As most of the readers here know, 19-year old righthander Michael Fulmer injured his knee two weeks ago while working out at PSL.

The Mets’ supplemental pick from the 2011 First year Player Draft, had to undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Meniscus injuries can be tricky sometimes especially for pitchers and even more so when it’s on the leg you land on after you deliver a pitch. Recovery times can range from three to six to ten weeks, and every case is unique.

While there has been no official update from the team, I saw Michael Fulmer today and I’m happy to report that by all accounts, the surgery went well.

As Fulmer walked around the team’s complex this afternoon, the stitches on his leg were still very visible, but it looks as though he’s doing fine and I’m hearing a timetable for his return is about a month and a half. That sounds about right, and there’s no point to rushing him back.

Fulmer posted a 2.74 ERA in 21 starts for Low-A Savannah last season and showed great confidence in his pitches and good command. In 108 innings pitched he struck out 101, while walking 38. It was good to see such a top talent in good spirits and recovering just fine.

Notes:

There were two games on the backfields yesterday, both A-Ball teams, Groups 3 & 4 were playing games right alongside each other so I had the opportunity to watch both games, and key in on some of the players that I really wanted to get a closer look at.

For Group 4 (Savannah), I watched Miller Diaz throw today. Diaz had great poise on the mound, and his pitches looked great. Also playing for Savannah today were Vicente Lupo who everyone is very curious about, but come away impressed. Wuilmer Becerra, who was the other prospect the Mets got back for R.A. Dickey got an at-bat and grounded out. Branden Kaupe looked solid defensively at second, but didn’t get to see Gavin Cecchini. All of these players are unlikely to start at Savannah, except for possibly Cecchini.

I also caught a glimpse of Rainy Lara who pitched for Group 3 (St. Lucie) and I liked what I saw, this kid is solid.

There was some nice buzz and excitement during that game as it drew to an end. The score was tied at 1-1 in the 8th and Phillip Evans came to the plate with the bases loaded. Evans slashed a single which brought home one run to break the deadlock. Brandon Brown followed Evans with a bases-clearing triple that he laced into the left field corner. With the score now 5-1, heavy rains suddenly poured down and both games were called.

I hope you enjoyed the update and you can look forward to more updates like these in the coming days. I’m hoping to make some time for a few exclusive interviews as well…

Update 3/23

I’m actually watching Zack Wheeler right now as all four minor league groups are playing a pair of intrasquad games today. Groups 1 vs 2, and Groups 3 vs 4.

They’re clocking Wheeler at 94-98 and he’s already broken two bats. Two of the MLB scouts who are here told Adam Rubin the following:

Scout 1 said: “He’s got four pitches.”

Scout 2 said: “And they’re all plus, plus, plus, plus.”

“He’s really good … and we’re not getting him,” one scout said with a laugh, noting the Mets would never trade the future ace.

Full recap later, heading to major league camp now…

Record: 23-43

How did the “big-name prospects” perform?

• Gavin Cecchini- 2012 First-Round Pick – .246/.311/.330 (191 AB), 1 HR, 22 RBI, 5 SB, 8.5 BB%, 20.3 K%
• Branden Kaupe- 2012 Fourth-Round Pick- .173/.358/.195 133 AB), 3 RBI, 3 SB, 22.0 BB%, 25.4 K%

Other notables:

• Steve Matz- 2-1, 1.55 ERA, 29 IP, 34 K, 17 BB, .158 BAA
• Miller Diaz- 2-1, 3.56 ERA, 43 IP, 45 K, 18 BB, .220 BAA
• Akeel Morris- 0-6, 7.98 ERA, 38.1 IP, 50 K, 22 BB, .253 BAA

This year’s Kingsport team was, for anyone that didn’t follow them, one of the worst in the Appalachian League. This year’s club was one of the most top-heavy Kinsport teams we’ve seen recently, with very little in terms of depth. Kingsport pitching ranked last in the league in runs allowed per game (6.0), walks per nine (4.5), and by far the most wild pitches (86). The lineup wasn’t much better, finishing last in OPS and home runs.

The players on the Kingsport roster were outmactched this year. After the elimination of the Mets Gulf Coast League team, many players who normally would be there were sent to Kingsport. That’s why the team was the youngest team in the league, and may have been why they struggled. Normally, draft picks or very young international players would have the GCL to help them make an easier transition to stateside baseball, but with that eliminated, it was a tough adjustment for players to make.

2012 was highlighted by the professional debuts of two of the Mets’ draft picks, Gavin Cecchini and Branden Kaupe. Both would’ve really benefited from some time in the GCL, especially Kaupe, who, had there been a GCL team, may have spent the entire season there. Kaupe, a prospect from Hawaii, is even a little too raw for Kingsport. I wouldn’t put any stock into his performance this year. Cecchini, on the other hand, I would judge a little bit because he was supposed to be the refined one coming out of high school. He had only a so-so season with the bat, but we’ll get our first real glimpse at him next year, when he will play a full season.

The rest of the Kingsport roster had some intriguing prospects who weren’t necessarily thought of as top-tier talents, but were interesting to follow. Steve Matz, a former top pick by the Mets in 2009, was finally able to make his professional debut with Kingsport after missing two years with an elbow injury. Matz dominated in six starts, striking out 34 batters in 29 innings pitched. Sadly, Matz was shut down towards the end of July with shoulder soreness. Toby Hyde of Mets Minor League Blog reports that it isn’t a big deal, which will hopefully mean that we’ll get another chance to see Matz next season, completely healthy.

The last prospect that I really want to talk about is Akeel Morris. He was a sleeper prospect coming into this season. I thought that he really had a chance to raise some eyebrows. I was wrong. After an impressive performance last year in Kingsport, he struggled and eventually had to be taken out of the starting rotation. He fared well in the bullpen, pitching to a stellar 1.13 ERA in 16 innings compared to a 12.90 ERA as a starter. As a two-pitch pitcher, he fits the profile of a relief pitcher and could stay in that role going forward. He has a decent fastball and curveball, but nothing else. From the tape I’ve watched of him, he is a max-effort thrower, fitting the mold of a flame-thrower out of the ‘pen. It would be a smart move for his development if the Mets kept him there going forward.

Conclusion: Overall, Kingsport certainly had the least amount of depth of any team in the Mets system, but it definitely wasn’t completely bare. There are a few positives that can be taken from this season. Cecchini’s bat was decent, better than possibly some expected. Steve Matz was dominant, even though he only had six starts. Miller, Diaz, who I haven’t really talked about, also had a nice season. With an extra first-round draft pick next year and possibly some international free agents coming stateside, the Kingsport Mets will definitely be exciting to watch next season.