Photo by Allen Greene Photography

On Monday night, MLB Pipeline continued unveiling their top ten prospects at each position for 2021 with third basemen prospects.

There were a few surprises, and Mets prospect Brett Baty made the list at No.7, placing between the Red Sox’s Bobby Dalbec, and the Dodgers’ Kody Hoese.

MLB Pipeline previously ranked Mets prospect Francisco Alvarez No. 4 among catching prospects.

MLB is more optimistic (than Baseball America) on Baty’s glove and ability for contact, rating him as a player with average hitting, with plus game power, an average glove, fringe-average speed, and a plus arm.

Overall, his scouting grades varied from Baseball America, but the overall profile remained the same: Above-average OBP player with plus power who will stick at third for at least the duration of his first contract. Being ranked between Dalbec, who hit 9% of his plate appearances for home runs, and OPS’d .959 while striking out in 42.4% of his PA’s and Hoese, who had an impressive debut at Hi-A in 2019 speaks well for Baty, who hasn’t surpassed short season as of yet.

Baty, turned 21 in November, was the Mets first round pick in 2019 (12th overall) out of Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas.

The left-handed hitter slashed .234/.368/.452 with 16 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, and 33 RBIs in 51 games across three levels. He made his pro debut in the rookie level Gulf Coast League, played a majority of the season for the Kingsport Mets, and then finished off the final week of the season with the Brooklyn Cyclones in the middle of their tutle run.

Baty still has a long ways to go, and with a lost season due to the pandemic, and being older than an average senior when he was drafted, time is running out quicker than normal. He should start at Low-A St. Lucie for 2021.

The post Brett Baty Among Baseball’s Top 10 Third Base Prospects appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Allen Greene Photography

On Monday, Baseball America released their top ten Mets prospects, rounding out their NL East collection for their prospect evaluation selection. As per any year, the long, awaited evaluation of our favorite team’s prospects have come with fanfare and hope for the future, and especially this year with new ownership and emphasis on player development.

In addition to intending to spend on top amateur International Free Agents, the team has started to do the little things- as our own Michael Mayer reported, sending boxes of baseballs to our minor leaguers. That is an industry standard practice that was lost on the former owners.

Enthusiasm has spread throughout the Mets, including in instructional leagues, with the Mets and their prospects, especially as minor leaguers and fans were forced to forego the Minor League season due to the deadly pandemic that has loomed large still. With further ado, here is the ranked top ten prospects as listed by Baseball America, and their scouting grades. For reference on scouting grades, you can check out this article by Fangraphs.

1. C Francisco Alvarez, 19 Years old. Hit 50, Power 60, Run 30, Fielding 50, Arm 60
2. SS Ronny Mauricio 19 Years old. Hit 50, Power 50, Run 40, Fielding 60, Arm 60
3. SS Andres Gimenez 22 years old. Hit 50, Power 40, Run 70, Fielding 60, Arm 50
4. RHP Matt Allan 19 Years old. Fastball 70, Changeup 60, Curve 60, Control 50
5. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong 18 Years old. Hit 50, Power 40 ,Run 60, Field 60, Arm 55
6. 3B Brett Baty 20 years old. Hit 40, Power 60, Run 50, Fielding 45, Arm 60
7. 3B Mark Vientos 20 years old. Hit 4o, Power 60, Run 30, Fielding 40, Arm 50
8. RHP J.T. Ginn 21 years old. Fastball 60, Slider 70, Changeup 40, Control 50
9. LHP David Peterson 24 Years old – Errors omitted his grades
10. RHP Josh Wolf 20 Years old. Fastball 50, Slider 60, Changeup 45, Control 50

There were few surprises in the rankings, as No. 1 Alvarez has shown great upside at the top of the list, garnering “Plus-Plus” power ravings and apparently “wowing” people at Brooklyn’s alternative site during the season. There is some concern for his blocking ability, but it is noted that there is just some youth-hiccups.

His plus arm is a weapon that needs slight refinement due to overthrowing 2nd base, however, this can be hammered out with more practice. He claims the Mets’ best hit tool, according to Baseball America. He will be participating in the Australian Winter League with the Blue Sox, starting December 17th.

