Mets Minor League Updates: Havens, Martinez, Lutz, Sandoval

Reese Havens

In case you missed it, second base prospect Reese Havens made the Baseball America Hot Sheet last week which highlights prospects that are excelling. After a week in which Havens batted .435/.536/.739 (10-for-23) with seven runs scored, BA writes:

In an alternate universe, a healthy Reese Havens might already have claimed the Mets’ second base job. The position was wide open this spring when Justin Turner won the job as much by default as anything else. In the real world, Havens has been notable as much for a laundry list of injuries as for his solid production whenever he’s been able to get on the field. He missed the start of this season as he continued to recover from a sore side as a result of offseason rib surgery. After he returned, Havens went on the disabled list again with back problems. In past years he’s also had elbow, groin, quad, hand and oblique injuries, which explains why he’s yet to play 100 games in any of his four pro seasons.

But when he’s healthy, as he’s been lately, Havens still has the potential to be an above-average offensive second baseman. He draws some walks, has some pop in his bat and can hit for average. If healthy, he could be in the mix for the Mets’ second base job in 2012, but the “if healthy” caveat applies more to him than almost anybody else.

Fernando Martinez

Here we go again…outfield prospect Fernando Martinez has landed himself on the disabled list again with what is being called a left wrist strain. It’s the third trip to the DL for Martinez this season who can’t seem to stay healthy for more than a month straight going all the way back to the 2007 season. Once considered the jewel of the Mets farm system and one of the top prospects in baseball, F-Mart has yet to play more than 90 games in any of his five professional seasons.