The Mets used their first-round pick last year on shortstop Gavin Cecchini.

Last month, I had the chance to conduct an email interview with John Sickels of the well-known minor league blog, Minor League Ball. Sickels worked for ESPN many years ago, where he had his own column about minor league baseball. Here is some of what we talked about:

Q: Were the Mets too conservative with the Gavin Cecchini selection?

A: I thought Cecchini was a slight overdraft but I didn’t really think that about Nimmo. By slight, I think he was more of a late first round guy rather than 12 th overall, but that’s my opinion and obviously the Mets disagreed. Their thinking is that a premium defensive shortstop with excellent makeup and a chance to be at least a decent hitter is not easy to find. As with Nimmo, Cecchini is very young of course, just a college freshman age-wise, so it is way too soon to know who is right.

Q: What do you think of the prospects the Mets got for R.A. Dickey?

A: I thought they did well. D’Arnaud has the offensive and defensive ability to be an All-Star catcher, and at least a solid long-term regular. He just needs to stay healthy. I love Syndergaard, who has made a lot of progress with his secondary pitches. He could be a top of the rotation pitcher. They are both elite prospects.

Q: Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia — bullpen or rotation?

A: Bullpen in both cases. I used to think that Familia might make it as a starter, but at this point I think his command and mechanical problems make him a better fit in the pen.

Q: Vicente Lupo wowed in the Dominican Summer League with a .343/.500/.608 slash line and ten home runs over just 65 games. He is a bit of a mystery to many Mets fans. What do you know about him?

A: Well Lupo was a big-bonus guy out of Venezuela who was supposed to hit for power and average. He was terrible in 2011, but supposedly he was sick most of the summer and not at full strength. As you know, he was outstanding last year, more in keeping with the original reports. However, Dominican Summer League performance is not very predictive, so at this point I think we just have to wait and see.

Q: Will changing Triple-A affiliates from Buffalo to Las Vegas have any impact on player development?

A: Las Vegas is an extreme hitters park in a pro-offense league. In one sense, it can be a useful trial-by-fire thing for for pitchers: if you can survive in Vegas, you are better-prepared mentally and emotionally for the major leagues. On the other hand, it does introduce complications in player development for players on both sides of the ball. Breaking pitches don’t act the same. Hitters can get into bad habits that don’t harm them statistically in Vegas, but can come back to haunt them in the majors.

Read more of Sickels’ work at Minor League Ball.

Things they said:

• The top two starters from the 2012 short-season Brooklyn club will skip a level and proceed directly to high Class A St. Lucie.
• RHP Luis Mateo’s wicked fastball-slider combo enabled him to lead the New York-Penn League with 85 strikeouts a year ago, but he’s already 23, having missed three years while sorting through various injury and identity issues.
• RHP Hansel Robles signed at age 18 and spent four years in short-season ball, but his Brooklyn breakout included an ERA title (1.11) and streak of 45 straight innings sans an earned run, two signs that the 22-year-old is ready to be challenged.
• Mateo and Robles highlight a St. Lucie rotation that also includes power righties Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and Domingo Tapia.
• Shortstop Gavin Cecchini, last year’s first-rounder, begins the year in extended spring training, much like center fielder Brandon Nimmo (first round) and shortstop Phillip Evans (15th), a pair of 2011 draft picks who kicked off their careers with Brooklyn in 2012.
• RHP Michael Fulmer had surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee during spring training and will join the St. Lucie rotation later this spring.
• They also predict that the Mets’ top two prospects, starter Zack Wheeler and catcher Travis d’Arnaud, will probably not spend more than half a season in the Pacific Coast League.

Good stuff…

Ken Davidoff of the New York Post has a somewhat critical take on the Mets under Sandy Alderson, and yesterday he spoke to a rival NL executive who told him this:

“The big thing for me is it feels like the Mets are stuck in some kind of purgatory,” an official from another NL team said recently, on the condition of anonymity. “They didn’t blow up their club like Houston did, but they also aren’t a serious threat in the NL East behind Washington, Atlanta, and even Philadelphia.”

“Players like Ike Davis and Daniel Murphy have value, but are they going to be part of the next division winner in Queens? Unlikely. They are losing value every day as their salaries increase and years of club control decrease.”

Davidoff adds that the Mets’ first two drafts under Alderson have not received high grades in the industry, nor has the team come up with any under-the-radar finds through waivers or minor league free agency.

They have done better internationally, with 2011 Dominican pitchers Rafael Montero and Luis Mateo climbing the organizational ladder. Their clear need is for position players, as top draft picks Brandon Nimmo (outfielder, 2011) and Gavin Cecchini (shortstop, 2012) have underwhelmed outside observers.

I’m a big fan of Sandy, probably the biggest one on this site. But clearly he’ll need to make some noise in this year’s draft and follow that up with a less rigid approach to how he navigates the off-season next winter.

I doubt he can continue to tell fans that he has the money, is unwilling to spend it, and get away with it.

He’s losing some of his most steadfast supporters lately, and a fifth straight losing season could start tipping the scales the other way. It’s time for him to be bold and start talking more about the present and less about the future which we already know looks bright.

An astounding revelation by Andy Martino of the Daily News today, and repeated by Matt Cerrone from the mountaintop that is MetsBlog.

This may came as a shock to all of you, but apparently Ruben Tejada is not the Mets shortstop of the future. I’ll give you a few minutes to get up from the floor and compose yourselves.

But seriously, if anyone thought that Tejada was anything other than the shortstop of the present, you may want to reserve a spot at the exclusive Bellevue Resort and Health Spa.

I mean come on people, this is not rocket science.