Mauricio has continued to show promise with the glove and the bat, garnering tags as a “first division shortstop”, mostly due to estimates of more strength and better pitch selection incoming, which will create more opportunity to show better power production moving forwards. It may be harder to produce in High-A Brooklyn from the left side, due to the wind from the sea killing most fly balls to right field, however.

Mauricio was tabbed the best athlete in the organization. Andres Gimenez had some improved grades, with his power growing to a 40 from a 35, and more surprisingly, the Speed growing to a 70. Gimenez showed poise and prowess on the diamond at the highest stage, usurping Amed Rosario for greater acclaim and claims the best infield defense in the organization

Matthew Allan/Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Allan, with a 70 fastball and 60 change- both improvements, gained a lot of raves at instructional league with the improved changeup. His fastball at 94-96, coupled with plus curve and change give optimism for a front-line starter. He was also listed as a Top-19 Names to Know moving forwards in a prior article by Baseball America. He also claims the best fastball and curveball in the organization.

Crow-Armstrong continues to show his good upside with above-average hit and plus defensive ability in center field, and Baseball America has tabbed him as the best defensive outfielder in the org. The shine on Baty’s bat has slightly worn off for him, dropping his hit tool a bit, but the Mets continue to have enthusiasm for his athleticism, stating that he surprised with his running tool via GPS Tracking.

Baty claims the top power and strike zone discipline tools in the organization. Vientos is showing more and more that he is destined for the right side of the diamond with a questionable fielding tool. He has shown double-plus raw power and claims the best infield arm in the organization.

Ginn has been rehabbing since Tommy John surgery out at instructional league. He will likely start pitching at Low-A when he is ready and claims the best slider in the system. David Peterson showed some moxie and silenced some doubts at the major league level, serving up more good starts than bad starts. He needs to improve control to be considered an optimum option at the back of the Mets’ rotation.

Rounding out the Top 10 list is Josh Wolf, who still throws low-to-mid 90’s with some untapped projection and some questions regarding his changeup. He was not invited to Mets’ alternative site in Brooklyn during the summer and worked independently, and looked inconsistent in instructional leagues.

A few more notes: infielder Jaylen Palmer was named the fastest baserunner, which I personally questioned to the top ten writer, Matt Eddy. Usually tabbed as a 45-50 runner, Eddy reported on the BA chat that Palmer was among the fastest at Instructional Leagues, keeping up with speedsters Pete Crow-Armstrong and Isaiah Greene.

Eddy also noted that IFA outfielders Freddy Valdez and Alexander Ramirez placed in the group right outside the top ten. Furthermore, he notes catcher Endy Rodriguez and right-handed pitcher Jordany Ventura as “sleepers” noting Rodriguez’s framing and power, and Ventura’s projection and present fastball and curve.

Nevertheless, this is a base that Cohen’s Mets will be able to build on moving forward, with much, much more excitement from the team to come.

The post Baseball America Releases Updated Mets Prospect List appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Pete Crow-Armstrong/Photo by Perfect Game

On Thursday, as our Mets Minors league team chewed on our nails, watching pick for pick go by, we had a common player we were looking for: Pete Crow-Armstrong. My top guy on the board for most of the spring, Crow-Armstrong is an athletic center fielder well known among draft enthusiasts since the age of 12.

PCA’s profile includes plus speed and glove in center field and the ability to hit hard liners all around the field. During the summer of 2019, he showed more swing and miss than usual in the prep leagues, causing him to slide down draft boards.

However, during his limited play in the spring, he had been posting plus numbers for exit-velocity with a pretty left-handed swing that posted excellent bat speed and improved loft. He was hitting .514 in 42 at-bats this spring before the season shut down, striking out only once. He has shown the ability to control the strike zone well and hunt for the right pitch. With some possible burgeoning power, combined with an above-average hit tool and plus center field defense, Crow-Armstrong may be a steal in this year’s draft at No. 19.

Crow Armstrong attended Harvard-Westlake, the same high school as Max Fried, Lucas Giolito, and Jack Flaherty, and achieved top honors as an underclassman for the USA 18-and-under’s top team for the Pan-American Championships. A young man with confidence, and the propensity to wow his coaches, scouts have consistently checked boxes in the makeup department. Sean Casey once managed him in the Under-Armor Tournament, and had nothing but glowing reviews, comparing him to Grady Sizemore, and touting both his winning attitude and skills on the field.

