As we venture into the final ten of our countdown of the Mets top 50 prospects, we find tons of potential and a few familiar names. I would wager, that barring injuries, three of the five listed are consensus top 100 prospects in 12 months. Three of the following guys received the Mets Sterling Award which is given out for the most valuable player at each level.
#10 SS Andres Gimenez
Ht: 6’0” Wt: 165 Level: DSL Mets
B/T: L/R Age: 9/4/1998 (17) Age Dif: -1.2
Acquired: Signed as an IFA in 2015
Preseason Rank: #28
2016 Statistics: 214 AB, 52 R, 75 H, 20 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 46 BB, 22 K .350/.469/.523
Profile: I am very adamant about not scouting the stat line, and don’t get overly excited about minor league numbers without context. When it comes to players in the DSL though, all that gets thrown out the window. Typically all we have on the players there is grainy video and whispers of current scouting reports to go with box scores
In regards to Gimenez, I am fully on board the bandwagon. His numbers have backed up the original scouting reports of an advanced approach, with good bat speed, and the athleticism to stick at shortstop. When looking at the numbers, the extra base hits and the walks compared to strikeouts stand out.
Rumors were he was asked about a lot by rival GM leading up to the trade deadline. The talent is there for a top 100 place on some lists, the only thing keeping him off is the level he is at, and someone will float him in the late 90s to be the early bird. He has superstar upside.
What’s Next: It will be interesting to see where they place him, I think they challenge him with an assignment to Kingsport.
#9 CF Desmond Lindsay
Ht: 6’0” Wt: 200 Level: SS Brooklyn Cyclones
B/T: R/R Age: 1/19/1997 (19) Age Dif: -2.1
Acquired: Selected in the second round of the 2015 rule 4 draft
Preseason Rank: #7
2016 Statistics: 122 AB, 21 R, 37 H, 6 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 25 BB, 31 K, .303/.433/.451
Profile: Raw high ceiling, a baseball player that is also an athlete. The upside is there for a home grown star. Lindsay possesses all the tools needed to be an above average offensive center fielder, with the retirement of Ivan Wilson he may be the toolsiest (yes new word) of all Mets prospects
The bat speed is plus, the bat to ball skills above average, and his foot speed would probably receive his highest grade. He has also improved his fielding to the point where you can picture him staying in center fielder.
The only blemish is the hamstring injuries that resurfaced this season, (which is what probably let him fall to the Mets to begin with). He very well could have been in Columbia this season if not for the injury.
What’s Next: Columbia and if he performs, a mid-season push to St. Lucie.
#8 RHP Robert Gsellman
Ht: 6’4” Wt: 205 Level: Major League NY Mets
B/T: R/R Age: 7/18/1993 (23) Age Dif: -6.1
Acquired: Selected in the 13th round of the 2011 rule draft
Preseason Rank: #10
2016 Statistics: 4-9, 3.99 ERA, 20 games (20 starts), 115 IP, 113 H, 58 R, 51 ER, 31 BB, 88 K, 1.252 WHIP (with Vegas and Binghamton)
Majors: 2-1, 3.08 ERA, 5 games (4 starts), 26.1 IP, 27 H, 9 ER, 10 BB, 21 K, 1.41 WHIP
Profile: Well he certainly has the hair to stick in the Mets rotation. We all got to see what he can do when he was called upon to replace Jon Niese against the Cardinals.
Gsellman doesn’t strike out many batters (6.5/9 in his minor league career) but he does get outs. A ground ball pitcher who doesn’t beat himself, (though the Mets D may do him in on occasion). Gsellman will sit mid-nineties with a heavy fastball and shows good arm action on his changeup.
His slider is developing and could become a plus pitch under the tutelage of Dan Warthen. His profile is a back end of the rotation starter, though there is enough upside to go with the build of an innings eating number three.
What’s Next: NY to stay through the end of the year. His future will be dependent on the health of the others in the rotation.
#7 LHP Thomas Szapucki
Ht: 6’2” Wt: 205 Level: SS Brooklyn Cyclones
B/T: L/L Age: 6/12/1996 (20) Age Dif: -1.4
Acquired: Selected in the 5th round of the 2015 MLB rule 4 draft
Preseason Rank: #24
2016 Statistics: 4-3, 1.38 ERA, 9 games (9 starts), 52 IP, 26 H, 12 R, 8 ER, 20 BB, 86 K, 0.89 WHIP (with Kingsport and Brooklyn)
Profile: No prospect raised himself on the radar as much as Szapucki did. Another frequent name mentioned by opposing GM at the trade deadline that was thankfully rebuffed. Getting 55% of all the outs recorded via the strikeout while you are on the mound will do that. His 14.9 k/9 is easily the most dominant in all of the organization. (Noah Syndergaard is at 10.8 for comparison)
Szapucki has enough self awareness that he acknowledged he is a work in progress, finding consistency with his mechanics and has improved his changeup in the process. It has proved deadly when mixed with his north of 95 MPH fastball and a sharp curveball, some call it a slider. His profile has morphed from a lefty reliever to top of the rotation upside in less than a season.
What’s Next: Columbia to start 2017.
#6 SS Gavin Cecchini
Ht: 6’2” Wt: 200 Level: AAA Las Vegas 51s
B/T: R/R Age: 12/22/1993 (22) Age Dif: -4.5
Acquired: Selected in the 1st round, 12th overall, in the 2012 MLB rule 4 draft
Preseason Rank: #4
2016 Statistics: 446 AB, 71 R, 145 H, 27 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 55 RBI, 48 BB, 55 K .325/.390/.448
Profile: It is really unfair, that through no fault of his own, his inclusion at #6 seems anti-climatic with all the fresh names and faces. He has been around for a while, even making the MLB top 100 pre-2016 list. He has hit for a solid average over his last 1000 PA, though without much pop. (Just 69 extra base hits)
He is an instinctive player with good bat to ball skills and he owns a shortstop glove. The downside is the errors are alarming, 33 in 2016, but he is a good ball player. Just my opinion, his defensive miscues have gotten to the point where he is thinking on the field instead of trusting those instincts. His arm is not ideal for a shortstop, which lends itself to rushed throws, bad footwork, and poor positioning. All correctable once he stops over-thinking.
Everything about his game screams utility player. You may ask yourself why number 6 on the list then, because major league utility players have value especially ones who provide middle infield options.
What’s Next: He should be in the mix for 2B at the big league level next season, he will get some work there during the Arizona Fall League.
Previous Top 50 posts:
Numbers 50-41, Numbers 40-31, Numbers 30-26, Numbers 25-21, Numbers 20-16, Numbers 15-11
