Had the Top 25 prospect list already to go last week until Sandy Alderson happily put a pretty big wrench into my plans and list. Four of the five players traded were going to be on my list with Michael Fulmer leading the group at #4, Casey Meisner at #9, Luis Cessa at #16, and Robert Whalen at #22.
That combined with Noah Syndergaard, Kevin Plawecki, Dilson Herrera, and Rafael Montero all graduating gives this list a completely different look. Cory Mazzoni (17th), Jack Leathersich (20th), Champ Stuart (21st), and Cesar Puello (25th) coming off make it 11 players from our preseason list that are no longer there.
I came to the conclusion that I could not decide between the two shortstops named Luis and decided you include both making it technically the Top 26 prospects.
#25 (tie) Luis Carpio – SS/2B
Preseason: Unranked
Age: 18 – July 11, 1997
Signed: July 11th, 2013
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Carpio will be the youngest player on the list having signed with the Mets as a 16-year old from Caracas, Venezuela for $300,000 in 2013. He spent only one season in the Dominican Summer League batting .234/.347/.301 with twelve stolen bases and having the same amount of walks as strikeouts (33) in 60 games.
The Mets decided to be aggressive with the young shortstop bringing him stateside to play for the Kingsport Mets this year. In 22 games he is hitting .321/.412/.381 with five doubles, twelve RBI, and three stolen bases (four CS). Luis has played 12 games at shortstop and 6 games at second base this year. He has a strong arm, great hands, and excellent footwork which suggests he could stay long-term at shortstop.
He has good discipline at the plate shown by his 10/12 BB/SO, line drive approach, and has the frame ( 6’0, 165 LBS) that could develop into more power later. Video of Carpio taking batting practice.
#25 (tie) Luis Guillorme – SS
Preseason: Unranked
Age: 20 – September 27, 1994
Drafted: 10th round in 2013
Bats/Throws: Left/Right
When Luis was drafted he was said to be a human highlight reel at shortstop without much of an approach at the plate. He has lived up to his potential with the glove and has even started to come around at the plate hitting .304/.377/.328 in 100 games for the Savannah Sand Gnats. He average is good for 4th in the South Atlantic League and his on-base percentage is 7th.
As you can see from his slugging percentage that the power is non-existent with only nine extra base hits all season. In fact he does not have a triple or homerun in 784 Minor League at bats. He has learned the strike zone though and how to slap the ball the other way well while being a good bunter. His speed is slightly above average stealing fourteen bases this year compared to seven caught stealing.
Obviously to keep progressing up the ladder he is going to have to show a little more doubles and triples power to have enough offensive value to be more than a defensive replacement. Video during a spring training game this year.
#24 John Mora – OF
Preseason: Unranked
Age: 22 – May 31, 1993
Signed: November 2, 2011
Bats/Throws: Left/Left
Mora has been on fire for the Savannah Sand Gnats lately receiving South Atlantic League player of the week honors for July 20-26 which is icing on the cake for what has been a good season for John. He is rarely ever talked about when it comes to prospect gurus or list like the this one but its tough to ignore the season he is having. He is slashing .282/.372/.441 giving him the 7th ranked OPS in the league and 54 RBI which is 14th.
Mora has hit eighteen doubles, five homeruns (zero career before this year), and a league leading twelve triples. He had just thirteen extra base hits combined for GCL Mets and Brooklyn last season. He has modest speed having stole eleven bases while being caught ten times this year.He has a good eye at the plate supported by his lifetime .385 OBP and his 51/62 BB/BO this year.
John can play all three outfield position logging 23 games in LF, 53 in CF, and 19 in RF this year with 179 of his 284 career games in center field. He has a good arm picking up 12 outfield assists this year with four coming at each outfield spot.