You can read some real analysis and insight about the future of the Mets shortstop position below. Or you can check out some other fine original Metsmerized pieces on our shortstops of the future here:

• Mets SS Prospect Gavin Cecchini, More Than Meets The Eye
• Prospect Pulse: Analyzing Mets Shortstop Prospect Philip Evans

The Other Shortstop Of The Future: German Ahmed Rosario

I know, from many people on and outside this site, that many Met fans aren’t that content with Gavin Cecchini, no matter how much I argue for him. Turns out, he’s not the only Mets Minor League shortstop getting a lot of attention in Spring Training. In fact, the Mets are humming with praise for German Ahmed Rosario.

As I was walking through the backfields on Sunday, trying to get the scoop on players, I started to ask around about Rosario and was very pleased with the enthusiasm about the International signee coming from people in the Mets front office as well as his coaches.

While watching Gavin Cecchini at the plate, there was Rosario waiting for his turn to bat against the St. Louis Cardinals’ farmhands.

I talked to one of his coaches, and the conversation went like this.

“Hey, I’d like to ask you about your shortstop.”

“Who Cecchini? No, I get it, you want to hear about Rosario.”

“Rosario was signed at the July 2nd deadline last year as a shortstop out of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He signed for a record $1.75 million dollars, and looks as though he’s worth every penny. He is the Mets 20th ranked prospect, according to MLB.com, but he’s only that low due to his lack of experience.”

I asked the coach what he meant:

“He’s a great kid, and he reminds me of Juan Gonzalez with the swing. He can hit for power, but is still very far away.”

I asked a team official about Rosario as well, and he told me, “We like Rosario a lot, he can run, he can hit, and he can hit for power. He’s also very smart too. His father is a Judge in the Dominican Republic.”

Baseball America adds the following to that particular backstory:

“Rosario graduated from high school and his father, who has been a lawyer and a judge, was influential in the signing. He has two sisters who live in New York, one of whom a law school graduate, while the other is currently in law school.”

When asked if he could be compared to a player like Alen Hanson of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Mets official told me, “We don’t know yet, we can’t make comparisons because it’s way too early to tell.”

Even though the quote is unhelpful, I get the feeling that they believe the sky’s the limit for Rosario.

Asking about his next assignment, the official wasted no time:

“Gulf Coast League, he’s so far away, and we’re going to have him here to keep a close eye on him, and help coach him the best we can.”

* * * * * * * *

If you weren’t content with those quotes from Mets personnel, look at the Future scouting grades Jonathon Mayo gave German Rosario:

Scouting Grades* (present/future): Hit: 3/6 | Power: 3/6 | Run: 5/5 | Arm: 6/6 | Field: 5/6 | Overall: 3/6

For Reference on hitting and power:

6 Hitting is a .285 – .300 average hitter.

6 Power is usually around 22 to 29 home runs.

His fielding is already average, and projects to be above average, so he will make some flashy plays, but he probably won’t be a plus fielder.

He is only rated as a ‘3’ because he is far away, with his ETA supposedly around 2017.

Concluding Analysis:

As you can see from the photos, Rosario is a skinny kid, especially for a possible power hitter, but he is only 17 years old. He has a lot of time left to grow, and fill out. Small as he is, his swing already generates power, and will that will only get batter as he gets older. As I watched his fielding, I could notice that he was more than capable of making the routine plays, which is great at his age. As he develops, even his fielding will become better.

There is only one thing I want to caution everyone on: International Free Agents are a roll of the dice.

It’s easy to get excited with players like Rosario, but like many famous top bonus babies, there are far more that fail than players that succeed. Think of one-time phenom Michael Ynoa, the top signing at the time by the Oakland A’s, who has now disappeared off the map, or more recently, Elvis Sanchez, who the Mets have neglected to talk about for years.

Either way, the Gulf Coast League will be his first test, and if all goes well, we will have another exciting shortstop besides Cecchini, and even Phillip Evans, on our hands coming up through the pipeline over the next few years.

I took a video of German Ahmed Rosario during one of his at-bats, though I’l warn you that the wind was pretty fierce, so lower the volume before you hit play.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about one of our lesser known prospects who you’ll be hearing more about now that he is stateside.

Thoughts from Joe D.

Teddy, you have been an incredible addition to the MMO community. I used to think I knew what an analysis piece was until you and Mitch joined MMO as our Minor League Analysts. You do a great job of delivering hard to get info and provide such keen insights rather than the usual regurgitated info or Captain Obvious clichès. The two of you have set the bar very high for everyone else and I’m grateful that you chose to join our site and provide our passionate readers your professional views based on your real experiences in and around the game.

As for Rosario, I’ll admit I thought it was a confusing move after giving Phil Evans so much more over slot in 2011, and then drafting Cecchini with their top pick last June. But you’ve changed how I feel about this since getting to know you. The offensive minded shortstops are the rarest finds in baseball and when you have a chance to add one to your system, you just do it. Even if it means leaving a much needed outfielder on the board.

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…

Last draft day, I watched and waited to see who the Mets would select with their first round pick. I watched as my first choice, Carlos Correa was called Number One overall, and Addison Russell, my second choice was nabbed one spot before the Mets. When Bud Selig stepped up to the podium and finally announced the Mets’ selection, admittedly I, as well as many others, groaned as our newly minted top prospect, Gavin Cecchini, walked onto the stage to grab his jersey and hat.

Later that evening, as the first day of the draft was wrapping up, Tommy Tanous, the Mets’ director of amateur scouting, told us that Cecchini was someone the Mets had wanted all along.

“He is somebody we targeted all year,” said Tanous. “An offensive shortstop but he doesn’t give much away defensively.”

I’m not sure how accurate that may be, because it’s the usual clichè you hear quite often from team executives, especially scouting directors, every draft day.

Almost immediately, the voices in draft forums, the talking heads, and social media were abuzz with many already writing Cecchini off before he ever swung a bat in his new Mets uniform.