His tenacity and attitude are infectious as he’s said before that he doesn’t just want to be a baseball player, he wants to make an impact. He’s known as someone who goes all-out. As Molly Knight reported in a piece in The Athletic, Crow-Armstrong once told a manager during a game that he was going to “hit a baseball over the f*cking mountain”. He then homered.  His Harvard-Westlake coach, called him a “Manager’s dream,” praising his ability to be coached. He prides himself on his defensive play, and the willingness to be emotional and loud on the field. That attitude can play in New York.

Maybe just as interesting as his play is his roots, as he was born to actors Ashley Crow and Matt Armstrong. Ashley Crow is known mostly for her role as the mother in the 1994 kid’s movie, Little Big League. She also played a big role as the mother to the self-healing character in the intersectional drama Heroes. Matt John Armstrong, also of Heroes fame, also appeared in American Horror Story and The Young and The Restless.

According to Knight, PCA’s greatest influence is Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, who gives insight into Mindfulness. Mindfulness is used therapeutically to keep people in the here and now, and using breathing exercises to keep anxiety low, and a person a calm, meditative state. As a therapist myself, it is impressive to see such maturity and knowledge on how to deal with personal crisis out of an 18-year-old ballplayer.

The biggest hurdle between the Mets and their No. 19 pick is his commitment to college baseball powerhouse, Vanderbilt, which Crow-Armstrong could choose due to the draft’s pay deferment for this year. On the other hand, he is a client of Brodie’s former agency, CAA, and could have already worked out a pre-draft deal.

As the top realistic player on my board, PCA looks like a player with great upside and maturity and fills the void as a true center fielder and top-of-the-order hitter in the Mets farm system. This has been lacking since the Mets traded a certain prized pick. With a successful day one for the draft in the books, the team looks poised to make waves, with the 52nd, 69th, 91st, 120th and 150th picks on the way for Day 2, starting at 5:00 EST. The draft will be covered right here at MMO/MMN. Stay tuned.

The post MMO Draft Profile: First Rounder Pete Crow-Armstrong appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by James Farrance Photography

Syracuse Mets 8 (75-65), Rochester 4 Box Score

• LF Arismendy Alcantara 2 for 5, HR, 2 R, 2 K .296/.361/.515
• 2B Jed Lowrie 2 for 3, R .225/.295/.375

Alcantara hit his 13th homer of the year. Aaron Altherr drove in four in a 3-for-4 day. Syracuse will host a one-game playoff on Thursday against Scranton to decided the division winner.

• RHP Harol Gonzalez 5 IP, 4 H, ER,  6 K, W (6-0) 2.68 era
• RHP Adonis Uceta 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, 2 K, 33.75 era

Uceta is an interesting arm, but he has allowed five earned runs in Triple-A 1.1 innings.

Binghamton Rumble Ponies 4 (67-73), Hartford Yard Goats 3 Box Score

• RF Quinn Brodey 2 for 4, 2B, RBI .251/.314/.377
• SS Andres Gimenez 2 for 4, HR, 2 K .250/.309/.357
• 2B-SS Luis Carpio 2 for 4, HR .263/.347/.362
• CF Edgardo Fermin 3 for 4, 2 2B, R, RBI .314/.370/.457

Gimenez had a season to forget, but he’s still only 20 years old and very talented. He and Carpio are going to the Arizona Fall League.

• RHP Mickey Jannis 6.2 ip, 7 h, 2 er, bb, 7 K, W (7-5) 3.10 era
• RHP Tony Dibrell 1.1 ip, 2 h, er, bb, k 9.31 era

Jannis has had a nice year including a very strong finish. This was Dibrell’s 2nd relief appearance, and he may be more suited for the role moving forward. Marcel Renteria also pitched a scoreless inning in his Double-A debut.

Augusta 6, Columbia Fireflies 5 (52-84) Box Score

• 3B Shervyen Newton 1 for 3, BB, 2 K .209/.283/.330
• SS Ronny Mauricio 1 for 4, 3B, 2 K .268/.307/.357

Chandler Avant hit a home run. This was an exceptionally horrible year for offense with the Fireflies.

• RHP Daison Acosta 5 ip, 4 h, 5 r, 4 er, bb, 5 k 3.78 era
• RHP Jose Moreno ip, h, 3 k 2.28 era

Acosta and Moreno are two nice arms to watch going forward.

