The Keepers - #86 - P - James Fuller

86.           SP      James Fuller

1-1-10 Forecast:  Fuller has pitched his first two seasons for Brooklyn. Neither was for a full season and his combined stats for the two years are: 5-6, 2.44, 1.15, 20-games, 12-starts, 89-K, 1.0-IP. He will play 2010 as a 23 year old so it’s time to move, but there’s no room for him in the St. Lucie rotation. I still place him there in a relief role, but he may wind up in Savannah’s rotation instead.

4-15-10: - SP - A-Savannah:  I don't know if going from James to Jimmy had anything to do with it, but if he keeps pitching like this, you can call him A.J. or anything else you want to call him... first two outings:14.0-IP, 0.64, .0.57. More important, 15-K and only 2-BB.

7-26-10: - A lot of good starting pitchers have come out of Savannah over the past few years, some of which were promoted to St. Lucie at the all-star break this year. One left behind, Jimmy Fuller, is making a good case of being left behind for the wrong reason. Sunday night, Fuller went 6.0-IP, 4-H, 0-R, 6-K, 0-BB for the Gnats and improved his season

The left-handed Fuller finished his time in Savannah with an 8-3 record and a 1.93 ERA in 107.1 innings pitched. He struck out 99 batters and walked just 29. At the time of his promotion to the Florida State League on August 5th, Fuller led all active SAL pitchers in ERA and was seventh in strikeouts.

In 2010, Fuller had his finest season. He first went 8-3, 193, in 19 starts for Savannah, but he followed this with 5 more starts for St. Lucie, going 3-2, 3.38. His combined 2010 stats were: 11-5, 2.19, 131.1-IP, 124-K, and only 38-BB.

9-4-10: - 2011 Forecast:  Fuller wasn't promoted to St. Lucie at the all-star break, like many of his fellow Sand Gnat starters. As it turned out, he might have benefited the most. He won the Sally MVP and has already begun his stint in St. Lucie. I'm sure he'll return there in the spring, especially since it looks like there will be six starters fighting for the five slots in Binghamton. We try not to get excited about SPs at this level, especially ones that don't sit at 95, but Fuller has definitely impressed us in 2010.

8-18-11: - I’m working on my Keeper list and, frankly, no matter how much I like this guy, I’m going to have to drop him on the list. He simply hasn’t pitched an inning all year.

The Keepers: - #100 - P - James Fuller

100.   SP      James Fuller

1-1-10 Forecast:  Fuller has pitched his first two seasons for Brooklyn. Neither was for a full season and his combined stats for the two years are: 5-6, 2.44, 1.15, 20-games, 12-starts, 89-K, 1.0-IP. He will play 2010 as a 23 year old so it’s time to move, but there’s no room for him in the St. Lucie rotation. I still place him there in a relief role, but he may wind up in Savannah’s rotation instead.

4-15-10: - SP - A-Savannah:  I don't know if going from James to Jimmy had anything to do with it, but if he keeps pitching like this, you can call him A.J. or anything else you want to call him... first two outings:14.0-IP, 0.64, .0.57. More important, 15-K and only 2-BB.

7-26-10: - A lot of good starting pitchers have come out of Savannah over the past few years, some of which were promoted to St. Lucie at the all-star break this year. One left behind, Jimmy Fuller, is making a good case of being left behind for the wrong reason. Sunday night, Fuller went 6.0-IP, 4-H, 0-R, 6-K, 0-BB for the Gnats and improved his season

The left-handed Fuller finished his time in Savannah with an 8-3 record and a 1.93 ERA in 107.1 innings pitched. He struck out 99 batters and walked just 29. At the time of his promotion to the Florida State League on August 5th, Fuller led all active SAL pitchers in ERA and was seventh in strikeouts.

In 2010, Fuller had his finest season. He first went 8-3, 193, in 19 starts for Savannah, but he followed this with 5 more starts for St. Lucie, going 3-2, 3.38. His combined 2010 stats were: 11-5, 2.19, 131.1-IP, 124-K, and only 38-BB.

9-4-10: - 2011 Forecast:  Fuller wasn't promoted to St. Lucie at the all-star break, like many of his fellow Sand Gnat starters. As it turned out, he might have benefited the most. He won the Sally MVP and has already begun his stint in St. Lucie. I'm sure he'll return there in the spring, especially since it looks like there will be six starters fighting for the five slots in Binghamton. We try not to get excited about SPs at this level, especially ones that don't sit at 95, but Fuller has definitely impressed us in 2010.

8-18-11: - I’m working on my Keeper list and, frankly, no matter how much I like this guy, I’m going to have to drop lower on the list. He simply hasn’t pitched an inning all year.

The Gamers vs. The Gifted: Fuller vs. Tapia

We're starting to get some interesting names on the list. Tapia is listed towards the tail of the Generation 2K discussion with Akeel Morris. He's one of only a handful of guys who can make a radar gun flash three numbers at once and he's pretty young. Ironically he's up against a guy who can't get his fastball above 90.

Full Name: James Fuller

Born: 06/01/1987

Birthplace: Marlborough, MA

College: Southern Connecticut State

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 180

Bats: L

Throws: L

Before the injury sidelined him for a full season Fuller was part of a trio of successful guys in Savannah. There was James Fuller, Mark Cohoon and Brandon Moore. There names were listed in THAT order for a reason. None of the guys had rocket arms but they were all flying through Savannah and onto bigger things. Cohoon skipped right by St. Lucie but Fuller took a more patient route and had okay success in his part of a season.

