12
2013
MMO Exclusive: 10 Mets Prospects Who Will Debut In 2013
An article by 
Excited about the which prospects we’ll be making their major league debuts this season for the Mets? Here are ten players we believe will answer the call to duty at Citi Field in 2013.
1. Zack Wheeler: The 6’4 Georgia native may be the most anticipated Mets pitcher to debut since Doc Gooden. He will slot into the back-end of the rotation after his promotion, but has the ability and potential to be the best pitcher on the staff by seasons end. His aggressive pitching style, and plus fastball and curve-ball will translate to a lot of missed bats. It’s scary to think that his debut could be better than Matt Harvey’s.
2. Travis d’Arnaud: This exciting young catcher is the complete package and could become the Mets’ future number five hitter according to Sandy Alderson. The former first round pick of the Phillies has the ability to hit for a great average with pop, and on top of that he is a natural behind the plate. His defense sets him apart, as he is agile, athletic and has a good arm. Some people worry about his injuries, and without them he likely would have debuted for the Blue Jays last season and also never have been available.
3. Matt den Dekker: The 25-year-old centerfielder should finally make his debut in this season barring an injury. Den Dekker has the skills defensively to play a major role this season already, but his bat still trails his glove. If he is not on the opening day roster, he could be the first outfielder to get the call when the Mets come knocking.
4. Juan Lagares: This DR import opened the eyes of many in the Mets organization with his performance in 2011, batting .349/.383/.500 in 505 plate appearances. His right-handed bat would come in useful and if he’s deemed ready, he could earn a promotion to Flushing. His bat will do the talking once he gets the call.
5. Jack Leathersich: How many lefty relievers do you know that mow down 112 batters over 72 innings of work? The 22-year-old’s strikeout ability screams future closer potential, or at the very least a setup man. Josh Edgin may have impressed many in 2012, but Leathersich has the potential to blow our socks off.
6, Cory Mazzoni: The 6’1 right-hander is on the fast track to Flushing. He pitched lights out for St. Lucie, but struggled a bit when he got promoted to Double-A last season. Mazzoni has three pitches, a fastball, slider, and splitter, none of which grade out better than average. As a result he could be shifted to the bullpen and earn a call up sometime this summer, or at the very least as a September call up.
7. Darin Gorski: Converting to a reliever could be one way that Gorski makes it to the Mets. He is a soft tossing lefty, and by the time his is ready there won’t be any spots left in the rotation. His excellent change-up will offset his fastball very nicely, and should translate to a solid lefty reliever. Recently, Gorski was rated as having the best change-up and control in the Mets minor league system by Baseball America.
8. Wilmer Flores: The 6-foot-3 Venezuelan native impressed at the plate last season, cranking 18 home runs with 30 doubles while batting .300/.349/.479 across two levels. Since Flores is a bit awkward on the defensive side of things, his ticket to the show will be his bat. Yesterday, Paul DePodesta said he is very impressed with the way Flores has handled second base, but there’s an off chance he gets some reps in left field to add to his versatility.
9. Jake deGrom: The lanky righthander has displayed a plus fastball and above average slider that could pave the way for a speedy promotion to the bigs, He ranked third in the Mets system in ERA last season finishing the year at Double-A. He’s 24 already and lost time due to Tommy John Surgery, but his two potential plus pitches will keep the door open for him to be a future starter although his debut may come in the the bullpen.
10. Armando Rodriguez: In 458 innings, spanning six seasons in the minors, Rodriguez has given up just 376 hits while striking out 475 batters and posting a 3.14 ERA. Rodriguez is 25-years-old and finally made it to Triple-A late last season. He could be one of the first call-ups to the Mets bullpen this season if they need help.
What do you think? Did we leave anybody out? Speak your piece in the threads…
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.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 43 | 30 | .589 | - |
| Nationals | 35 | 36 | .493 | 7.0 |
| Phillies | 35 | 38 | .479 | 8.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 41 | .397 | 13.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 49 | .310 | 20.0 |
Last updated: 06/20/2013
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DeGrom, D’Anaurd, Wheeler, and Flores could all easily be helping this team become a playoff contender next season.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Reese Havens ends up the starting second baseman by years end if something happens to Murphy. Reese has the ability to be a star at second and a huge lift for this team.
Great list, but I’m not so sure about deGrom. What about Juan Centeno? Catchers are always breaking down.
Seems a little like a stretch after the first 3-5.
I say
TDA, Wheeler, DD, Lagares, Gorski, and Flores.
