Today Baseball America completed their league-by-league Top 20 Prospect lists by posting both the International and Pacific Coast League.
In the Pacific Coast League, three Mets prospects made the grade with Noah Syndergaard ranking 5th, Rafael Montero ranking 14th, and catcher Kevin Plawecki coming in at 16th.
This is what they had to say:
5. Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Las Vegas (Mets)
Managers and scouts held mixed opinions on the physical Syndergaard, based on his performance at Las Vegas’ notoriously hitter-friendly Cashman Field. He led the PCL in strikeouts but took his lumps as well. One rival manager called Syndergaard a “good prospect, but not an accomplished pitcher right now,” while a scout from a rival organization called him “probably the best pitcher in the PCL, prospect-wise.”
Acquired by the Mets in the deal that sent R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays, Syndergaard touched 100 mph this season and pitched at 95-97 with heavy run and sinking action on his fastball. He adds to that a deceptive changeup for which he has feel and a curveball that flashes average. He was slowed in 2014 by injuries to his right forearm and left shoulder.
“His deception’s not great, especially on his breaking ball,” said a second scout, “but the action on it is good. He’s a horse.”
14. Rafael Montero, RHP, Las Vegas (Mets)
Montero has dominated minor league competition thanks to a fearless approach and above-average control. He lacks a plus pitch and can nibble and fall behind batters, which was his undoing during a lackluster big league debut.
Despite a fastball with some sink at 92-93 mph, Montero often prefers to pitch backwards, using his low-80s slider to keep hitters in check before going with a solid-average to plus changeup to collect strikeouts.
A scout from a rival organization and an opposing PCL manager both see a major league future for Montero, possibly as high as No. 3 in a rotation.
“The command could be special,” the scout said. “I’m not surprised that he struggled (in the majors) because he needs to tighten up the breaking ball. But when I saw him he just dotted the black at 92-94 (mph) . . . He’s very athletic and the potential for command might make him even better (than projected).”
16. Kevin Plawecki, C, Las Vegas (Mets)
Plawecki’s offensive emergence the past two seasons—he has hit .307 with solid power—has prompted the Mets to at least consider the idea of moving young big league catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who suffered a concussion in May, to left field.
Plawecki has a short stroke and makes contact with incredible frequency, frustrating opponents with his ability to foul off pitches. A consequence of so much contact is that he doesn’t walk much and must rely on the hits falling in to keep his on-base percentage afloat. Plawecki hits for mostly gap power but can turn on the inside pitch for home runs to his pull side.
“His approach is pretty good, and he has the ability to make contact,” one scout said. “I think he gets to double-digit (home runs) for sure. He has enough raw power to hit 10-15 homers.”
Plawecki’s defense is not as advanced—he threw out just three of 29 basestealers, a 10 percent success rate—though he has good hands, average arm strength and average accuracy. Some scouts think he and d’Arnaud compare favorably behind the plate.
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As I have said before, the people who do these lists aren’t scouts, but they do consider various recommendations from them to comprise these Top 20 lists. They do a very nice job.
As always, BA Chat comments will be posted in the comment section.
