Evans´ numbers – similar to those of Brandon Nimmo – look rather ordinary at first glance.
Once you consider their rather young age for the NYPL, a league that generally features many college picks in their early 20s, and how that league generally surpresses offense in general, they look a lot better. And since Savannah also happens to be a rather hitter-unfriendly environment they´re not too likely to improve significantly in 2013.

In case the Las Vegas AAA affiliate remains around longer than expected, Mets´ fans will need to take a bunch of minor league numbers being aware of circumstances:
Brooklyn & Savannah surpress offense, most of all power while helping pitching. The lofty numbers put up by the Brooklyn staff in 2012 were great, especially because of those pitchers mostly had the raw stuff to back them up for a change. However, Brad Holt also had lofty numbers at that level and looked like a future frontline SP there while Ike Davis looked like a wasted pick in the same season after 0 HR in 200+ AB. While this has been common knowledge for a long time, it´s still difficult to forget about the numbers. Which one mostly should, especially at the lower levels.

Las Vegas (and the entire PCL) will elevate offense and hurt pitching. Just because someone puts up a .950+ OPS at that level won´t mean that he´ll even reach a .750+ OPS in the majors. Likewise a 5.00+ ERA in Vegas doesn´t mean the pitcher will be equipped to win. It may be an indication, but these totals are quite misleading.

As for Ruben Tejada, yes, he´s quite young and already established in the majors. However, he should have spent most / if not all of 2010 at AAA or AA instead of being force-fed to the majors at age 20 that season. Of course, players that show such an advanced approach at such a young age are quite rare. So, I´m not sure you can just give six SS from Latin America the money it costs you to sign one Phil Evans or even one Gavin Cecchini and expect to get at least a couple of Tejadas out of that.

Of course, both Evans & Cecchini both have considerable more upside than Tejada, especially in terms of potential power. Unlike Tejada they probably won´t make their major league debut at age 20 but instead figure to get at least another two more full seasons in the minors and probably target mid/late 2015 or even early 2016 for their major league arrival if all goes well. Which may well co-incide with the time when Tejada becomes rather expensive via arbitration.

Also have high hopes for Wilfredo Tovar who seems like the best defensive infielder in the entire organization for now and probably will make his MLB debut at some point in 2013. The question is, can he hit enough to be a starting SS at least in the Brandon Crawford mold ?

the bonus paid to Evans could’ve gotten 6 SS from the international market

this is why IMO the 1st round draft pick money being lost is a wash. You can just reallocate those funds to Latin America. You can find a Neemo or a Cecchini for alot cheaper !

Uh oh! Here comes the flood of “Another reason Sandy sucks is he forces the entire team to take to many pitches” diatribes.

From your mouth to God’s ears!!! I was very curious as to why a 15th rounder got such a bonus. Hope he pans out.

Wow, encouraging analysis, to say the least. It would be good to see if he can stick at SS – since so many start out there but eventually wind up being moved to another position.

Good stuff.