How do you only put 5 on a top 10 list? Do you ever go out on a limb? Ever? lol
That’s why I said it seemed like a stretch after the first 3-5. I don’t see 10 players making their debut this year.
Does that mean you see the Mets going through the whole season with less than ten trips to the disabled list?
That would be a record for this team.
LOL, well don’t forget they still have veterans on MILB contracts as well. It won’t always be a kid coming up for a DL stint.
The 6’4 Georgia native may be the most anticipated Mets pitcher to debut since Doc Gooden. ”
You cannot be serious…..
LOL the keyword is “anticipated” and he’s right about that. Any other comparisons stop there.
Maniac, doesn’t it seem that since gooden every pitcher from the minors has been “Anticipated”? from the likes of izzy, wilson, heimann, etc all these guys have been anticipated the same. hell, i remember even grant roberts was anticipated as a stud to come in and be the next big thing… SMH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyC0X1z4J0U
LOL.
Yeah, I guess because so many are hot and cold on him because of who he was traded for. To me, I don’t expect him to come up and be as good as Harvey was last year. That being said, I also expect Harvey to struggle a LITTLE this year as well.
I’m looking forward to seeing if Leathersich gets a Sep call up.
Not so sure Gorski makes a debut this year – maybe if there’s multiple injuries and/or failures in the BP.
No team has logged more DL time in the last 4 seasons than the Mets. So…
Wrong again.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/2012-disabled-list-summary/
Boomer, he said LAST 4 SEASONS. you tried to come in here and be a **** about it, why don’t you go back to 2009 and add that as well? Doesn’t that make the mets the top team who lost players? We lost 3 of our best players for the entire season by june… FD
Boomer likey Sandy’s boom boom.
Once again, no actual factually correct argument from the anger kids. Just insults and drivel.
Sad.
Thank you for pointing all that you said out
You’re right, he made the claim. Where is his proof?
Oh, I forgot, the Core doesn’t need facts just insults and childish behavior.
Yikes.
Leathesich is an extremely exciting bullpen arm in the Mets system, I am looking forward to see a nice 1-2 combo from the left side with Edgin and Leathsich.
“The 6’4 Georgia native may be the most anticipated Mets pitcher to debut since Doc Gooden. ”
You cannot be serious…..”
That sounds about right. I don’t think he’s comparing him to Doc, just the anticipation. I can’t think of another. Gen K gets hurt by the fact that it was 3 of them so the anticipation was shared.
Yep, I concur.
No…. No…. Paul Wilson was the mets player of the year in the minors for like 3 straight years, yet we all know how that turned out.out of the 3, this guy was supposed to be the ACE…
But we didn’t have blogs then like we do now. Imagine how hyped those guys would have been if blogs were big then.
This
you nailed it right on the head sloatburg, his hype is crazy right now.
Longshots but Reese Havens has a shot if he’s healthy and Murph or DWright isn’t . Tovar plays defense well enough to hold down Tejada. Finally Germen should be moved to relief only. He has potential and issues similar to Armando Rodriguez and could be called on before him if he gains some control
Oh yeah, I forgot about Havens. He will be up at some point this year if he remains on the 40 man. I am honestly thinking he might get the ax before hand.
Saw a recent comment for TC saying Havens still has all the skills to make it to the MLs. It’s just a matter of if he’ll ever remain healthy enough.
Agreed, but there’s a roster crunch a coming in a few days.
I know but he was part of 3. I for one loved Izzy then Pulse and last Wilson. I think both izzy and pulse had more impressive minor league numbers than Wilson. Wilson was the #1 overall (I think) and was a college stud but if I remember correctly he didn’t dominate the minors the the other 2 did. Another prospect pitcher I loved in the minors (and when he first came up) was Dotel. I was crushed when he got dealt for Hampton.
Nice list. What speaks against Leathersich & Mazzoni is the fact that they won’t need to be added to the 40-man for another winter as 2011 draftees. Same for R.Montero btw as a 2011 IFA.
If they manage to stick on the 40-man roster through ST, RH Gonzalez Germen ( as a reliever) and 2b Reese Havens also seem to have a good shot at making their debuts. Though Havens seems very vulnerable in terms of sticking on the 40-man, SS Wilfredo Tovar also figures to get at least a September cup of coffee, as a slick fielding SS who would probably be first in line if Tejada misses an extended period of time.
Ahh thank you for mentioning Gonzalez German. He definitely has a good chance to see MLB time in 2013. I forgot about him.
