28
2011
MMO Top 20 Mets Prospects – #8 Wilmer Flores, INF
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Welcome to the 13th installment of the MMO 2012 Mets Top 20 Prospects list, featuring Wilmer Flores at #8. The Mets signed Flores as a 16-year-old IFA out of Venezuela in August of 2007. Since then he has appeared on Mets Top Ten Prospect lists everywhere from number ten, all the way up to number one. But Flores, now aged 20, is a player who is an enigma, and no one knows quite what to make of him. On the one hand, there is no doubt the guy has a sweet right-handed swing, and a quick bat. That much is evident just from watching him take batting practice. But despite this dynamic trait many question how he projects as a player, from this point moving forward.
Flores, at 6’3″ and 175 lbs., and still growing, should eventually develop plus power, but presently he is more of a gap-to-gap, line drive slasher, who goes the opposite way very well when the pitch calls for it. His swing incorporates good leg drive and hip rotation, with quick, strong hands, and explosive wrists, which will enable him to add power at the plate as he adds strength to his frame. Other than a well balanced swing, the other outstanding attribute for Flores is his ability to make solid contact. He has excellent hand-eye coordination, hits breaking pitches well, and projects to one day hit for a high batting average. It is the potential for this combination of contact ability and power, that has scouts so intrigued with Flores.
The negatives with Flores, are in foot speed and athleticism, and as a result, fielding ability. Flores has not yet grown into his body, and at times shows lack of coordination while in the field. His lack of speed makes covering the ground at shortstop, or in the outfield, a difficult thing for Flores. He has a good arm, adequate for 3B, but many feel he is destined to wind up with 1B as his landing spot one day. Up to this point, the Mets have been hesitant to move him off shortstop, but this winter Flores has been playing 3B in the VWL, which could be where he starts out next year.
Last year while playing at St. Lucie, high A, as a 19-year-old, Flores had 516 AB’s with 52 runs scored, 139 hits, 26 2B’s, 2 3B’s, 9 HR’s and 81 RBI’s, and his slash line was .269/.309/.380. For his minor league career, over four seasons, Flores is a lifetime .280 hitter with 31 HR’s and 243 RBI’s. The one solid stat from his 2011 season were his 81 RBI’s, which indicate a penchant for being able to drive in runs.
Flores is certainly still young and raw, but with 4 minor league seasons, and 1838 minor league at-bats, he has laid the foundation for what should be a very solid big league career someday. As he matures physically, his best position on the field will become clear, along with an emerging ability to drive the ball out of the yard. In the meantime, look for Flores to hit for a much higher average next season as he catches up in age to the other players around him, and adjusts to more advanced pitching. Hopefully he will transition well to a new defensive position that is better suited to his skill-set, which would move him a step or two closer to The Show. Next year will be crucial for Flores’ development, and with luck, I look for him to be a viable candidate to bring up to the Mets by September of 2013.
Wilmer Flores Video Links: Swing
Matt Harvey vs. Wilmer Flores ST 2011
Check back on Thursday when we unveil the #7 ranked player on our list!
2012 MMO Top 20 Prospects
8. Wilmer Flores INF
9. Cesar Puello RF
10. Reese Havens 2B
11. Cory Mazzoni RHP
12. Jordany Valdespin INF
13. Darin Gorski LHP
14. Phillip Evans SS
15. Jefry Marte 3B
16. Collin McHugh RHP
17. Juan Urbina LHP
18. Akeel Morris RHP
19. Michael Fulmer RHP
20. Danny Muno INF
About the Author: Peter Shapiro
The first time I went to Shea was not for a Mets game, it was for the Beatles concert there in August of '66. My first Met game was '67, a guy named Salty Parker was the interim-manager then. My first pennant race was 1969. As a 12 year-old that summer and fall, I managed to get to the park for 3 games. The first was the beginning of the Miracle which actually started on Tuesday July 8, 1969 with a day game against the Cubs. I was there a lot in '73. I saw games 3 & 5 of the 1973 NL Playoffs against the "Big Red Machine", from the upper deck behind home plate. It was from there that I witnessed the fight between Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose, and the mayhem that ensued. And that sweet victory in game 5! I saw a couple of WS games at Shea that year against that legendary Oakland A's club. I was there in 1985 for every single game Dr. K pitched including his two 16 strikeout performances, and the day he one-hit the Cubs on an infield single and the Mets won 1-0. I loved being a Met fan in those days. Hopefully we are once again preparing to emerge from the darkness.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 26 | 18 | .591 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 22 | .511 | 3.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 24 | .467 | 5.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 25 | .405 | 8.0 |
| Marlins | 13 | 32 | .289 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/21/2013
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why do people like you and I keep ranking this guy this high?