I love lefties who can throw strikes and think around a hitter. That is what Fuller is at his best and I think he will be again when he comes back. If I didn't think that I wouldn't have put him on the list. He's not assured a return to the Port St. Lucie rotation when he's healthy but my fingers are crossed that he can pick things up where he left off.

Fuller's Scouting Report:

Not a big kid, Jimmy Fuller might settle into a bullpen role shortly. He works comfortably in the high-80s from the left side with a meh curveball in the low-to-mid 70s and a decent slider and change-up.

Full Name: Domingo Tapia

Born: 12/16/1991

Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 186

Bats: R

Throws: R

Pure potential is the word on Tapia... AND Morris for that matter. Any time you can throw a pitch 100 MPH it tends to indicate that you can do big things. Tapia is a LITTLE more refined than Morris but scouts love Morris' stuff a little more.

Tapia was okay in Kingsport but his 1 and only start in Brooklyn was the thing that excited me more. Six scoreless innings, five hits, six strikeouts... AND NO WALKS. I have Tapia playing in Brooklyn in 2012 but he could go even higher if he continues to look so polished. My one confusion is the limited number of K's in the Appalachian league. Only 30 K's in 50 innings... it's more odd than anything.

Tapia's Scouting Report:

The powerful righty is a man-child, listed at 6'4", 186 lbs and reports had him hitting 100 mph during instructs. He is Mejia-esque, working in the mid-90's with a two-seamer and what's more, he throws a ton of strikes. Big time sleeper candidate.

This one shouldn't surprise anyone. An injured gamer who has to regain everything or a young kid with a fireball who has impressed in his brief time with the Mets. Tapia takes this round for the Gifted.

Building 2012 Rosters Prospects First - Picks 86-90

86 – 1B Sam Honeck – Honeck came back from a devastating injury the season before and had a sub-par season in Savannah: 269-AB, .227, 3-HR. His future as a Met may rely on whether or not the Mets brass moves either Aderlin Rodrigues or Wilmer Flores to first base. For now, I have him backing up Flores on the bag. – ETA: - AAAA








photo by Allan Greene

 87 – P Orlando Tovar – Tovar has had a decent year for Brooklyn… 5-1, 3.09 in 21 appearances, but he will play 2012 as a 24-year old and doesn’t have the velo to project him to a future spot in the Queens pen. What he has done is earn a bump up and he will be in Savannah in April. – ETA: AAAA

88 – P Mitch Houck - The good news is that Houck has never pitched bad in the Mets organization. The bad news is, due to injuries, he’s only pitched in 20 games in four years. He was out the entire 2011 season and it doesn’t look like he’ll be ready come April 2012. I don’t have him on any active roster right now.

89 – P James Fuller – Fuller dominated the Sally League last year, going 11-5, 2.19, 1.18 in 19 starts. He finished the season with St. Lucie, but has sat out the entire 2011 season. I have him starting next season in extended camp and have no idea if or when he’ll be back.

90 – P Brant Rustich – Tough story from a great guy. The Mets and Rustich decided to let Brant sit it out for the 2011 season after TOS surgery. He still doesn’t have proper feeling in his pitching hand but he will report in April for, what he has told me, the last time. We wish him well. A healthy Rustisch would have been in the top 20 prospect. ETA: TBD


Rosters So Far:


Buffalo: (17) –SP Chris Schwinden, Collin McHugh, Brandon Moore, RP Daniel Herrera, Robert Carson, Rhiner Cruz, Eric Beaulac, Jose De La Torre, IF Kai Gronauer, Alan Dykstra, Reese Havens, Jordany Valdespin, Zach Lutz, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Fernando Martinez, Mike Baxter, Juan Lagarus


Binghamton: (21) – SP: Mike Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski, Armondo Rodriguez, RP Mike Powers, John Church, Brandon Sage, Jeff Kaplan, Nick Carr, Josh Edgin, Brad Holt, IF Juan Centeno, Stefan Welsh, Rylan Sandoval, Wilfredo Tovar, Jefry Marte, OF Matt den Dekker, Cesar Puello, Pedro Zapata, Travis Ozga


St. Lucie: (23) – SP Greg Peavey, Taylor Whitenton, Angel Cuan, Tyler Pill, Ryan Fraser, RP Brant Rustich, Hamilton Bennett, Cory Mazzoni, Jack Leathersich, Yohan Almonte, Adam Kolarek, Gonzalez Germen, Chase Huchingson, IF Albert Cordero, Sam Honeck, Alonzo Harris, Wilmer Flores, Robbie Shields, Aderlin Rodriguez, OF Cory Vaughn, Gilbert Gomez, Darrell Cecilliani, Joe Bonfe


Savannah: (13) – SP Akeel Morris, Alex Panteliodis, Erik Goeddel, Logan Verrett, Marcos Camerena, RP Orlando Tovar, Chris Hilliard, Mike Hebert, T.J. Chism, IF Cam Maron, Brandon Brown, Richard Lucas, OF Javier Rodriguez,


Brooklyn: (5) – SP: Michael Fulmer, Juan Urbina, Domingo Tapia, IF Phillip Evans, OF: Brandon Nimmo


Kingsport: (5) – SP Luis Mateo, Christian Montgomery, Steve Matz, OF Vincente Lupo, Eudy Pena


GCL: (0) –


DSL: (1) – IF Elvis Sanchez