Jul
26
2011

Despite Drop In Power, Mets Prospect Is Still Driving In Runs

An article by Dan Valis

Wilmer Flores might as well be the least talked about top prospect the Mets have had in a while. He is still very young, and his bat is coming along slowly, but it is coming. At just 19 years of age, about to turn 20 , he still has plenty of time to develop. So far this season we have not seen a great batting average, or a ton of power. But, what we are seeing is a lot of run production.

This is his 4th season in the Mets system, and he is beginning to show the signs of promise that people are waiting to see. He was signed by the New York Mets as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 6, 2007.

So far this season Flores has just 6 home runs, which is a little behind his pace from last season when he hit 11. Last season he hit 36 doubles and drove in 84 runs in 133 games, where as this season he has 62 RBI in 96 games with 18 doubles. He is only hitting .272, and with the lack of power being displayed by Flores, 62 RBI is pretty good to this point. I don’t think I see him hurdling the 100 RBI mark this year, but with about 40 games left he can definitely surpass his career high of 84.

Coming into this season Flores was the odds on favorite for the top hitting prospect in the Mets system. As the season has gone along guys like Cory Vaughn and Matt Den Dekker’s numbers have been very impressive earning them both mid-season promotions this year. There is a decent group of hitting prospects to get excited about in the Mets farm system such as Cesar Puello, Aderlin Rodriguez and Jefrey Marte who joined Matt Harvey as members of the futures game this season.

I wouldn’t say Wilmer Flores has been a disappointment thus far early in his career because he is so young. He has not yet turned 20, and still has to grow into his body before he begins to develop the power we are all waiting to see. But I can’t lie and say I wish I was seeing a little more to get excited about. It always feels as though we are waiting as Mets fans, for once I just want to see a top guy just light it up and force our hand. Wilmer has about about 40 games left to change that feeling a bit.

To read more of my minor league scouting reports come visit us at BigAppleMetTalk.

About the Author: Dan Valis

I am a staff writer for Mets Merized Online. I am a Mets team analyst with a focus on the minor league system, as well as the major league club. I am a lifelong New Yorker who was born and raised to be a Mets fan. The ups and downs of being a Mets fan is what makes following this team so much fun, but at times so frustrating. You can follow me on Twitter @BgAppleMetsTalk.

9 Comments + Add Comment

Lifelongmetsfan July 26, 2011 at 3:58 pm

19 yrs old! Couldn’t Wright move to rf and Flores take over 3rd base in two years?

so in 3 yrs If we resign both Reyes and Wright we’re looking at this lineup hopefully…. If Jason Bay is found alive it’s not a horrible lineup with 2 rookies (Nimmo and Flores) offering the promise of lots of offensive production

ss Reyes
c Thole
3b Wright
1b Davis
LF Bay
CF Nimmo
3b Flores
2b Tejada
P
- Donal July 26, 2011 at 4:03 pm
  
  Flores is not defensively proficient at 3B. He’s most likely bound to be a LF.
- Pete July 26, 2011 at 4:23 pm
  
  How about Aderlin Rodriguez for 3B? My outfield has Bay gone in 3 years. Left to right could go Nieuewenhuis, Nimmo, Corey Vaughn. I don’t see Flores making this team. If he hits, he will be traded.
  - Davidthemetsfan July 26, 2011 at 6:35 pm
    
    HELL NO. Look at his error totals. He has concrete for legs.
- tlagee July 26, 2011 at 8:55 pm
  
  Sorry lifelong – I can’t see either Thole or Tejada as starters in the Mets long range plans. If they are – I believe we’d be in trouble.
- Wiseguy_Ash July 26, 2011 at 11:01 pm
  
  Josh Thole should not even be in this lineup let alone batting 2nd. The guy is a backup catcher that should play every 5th day.
Des July 26, 2011 at 4:21 pm

Bay and Tejada — two non-hitters. Defensive style points don’t count.
Flores and Nimmo — two unknowns who may turn out to be non-hitters. Also Flores defense is questionable. We know he can’t play the middle infield but we don’t know if he can handle the other positions.

Offensively, four slots, positions 5-8, of the lineup are questionable.
martin July 26, 2011 at 4:31 pm

again, rbi is a useless stat in this context. it reflect the ability of his teammates to get on base before he bats. stop caring about rbi, it leads to poor analysis.
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