Today Baseball America released their Top 20 Prospects for the 2014 New York-Penn League Season, and wouldn’t you know it, four Mets topped the list.
Marcos Molina, Amed Rosario, Michael Conforto and Jhoan Urena came in respectively at numbers One, Three, Seven and Ten, showing how formidable and talented the Cyclones squad was this season.
Here is what they had to say about each:
#1 Marcos Molina, RHP
Molina had a breakout season, dominating older competition as a teenager. He led the circuit in strikeouts (91) and ERA (1.77) while tying for the lead in wins (seven) and walking just 2.1 batters per nine innings.
The athletic Molina has an ideal pitcher’s frame and a loose arm action with a high-three-quarters delivery that he repeats well. He has advanced feel for three offerings that he can throw for strikes or use as put-away pitches. His 93-95 mph fastball bumps 96 and has tailing life. His late-breaking slider projects as a plus pitch, and he has good arm speed on his changeup, which flashes above-average to plus.
“He’s going to be on the fast track, I think,” Brooklyn manager Tom Gamboa said. “Every once in a while you get a guy who’s just different, just a cut above the rest. For a 19-year-old, he has unbelievable mound presence and poise. It’s the whole package.”
#3 Amed Rosario, SS
Rosario has progressed quickly since signing for $1.75 million, the largest international bonus in Mets history. He was named the top prospect in the Rookie-level Appalachian League last year, and his OPS jumped from .637 last year to .717 in the NYPL, as his on-base skills improved.
Rosario still is something of a free-swinger, but he is adept at hitting behind runners and executing the hit-and-run, and he profiles as a prototype No. 2 hitter. He has quick hands and figures to grow into some power as he fills out his wiry frame, but he primarily is a line-drive hitter who can use all fields.
Rosario’s arm rates as plus, but he needs to become more accurate with his throws. He fell into a rut this year where he sat back and let balls come to him, resulting in errors, but he did a better job charging balls in the final month. He has the fluid actions, range and hands to be a standout defensive shortstop down the road, and he also offers good speed, though he is not an aggressive basestealer at this stage.
Rosario needs to get stronger and improve his stamina, but the Mets are thrilled with his developmental track.
Michael Conforto, LF
Conforto capped his decorated college career by earning first-team All-America honors as a junior and getting drafted 10th overall by the Mets. An accomplished hitting machine, Conforto stood out as one of the safest bats in the NYPL.
“We’d get excited every time he got out, because it didn’t happen very much against us,” Staten Island manager Mario Garza said. “This guy—wow. He’s got the body, he’s got an approach, he’s got box presence. It seemed like he doesn’t miss pitches. He really works the middle of the field well, and has bat speed.”
Conforto is primarily a gap-to-gap hitter, but he has plus raw power and drives balls the other way with authority. He needs to do a better job turning on hard stuff over the inner half, but he has the special hand-eye coordination and feel for the strike zone to be a plus hitter with above-average to plus pop.
Conforto is physically mature and will be tied to left field, but he has worked hard to become a solid defender with a knack for making big plays, and his arm is solid-average. He earns raves for his competitiveness and leadership qualities.
#10 Jhoan Urena, 3B
Urena, who played all season as a 19-year-old and turned 20 on Sept. 1, has performed well in each of his first three pro seasons since signing for $425,000. He ranked second in the NYPL in RBIs (48) and tied for the league lead in doubles (20), while also flashing home run power and promising defensive ability at third base.
Urena hit .300 from both sides of the plate, posting an .805 OPS against lefties and a .783 OPS against righties. He has a dead-pull approach from the right side but uses the whole field as a lefthanded hitter, and he boasts plus raw power from both sides. He struggles against offspeed stuff, like many hitters his age, but punishes fastballs and can handle velocity.
Urena has a rifle arm at third base but must improve his accuracy, for most of his 17 errors were on wild throws. He has the instincts, hands, agility and range to be a standout defender at the hot corner.
As you can see, our boys were rightfully placed in the upper tiers of the league. As I have stated many times, my enthusiasm for Molina is curbed due to his delivery being only through his arm, with little-to-no leg action. This can be problematic for a pitcher, and does not help them in the long run. If he can increase his movement below the waist, he can not only add velocity to a fastball that gets up to 96, but also longevity in the process.
As for Rosario, it seems Baseball America has lessened their own enthusiasm, projecting less power, but still believing the kid will be a hitting machine and a solid shortstop. He is incredibly thin, rail thin to be exact, but I have been assured early on by a coach in the system that he’s someone to watch going forward.
The scouting report on Conforto is encouraging, not only giving you an idea of what he needs to improve on, but the idea that he’s a plus hitter with plus power. They also, as I have reassured in the past, calmed down concerns of his ability to play left. As I have seen, Conforto is a more than capable left fielder, with a good arm, and he moves well.
Lastly but not least, Jhoan Urena. He has a lot of time, but is proving to be a hitting machine. Had we not signed Wright to a long-term deal, I’d say Urena would definitely be the one to take his place in the future, and as a switch hitter who bats well from both sides, and packing a lot of power.
In total, this is a very intriguing and exciting list, one to be encouraged by, but remember they’re all kids. Some things can happen, but it’s a good feeling to have so much talent in this system to watch and dream on. As for assignments? The three young ones to Savannah, and Conforto to St. Lucie.
Stay tuned as I’ll be updating the comment section with what they say in the BA Chat.