However, I did not write him off and instead began pouring over his many available scouting reports and other online information that was widely available to everyone. Eventually, I started to warm up to the Louisiana shortstop with the big smile. Summarizing the scouting reports, he is a high floor, mid ceiling type of prospect, with an advanced bat capable of a high average (possibly .280 – .290 with continued development), with the ability to spray drive line drives all over the field.

In terms of power, Matt Eddy from Baseball America projects him to hit up to 10 home runs annually, while MLB.com’s Jonathon Mayo rated his future power as a 4 on the 2-8 scale, which translates to 10-12 home runs annually. Either way, they project him to hit many doubles, which for a projected top of the order hitter, is great news.

As a defensive player, Baseball America called Cecchini a solid shortstop, rating his hands and footwork good enough to stick at the position. Mayo rates his fielding as a future 6, meaning plus. The only knocks that have been made against him on fielding is his arm, which rates average. Usually, most regular shortstops are rated plus. But either way, it looks as though scouts agree that Cecchini will be able to stick at his position despite the average arm strength.

Although these scouting reports don’t scream “future star”, they do show an above-average shortstop in the makings, possibly even top-10 if everything goes right, which as a fan, is something we all want.

Usually, the first round is known for selecting and signing high-ceiling talent, but a lower-ceiling advanced talent can sometimes work his way into the first round and surprise many.

To give a very recent example, in 2008, Ike Davis did not receive a glowing report and was considered a lower rated talent than Eric Hosmer, Justin Smoak, Yonder Alonso, and David Cooper. Unlike Smoak, Alonso, and Cooper, Davis became an above average first baseman and probably will be the first baseman of the Mets for years to come. Hosmer has become the Royal’s first baseman of the future, while Alonso, Smoak, and Cooper are still trying to find their way. Both Alonso and Smoak have already been traded, and Cooper is finally making it onto Toronto’s radar five years since being drafted.

Back to Cecchini. For those not excited by his bat, they should find a new context when it pertains to shortstops. As stated above, Cecchini’s ceiling is a shortstop who could hit .280 with 10-12 home runs annually with lots of doubles. I think I’ll stick with the most popular stats, average and home runs, because the greater majority of fans still relate to them as a means of judging players.

Batting Average:

Projected peak Batting Average for Gavin Cecchini: .280 – .290

In the majors last year, there were just eight shortstops in the Major Leagues with a batting average of .280 or better. This could mean that Cecchini could become a top eight shortstop in hitting for average if everything goes right and he meets most scouts’ expectations.

Home Runs:

Projected peak Home Runs for Gavin Cecchini: 10 – 12

Shortstops are not known for power. It is rare to find a shortstop that will annually hit more than 20 home runs. There were only 4 who hit 20 or more home runs. In fact, there were 13 Shortstops in the Majors last year who hit 10 or more home runs. If Cecchini can swing for the fences at least 10 times, that is still an above average shortstop.

First Season As A Pro:

Cecchini was signed almost immediately after the Draft and sent to Kingsport for 53 games. During that time, he hit .246 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 1 home run. He also stole 5 bases but was caught 4 times. To me, these stats are pretty good, especially for a newly drafted 18 year old competing in a league where the average age is 21 years old. It should be noted that Cecchini was cruising along at a .285 clip until he broke his finger, missed some time, and was clearly hindered by the injury for the rest of the season.

The bottom line is that Cecchini was playing a premium position in a league where the average player was three years ahead of him in development time. For a teenager, under the conditions he was asked to play in, Cecchini impressed me and held his own batting close to .250 in a league where he was clearly in over his head purely on an age standpoint. He will, however, have to improve on his base running.

Gavin Cecchini strikes a pose for MMO last summer after he was promoted to the Brooklyn Cyclones.

What The Future May Hold:

I am excited to see what Gavin Cecchini does for an encore this season, but I am realistic. It depends on where he ends up. He should begin the season exactly where he ended 2012 at Short Season Single-A Brooklyn. But if he impresses in STEP Camp, he could be pushed up to a full season league and go straight to Single-A Savannah. I see an average close to .265, with 5 home runs and 15-18 doubles if he winds up in Brooklyn.

In Savannah, a notorious pitcher’s park, I can see him hitting the same average but with 7 home runs and 20-25 doubles. Either way, that will be impressive and more than welcome, given that he will be one of the youngest players in his league once again.

Cecchini was selected within the top 15 picks of the 2012 draft, and for good reason. With at least above average fielding, an average arm, and potential for a high average and double digit home runs, Cecchini projects to be an above average shortstop, possibly a top ten shortstop if everything goes right.

If he improves his base running, all the more better. So, in summary, please do not write him off so quickly base on small sampling or because he wasn’t your first choice on draft day. He’s a Met now and we own him and all I’m trying to establish is that he might be a much better player than what most people think. We’ll have a much better idea of what we have here in 2-3 years and that will make him easier to accurately project. Do me favor… Keep an open mind and give Gavin Cecchini a chance to change your opinion of him.

What are the 5 Tools?

1. SPEED: Speed is the one tool you can’t teach. However it is possible to enhance a ballplayer’s speed, but substantial improvement is dependent upon each individual athlete and based on good jumps (burst) and reading situations.

2. ARM STRENGTH: While not as important as the other four tools it can be a formidable weapon on defense, and valuable in evaluating a pitcher’s muscle endurance and ability to throw hundreds of pitches weekly without sustaining injury.

3. HITTING FOR AVERAGE: Hitting for average requires the ability to hit to all fields and also identifying defensive situations as well. Making contact and bunting are all part of it.

4. HITTING FOR POWER: “Chicks did the longball”, isn’t that what Sandy Alderson always says? The benefits of power need no explaination.

5. FIELDING: Just as important as hitting for average or power and many a games’ outcome can boil down to one defensive play. Defense does matter.