Brooklyn Cyclones 4 (43-32), Staten Island 1 Box Score

• 2B Robinson Cano 0 for 3, RBI, K .286/.286/.429
• SS Wilmer Reyes 2 for 3, 2B, RBI, R, BB, K .323/.350/.441
• 2B Luke Ritter 1 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI .245/.351/.371
• 3B Brett Baty 1 for 1, 2 BB .200/.529/.300

Reyes is finishing up a good 2019 campaign where he has looked strong defensively and offensively.

• RHP Frank Valentino 5.1 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 3.41 ERA

Valentino, the West Islip Native, had a great campaign for Brooklyn. The Cyclones won the McNamara division. They will a best-of-three series against the Hudson Valley Renegades starting on Thursday.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Jed Lowrie Helps Syracuse Force One-Game Playoff appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Francisco Alvarez/Photo by Allen Greene Photography

Syracuse Mets 8 (68-61), Lehigh Valley 2 Box Score

• LF-SS Sam Haggerty 2-for-4, 2 2B, BB, 2 R, RBI, .310/.375/.517
• 2B Dilson Herrera 1 for 4, 2B, BB, K, .253/.332/.513

Dilson’s cooled off a bit as of late. Haggerty has hit well and played all over the field in eight games since being promoted to Syracuse.

• RHP Walker Lockett 6 IP, 7 H, ER, 7 K, 3.66 ERA

Nick Rumbelow, who was signed recently, pitched a couple of innings and gave up a run.

Syracuse Mets 3 (69-61), Lehigh Valley 1 Box Score

• RHP Chris Flexen 4 IP, 3 H, R, 4 K, 4.07 era

Flexen pitched well in an abbreviated start after being sent back down. He also had an RBI single in his only at-bat.

• SS Danny Espinosa 1-for-3, HR, .251/.335/.432

Espinosa hit his 19th home run of the season. The Mets are now tied for first place in division.

Portland Sea Dogs 3, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2 (63-69) Box Score

• SS Andres Gimenez 3 for 5, SB .245/.308/.381

Gimenez is hitting .385 in his last ten games.

• LHP Thomas Szapucki 4 IP, 2 H, R (0 ER), BB, 2 HBP, 4 K

This was Szapucki’s first career start in Double-A.

Daytona Tortugas 11, St. Lucie Mets 8 (67-64) Box Score

• 2B Jed Lowrie 0 for 3, .200
• DH Carlos Cortes 2 for 4, HR, 4 RBI, BB, K, .257/.335/.400

Cortes hit a grand slam in the 7th inning.

• RHP Jaison Vilera 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 2 K, 3.81 ERA

The St. Lucie bullpen allowed ten unanswered runs to push the team’s losing streak to a team record tying 12 games.

Hickory Crawdads 4, Columbia Fireflies 2 (51-78) Box Score

• DH Ronny Mauricio 1 for 4, Run .268/.308/.357
• 3B Mark Vientos 1 for 3 .263/.309/.427
• SS Shervyen Newton 1 for 4, .207/.279/.334

Mauricio has gone into a slump lately, and is hitting .197/.235/.237 in August.

• RHP Jose Butto 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB,  3.52 era

Butto has been noted by Notesfromthesally’s John Calvagno for having a 90-93 mph fastball that can reach 96 at times.

Brooklyn Cyclones 2 (39-29), Lake Monsters 0 Box Score

• 3B Yoel Romero 2 for 4 .270/.340/.404
• SS Wilmer Reyes 2 for 3, RBI .318/.343/.443
• C Jose Mena 2 for 3, R .311/.354/.456

Reyes was recently highlighted by Baseball America for his defensive play, which gives us hope that he may be the incarnation of Wilmer Flores and Jose Reyes

• RHP Garrison Bryant 6.1 IP, 2 H, 9 K, 2.18 era

Bryant has been one of the New York-Penn League’s best pitchers this season despite having a fastball that barely cracks 90 mph. The Cyclones remain in a three-way tie for the division lead.

Kingsport Mets 15 (34-32), Cardinals 6 Box Score

• 3B Brett Baty 4 for 5, 3B, RBI, 3 R, BB .217/.328/.414
• C Francisco Alvarez 3 for 6, HR, 3 RBI .291/.388/.457
• SS Jaylen Palmer 2 for 5, 2 R, BB, 3 K, .266/.352/.425
• RF Scott Ota 3 for 4, HR, 3B, 5 RBI, .286/.369/.543

Baty is hitting .318 in his last ten games, and has been hitting leadoff in the bulk of them. Alvarez has hit three homers in his last two games. Kingsport bombarded the Cardinals’ affiliate with 20 hits.

