Sandy Alderson predicted Nimmo would open 2015 manning center field at Triple-A Las Vegas, according to a report by Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. He is also going to get continued playing time left field.
Alderson wasn’t concerned by Nimmo’s pedestrian numbers in the AFL which he says were the result of exhaustion after a long season. Nimmo will get some much needed rest now and will report to big-league camp next spring training.
Baseball Prospectus recently listed Brandon Nimmo as a one of their potential breakout candidates for next season. Players eligible for this classification are already solid prospects, but they are not viewed as one of the best prospects in the game just yet. Here is what they had to say:
His eligibility for this category is debatable. Having been a first round pick in 2011 and having played in the 2013 Futures Game puts him into consideration for the Blue Chip group.
The approach was much more advanced than expected from a 21-year-old who grew up in Wyoming. The approach is enhanced by impressive spin and location recognition, which allow him to execute his plan effectively. The swing is smooth and easy with above-average bat speed and loose strength. He shows above-average batting practice power and has a frame that can handle additional strength before cutting into his above-average athleticism.
I didn’t get to see him play center field but the reports have been optimistic about his long-term future there, and his play in left field did nothing to indicate otherwise. The separation between Nimmo and the Blue Chip prospects group is the lack of an elite carrying tool. As an overall prospect Nimmo is very solid across the board, with a realistic projection of five average or better tools. His performance in the upper levels of the minors should begin to catch up to his physical ability in 2015.
In a recent interview with MMO’s John Bernhardt, Sandy Alderson also had a lot of positive things to say about Nimmo.
There are several qualities that I think distinguish Brandon. One is his commitment to excellence, if you will. He’s a tremendously competitive individual. He takes his preparation very seriously. He has grown physically very impressively over the last couple of years through offseason workouts.
He has an approach that’s very consistent with what we try to promote, which is selectivity at the plate. Being aggressive with good judgment, I guess, is how we look at it — getting a good pitch to hit. If anything, at Binghamton, I think he began to demonstrate a little more power, which we think he has. There may be a little trade-off between his discipline at the plate and his ability to turn on the ball, but I think that’s something that’s coming. He’s a very committed guy.
This season Nimmo batted .278 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI in 127 games split between Double-A Binghamton and High-A St.Lucie. Baseball Prospectus and MLB.com both ranked Nimmo as the third best prospect in the Mets system.
Could 2015 be the year Nimmo leaps from top prospect to elite prospect status? Furthermore, is there a chance he can make his major league debut late next season, perhaps a September call-up? There are many of us on MMO believe that Nimmo is going to have that huge breakthrough next season.
(Updated 11/13)