According to donal, the whole notion of wheeler’s anitcipation is nothing if he becomes a bust:
Donal January 25, 2013 at 1:10 pm .
And again, what happens when a draftee (*Wheeler) busts? You move on.
What happens when a free agent busts (*Jason Bay)? …they stay around…
*I added comment.
Well, to be fair, i see that point, problem is, teams that don’t rely on big FA signings get hurt even bigger because if the prospects don’t pan out, it sets them back yet again, and again and again. SO a team like the mets who have all hopes set on prospects and not spending, then have this guys bombed out, sets them back even more…
I don’t think there is any doubt that when it is time for the Mets to compete they will have to have a foundation of youth backed up by spending on the FA market. I have always contended that. Where many of us differ is if they had the money and when they should spend it.
Your point being?
Is Wheeler important? Yes. Is he the be all and end all? No.
When you have a deep farm, a prospect buring out, even a guy as big as Wheeler, can be weathered. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it sets you back. But that is why you do the leg work. You can minimize the damage a lot easier than when big ticket free agents bust.
A guy like Bay or Coleman or Bonilla or Crawford fails and your team is screwed.
Alex,
What does that have to do with the anticipation for Wheeler? No one is making him out to be Cy Young, Sandy Koufax, or Tom Seaver (although we would love tha to be the case)we just want to see him in the bigs
Reese Havens
will get injured in spring training
Please stop, the guy is the goods. He will be fine this year he just ran into a bit of bad luck…you make it sound like he’s Grady Sizemore w injuries.
You can’t eliminate a guy because you think he is going to get hurt…you have angered me Daniel. That’s flawed thinking and rationale.
Havens has been a favorite of mine for years, but as he injuries piled up he began to join a long line of promising Mets prospects that we have hoped would be but never were.
There is no denying his talent, if healthy for a few months he may steal the job from Murphy, especially if Murphy has the prolonged slumps again this season as he did last year.
I just fear he may have lost out on his opportunity since now Flores is getting reps at second and he has similar or even a higher offensive potential
And of course Flores is RH.
Seriously, a prospect is judged by his skill set, tools and ceiling. Havens is exceptional. Injuries are unpredictable and never part of the equation especially his injuries which were freakish in nature and not chronic or debilitating.
very solid point, however he still needs to show he can stay healthy for a few months to be considered
I can’t see how Den Dekker doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, especially if he tears the cover off the ball in ST. Center field is now officially his for the taking. Power, speed, great defense…only detriment is him being unable to lay off offspeed stuff. However, knowing Den Dekker, he will adjust quicker than Nieuwenhuis did.
P.S. Dan, you missed #11: Rafael Montero. September call up, maybe sooner.
I like Den Dekker but he still couldn’t figure out AAA where he batted .220/.256/.333. I think best case scenario is June. I just hope the air in Vegas gives him confidence but mostly I hope he can make more contact.
June? Not if he has a hot start. Again, Den Dekker makes quick adjustments after a down year. He did the same thing last year after he really struggled in AA and wound up hitting .340 afterward. Even if he did terrible in AAA, if he outshines competition like Nieuwenhuis & Valdespin for CF in Spring Training, do they have much of a choice?
Doesn’t AAA start a few weeks after the majors? So based on that, unless there is some kind of immediate injury hole, you have to figure they will need to see at least 6-8 weeks or so of sustained output in Vegas before deciding that he has forced his way up. Plus of course, about that much time for the current players to prove they don’t belong!
So early June is logical. You get a couple months trila in MLB and at AAA, then can make whatever adjustemnts are warranted, giving you another 6-8 weeks going into the deadline to make decisions.
I think it’s plausible that all 10 make their debut this season but barring a large amount of injuries I don’t think all 10 will debut this year as a Met but rather a few of them may debut via trade in another team’s uniform.
I do not see more that 3 players making their debut this year. Sandy wont want to start their payroll clocks. Or needlessly expose prospects to clearing waivers. We have several veterans signed under minor league contracts to fill in when other players are on the DL. It is going to be a good year in AAA.
Hopefully Murphy starts the season tearing it up and increases his trade value. Id live to see Flores get a shot at 2nd base. He can be a better version of Uggla. He is a fantastic hitter. Murphy has turned into a servicable 2bman & with some time I think flores can be even better fielder. Im not talking Gold Glove but I think he can be coached up. I don’t think where as far away as people think. We have soooooo much pitching here and on the way starters and bullpen. The only weakness I see in our system is my opinion is position players on the upper levels.
Nice job Danny Boy.
I know this was a tough assignment to undertake after the first few.