• RHP Benito Garcia 3.2 IP, 3 H, 6 K, 6.45 ERA

Kingsport moved into the division lead with their big win on Monday night.

GCL Mets 3 (29-23), GCL Marlins 2 Box Score

• CF Blaine McIntosh 2 for 3, BB, Run, K, CS .235/.309/.235
• RF Kenedy Corona 1 for 3, Run, CS .318/.405/.493
• 3B Warren Saunders o for 1, SF, 2 BB .328/.406/.395

Saunders and Corona have been impressive for the G-Squad. The Mets are now tied for first place in their division.

• LHP Franklin Parra 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, K, 2.57 ERA
• RHP Noah Nunez 2.1 IP, H, 3 BB, 2 K, 3.25 ERA

Parra had been noted by some sources to be looking excellent in extended spring training. The 19-year-old was the 11th rounder in 2018.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Alvarez Homers Again, Szapucki Makes Binghamton Debut appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Matthew Allan/Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Charleston Riverdogs 3, Columbia Fireflies 2 (47-69) Box Score

• SS Ronny Mauricio o for 5 .283/.320/.379
• 3B Mark Vientos 1 for 4, K .265/.313/.434

Newton pinch ran for Vientos after he left the game in the ninth inning on an injured leg.

• RHP Daison Acosta 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 3.23 era
• RHP Cole Gordon 2.1 IP, H, BB, 5 K, 3.72 era

Acosta an intriguing arm who throws 92-94 with a nice cutter and slider. Definitely a guy to look out for. Allan Winans gave up two runs in the 10th, allowing Charleston to walk off.

Brooklyn Cyclones 4 (32-23), Staten Island Yankees 1 Box Score

• CF Jake Mangum 2 for 4, 3B, R .263/.344/.331
• 2B Wilmer Reyes 3 for 4, RBI, R .346/.368/.469
• 3B Jose Peroza 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI, K .265/.333/.412

Peroza has eight homers on the year in 35 games, and is hitting .316 in his last ten games. Mangum is also rolling, hitting .351/.429/.432 in August.

• RHP Michael Gibbons 3 IP, 2 BB, 2 K (Rehab)
• RHP Garrison Bryant 5 IP, 3 H, ER, 5 K, 2.59 ERA

Bryant has dominated the New York-Penn League in his last seven games.

Danville Braves 11, Kingsport Mets 7 (24-28) Box Score

• 3B Brett Baty 1 for 4, 2 BB, 3 K .183/.315/.385
• C Francisco Alvarez 1 for 4, 2B, BB, 2 K .306/.392/.424
• SS Jaylen Palmer 1 for 5, K .266/.335/.440
• 2B Gregory Guerrero 1 for 5, HR, 3 RBI, K .226/.327/.377

Baty has a .700 OPS despite a tough showing in Kingsport. Scott Ota has been raking as of late. Tanner Murphy also hit a homer in this game.

• RHP Benito Garcia 4 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, K, 5.35 era
• RHP Nate Peden 1.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, BB, 8.58 era

It was a rough game for the K-Mets pitching staff, especially for Nate Peden, who gave up three homers.

GCL Nationals 7, GCL Mets 3 (21-20) Box Score

• RF Kenedy Corona 1 for 3, HR, BB, K .304/.407/.441
• 1B Warren Saunders 1 for 3, RBI, R, BB .295/.371/.359
• CF Blake McIntosh 0 for 4 .189/.232/.189

Corona, who was promoted from the DSL, has been hitting well in the GCL.

• RHP Matthew Allan 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K 2.08 ERA
• RHP Robert Colina 3.2 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 4.18 era

The Mets third rounder Allan bounced back from a tough start and outdueled a rehabbing Jeremy Hellickson.

DSL Mets1 14, DSL Angels 2 Box Score

• RF Freddy Valdez 3 for 5, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 2 K

DSL Angels 7, DSL Mets1 1 (28-26) Box Score

• RF Freddy Valdez 1 for 3, K .278/.366/.434

Valdez had a great day, going 4 for 8 with two doubles and a triple.