In 2013 he was awarded the Mets Sterling Award (MVP) when he played for the Dominican Summer League Mets1 and the same award in 2014 when playing for the Gulf Coast League Mets. Mora is the type of player that doesn’t have the physical skills that jump out at you but works hard and is always hustling. He is a little old for the SAL and it would be good to see him get some at bats in St. Lucie before the year is done. Video of a clutch 9th inning homerun.
#23 Logan Verrett – RHP
Preseason: Unranked
Age: 25 – June 19th, 1990
Drafted: 3rd round in 2011
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
It has been a roller coast ride for Logan over the last year, he was somewhat surprisingly being left exposed to the Rule 5 draft and subsequently being chosen by the Baltimore Orioles on December 11th. He pitched well for the O’s in the spring with a 1.93 ERA in 14 innings but was placed on waivers in a roster crunch.
He was claimed by the Texas Rangers just in time to make a start against the Mets in his only spring appearance for them. Logan was on the Rangers Opening Day roster but struggled for Texas giving up six earned runs in 9 innings of relief before being desnated for assignment. He returned to the Mets on May 4th and was placed on the Las Vegas 51’s roster where he pitched all of 2014.
Logan would make his Mets debut on June 18th vs. the Blue Jays pitching two perfect innings with four strikeouts. Overall in 6 games for the Mets he went 12.1 innings allowing only one run on four hits, four walks, and struck out twelve. He was sent down to stretch back out as a starting pitcher and has made three straight starts for the 51’s. In Vegas this year he has a 3.48 ERA and 1.205 WHIP in 44 AAA innings.
We should see Logan back up with the Mets very soon possibly making a spot start or two down the stretch to extend some of the young arms. Video of his first pro save.
#22 David Thompson – 3B
Age: 21 – August 28, 1993
Drafted: 4th round in 2015 (38th RD 2012 by Yankees)
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
David broke Alex Rodriguez‘s homerun and RBI records at Westminister Christian High School in Miami Florida, he also broke the Florida prep homerun record that was previously set by Prince Fielder. If that wasn’t enough he threw for over 2,000 yards with 31 combined touchdowns as the schools quarterback. He was the nations Division I level RBI leader this year with 90 in 67 games.
For Miami in 2015 he hit .328/.434/.640 with 18 doubles, 19 homeruns, 90 RBI, and a 43/29 BB/SO while hitting a homerun every 13.3 at bats. He got off to a fast start in his pro career hitting .349/.348/.419 with six RBI in his first 12 games. The offensive production has slowed since and is hitting .233/.275/.357 with five doubles, two triples, three homeruns, two stolen bases, and seventeen RBI for the year with the Brooklyn Cyclones.
David has had two surgeries to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder which has depleted his arm strength leading some to belief he ends up at first base or left field. He has six errors in 37 games for Brooklyn and played some first base in his college career. Here is video of him taking batting practice with Cyclones.
#21 L.J. Mazzilli – 2B
Preseason: Unranked
Age: 24 – September 6, 1990
Drafted: 4th round in 2013 (9th RD 2012 by Twins)
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
L.J. missed the first 50 games of this season due to failing a drug test for the second time for a “drug of abuse”. Since returning he has struggled with the bat hitting .250/.327/.317 with thirteen doubles, one triple, and zero homeruns. He has also knocked in ten runs and stole three bases in 56 games for Binghamton.
He is coming off a great 2014 when he hit .301/.361/.440 with twelve homeruns, fourteen stolen bases, and 79 RBI over three different levels. Mazzilli has played almost exclusively second base this year with one game at third base when he was in St. Lucie. His defense has improved at second, showing better range this year and an average arm.
When I saw him first hand he showed off good power in batting practice but has had a tough time this season getting that to translate to the game. He has an advanced approach at the plate not swinging at pitches out of the zone. He needs to start being more aggressive when ahead in the count and attack when he gets his pitch.
The Mets have some good depth up the middle right now specifically 2B, but L.J. has all the tools to be a MLB bench piece at worst. Here is video of a double to conclude a four hit night.