Note from Joe D. - We want to welcome Teddy to MMO and look forward to his valued insights. It’s not often that we can get the perspective of someone who has a background in scouting and sees baseball prospects and minor leaguers differently than most of us do. Teddy was a scouting assistant for the DSL under Omar Minaya, spent time interning for the Cape Cod League, and also with the Brooklyn Cyclones for whom he developed, edited and produced scouting videos. Teddy’s father, Joe Klein is the widely respected and notable writer whose books books such as Primary Colors were New York Times Bestsellers and and that particular one eventually became a hit blockbuster Hollywood movie. Please welcome Teddy to MMO!

In putting together this list, I tried to balance as best I could major league readiness with the so-called “ceiling” of each prospect. In compiling the list, I looked at and analyzed career statistics, video, scouting reports, and the opinions of some well-respected scouts and Mets minor league experts before coming to my conclusions. Enjoy!

20. Jack Leathersich, LHP

Height: 5’11″

Weight: 205

Throws/Bats: L/R

We may be seeing Josh Edgin 2.0 as Jack Leathersich shoots up the ladder. Another college lefty reliever. However, Leathersich is rather unconventional, and has been slightly more successful than Edgin was in his short time in the minors. Although he had a 4.12 ERA over the second half of the year when he was with St. Lucie, Leathersich had an astronomical strikeout rate of 14.2 batters per nine. That’s 35.5% of the hitters he faced.

There is still one question with Leathersich, a very important one. Is his success because of his talent or a deceptive delivery? Watch his delivery below and you’ll see what I’m talking about:

He struggled to get hitters out for the first time in his career with St. Lucie last year, and we’ll have to wait and see how his delivery translates to the higher levels.

2013 Outlook: Leathersich has been shooting up through the lower levels, and will likely continue to do so. He may even be an outside candidate to pitch for the Mets in the second half this year. Then, we’ll see what he’s got. He will start the year with Binghamton in all likelihood and go from there. If his success continues, he will move up fast.

19. Cory Vaughn, RF

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 225

Throws/Bats: R/R

A former fourth-round pick and son of former major leaguer Greg Vaughn, right fielder  Cory Vaughn is a physically-gifted, all-around athlete. Coming out of San Diego State in 2010, Vaughn was projected as a five-tool player, and did a little bit of everything once he turned pro. In his first professional season with the Cyclones, he hit .307/.396/.577 with 14 home runs in just 72 games. He also swiped 12 bases and hit five triples.

In 2011, Vaughn saw his numbers drop. He had a decent first half with Savannah, batting .286 (although he hit only four home runs) until he was called up to St. Lucie, where he struggled even more. In an injury-riddled second half, Vaughn hit only .219 in 63 games.

2012 was another year of mixed results for the 23 year-old outfielder. Everything was there – the power, speed, defensive skills – except for the hit tool. Vaughn struggled to but the barrel on the ball consistently, hitting just .243. The key to Vaughn’s success going forward will be his ability to hit for average. The other tools are there, but the one he didn’’t show this year is the most important to future success.

2013 Outlook: Vaughn has played 189 games for St. Lucie, so but he may end up there again. He may start the season there again because of his struggles at the plate last season. He will be turning 24 in May, so the clock is ticking. We’ve seen what happens to guys like Zack Lutz and Josh Satin getting “stuck” in the minors because of age. Vaughn still has some time, but he can’t afford to spend the majority of 2013 in St. Lucie.

18. Phillip Evans, SS

Height: 5’10″

Weight: 185

Throws/Bats: R/R

The Mets got a steal two years ago when, in the 15^th round they drafted a high school shortstop named Phillip Evans. Evans was a 2^nd-round talent, but scouts were scared off by his commitment to San Diego State. Luckily, the Mets were able to grab him late and sign him for $600,000.

Scouts say Evans has an advanced approached at the plate. He also generates a decent amount of power, despite being very small. (He is listed at 5’10”, but is much shorter). He hit .252 in his first full professional season with Brooklyn. He had an OPS of .665, but hit five home runs, third on the team.

The Mets will have to decide over the next few years where exactly Evans fits. He has a weak throwing arm and often has to take a few steps before making a throw to first. The general belief Is that he will eventually have to move to second base.

2013 Outlook: Phillips will probably split time with Savannah and St. Lucie this season.

17. Matt den Dekker, CF

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 205

Throws/Bats: L/L

It was like two separate seasons for Matt den Dekker in 2012. In the first half, we saw his bat come alive, as he hit double after double (along with a few home runs), batting .340 in 58 games for Double-A Binghamton. Den Dekker was arguably the best player in the league, socking 21 doubles, four triples, and eight home runs. He also stole ten bases and continued to play incredible defense.

The second half was a different story for den Dekker, after he was called up to Buffalo. He was striking out more, walking less, and most importantly, hitting the ball less. Here is how his first half in Binghamton compared to his time with Buffalo:

Den Dekker is facing the same strikeout problem that held Kirk Nieuwenhuis back last season. He has to lower his strikeout rate drastically or he is going to have a very difficult time hitting in the big leagues. You can’t get away with a 25% strikeout rate in the bigs. He’s too much of a free-swinger (as you can tell by his walk rate, which was already low in the first half) and big league pitching will test him.

2013 Outlook: Last year, den Dekker was a candidate to make the team out of Spring Training, but that’s not happening no matter how he performs in spring games. He will need to put together a few months with lower strikeout rates in order to get the promotion.

16. Gabriel Ynoa, RHP 

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 158

Throws/Bats: R/R

After dominating the Dominican Summer League two years ago and pitching well in the Gulf Coast league in 2011, Gabriel Ynoa once again had a fantastic season, this time as a part of Brooklyn’s incredible pitching rotation.

Ynoa showed ridiculous control, walking only 1.2 batters per nine innings. The skinny right-hander has always been known for his excellent command, and in over 200 pro innings, he has walked only 22 batters.