DSL Phillies White 4, DSL Mets2 2 Box Score

• RF Carlos Dominguez 1 for 4, HR, K .275/.399/.491

Dominguez is hitting for some intriguing power, with 6 homers so far.

• RHP David Marcano 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, K (L 1-1) 3.60 ERA

Marcano, who received a large bonus in August, 2017 has struggled with his control, with a 21/26 BB/K Ratio in 30 innings.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Matthew Allan Throws Two Scoreless appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Francisco Alvarez/Photo by Allen Greene Photography

St. Lucie Mets 4 (62-50), Fort Myers 2 Box Score

• DH Carlos Cortes 2 for 4, 2B R .254/.327/.387
• LF Wagner Lagrange 1 for 3, BB .390/.431/.559

Five St. Lucie Mets doubled. Wagner Lagrange is still on a tear after being promoted from the Fireflies.

• RHP Tylor Megill 5.1 ip, 2 h, 2 bb, 10 k 4.35 era

Megill has been a very intriguing 8th rounder from last year with some nice mid-90’s fastball action. He has struck out 68 in 51.2 innings pitched.

Columbia Fireflies 3 (43-67), Hagerstown Suns 1 Box Score

• SS Ronny Mauricio 1 for 4, 2 K .282/.320/.377
• 3B Mark Vientos 0 for 2, 2 BB .262/.312/.425

Jose Medina hit a home run in the win.

• RHP Jose Butto 2 ip, 3 K 3.71 era
• RHP Alec Kisena 6 ip, 3 h, er, 6 k 3.60 era

Butto is finishing his season with short outings to limit his innings.

Brooklyn Cyclones 3 (27-22), Harlem Valley Renegades 2 Box Score

• DH Luke Ritter 3 for 3, HR .267/.376/.390
• RF Jake Mangum 1 for 3, SB .239/.317/.294

There have been not many bright spots for the Brooklyn offense, but Wilmer Reyes has been one of the better producers, as has Luke Ritter.

• RHP Matt Cleveland 6 ip, 4 h, ER, 3 BB, 5 K 3.24 ERA

Cleveland has been much better as of late in the New York-Penn League. Andrew Edwards and Matt Mullenbach also tossed innings.

Kingsport Mets 7 (21-24) Elizabethton Twins 5 Box Score

• 3B Brett Baty 1 for 4, 2B, 2 K .173/.302/.358
• C Francisco Alvarez 1 for 4, R, K .357/.450/.486
• SS Jaylen Palmer 2 for 3, 2B, RBI, 2 R .259/.335/.443
• RF Scott Ota 3 for 5, 2 HR, 2B, 5 RBI .269/.350/.504

Ota hit two, two-run homers, and has five homers on the year.

GCL Astros 4, GCL Mets 2 (18-15) Box Score

• CF Blaine McIntosh 1 for 3, BB, SB, R, RBI .211/.268/.211
• SS William Lugo 0 for 4, 2 K .149/.267/.178

Lugo and McIntosh are having tough starts to their career, but are very talented.

• RHP Josh Wolf IP, 4 H, 4 R 3 ER, 2 K 13.50 ERA

Wolf struggled in his second outing. Kyle Wilson made a rehab appearance. Jhonfran Escalona struck out seven in four innings.

DSL Mets1 4 (25-23) DSL Orioles2 1 Box Score

• RF Freddy Valdez 1 for 2, 3B, 2 BB .273/.374/.413

DSL Brewers 6, DSL Mets2 4 (25-30) Box Score

• LF Dyron Campos 2 for 4, 2B, 2 R, K .300/.364/.386

The post Minor League Recap: Hit Streak at 16 Games for Francisco Alvarez appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Binghamton 3 (51-46), Reading 2 Box Score

• SS Andres Gimenez 1 for 3, BB, K .247/.313/.370
• RF Quinn Brodey 2 for 4, HR, K .225/.282/.335

Gimenez has slashed .321/.361/.500 in 17 July games after a rough beginning to the 2019 season.

• RHP Tommy Wilson 6 IP, 2 H, 2 K, 5.49 era
• RHP Steve Villines 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 1.26 era
• RHP Adonis Uceta IP, 2 H, K,1.99 era

Wilson now has 12 scoreless innings in his last two games.

