Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

No. 11 Kevin Smith, LHP

B/T: R/L Age: 22 (5/13/1997)
Height: 6’5″ Weight: 200 lbs
Acquired: Drafted in the 7th round of the 2018 MLB Draft
ETA: 2021 Previous Rank: 13
2019 Stats: 3.15 ERA, 1.256 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, 10.0 K/9, 3.23 FIP

After an impressive debut season, Smith experienced his first big test in 2019 with his first full season in professional baseball.

Smith has certainly fallen under the radar compared to some of the Mets’ other top prospects, but he will quickly build a name for himself if he can continue having seasons like he did last year. Despite has tall frame, he is not overpowering, as his fastball will not top much higher than the low 90s, but he still has the ability to be dominant with his deceptive delivery and 3/4 arm slot.

Baseball Savant’s scouting report on Smith notes that “Smith’s extension along with his long arm action on the backside makes him difficult to time, let alone square up, and he’s had no problems carving up hitters on both sides of the plate early in his career.”

It also describes his main two pitches: his high spin rate fastball and late-biting slider. Despite not overwhelming with velocity, the high spin rate Smith is able to produce is effective in inducing swings and misses. Smith is also working on a changeup, and with some more refining of that pitch, he could become even more dangerous.

Below is a video taken by MMN’s own Ernest Dove of Smith recording a strikeout on opening night of last season.

The Mets took somewhat of a chance on Smith, slating in him as a starter for St. Lucie after he had only started three games in his career for Brooklyn. However, this decision paid off, as Smith posted a 3.05 ERA with 10.7 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 over 17 starts. This earned him a promotion to Binghamton, where he posted a 3.45 ERA over his final six starts of the season.

Smith certainly passed his first test as a starter, so the next step will be to see if he can continue to have sustained success at the Double-A level, and hopefully, he will see time in Triple-A Syracuse in 2020. If he really thrives, there’s a slim chance he could make his major league debut this year, but the more likely scenario is that we will see him in orange and blue at some point in 2021.

While David Peterson has been the Mets’ left-handed pitching prospect who has gotten the most attention, Smith has the potential to be just as good or possibly even better. His ceiling is likely that of a number three or four starter, while his floor could be an eventual transition to a relief role.

Regardless, his progression will be fun to watch this year, as the Mets will look to see if he can carry his success into the higher levels of the minor leagues.

Previous Rankings

12 Franklyn Kilome – RHP

13 Jordan Humphreys – RHP

14 Junior Santos – RHP

15 Carlos Cortes – 2B

16 Freddy Valdez – OF

17 Adrian Hernandez – CF

18 Dedniel Nunez – RHP 

19 Alexander Ramirez – OF

20 Ali Sanchez – C

25-21 Led by Jaylen Palmer

30-26 Led by Ryley Gilliam

The post MMO Top 30 Mets Prospects: No. 11 Kevin Smith, LHP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

No. 18 Dedniel Nunez, RHP

B/T: R/R Age: 23 (6/5/1996)
Height: 6’2” Weight: 180 lbs
Acquired: International Free Agent in 2016 (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic)
ETA: 2021 Previous Rank: N/A
2019 Stats: 80 IP, 4.39 ERA, .239 AVG, 1.20 WHIP, 94 K, 2.91 FIP

Dedniel Nunez struggled to being his career with a 4.55 ERA over 85 innings in his first two pro seasons. He had allowed 89 hits and struck out 82 batters between rookie level Gulf Coast League Mets and Kingsport Mets. There was little to no buzz about him as a pitching prospect to look out for.

Then minor league camp in 2019 happened, he was creating quite a buzz. He was one of the first pitchers anyone wanted to talk about when asked who was standing out in camp. His fastball added a few ticks, his slider was getting more late break, and he had filled out his 6’2” frame (the 180 pounds noted above is wrong, but what is listed everywhere). This was enough for the Mets to have him skip Brooklyn and head to full season ball in Columbia.

The right-handed starter came out of camp backing up the chatter with 33 strikeouts compared to only three walks in 22 1/3 innings with the Fireflies. He held opponents to a .175/.224/.288 slash line while throwing strikes 70% of the time.

Nunez earned himself a quick promotion to the Advanced-A St. Lucie Mets. His ERA was high (4.53) there in 12 starts over 57 2/3 innings, though he had a 3.12 FIP (.339 BABIP) and allowed only three home runs. The Dominican still struck out 9.52 per nine innings as well and his overall 27.8 strikeout percentage (Kevin Smith second at 27.2%) was tops among 22 Mets minor league pitchers with at least 80 innings pitched last year. His 13.2 swinging strike percentage was tied for second best.

One thing to keep in mind with Nunez is that he pitched 80 innings in 2019, that doubled his career-high and was shutdown for the season in July. All indications are he’s 100% ready for spring training in 2020.