Ynoa made 13 starts in the New York-Penn League this season, and in 76.2 innings, he had just a 2.23 ERA. He also struck out 7.5 batters per nine, up from only 4.3 the year before. He has a good changeup and a low-90s fastball that he commands very well. Hopefully, he will fill in his 6’2” frame (he’s listed as only 158 pounds), which could help him put a little more heat on his fastball.

2013 Outlook: Ynoa is so young and still has to build up some innings. He will probably go to Savannah in the spring and stay there the entire season.

15. Wilfredo Tovar, SS

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 160

Throws/Bats: R/R

Tovar has always been known as a very skilled defensive shortstop. That’s his best skill, and he is probably the best defender in the entire Mets system. The questionable part of his game has always been his bat.

Signed out of Venezuela at 16 years old in 2008, Tovar had a tough time hitteing at even the lowest levels of the minor leagues, hitting just .203 in 49 games in the Venezuelan Summer League. He saw some improvement in the following years, as his batting average hovered around .250. Last season, he started to see some big changes.

After playing the better part of two years with Savannah, Tovar started the year with St. Lucie, and he started hitting the ball much better. In his 65 games with St. Lucie, he hit .284 with a career-high .377 on-base percentage and 11.3% walk rate, a significant improvement from the year before. He had a tough second half in Binghamton, with his numbers reverting back to what they were pre-St. Lucie, but that may have been due to the fact that he was 20 playing in Double-A.

Tovar certainly has the potential to be a Ruben Tejada-type player with an even better glove. We just have to wait and see how the bat develops. He started hitting some more extra-base hits this season, which was a very good sign. He will need that gap-to-gap power in order to become an MLB regular.

2013 Outlook: The Mets will be in no rush with Tovar. He will begin the season in Binghamton and play most of the season there.

14. Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 210

Throws/Bats: R/R

Possibly the best power hitter in the system, Rodriguez had a breakout campaign in 2012. The 21 year-old corner infielder, repeating low-A Savannah, displayed incredible power throughout the first half. He clubbed 16 home runs and slugged .497 in just 318 at-bats. This is in Savannah, where home runs go to die. Rodriguez has power to spare.

After 83 games in Savannah, Rodriguez finally made the trip to St. Lucie, where he would spend the rest of the season. There, he saw his batting average and walk rates plummet, but his power numbers stay well above-average. He finished his time in St. Lucie with a .190 ISO and eight home runs in 42 games.

Rodriguez’s power could take him a long way. He still doesn’t really have a defensive position. However, if Rodriguez can keep his power numbers up and improve his walk rate, it won’t matter what position he plays because his bat will make up for whatever he lacks defensively.

2013 Outlook: Rodriguez only played 42 games in St. Lucie, so he will probably play another half season or so before going to Binghamton.

13. Kevin Plawecki, C

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 205

Throws/Bats: R/R

The Mets used their supplemental round pick last year on a young catcher from Purdue named Kevin Plawecki. Scouts praised him for his refined approach at the plate and his ability to hit home runs. One year later, Plawecki is the second-best catching prospect in the farm system, behind only Travis d’Arnaud.

Plawecki signed early and played 61 games for the Brooklyn Cyclones, and showed off his power. He led the team in home runs with seven despite hitting only .250. His patience was also very impressive as he had a walk rate of 9.9%. Combine that with a fantastic 9.5% strikeout rate and you can see why the Mets drafted him so high.

On the downside, Plawecki hit only eight doubles last season, and will need to work on his gap-to-gap power. Also, while he threw out almost 50% of base stealers, he still has work to do defensively.

2013 Outlook: Plawecki is still a few years away. However, because of his patience at the plate, he will likely play most of the year in St. Lucie as opposed to Savannah.

12. Gavin Cecchini, SS

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 180

Throws/Bats: R/R

Gavin Cecchini is what scouts call a “baseball rat.” He comes from a baseball family. His father is the baseball coach at his former high school and a former college player. His brother Garin Cecchini is a speedy third baseman and one of the top prospects in the Red Sox organization. Gavin is a smart baseball player with great instincts. He doesn’t have the raw talent that some of his fellow 2012 draft picks have, but scouts say he has outstanding baseball instincts.

Cecchini signed very quickly, allowing him to get some experience in Kingsport to start of his career. His bat proved to be a work in progress as he hit only .240 and hit only one home run. However, his swing is smooth and he has the potential to be a very good line drive hitter. He doesn’t have the power, but that was never expected of him.

Cecchini’s defense is really why he was drafted. He doesn’t have particularly great speed or arm strength, but otherwise has the tools to be a good defender. As I mentioned, he has great baseball instinct which will help him read hitters and make him an even better defensive player at a position where that’s very important.

2013 Outlook: Cecchini is still a very raw talent, and will likely stay in St. Lucie for extended spring training before heading to Brooklyn. The Mets will take it slow with him and we probably will not see him until at least September 2015.

11. Jacob DeGrom, RHP

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 185

Throws/Bats: R/L

DeGrom had a stellar season for Savannah, surprising a lot of followers of Mets minor league baseball. Before the season started, he wasn’t very highly-rated and was outside of Toby Hyde’s top 41 list. The 24 year-old had surgery in the fall of 2010, just months after he had been made a 9^th round pick by the Mets. He sat out the entire 2011 season rehabbing, and was able to start the season with Savannah.

Despite the serious injury, DeGrom came back with a vengeance, immediately dominating South Atlantic League hitters. He displayed excellent control, walking only 1.6 batters per nine innings, while striking out 7.8. He ended up making 15 starts with Savannah, tossing 89.2 innings with a 2.51 ERA along the way, before earning a late-season promotion to St. Lucie for the playoff run.

