Alex Ramirez, Photo by Ed Delany of MMO
No. 10 Calvin Ziegler, RHP
Age: 19 (10/3/2002)
HT: 6’0, WT: 205
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Drafted in 2nd Rd in 2021 – TNXL Academy
ETA: 2026 Previous MMO Ranking: 15
2022 Statistics (St. Lucie Mets): 10.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 9 BB, 17 K, 4.35 ERA, 40.5 K%
Ziegler, the Mets’ top pick signed from the 2021 draft class, chose to leave Canada last year and join the TNXL Academy because COVID-19 travel restrictions would’ve limited the amount eyeballs that got to see him pitch in-person. He impressed Mets’ scouts enough that they used their second round pick on the youngster. Ziegler only tossed bullpens in 2021 for the Mets following his draft, but the early returns from that and minor league camp had the Mets and other scouts raving about the Canadian.
Ziegler has been sitting in the mid-90s since joining the Mets and has topped out at 97 mph with his fastball that gets some sink as well. Ziegler’s best secondary pitch is his breaking ball that has been seen as a combination between a slider and curve at times. When I saw him in Port St. Lucie for minor league camp it looked like a hard curve given the vertical movement. Early Statcast data on the pitch this season has it mostly in the 82-85 mph range with 55-60 inches of vertical break. Mets’ internal folks like to call it a “hammer” curve.
Lastly, Ziegler uses a split-change in the 85-88 mph range, though this is clearly a third pitch right now. He’s thrown this pitch about 13% of the time to start the 2022 season.
Mets second rounder from 2021 Calvin Ziegler was one of the top arms in spring camp.
The 19-year-old was mostly 95 mph with his fastball and broke off a ton of nice breaking balls as you can see in the video. pic.twitter.com/hfTD7fmEQm
— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) April 6, 2022
It’s been a mixed bag for Ziegler this season making his pro debut for the Low-A St. Lucie Mets. He has a 4.35 ERA in 10 1/3 innings with an impressive 17 strikeouts, but has also walked a very high number of nine batters already. His 40.5 K% leads all Mets’ minor leaguers with at least 10 innings pitched and 41st among 619 minor league pitchers.
As you can see from the video, Ziegler’s delivery is unusual with long arm action coming from straight over the top.
No. 9 Dominic Hamel, RHP
Age: 23 (3/2/1999)
HT: 6’2, WT: 237
B/T: R/R
Acquired: 3rd Round of 2021 Draft – Dallas Baptist University
ETA: 2024 Previous MMO Ranking: 14
2021 Statistics (FCL Mets): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K
The Mets’ third round pick from the 2021 draft made his pro debut with two outings in the Florida Complex League. The 23 year old dominated, facing nine hitters and retiring all of them including seven strikeouts. Hamel has struggled a bit to start the season with the St. Lucie Mets. He has a 4.65 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP in 9 2/3 innings, but he does have 12 strikeouts in that span.
The spin rate darling has a fastball that sits 91-94, has hit 96 mph, and the vertical break makes it extremely tough for hitters to make contact up in the zone. Hamel’s fastball typically gets about 15-16 inches of horizontal movement, which would be in the top five of MLB averages. Hamel also gets about 13-15 inches of vertical break, which combined with his velocity and release point, makes it look like its rising and gives it that success up in the zone. Command of his fastball has been an issue and got him in trouble with the long ball.
Hamel also throws a slider, curveball, and changeup with the slider being the best of the group early in the 2022 season. The slider sits 81-84 mph with elite spin rates up to 2986 rpms this year. Best average spin rate for a slider in 2021 was former Mets reliever Miguel Castro at 2981. The curve at 73-75 mph has seen spin rates up to the high 2900s as well. This pitch has been getting a ton of vertical break, up to 68 inches and sitting in the mid-60s. Rich Hill averaged 67 inches of vertical break on his last year for comparison’s sake.
His rarely used changeup has gotten up to 21 inches of horizontal movement this year, again a number that would put him among the major league leaders. The issue with Hamel’s changeup, and really all of his pitches right now, is the lack of command and consistency.