The velocity on his four-seamer was up to 96 mph this year, while sitting 90-93. It’s been noted for its high spin rate and vertical movement. His best secondary is a 11-5 curveball in the low 80’s that he has a ton of confidence in.

Third pitch is a changeup that he rarely throws given its inconsistent command and movement. Though, at times in 2019, I saw him get significant arm-side fade on his changeup. The development of this pitch will be a big key in whether his future is a starter or a reliever. Also mixes in a hard slider at 86-87.

Nunez has a good frame for a pitcher with strong legs and backside, he’s athletic on the mound and repeats his motion well. Uses a three quarter arm slot and has a consistent release point on all of his pitches.

Big reason for the success of Nunez in 2019 was his control (2.59 BB/9) and his ability to keep the ball in the park (0.56 HR/9).

I would expect to see Nunez start the season in the Double-A rotation.

Previous Rankings

19 Alexander Ramirez – OF

20 Ali Sanchez – C

25-21 Led by Jaylen Palmer

30-26 Led by Ryley Gilliam

The post MMO 2020 Top 30 Mets Prospects: No. 18 Dedniel Nunez, RHP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jaylen Palmer/Photo by Allen Greene Photography

25. Daison Acosta, RHP

B/T: R/R Age: 21 (08/24/1998)
Height: 6’2” Weight: 160
Acquired: International Free Agent (07/2016) $70K
ETA: 2022  Previous Rank: N/A
2019 Stats (Brooklyn, Columbia): 3.06 ERA 1.28 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9, 9.4 K/9, 3.72 FIP

At No. 25 we have starting pitcher Daison Acosta. He began the year in Brooklyn and showed immediate success at the level, with an impressive 0.98 ERA and 12.3 K/9 in four games. After this short stint, Acosta was promoted to Class-A Columbia, where he would play the remainder of the season. In 11 starts, Acosta posted a 3.78 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and struck out 49 batters over 52.1 innings.

Acosta is a lanky righty that is up to 95 mph with his four-seamer. His best secondary pitch is a curve that he has good feel for, the mostly 11-5 offering gets swings and misses. The youngsters body type and smooth delivery suggest he could still add velocity. He throws a change that has some late break, though inconsistent. Also looked like he was working on a low 80s slider in 2019.

Acosta worked on keeping the ball low in 2019, he allowed only four home runs in 70 innings and his fly ball rate in Columbia was 33%. Video Link

24. Michel Otanez, RHP

B/T: R/R Age: 22 (07/03/1997)
Height: 6’3” Weight: 215
Acquired: International Free Agent (07/2016) $35K
ETA: 2022  Previous Rank: N/A
2019 Stats (Kingsport and Cyclones): 3.14 ERA 1.27 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9, 10.o K/9

At No. 24, we have another promising young starting pitcher, Michel Otanez. The big bodied right-hander began the year in Kingsport where he started seven games, posting an 3.31 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. He allowed only 26 hits and 11 walks compared to 44 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings.

These impressive numbers warranted him a promotion to Brooklyn, during their playoff run. Otanez posted a 2.97 ERA in 30 innings for Brooklyn, but saw his walk rate spike to 5.0 and his K/9 reduced to 7.7.

Overall, Otanez improved significantly from a disappointing 2018. Otanez – who has always been a prospect to keep an eye given high velocity – was able to command his fastball better in his second season after Tommy John surgery. His fastball had been up 97 mph post-surgery (99 beforehand) and also gets glove-side run. He throws two breaking balls, one harder at 81-83 and one slower at 76-78, neither are consistent. Video Link

23. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP

B/T: L/L Age: 25 (07/08/1994)
Height: 6’5 Weight: 220
Acquired: Waiver Claim from the Twins (11/04/2019)
ETA: 2020  Previous Rank: N/A
2019 Stats (AAA): 4.15 ERA 1.23 WHIP 4.8 BB/9 14.5 K/9 4.83 FIP

Stephen Gonsalves was claimed by the Mets off waivers in late 2019. Gonsalves was once the Twins top pitching prospect and was ranked No. 78 in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects back in 2018. Gonsalves missed significant time in 2019, battling a lingering elbow strain.

In just eight performances across three minor league levels, Gonsalves posted a 4.15 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.  Like much of his career, however, Gonsalves struggled with walks, walking seven batters in 13 innings. The former fourth round pick walked 22 in 24 big league innings back in 2018.

During his big league stint he averaged 89.8 mph with his four-seamer with about league average spin. While working with Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson in Spring Training last season, Gonsalves was hitting 93 with his fastball. His changeup has consistently been his best secondary pitch, he has shown the ability to control it down in the zone and the pitch gets good sink.

