Beat reporter Lynn Worthy, who does a fantastic job covering the Binghamton Mets for PressConnects.com, spoke with Mets Director of Player Development Dicky Scott about the state of the Mets system.
“We’ve actually got to the point where if we need players at the major-league level, we have guys (at Triple-A) who can go up there and fill in,” Scott said.
Scott mentioned Kevin Plawecki, Dilson Herrera, Matt Reynolds, Noah Syndergaard, and Steven Matz as prospects who have already come up to help the big league team or are ready when the Mets need them.
Winning in the minor leagues is great, Scott said, but it’s “putting guys in the big leagues” that’s the mark of a successful organization.
Scott also told Worthy that Brandon Nimmo will be promoted to Triple-A at some point this season and that Michael Conforto will “likely be in Binghamton relatively soon.”
Conforto, 22, is batting .293 with four doubles, six home runs, 15 runs scored, and 21 RBIs in 29 games for St. Lucie.
The 10th overall pick in last June’s draft, Conforto has dominated in the Florida State League and has a .357 on-base percentage and a .839 OPS.
“He opened everybody’s eyes in spring training,” Scott said.
In my opinion, Conforto could become that true difference-maker the Mets have lacked. If he continues to produce and move through the system as he has, there’s no question in my mind that he’ll be in left field for the Mets at some point in 2016.
Side Note:
I came across this exchange in Baseball America’s chat last week.
M.H (Rochester, NY): Is it too early to be concerned about Mets Dominic Smith or is he a case of a 19 year-old pressing in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League?
Ben Badler: Very troubling. I liked Smith coming out of the draft, but when the lack of game power and general offensive production from a first baseman is that glaring, that’s a huge red flag.
