2
2012
Baseball America Includes Mateo, Nimmo, Robles, Evans In NYPL Top 20 Prospects
An article by Craig Lerner
Baseball America ranked the Top 20 Prospects in the New York-Penn League and featured four Mets farmhands in RHP Luis Mateo #5, CF Brandon Nimmo #11, RHP Hansel Robles #12 and SS Philip Evans #18. Not a bad showing at all. Here is what they had to say on each of them:
5. Luis Mateo:
He’s a true power pitcher who sits at 92-95 mph and touches 96 regularly, with good angle on his fastball. His very hard, late-breaking slider is an out pitch that projects as a plus offering. Mateo also has some feel for a changeup but uses it sparingly at this stage.
11. Brandon Nimmo:
Nimmo is still raw, as might be expected for the first player ever drafted in the first round out of Wyoming (which has no high school baseball)…. His bat speed is special, giving him big-time power potential, though he’s still learning to unlock it.
Considered a plus runner as an amateur, Nimmo showed below-average to fringy speed this summer and needs a lot of work on his base-stealing. His center-field defense is also raw, as he tends to break back on balls before coming in.
12. Hansel Robles:
Robles made the biggest improvement from the start of the year to the end [among Cyclones' pitchers]…Robles pitches off a 92-96 mph fastball with sink, spotting it effectively to both sides. While he has some some success getting hitters to chase his 83-85 mph slider out of the zone, it lacks depth at times. He showed limited feel for his mid-80s changeup early in the season but looked comfortable throwing it against right-handers in August.
18. Phillip Evans:
Many area scouts doubted he would stay at shortstop in pro ball, but evaluators who saw him in the NY-P think he has a real chance to do so. He has reliable hands, above-average instincts and sound mechanics at shortstop, where his range is fringy but his arm is solid…. Evans is maxed out physically, but his short right-handed swing and feel for his barrel allow him to project as a solid hitter with good pop to the alleys. He has fringy speed at best and his baserunning needs work.
Pitchers Gabe Ynoa, Rainy Lara and Luis Cessa could have easily been included when you compare their numbers to some of the others on this list. But I guess it would of looked kind of odd if half of the top prospects were all Mets. 
Hat tip to Mets Minor League Blog.
About the Author: Craig Lerner
I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
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So we DO have prospects we can trade for what we need!
Sorry Metsie and Alex….it will take a little more than short season rookie league talent to net players like Upton. Perhaps they can be used to complete a package, yes. But alone won’t be enough.
Well I have never been i favor of Upton myself I don’t like his Home and Away splits myself.
But as package of Nimmo, Flores, Duda, and Familia should be enough to get him if thats what they wanted to get.
Brandon nimmo and some other chips for Upton… DONE!!!!!!!!!
Why not Familia, Flores and Mejia for Upton?
I would even give them Duda to help replace the HRs they are losing from Upton.
Why would either team jump on that? Why would Arizona trade Upton for a short season A-ball player (and some spare parts) and why would the Mets want a guy who has a career .250/.325/.406 outside of the second best hitter’s park in the majors?
You just constructed a trade where both sides lose.
Why not Familia, Flores and Mejia for Upton?”
Because Flores shows sign to be a stud, nimmo so far… nothing impressive.. agree or no???
I’ve been impressed with Nimmo thus far.
And yes, Flores could be something special. He could also flounder around, Milledge style. AZ isn’t giving Upton away. It’ll take something more than an A ball or below type player to acquire him.
I’ve been impressed with Nimmo thus far”
Not me… Sorry we’re not on the same page.. THe kid has no speed, no signs of power, defensively he’s been so so… Not sure what has impress you about him!?
I’ve watched Flores play in high “A” St. Lucie for 2 years and I agree he does show signs he may be a hitting machine some day. Only problem I observed with him is that the kid never appeared focused on the game. But I guess that’s not a reason to give up on him.
Mateo is the jewel of the Mets lower levels and anyone with half a brain knows it.