St. Lucie 5 (54-46), Palm Beach 1 Box Score

• DH Carlos Cortes 0 for 4, 3 K, .251/.330/.385
• LF Wagner Lagrange 3 for 4, HR, 3 RBI, .417/.462/.750

Lagrange is tearing it up early in St. Lucie, however, Cortes still remains the most intriguing bat there.

• LHP Thomas Szapucki 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K, 2.03 era
• RHP Marcel Renteria 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K, 4.44 era

This is easily Szapucki’s best start of the year, and currently has 45 strikeouts in 35 innings. Renteria is one intriguing arm that has interesting advanced metrics.

Syracuse Mets and Columbia Fireflies had the day off.

Kingsport and Brooklyn were Postponed

GCL Marlins 6, GCL Mets 4 (12-10) Box Score

• CF Blaine McIntosh 1 for 5, R, K
• 3B Warren Saunders 1 for 4, RBI, 3 K .321/.368/.396

McIntosh had his first pro hit in his first pro game. He’s the athletic guy we thought wasn’t going to sign in the 13th round due to a strong commitment to Vanderbilt. Saunders is an intriguing Bahamian product with some nice athleticism.

• RHP Zachary Hammer 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, K ,2.50 ERA

Seven pitchers combined for nine innings and gave up six runs. Joshua Torres and Jose Moreno both are on rehab assignment and tossed scoreless innings for the first two.

DSL Mets1 7 (21-17), DSL Angels 5 Box Score

• Freddy Valdez 0 for 3, BB .271/.357/.424

DSL Tigers1 5, DSL Mets2 1 (14-28) Box Score

• Cesar Berbesi 1 for 4, RBI   .298/.404/.394

RHP Corey Oswalt was named the International Pitcher of the Week.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Thomas Szapucki Strikes Out Nine appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

A long-lasting standoff between Free Agency and the draft seems to be reaching its end. Since the early 1900’s MLB teams have signed free agents out of Latin America, starting with Cuban Players Armando Marsans and Rafael Almeida debuting for the Cincinnati Reds in 1911.

Teams started getting enamored with cheap imports, and scouts started trolling through Cuba “plucking talent” (essentially kidnapping), with the Washington Senators one of the teams truly leading the way by the 1930s. Five years ago, I wrote about many baseball’s histories with Cuba, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, highlighting their entry to the Major Leagues.

When the color barrier was broken, Minnie Minoso led the way as one of the top players coming out of Cuba, and then the floodgates opened. Juan Marichal and Roberto Clemente led the standard of international free agents that came and graced the Major Leagues with outstanding play. But with that came risk, as teams started lining their Minor Leagues with kids getting younger and younger, and a new arms race began of signing athletic children as soon as possible.

A story of caution, was Jorge Lebron, a player signed by the Phillies in 1974, who joined the organization at the age of 14 and was just too immature to play. During that time, he was called a huge star, but he just wanted to play and be a child.

The bigger story was Jimmy Kelly, a 13-year-old Dominican shortstop signed by the Blue Jays in 1984, who was too young, and couldn’t handle the pressure of being a professional athlete. After Kelly, MLB adopted the rule to sign players after they turn 16, and named it after him.

Towards 1987, teams started ramping up their prices for Latin American players, and started making academies in both Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Fangraphs chronicled the expenditure on free agency, with a total of 344 players signed for $974,850.

Teams started trying to find the “next best thing” in every country, with top players signed and starting to receive seven-figure contracts by 2000 as teams were one-upping each other until the league started pushing back on them.

MLB pushed the International Free Agent Pool, which was circumvented when the Red Sox signed Yoan Moncada for $31.5 million and didn’t care about spending another $31.5 million in taxes. The Yankees blew through their pool and had a spending spree in 2014, (which ended up giving them not much in overall baseball value). As these deals started coming in, other teams started to wonder, “How can we compete with that?”

The next Collective Bargaining Agreement in late 2016 sought for overall caps. Teams could trade for money, but the overall payments were hard-capped, unless under $50,000.

In 2016, teams spent $210,356,500 on 804 international free agents. In 2017, though, the 30 teams spent $148,540,500 on 800 players, which meant the cap curbed spending by more than $60 million.

