MMO Top 20 Mets Prospects - #20 Danny Muno, SS

The 2011 Sterling Award winner at Brooklyn, Muno got off to as fast a start to his professional baseball career as anyone possibly could. After being drafted in the 8th round out of Fresno State this year, Muno signed quickly and was assigned to the Cyclones to be their everyday shortstop.

He was first in the New York Penn League in batting average in 2011, hitting a cool .355, while batting out of the lead-off spot for the Cyclones. The 22 year-old switch-hitter also led the league in: OBP with .466 and OPS with .980, and tied for first with 23 2B’s. He was third in the league in SLG% with .514, walks with 43, and runs scored with 45. He tied for 5th in the league in hits with 78, and was 8th in TB’s with 113.

He played four years of college baseball at Fresno State, and as a freshman in 2008, he was the starting shortstop for the National Champion Fresno State Bulldogs. Muno turned a huge double play in the bottom of the ninth inning in the championship game to bring the University of Georgia down to their final out. Moments later, in an unbelievable upset, Fresno State became the most unlikely national champion in the history of college baseball.

Muno is a “gamer”, and does all the little things it takes to win, bunting, situational hitting, moving runners over, and playing solid defense at 2B and SS. He will more than likely open the season next year as the starting shortstop at Savannah, although a jump all the way to St. Lucie and the Florida State League is not out of the realm of possibility for a player with his advanced skills and experience.

Choosing number 20 for this list was very hard. There are several deserving players that could have also sneaked into this spot. Players I have ranked just outside the Top 20 include: Cory Vaughn, Jack Leathersich, Tillman Pugh, Domingo Tapia, Tyler Pill, Logan Verrett, Albert Cordero, Taylor Whitenton, Brad Holt, Erik Goeddel and Zach Lutz. Perhaps we should have made a Top 30!

That’s something where Sandy and Omar can both be commended for. When Omar first took over, you would be hard-pressed to fill out even a Top 10 Prospect List, let alone a Top 20. But when all is said and done Muno’s fantastic pro start has planted him solidly in the Mets Top 20 for 2012.

Next Up: Number 19

My short list includes: