23
2012
Mets’ Top 10 Prospects – 1981
An article by Barry Duchan
When I wrote that the 1967 crop featuring Seaver, Ryan, and Koosman was probably the strongest group of prospects the Mets ever had, I was weighting it heavily on the future success of those three pitchers. But in terms of potential and depth, it would be hard to top the 1981 list.
Here’s what a list of the Top 10 Mets’ Prospects for 1981 may have looked like. Injuries and addictions certainly played a role in limiting the success of some of these players, but it was a talent-rich group.
1. Tim Leary, RHP – Just off a season where he was the best pitcher in the Texas League as a first-year pro, Leary looked like the best Mets’ pitching prospect since Seaver.
2. Darryl Strawberry, RF - The previous season’s #1 draft pick now had a half season of pro ball under his belt and though he was far from dominant, his star potential shone through.
3. Mookie Wilson, CF - The International League’s All Star Centerfielder would soon make Lee Mazzilli expendable leading to a chain of deals that brought the Mets Ron Darling and Howard Johnson.
4. Hubie Brooks, IF/OF – The Mets hadn’t yet decided if Hubie would be an infielder or outfielder, but he was coming off a solid year in AAA and looked major league ready.
5. Wally Backman, 2B- Tidewater’s switch-hitting second baseman would later abandon righthanded hitting and emerge as a solid #2 hitter and gritty infielder.
6. Rick Ownbey, RHP – With a big year at Class A Lynchburg followed by a successful stint at AA Memphis, Ownbey was coming on as a future star in the Mets’ rotation. He never made it, but was a valuable chip in the Keith Hernandez trade.
7. Mike Scott, RHP – Tidewater’s #1 starter was ready for the big leagues although he wouldn’t blossom until dealt away.
8. Ed Lynch, RHP – a solid starter for Tidewater who was pencilled in as a likely #4 starter type, which is just what he became.
9. Juan Berenguer, RHP – The International League’s strikeout leader, he was a strong candidate to shift to the bullpen, where he enjoyed a measure of big league success although not with the Mets.
10. Brian Giles, 2B – This smooth-fielding second baseman hit .286 in the Texas League and it looked like his glove could propel him ahead of Backman as the 2nd baseman of the future.
About the Author: Barry Duchan
I've been following the Mets since 1962. Have to admit I was a Yankee fan as a kid, but I found it to be so much more interesting to see how a young team could build itself up rather than following a team where the season didn't really begin until October. I remember them all - Casey, Marv, ChooChoo, Don Bosch, The Stork, etc. As the years went on, I became more and more of a Mets fan, and a Yankee hater once Steinbrenner and Billy Martin entered the picture. After retiring, I relocated with my family from Long Island to Chapel Hill, NC in 2005. I spend a lot of my time now checking out all the various Mets blogs. Fortunately, I still get to watch almost all of the Mets games (except those that are blacked out here).
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 23 | 18 | .561 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 19 | .548 | 0.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.0 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 6.5 |
| Marlins | 11 | 31 | .262 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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Barry greta job, YES, i do rememberTim Leary, he was a 2nd round pick who just as many prospects became a bum!!!! This is exactly why we shouldn’t put our faith into draft picks, this guy was supposed to lead our staff for years to come yet, he got hurt and was just done pretty much after that… Now in his favor, some felt the mets RUSHED him after his first or second season in the minors.. but he was such a dominant pitcher that some felt he was ready…
Again, Bum might be an overstatement. He did go on to have a few decent years after leaving the Mets. He was huge in 1988 in the Dodgers run. He struggled against us in the playoffs but did really well against the A’s. For about a 5 year stretch he was certainly serviceable (3.78 ERA over 930 innings from 1986-1990) but yeah for sure never lived up to the hype.
TRS, i am sure you watch this guy pitch… a bum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Again, I have a hard time with the word bum for an MLB pitcher that did have a couple of decent seasons. I think he won what 17 games for that 88 Dodgers team?
A friend of mine had two of his sons drafted and play for the Mets in the minors as pitchers. Neither got beyond A ball because of injuries. I find it repugnent that anyone could call someone a bum who gave it their best. Take a look in the mirror.
Hopes were high for him, to bad he hurt his arm on his first start of year in Chicago, I think. Never the same. Nice top 10 list and most helped us become better one way or another.
I liked Hubie as most fans back then did (and many do now)
He was one of those players who gave the hope starved fans someone to root for, Home grown, Played a position the franchise was notoriously bad at finding a long term solution at, and had enough pop to make the Apple jump up!
Unfortunatly none of that hope ever materialized until he left and played for Montreal!
He has one other interesting fact abot him in that he may be the most drafted player in MLB history!
He was originally drafted in the 19th round in 74 but did not sign
Then was taken 5 Times in the 1st round (5th, 14th, 2nd, 3rd and 3rd overall) but did not sign until we picked him in 78!
His .250 type average and less than 5 HRs in his early time with us just wasn’t enough (possible we did not give him enough time to show…) Made him one of the main chips that gets us Carter.
As for Mike Scott, It could be said he didn’t blossom until he learned how to doctor the baseball! LOL
Timothy Leary, the most dangerous man in America, inventor of LSD and promoter of rebellion and anarchy. The original day tripper. Oops, wrong Tim Leary.
Maybe but Tim leary did look slightly better if you were on something when you saw him! LOL