Mets Arizona Fall League Recap

With the Arizona Fall League now at an end, here is a quick summery of our eight prospects fared while playing for the Surprise Saguaros.

Pitchers 

• Adam Kolarek (0-0, 2.92 ERA, 12.1 IP, 19 H, 5 BB, 8 K)  – The Mets have high hopes for Kolarek who could be a future closer for the team by 2015. After a superb campaign at St. Lucie, where Kolarek struck out 70 in 57 innings pitched while walking just 21, he was promoted to Binghamton shortly before the season ended to get a taste of some better quality hitters. That continued when he was selected for the AFL where he finished the six-week season with a 2.92 ERA in 12.1 IP. Kolarek struck out eight batters, walked five, and allowed 19 hits. He should be slated for Double-A Binghamton where he will get the lion’s share of save opps.
• Chase Huchingson (1-0, 5.73 ERA, 11 IP, 12 H, 10 BB, 6 K) – Huchingson had a terrible showing in Arizona, posting a 5.73 ERA and walking ten batters in 11 innings of work while striking out only five. Hooch got off to a blazing start in Advanced-A St. Lucie in 2012, but as the season wore on his performance kept declining. Used predominantly as a starter, the young southpaw’s future may ultimately be in the bullpen. He will most likely repeat Advanced-A for the 2013 season.
• Greg Peavey (1-1, 3.86 ERA, 14 IP, 11 H, 7 BB, 7 K) – Peavey had a disappointing season for Double-A Binghamton, but did manage to display some occasional flashes of brilliance and did improve toward the latter third of the season. In Arizona, they moved him from the rotation and into the bullpen where he did show some potential, posting a 3.86 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in nine appearances. However, Peavey does have something to prove in 2013, and needs to stand and deliver if he wants to make it to the majors.
• Ryan Fraser (1-1, 5.79 ERA, 14 IP, 16 H, 5 BB, 10 K ) – This right-hander showed a lot of promise in 2012 where he posted a 2.81 ERA between Advanced-A and Double-A. He doesn’t overpower batters, but he has a sneaky fastball that gets the job done. The AFL wasn’t too kind to Fraser and they lit him up pretty good. He’ll start the season in Binghamton, and we’ll have a better idea if he could be productive bullpen arm in the majors one day.

Position Players

• Danny Muno (.226, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 31 AB, .368 OBP) – After missing 50 games due to a PED suspension, Muno didn’t miss a beat when he came back and posted a .280/.387./4.03 slash with 24 of his 81 hits going for extra bases. Muno also flashed his above average speed and stole 19 bases. He didn’t have a good showing in Arizona, but he’s cut out of the same fabric as Wally Backman and has a great work ethic to go with a solid skill set.
• Darrell Ceciliani (.258, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 66 AB, .342 OBP) – It’s so hard to get a good read on Cecilliani because he spends so much time on the DL and not enough time on the field where he very solid. In limited playing time, Cecilliani posted a .329 average and an .861 OPS in 85 at-bats for Advanced-A St. Lucie. He has had issues with his hamstrings which has limited his stolen base output and is a good bet for 25 stolen bases when he’s 100%. He did pretty good in the AFL and he did steal five bases, that’s a good sign. He could start the season with a promotion to Binghamton, but it’s more likely he logs a little time in St. Lucie to start the season.
• Cesar Puello (.247, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 85 AB, .379 OBP) – Puello has been slipping since his breakthrough season in 2010 for Savannah. Injuries took a toll on his 2012 season, but he’s had back to back poor campaigns and needs to turn things around. Puello has got the tools, but has really struggled to meet expectations. His showing in the AFL mimicked his 2012 season, and that wasn’t good to see. This is a player was once counted among the team’s top five prospects. He’s going to have to produce a solid season in 2013 to regain that status and prove that he has what it takes to be a major leaguer someday.
• Dustin Lawley (.268, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 41 AB, .286 OBP) – I don’t know what to make of Lawley yet. He had a decent season for Single-A Savannah where he posted a .267/.323/.403 in 482 at-bats. He also tallied 35 doubles, 14 home runs and 15 stolen bases. We’ll have a much better indication of his potential after a year in St. Lucie where I expect him to start next season. He’s someone to keep an eye on.

While the Arizona Fall League is usually where most MLB teams showcase their top prospects, the Mets seemed to use it as a sorting ground for players they need to make decisions on for next season. None of these players are considered to be Mets top ten prospects, and some of them were just sent to the AFL because they missed time during the season with injuries and this was a good way to get some extra reps.

The Surprise Saguaros finished 17-14 (third place) in the AFL, falling just two wins shy of earning a trip to the AFL championship game.