BTW – he’s playing just about exclusively 3B in fall ball.
Probably because he has been overblown as a prospect with the unfair comparisons to Miguel Cabrera. And since he hasnt put up monster Miguel Cabrera numbers people/scouts call him overrated which is no fault of his…
However, if he wasn’t compared to Cabrera we’d be looking at Wilmer as a really good young prospect. Who more than likely will start next season in Double-A at the mere age of 20 and whom might have a chance to breakout and be a special player. Rather than the other way around, which by the way most people look at him.
The one thing he does which is a plus is he doesnt strike out. If the Mets want him to hit for more power they need to take him off of short put him on 3rd and have this kid put on some weight because 6’3 175lbs & slow footed isnt going to get it done at SS.
I’m giving him one last shot, but he has to show me something this year. I think I’ve said that before….
I don’t believe the Mets are counting on this guy for anything. For over a year they have had ample opportunity to mention his name as a possible successor to Jose Reyes and haven’t. They never talk about this guy, it’s mostly blogger driven. He doesn’t seem to want to push the envelope either. He just does what he does which is very unimpressive to me. I guess I’m just not a big Wilmer Flores fan.
Wilmer, some ppl in venezuela have compared this guy to miguel cabrera, who at some point was playing any position available due to his bat, i wish this guy is the same situation
wilmer will play 3rd base imo, his body is too bulky imo to be SS, quite frankly, he’s here supposedly because he can hit, i don’t care if he hits and play any position out there.
Anybody who is compared to Miguel Cabrera should be given every opportunity to succeed. But if he was that good, wouldnt he be here already or put up eye-popping numbers up in single a? I’m opretty sure that Reyes and Miggy were already major leaguers at 20 years old.
kevin, we have reyes and wright, why rush this kid you know? and yes, he should be putting eye popping numbers if he was as good as they have said he is hitting wise, BUT, sometimes pitchers adjust to what you do as well in the minors, if not ask corey vaugh who basically was a shell of himself
Actually, Caberera’s numbers in single A are almost identical to Flores’ – Look it up. They both had 9 HR’s and Flores had a .269 average and Caberera had a .274 average.
I never believed the hype of Flores, although I haven’t given up on him. I want to see what he does vs. AA pitching and at 3B. Might have the potential to develop into a David Freese type at 3B- 10HR but the knack for the timely RBI hit.
That is one sweet swing in the video!
Why do I feel like he’ll eventually get moved to LF and be the guy that replaces Jason Bay in 2013?.
I think they may have pushed him up from A ball to Advanced A ball too quickly in 2010.The kid was only 19 and should’ve played the whole year at Savannah in 2010 and then start him at St Lucie for the 2011 season.I hope they don’t start him out at Binghamton next year.Let him get some more at bats in St Lucie and then bump him up to AA mid season.If 3B is his future,we have Wright for possibly 2 more years and he could be ready by then.I’m not ready to give up on a 20 year old kid just yet.Just because Reyes and Cabrera were in the Majors at 20 doesn’t mean this kid should be.Not everybody developes that quickly.Those guys are the exception not the norm.