DeGrom made four starts to end the regular season in St. Lucie and an additional one in the playoffs, allowing just five runs in 27.2 High-A innings. DeGrom will need to develop his off-speed stuff in order to stay a starter, but is on track for a successful career. There is still a concern for his health after his Tommy John surgery, but after watching how he responded this season, that may not be a problem again.

2013 Outlook: DeGrom will likely pitch no more than a few months in St. Lucie, especially if he keeps pitching like he did last year. Expect him to debut sometime in late 2014 or 2015.

10. Luis Mateo, RHP

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 170

Throws/Bats: R/R

Mateo followed a long and unconventional path to get where he is today. He was originally signed by the Giants five years ago for $625,000, bone chips were found in his elbow, and the Giants voided his contract. Later that year, he signed with the Padres for $300,000, but after an MLB investigation, it was revealed that Mateo had lied about his age. He served a suspension, and finally signed with the Mets in 2011 for only $150,000.

Mateo dominated the Dominican Summer League in his first pro season in 2011, making 13 starts (63 innings) and posting a 2.00 ERA. He impressed the Mets front office enough to skip the Mets’ rookie affiliates and head straight to short-season Brooklyn, where he would become the face of a very formidable pitching staff.

Mateo used a combination of two dangerous fastballs and a sharp slider to dominate the league, posting a 2.45 ERA in 73.1 innings and even more impressively, a K/BB ratio of 9.44. In those 73.1 innings, he struck out 85, and walked nine. You can make an argument that this is the result of a 22 year-old in the low-A New York-Penn League, which is why he’s not ranked in the top five on this list. Had he been two or three years younger, I would put much more stock in the numbers he put up, but until I see him dominate in the Florida State League or Eastern League, that uncertainty remains.

2013 Outlook: As long as Mateo keeps pitching well, the Mets will keep promoting him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he only makes a few starts with Savannah, or skips Savannah entirely like he did Kingsport.

9. Rafael Montero, RHP

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 175

Throws/Bats: R/R

Rafael Montero transformed his reputation this year with a stellar season between Savannah and St. Lucie. Despite pitching 71 innings in 2011 with a 2.15 ERA between the Dominican Summer League, the Gulf Coast League, Kingsport, and Brooklyn, Montero wasn’t taken too seriously before the season started. In just a few short months, however, he became one of the highest-rated pitching prospects in the entire farm system.

Montero, 22,  signed a little late in the game as a 20 year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2011, but has rocketed through the Mets’ system. Boasting a low-90s fastball, a solid slider, and a changeup, Montero has excellent command, walking only 1.4 batters per nine innings last season while striking out 8.1.

Montero has a special combination of control and pure stuff. It’s still early, but I expect we’ll see great things from him. He is one of many promising young pitchers working their way through the lower minors that could definitely be in the Met rotation in a few years.

2013 Outlook: My guess is Montero will split the season between St. Lucie and Binghamton (If he continues to pitch well) much like how he split the season between Savannah and St. Lucie this year.

8. Domingo Tapia, RHP

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 186

Throws/Bats: R/R

Domingo Tapia’s future role is still very much up in the air. Tapia, 21, had a breakout year last season with Savannah. Although his ERA (3.98) was slightly worse than his 2011 mark (3.38), he had a much better season. Tapia, whose repertoire consists of a high-90s two-seam sinking fastball, a high-90s four-seam fastball, a high-80s changeup, and a below-average breaking pitch, struck out 8.4 batters per nine, much better than his 5.8 mark in 2011. Despite having pitched just over 220 professional innings, Tapia already seems destined for the bullpen. He doesn’t have much of a breaking pitch, relying almost completely on his sinker and four-seam fastball. That combination has worked so far, but won’t work as he climbs the minor league ladder, especially as a starter. It may also be difficult for him to develop a breaking pitch considering how low his arm slot is. He is still very young, however, so there is still time for Tapia to develop a breaking pitch. Now the decision rests with the front office: to keep him a starter, they may have to raise his arm angle, possibly jeopardizing his sinker. The Mets will have to decide whether they will take that risk or move him to the bullpen.

2013 Outlook: The future is unclear in regards to Tapia. While scouts agree that he has a great sinker and a good four-seam, his role is still up in the air. As for this season, you’ll probably see him in St. Lucie.

7. Jeurys Familia, RHP

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 230

Throws/Bats: R/R

Last year was a bumpy one for Jeurys Familia. In 2011, it looked like he had finally started to put it together as a starter, pitching 23 games with a 2.90 ERA in 124 innings between St. Lucie and Binghamton. It looked like the mechanical issues were starting to get fixed and he was looking more and more like a starter. That changed this past season, as Familia regressed.

Familia was very inconsistent in his season with Buffalo. Every few starts, he would dominate and strike out seven or eight batters, but those starts were few and far between. For most of the season, Familia struggled with his control, worked up a high pitch count, and was unable to go deep into games. He has the stuff to be a good pitcher, but he doesn’t have the makeup of a starting pitcher.

Familia has what it takes to be a successful reliever, which is where I think he will eventually end up. The Mets will probably give him another year as a starter (unless they feel they really need him in the bullpen) to develop his breaking pitches. If he doesn’t stay a starter, the transition may take a few months but eventually, he could be the full-time closer and be a good one too.

2013 Outlook: A bullpen role seems most likely long-term unless Familia makes major improvements with his control and secondary pitches this year or in 2014. He will start the year in Triple-A and go from there.

