prospects Max Fried (Atlanta) and Mitch Keller (Pittsburgh) outperformed Jannis in terms of ERA. Even with so many arms already on the Mets 40 man roster, Jannis has certainly made a strong case to be added himself. It will be interesting to see if the Mets oblige or if they will allow him to be exposed to the Rule 5 draft. A potential selection by a rebuilding team with limited rotation assets such as the Padres, Marlins, Reds, Phillies, or Tigers seems extremely likely.
- Pobereyko continues the string of Independent RPs signed by the Mets to fill out minor league roster space......who actually seem like legitimate future MLB candidates. After K'ing a staggering 38 out of 67 batters (57%) in the Frontier League, the Mets signed Pobereyko to fill up roster space in Columbia where he continued his prodigious K rate with 37% of Batters Faced seeing strike #3. Since he still doesn't have a significant track record in the MiLB, and isn't eligible for the Rule 5 draft, Pobereyko is not likely to be added to the 40 man roster. However, his strong performance in the Arizona Fall League gives a TON of support to the idea of skipping him over Port St. Lucie and sending him straight to (AA) Binghamton for the 2018 season.
RHP Tim Peterson: 1-0, 0.87 ERA, 5.2 K/9, 1.7 BB/9, .171 Average Against
- The only one in the group that was drafted, Peterson seemed to have hit the prospect wall in 2014 after struggling in (A+) Port St. Lucie and (AA) Binghamton and then again in AA in 2016. Peterson eventually figured it out his 3rd time though as he posted a very strong 1.14 ERA and then followed it up with this strong performance in the Arizona Fall League. That said, his lack of experience in AAA and the lack of K's in the AFL is a bit concerning as it opens the possibility of him being subject to the unforgiving BABIP gods. This probably keeps him from getting added to the 40 man roster AND from being selected in the Rule 5 draft, but, it does at least get him on the Mets depth chart radar as he is expected to open 2018 in (AAA) Las Vegas.
LHP Kyle Regnault: 0-1, 0.71 ERA, 12.1 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, .196 Average Against
- Not everyone takes the simple path to the MLB. For Regnault, a solid showing across 3 years in the Canadian-American independent league led to him signing with the Mets in 2015 and he has dominated at every level since. His solid showing in AA and AAA during 2017 followed up by this superb showing in the Arizona Fall League against some the best young talent the MLB has to offer has put Regnault in line for an addition to the 40 man roster. The only thing working against Regnault is the fact that A) He's not yet eligible for the Rule 5 draft so there is no pressure to protect him, and B) statistically speaking, he is actually better vs RHB instead of LHB making him ill suited to claim the 2nd LOOGY role in the MLB bullpen.
Hitters
C Tomas Nido: .184 AVG, .577 OPS, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 24.1% K Rate, 9.3% BB rate- Even though the Scottsdale Scorpions finished as the worst team in the Arizona Fall League, it was certainly of no fault of any of the Mets players. At least, except for the performance of Tomas Nido who was the only one of the eight to not play well which was disappointing considering his poor performance in (AA) Binghamton as well. Outside of a strong month of May, Nido's entire 2017 season, combined with Plawecki's resurgence, really hurts his chances at becoming a future contributor to the MLB club. He will still be pushed up to AAA, due to Mazieka's strong season in (A+) Port St. Lucie, but Nido's position on the 40 man roster could be in jeopardy if he doesn't bounceback in 2018.
LF Kevin Kaczmarski: .351 AVG, .834 OPS, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB, 24.3% K Rate, 6.1% BB rate
- Kaczmarski continued to show the skills that made him a 9th round pick in the 2015 draft and that he has displayed at every MiLB stop in his career. With excellent bat to ball skills, sneaky solid speed, and solid defense in the OF, Kaczmarski has a very solid chance to reach the MLB in at least a 4th OF role. His performance in the Arizona Fall League re-enforced that floor prediction as he finished 6th in the league in AVG and tied for 4th in total # of hits with MLB top prospect Ronald Acuna. Luckily, Kaczmarski is not yet eligible for the Rule 5 draft so do not expect him to be added to the 40 man roster today. That plus his lack of power will likely prevent him from getting a full time job in the MLB unless he can display a constant ability to play CF well which could happen in (AAA) Las Vegas during 2018.
2B/SS Luis Guillorme: .289 AVG, .689 OPS, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2.1% K Rate, 6.3% BB rate
- Is Guillorme a legitimate prospect? Depending on who you ask the answer could be very different. Guillorme has clearly proven that, unlike Rey Ordonez who he is often compared to, he can put the bat on the ball. Guillorme also has a little bit of gap to gap power and possesses a K rate that is usually below 10% every year. In fact, during this AFL season, he only registered 1! K in his 48 Plate Appearances. Guillorme IS eligible for the Rule 5 draft and due to a lack of hitters on the 40 man roster he is certainly a lock to be protected today. Whether he gets his chance at the MLB or not probably depends on his performance this season in (AAA) Las Vegas.
3B David Thompson: .328 AVG, .940 OPS, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 17.7% K Rate, 6.5% BB rate
- The former 4th round pick in the 2015 draft has been sneakily solid at every MiLB stop in his career. With the Mets struggles to produce a successor to David Wright, Thompson's strong showing in the AFL could give the front office some confidence that he could be that guy. While he didn't show much power in Arizona, Thompson did produce 16 HRs and 46 total extra base hit in (AA) Binghamton this past season with a superb 17.4% K rate which is in line to what he produced in the AFL. Just like Kaczmarski, college players from the 2015 draft have one more season to go before they are eligible for the Rule 5 draft so Thompson will unlikely be added to the 40 man roster today. That said, he will likely head to the (AAA) Las Vegas team to be a part of what seems like is going to be a fun to watch hitting lineup.