Hamel certainly has the repertoire to be a high-ceiling starter, but he will need to be more consistent throughout outings and that will really start with command for him.
No. 8 Alex Ramirez, OF
Age: 19 (1/13/2003)
HT: 6’3, WT: 196
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent in 2019.
ETA: 2025 Previous MMO Ranking: 7
2021 Statistics (St. Lucie Mets): 76 G, 15 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, .258/.326/.384, 16 SB, 96 wRC+
Keith Law surprised Mets’ fans when he ranked the 19 year old Ramirez as the No. 100 prospect in baseball before the 2022 season started. That choice is looking pretty good after a great start to the 2022 season for Ramirez with a .946 OPS. The line from Ramirez in 2021 with the St. Lucie Mets doesn’t look overly impressive, but it came as an 18-year-old in a league that is known for helping pitchers. The Mets decided to have Ramirez go back to St. Lucie to start this season and it’s working out just fine.
It’s been an interesting journey for him to get to this point after signing in 2019 to a $2,050,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic. The season after Ramirez signed was canceled because of COVID-19, so the talented center fielder entered spring camp in 2021 having no professional playing experience at all. Given his age and limited experience, the Mets decided to keep Ramirez in extended spring to start the 2021 season. But Ramirez just kept impressing New York, showing that he was ready for professional ball and he was added to the St. Lucie Mets roster on June 1.
As mentioned previously, Ramirez played pretty well offensively in 2021 given his age and it being his first professional experience. He had 24 extra base hits and 16 stolen bases in 76 games.
Ramirez started his career at six-foot-three and 170 pounds, but is up to 196 pounds now after adding muscle during the offseason. His ability to get good jumps and above average speed could keep him in center field long-term, though his plus arm would fit in right field if he continues to fill out.
The athletic Ramirez has quick wrists and posts impressive exit velocities when he’s making contact. And he’s making way more contact this season as his strikeout rate of 31.1% has been cut all the way down to 14.9% this year. Unfortunately, Ramirez is only walking 4.9% of the time. The rest of the numbers for Ramirez this season are extremely good however, as he’s hitting .379/.429/.517 with four doubles and two triples.
Ramirez is looking more and more like the strong offensive center fielder the Mets thought he could be when they gave him the second highest IFA bonus in team history. But, to continue his development, you’d like to see him walk more and also work on the path of a swing that tends to be whippy.
Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
No. 7 Khalil Lee, OF
Age: 23 (6/26/1998)
HT: 5’10, WT: 170
B/T: L/L
Acquired: Three-team trade with Royals and Red Sox in 2021.
ETA: 2022 Previous MMO Ranking: 8
2021 Statistics (Syracuse Mets): 102 G, 20 2B, 2 3B, 14 HR, .274/.451/.500, 162 wRC+
Khalil Lee made his debut with the Mets back in May of 2021 when New York was desperate for anyone that could play the outfield and that were healthy. Unfortunately for Lee, he was clearly not ready for the big leagues offensively and struck out in 13 of his 18 at-bats. On the defensive side, Lee did make multiple fine plays in right field during his short big league stint.
Impressively by Lee was that he was able to shake that off and be an offensive monster the rest of the season in Triple-A. The 23-year-old had a 162 wRC+ for the season, which ranked seventh among 853 minor league hitters with at least 300 plate appearances. His .451 on base percentage led all of those 853 minor leaguers.
Lee also showed off power in Triple-A with 36 extra base hits in only 292 at-bats. At times though, Lee gets too passive at the plate that results in him striking out more and producing very little in terms of power. That’s what we’re seeing to start the 2022 season in Triple-A where Lee is hitting only .125/.270/.150 with 17 strikeouts in 40 at-bats.
Lee is a fine defensive right fielder given his above average speed and strong arm. He can also give you a few starts in center field without hurting you and has experience in left.
Note
J.T. Ginn was No. 6 on my Top 50 list, but he was traded along with right-hander Adam Oller for big league starter Chris Bassitt last month. Ginn has a 4.26 ERA in three starts so far in Double-A for Oakland.
I will have an updated list soon that includes spring camp and the start of the season.
