Record: 43-32
Top Performers / Top Prospects
- Kevin Plawecki, C: The biggest name on the B-Mets roster in the first half was definitely Kevin Plawecki, and deservedly so. The 23 year-old is having a monster season, batting .329/.376/.491 with six home runs and 18 doubles. He is second on the team in total bases and hits, continuing to prove his legitimacy at the plate. Plawecki is charging up the ranks very quickly, going from Low-A Brooklyn to knocking on the door to Triple-A in just two years. The one constant that has remained is his power. Although he isn’t putting up gaudy home run totals, the sheer number of extra base-hits is promising.
- Matt Reynolds, SS: Reynolds had a very tough time at the plate last year, when he spent most of the year (all but one game) with St. Lucie. He finished the year with a .225/.300/.355 batting line. Without any particularly flashy tools, that had many prospect pundits down on the shortstop, but he has proven his doubters wrong thus far. The former second round pick out of the University of Arkansas hit .355/.430/.422 in 58 Double-A games this year. He didn’t have outstanding power numbers, but that doesn’t matter when you’re hitting over .350. Reynolds was never seen as someone whose power would take him to the next level, but his hit tool and ability to make contact have stood out. His approach this season has paid off, walking in 12 percent of his trips to the plate and striking out 16.9 percent.
- Kyle Johnson, OF: The Mets acquired Johnson in the Collin Cowgill trade last season, and he has proven himself in his short time with the Mets. The former Washington State player is batting .291/.365/.422 in 55 games with Binghamton. To go along with that, he has a pair of home runs, 12 doubles, two triples, and eight stolen bases. It’s unlikely Johnson blossoms into a star, but he is looking more and more like he could be a valuable fourth or fifth outfielder with speed in the future.
- Dustin Lawley, LF/3B: Lawley opened some eyes last season, hitting 26 home runs between St. Lucie and LAs Vegas, but has seen mixed results this season. He has 25 extra base-hits (including eight home runs) but owns a less-than-stellar batting line of .249/.294/.428 in 63 games. The problem may lie in his strikeout numbers. Lawley has always teetered on the edge with his strikeouts and this year has been fanned in 26.4 percent of his plate appearances.
- Matt Bowman, RHP: Bowman had a very good season with St. Lucie last year and is having success again this year. The 23 year-old from Princeton University has a 3.72 ERA in 72.2 innings. As a more refined college pitcher, Bowman has moved up through the ranks rather quickly, and will likely continue to do so.
- Hansel Robles, RHP: Robles had a fantastic season a few years ago with Brooklyn, but has been largely unable to recreate that success with Binghamton this year. After posting a 3.72 ERA with St. Lucie last year, it has ballooned to 4.54 in 69.1 Double-A innings. His strikeouts are up and his hit and home run rates are about the same as last year, so he may just be seeing bad luck, but his higher FIP may tell a different story. Hopefully he can turn it around and fulfill his middle reliever projection.
Notes
- Four of the Mets top ten prospects are currently on the Binghamton roster, a testament to how the system has changed in recent years It was once thought to be a bottom-heavy organization with only a few notable prospects up top, but the 2011 and 2012 draft classes are really beginning to move up.
- The B-Mets rank second in the Eastern League in both walks and On-Base Percentage, and are currently third in total bases.
Outlook / Promotions
- Binghamton just received a big boost from five St. Lucie callups. Randy Fontanez, Dilson Herrera, Brandon Nimmo, Steven Matz, and T.J. Rivera will all make the B-Mets a fun team to watch in the second half.
- The fate of Plawecki may coincide with that of Travis d’Arnaud. It seems logical to wait until d’Arnaud is recalled to the Mets to promote Plawecki to Las Vegas, both of which could happen in the coming days.
(Photo: MiLB.com)