6. Brandon Nimmo, OF

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 185

Throws/Bats: R/L

The Mets took a big risk in 2011 when they drafted 18 year-old outfielder Brandon Nimmo out of Wyoming. Why was it such a risk? There is no high school baseball in Wyoming, so the only experience Nimmo had was on top-tier club teams in his area. That, on top of an injury in high school that caused him to miss an entire season put him at a disadvantage when making the jump to professional baseball. This season, after playing only ten professional games in 2011, made the jump to Low-A Brooklyn in the tough New York-Penn League, where many of the top college picks are sent. After a full season there, the numbers don’t stand out as those of a future star, but considering his experience in high school, his season was impressive. He batted just .248, but had a very high walk rate of 14.3%. He also displayed some power, hitting six home runs in 266 at-bats. His ISO (Explanation) of .158 was ninth best in the New York-Penn League. Among players under 20 years of age (with a minimum of 200 Plate Appearances), he was first in that category. He finished tenth in the league in homers, and was the only player under 20 in the top ten. However, he didn’t show much speed or hit lefties very well. Nimmo is someone who is still very inexperienced, so fans have to be more patient than usual with him. The front office will surely take it slow with him, as he is still a very raw talent.

2013 Outlook: The Mets will take it slow with Nimmo this season. He will probably spend the entire year with Savannah. It’s still too early to get a real sense of what type of player Nimmo will be, but the signs so far point towards Nimmo eventually becoming an average to above average major league player at worst. But again, it’s too early to make any conclusions (as is the case with any of these prospects) because he is a rather unconventional prospect.

And my Top 5…

5. Wilmer Flores, 2B, 3B

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 190

Throws/Bats: R/R

One year ago, Wilmer Flores was on the brink of irrelevancy. He had played 200 games in High-a Port St. Lucie, and hadn’t put up stellar numbers. His 2011 season was one with many ups and downs, and the statistics didn’t look pretty in the end. While he managed to hit a respectable .269 in 559 plate appearances, his on-base percentage was .309 – the second lowest mark of his minor league career. He had signed out of Venezuela as a 16 year-old in 2008 with very high expectations. He was supposed to become a hitting machine, and someone who could eventually become an elite power hitter. In his first season, playing in Kingsport, Brooklyn, and Savannah, he had a .180 ISO, and it looked as if the power was developing early. However, after that, the home runs disappeared and in 2011, he hit a low point, hitting only nine home runs in over 130 games for St. Lucie. His prospect status was in jeopardy. He fell out of the top 15 on many Mets prospect rankings. People started to wonder – what happened? That all changed this season.

Flores broke camp with St. Lucie for the second year in a row, but immediately started hitting the ball much better. He started hitting for power again, slugging ten home runs in 64 games. He had an excellent first half with St. Lucie, batting .289 with a .799 OPS, all capped off by an FSL All-Star Game MVP Award.

He was then called up to Binghamton, where he had a hard time adjusting in his first few weeks. After his adjustment period, he took off again, and hit even better than he did in St. Lucie. Flores continued to hit home runs, slugging eight in 66 games in the Eastern League. He also hit well over .300 for the first time since 2008. His walk rate rose to 7.3%, still below average, but almost a career-high for Flores, and his strikeout rate to its lowest point (10.9%) since he was in Kingsport as a 16 year-old. Between the two leagues, Flores finished with an even .300 batting average, a .827 OPS, 18 home runs, and 30 doubles in 493 at-bats.

What else is there to love about Wilmer Flores? He’s still just 21 years old. He still has plenty of time to get better. The only question mark left with Flores is his defense. He played second base and third base in the minors last year, after posting a dreadful .959 fielding percentage in his career as a shortstop. Flores is big, which may make it difficult for him to be a middle infielder. However, if the Mets want to keep him around, that’s where he may stay because it doesn’t look like Ike Davis or David Wright are going anywhere. If the Mets staff can get him to a point at second base where he is average or slightly below average, he will make up for his sub-par defense with production at the plate.

2013 Outlook: The Mets will not want to rush him (that has hurt him in the past), but Flores got a lot of playing time in the Venezuelan Winter League (in which he played well), so you could see him begin the season with Las Vegas. He isn’t too far off, and could get a cup of coffee at the end of September this year before making his real debut sometime in 2014.

4. Michael Fulmer, RHP

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 200

Throws/Bats: R/R

19 year-old Michael Fulmer has quietly become one of the Mets’ top pitching prospects. While most of the attention has gone to Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, and Noah Syndergaard, Fulmer is looking like he could be a fixture in the Met rotation as well.

Fulmer was selected by the Mets 44^th overall in the 2011 MLB Draft out of Deer Creek High School in Oklahoma. Originally slated to go to the University of Arkansas, the Mets took a risk drafting him, but he eventually signed with them for just under $1 million. He was only able to pitch in four games with the GCL team in 2011 before the season ended.

Fulmer was thrust into the world of professional baseball this year, starting the season with the long-season Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League. The fifth-youngest pitcher in the league, Fulmer was at a bit of a disadvantage facing hitters older than him, but he still had major success. Armed with a mid-90s fastball to go along with a quality curveball and developing changeup, Fulmer made 21 starts, pitching a total of 108.1 innings. He posted a 2.74 ERA and struck out 8.4 batters per nine, while walking only 3.2, very good for a pitcher right out of high school.

Scouts have been very impressed with Fulmer’s stamina and ability to go deep into games. He has the physical ability to have success at the higher levels.

It’s still very, very early to project what Fulmer could be. He’s still developing, but all signs point towards him becoming a productive starting pitcher.

2013 Outlook: Fulmer will follow the traditional track, and will pitch for St. Lucie, probably for the whole season. He will make his debut sometime in 2015 if he stays healthy.

3. Noah Syndergaard, RHP

Height: 6’5″

Weight: 200

Throws/Bats: R/L

When the Mets traded R.A. Dickey to Toronto, most of the attention went to a certain catcher the Mets got in return. But the Mets acquired another notable player in the trade, a pitcher who has been nothing but dominant in his three-year minor league career: Noah Syndergaard.