But this made an ethical dilemma for scouting directors: teams are agreeing to contracts with players younger and younger to get the guys they’ve scouted, as Baseball America explained last month. Players that are agreeing to contracts at ages as young as 12 or 13- even younger than Jimmy Kelly. International Showcases showed players three years from now, not the ones in the next year.

While there were once arguments about the care and money situation for these kids, it evaporated due to to the new rules as money had to be kept down on teenagers. These are children starting to go through puberty that are agreeing to five-to-seven-figure deals. The trainers and the international directors, who were once opposed, are now conflicted, now that we’re pulling back into Kelly territory. I was personally very against the draft, but this new field puts too much pressure on children who should be doing something other than focusing on baseball.

Okay, historical stuff out of the way. This brings us to Wednesday, where Baseball America reported that the Owners and Union were talking about free agency for young international prospects finally coming to an end and instituting an IFA Draft with the possibility that it could come into play as early as next season or in 2021.

Concepts are being considered, wherein this current one, slot guidelines are going to have a hard cap. If a player is drafted, and the slot is $3,340,043, the player will have to sign for $3,340,043 and no higher. Another concept will do away with tanking for picks. Instead of the worst teams getting the top pick, it will go by division.

For instance, in one year, the National League East will be at the top, with the Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Nationals, and Braves getting the top five picks, and then it will go to maybe the NL Central or AL East and go down the line from there. These are just ideas and concepts being considered at the moment, but it looks like they will be wanting to limit bonuses and make sure that teams no longer tank for picks.

While many teams and scouts agree, here’s the rub. The development system has to change. Showcases and earning rapport with trainers early on in the player’s training was the way the system worked for a few decades now, and if the way players are signed changes, so does the way they are trained. Stay tuned as things will get interesting when this new system is integrated.

The post MLB Targets International Free Agent Draft by 2020 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Ed Delany/MMO

Tri-City 4, Brooklyn Cyclones 3 (12-11) Box Score

• CF Antoine Duplantis 1 for 5, R, K .167/.189/.194
• 3B Yoel Romero 3 for 4, 2B, R, K, CS .315/.367/.507
• SS Wilmer Reyes 3 for 4, 2B, RBI, SB .348/.375/.587

Mangum did not play tonight, but Romero and Reyes both had three hits, including a double.

• RHP Matt Cleveland 5 ip, 4 h, 4 er, bb, 4 k 5.96 era
• LHP Andrew Edwards 2 ip, 4 k 1.59 era

Edwards is having a fine time to open his pro career. Cleveland is having a hard time as a once promising young arm.

Greeneville Reds 6, Kingsport Mets 0 (8-12) Box Score

• CF Kennie Taylor 2 for 3, BB, SB .263//295/.368
• DH Francisco Alvarez 1 for 4, 2 K .071/.235/.071
• 3B Brett Baty 0 for 3, BB, 2 K .000/.125/.000

This was Alvarez’s first Kingsport hit. Let’s hope he catches some fire. Baty has struggled in his first few Appalachian League games after dominating the GCL.

• RHP Benito Garcia 3.1 ip, ER, 2 BB, 7 K 7.36

Garcia had an effectively wild night. Brendan Hardy and Josh Hejka also threw scoreless innings.

GCL Nationals 5, GCL Mets 3 (6-6) Box Score

• DH Endy Rodriguez 1 for 3, RBI, K .375/.488/.531
• SS William Lugo 0 for 3, RBI, BB .163/.255/.186

GCL has not been doing as well without Alvarez and Baty.

• LHP P.J. Conlon IP, K
• RHP Noah Nunez 3 IP, 3 h, 2 er, 6.48 era

Remember that name? Conlon’s on his way back.

DSL Mets1 6 (17-12), DSL Cardinals Blue 2 Box Score

• RF Freddy Valdez 0 for 5, 2 K .281/.356/.439

Valdez is still the most interesting guy in DSL Mets1

• LHP Javier Atencio 3 ip, 4 h, er, 2 bb, 5 k 6.30 era

Three relievers combined to allow only one other run over the next six innings.

DSL Mets2 4 (15-17), DSL Dbacks2 0 Box Score

• 2B Cesar Berbesi 1 for 3, BB .318/.421/383
• RF Omar De Los Santos 1 for 4, 2 r .292/.386/.442

Catcher Kevin Torres knocked in two runs.

• RHP Ricardo Rodriguez 5 ip, 3 h, 2 bb, 4 k 6.00 era

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