Syndergaard, 20, looks much more refined than most pitchers his age. He has much better command than Zack Wheeler had at that age (and maybe even better control than Wheeler right now), walking just 2.7 batters per nine this past season in the Midwest League, which is on the same level as the South Atlantic League. Since coming to the Mets, many writers and scouts have compared him to Zack Wheeler. Syndergaard actually pitched much better this season in A-ball than Wheeler did, as you can see below:

Syndergaard is often compared to Wheeler from a dominance standpoint, but they are two much different pitchers. Syndergaard throws two fastballs. One is a high-90s four-seam and the other is a sinker. Syndergaard does not possess a good secondary pitch, while Wheeler has a very good one.

Overall, it’s tough to compare Syndergaard to Wheeler because they are at completely different stages. Wheeler is knocking at the door to the big league club while Syndergaard probably has two to three years in the minors left before he debuts. However, it’s great to see such success so soon, and I’m hopeful that the Mets will put Syndergaard in a situation where he can develop his secondary pitches because if he does, he could be a very dominant pitcher.

2013 Outlook: Syndergaard pitched the entire season for a long-season Low-A team, so the next logical step for him is St. Lucie. As of right now, I would project him to make his MLB debut in 2015.

2. Travis d’Arnaud, C

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 195

Throws/Bats: R/R

There is a reason why in the negotiations for R.A. Dickey, Sandy Alderson held out for Travis d’Arnaud. He is a game-changer, and one of the few players in the minor leagues that can make trading away the reigning Cy Young Award winner worthwhile. d’Arnaud is of a rare breed of catchers: he can hit for power, average, and is decent with the glove.

A former first-round pick, d’Arnaud didn’t put all those tools together until two years ago, when he had a breakthrough season in Double-A New Hampshire. He had already been a highly-regarded prospect, but he became arguably the most promising catching prospect in the game after his fantastic 2011 season, in which he hit 21 home runs with a slash line of .311/.371/.542.

In 2012, d’Arnaud continued to rake with the bat, this time in Triple-A Las Vegas, where he hit 16 home runs in 67 games. Hitting numbers are inflated by the hitter-friendly Cashman Field in Las Vegas, but d’Arnaud actually hit slightly in away games. The numbers are there. The power is there. d’Arnaud was on track to make his MLB debut in the second half of the season, but had his year abruptly cut short when, in July, he tore his PCL.

d’Arnaud has earned the praise of scouts around the country. Before last season’s excellent performance, Baseball America had him listed as 17^th in their overall prospect rankings, tops among catchers. Here’s what they had to say about him:

“He’s a rare catching prospect that projects to hit in the middle of a lineup. He is an above-average hitter who should hit for at least average power. He doesn’t walk much but makes consistent hard contact, getting hits even when his timing is off or he gets off balance. He has the bat speed and strength to hit plenty of homers and lets his power come naturally, employing a short stroke and all-fields approach.”

Power at the catching position is certainly a valuable commodity that very few catchers possess. d’Arnaud seems to have that rare skill and while he is not expected to be a Mike Piazza-type, his minor league power numbers match up well with Piazza’s, meaning d’Arnaud’s power is legit:

At minimum, d’Arnaud looks to be a serviceable MLB catcher, but he can be so much more than that. He has the tools to be a dynamic, all-around catcher who can hit fifth or sixth in the lineup. The only question that remains is health, but he doesn’t seem to have any long-term issues.

2013 Outlook: The Mets are in a situation that many front offices encounter every year. They really believe d’Arnaud is a future star. However, d’Arnaud breaking camp with the big league club in April would mean he becomes a free agent after the 2018 season. If he comes up later, however, he won’t become a free agent until after the 2019 season. It seems like a ridiculous thing to consider now, but down the road it will be something that really matters if d’Arnaud turns out to be the star people think he could be. For that reason, and to test out his injured knee, I would say he spends the first month or so with Las Vegas.

1. Zack Wheeler, RHP

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 185

Throws/Bats: R/L

When the Giants picked Zack Wheeler sixth overall in the 2009 MLB Draft, they were taking a player with enormous upside, but not very polished. In his first professional season a year later at age 20, playing in the South Atlantic League, Wheeler showed just that: a high “ceiling” but with work to be done. In his first season, he walked 38 batters over 58.2 innings, and struck out 70. He made 13 starts and appeared in eight out of the bullpen.

In 2011, Wheeler broke camp with San Francisco’s California League (A+) affiliate, San Jose. There, he was once again inconsistent. He pitched well, but couldn’t get over his control problem, and was walking 4.8 batters per nine innings. When the Giants needed a bat for the stretch run in 2011, they were reluctant to part ways with Wheeler because of his potential, but gave him up any way in a desperate move to bolster the offense at the trade deadline. And what looked

Once in the Mets organization, Wheeler’s command started to improve. He finished the year in the tough Florida State League, with Port St. Lucie. He pitched extremely well there, allowing just six runs in 27 innings and walking only five, setting him up for a Double-A debut in 2012.

After a productive ending to 2011, Wheeler picked it right up again, and steamrolled through the Eastern League. He made 19 starts, and had a 3.26 ERA in 116 innings. During his time in Binghamton, he kept his strikeout rate up (9.1 K/9) and his walk rate relatively low (3.3 BB/9), earning him a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo, where he finished the season. He struggled in his six starts at the next level with his command, but in a small sample size (33 innings) like that, it’s not much of a concern right now.

2013 Outlook: Wheeler has “ace” written all over him. With his electric fastball and very good secondary stuff, my guess is he will be very successful in the big leagues. Look for him to debut a few months into this season, unless the Mets are unable to acquire a fifth starter. He needs a bit more seasoning in Triple-A before he gets called up.

What do you think? What do YOUR rankings look like? Also make sure to check out MMO’s OFFICIAL top 25 prospects, but together by the brilliant Satish Ram (“Perseus”) and Sean Kenny.

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.