Also throws a slider in the mid-80s and a slow curveball, both he struggled to throw for strikes in 2019. Gonsalves’ lanky arms and three-quarter arm slot allow him to hide the well. Gonsalves needs to prove that he can throw strikes consistently at the big league level, which could result in him being a solid pickup for the Mets. Video Link 

22. Jose Butto, RHP

B/T: R/R Age: 21 (03/19/1998)
Height: 6’1 Weight: 160
Acquired: International Free Agent (06/2017)
ETA: 2022  Previous Rank: #47
2019 Stats (Columbia): 3.62 ERA 1.17 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9, 8.8 K/9, 3.43 FIP

In his first full season, Butto impressed with only 31 walks in in 112 innings with the Class-A Columbia Fireflies. His 3.43 FIP was tied for third best in the South Atlantic League. Only left-handed pitching prospect David Peterson (13.7%) had a higher swinging strike percentage than Butto’s 13.2 in 2019.

Not only did Butto show above average control (2.5 BB/9) in 2019, but he also posted a low 0.64 HR/9. Butto uses an easy, athletic delivery that allowed him to be consistently in the strike zone last season. He throws from three quarters with a strong drop and drive towards home plate. He’s also known for being a fiery competitor on the mound.

Butto uses a four-seamer in the low 90’s that has been up to 94 mph. His best secondary is a changeup that he uses in any count and was a good two-strike pitch for him in 2019. Baseball America called it the best changeup in the Mets system. Mixes in a short curve in high 70’s and slider that lacks movement in low 80’s. Command and control are his calling cards, but his fastball is very flat right now. Video Link

21. Jaylen Palmer, INF

B/T: R/R Age: 19 (07/31/2000)
Height: 6’3 Weight: 195
Acquired: Drafted in 22nd Round of the 2018 MLB Draft
ETA: 2024  Previous Rank: N/A
2019 Stats (Kingsport): .260/.344/.413, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 111 wRC+

Here we have a toolsy infielder (and one of my personal favorites), Jaylen Palmer. At the ripe age of 19, Palmer was the fourth youngest hitter in the Appalachian League and posted an impressive slash line of .260/.344/.413. Baseball America ranked him as the No. 10 prospect in the Appalachian League last season.

Palmer is an extremely raw and aggressive power orientated hitter who still has plenty of work to do when it comes to plate discipline and pitch selection. His 91 mph exit velocity was tied for the best among list Mets prospects in 2019 with third basemen Mark Vientos and Brett Baty.

The Flushing native struck out a whopping 39.1% of the time despite having above average bat speed. He has a long swing with significant loft, combined with poor plat discipline results in the high strikeouts.

The athletic, quick twitch infielder played 33 games at third base and 30 games at shortstop in 2019. Speed, strong arm, and athleticism had him as an average defender at both spots. Video Link

Previous Rankings

30-26 Led by Ryley Gilliam

The post MMO 2020 Top 30 Mets Prospects: Palmer Leads Raw 25-21 Group appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Here is his breakdown of the Mets’ highly ranked farm.

Biggest jump: Marcos Molina, RHP (2014: Unranked | 2015: 9)

Biggest fall: Domingo Tapia, RHP (2014: 15 | 2015: Unranked)

Breakdown by ETA
2015: 12
2016: 5
2017: 6
2018: 7

Best tools:

Hit: Michael Conforto (55)

Power: Conforto (60)

Run: Champ Stuart (80)

Arm: Amed Rosario (65)

Defense: Milton Ramos (65)

Fastball: Noah Syndergaard (70)

Curveball: Syndergaard (60)

Slider: Dario Alvarez  (60)

Changeup: Akeel Morris (60)

Control: Gabriel Ynoa (60)

How they were built
Draft: 20
International: 7
Trade: 2
Free agent: 1

Breakdown by position
C: 1
1B: 1
2B: 2
3B: 1
SS: 4
OF: 5
RHP: 12
LHP: 4

Thoughts: It’s not surprising to see Conforto given the top hit and power tool. He is the best pure hitter the Mets have in the minors, and he can move up the system very quickly. Conforto batted .331 with 3 home runs in 42 games for Brooklyn last season.

On the pitching side, Syndergaard is an obvious choice for the best fastball and curve. However, it’s nice to see under the radar pitchers like Morris, Alvarez and Ynoa get some recognition for their abilities.

While Tapia had the biggest fall last season, I wouldn’t be so quick to count him out just yet. Despite his disappointing performance, Tapia has an explosive mid-to-high 90’s fastball with excellent sink. Tapia can still put it all together someday, and he’s someone who might find success if he’s transitioned into a relief role.

The post Breaking Down MLB’s Top Mets Prospects appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

No. 15 – Milton Ramos, SS

Age: 19
Height: 5’11
Weight: 158
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Last Year: Not Ranked

Synopsis: When the Mets drafted Milton Ramos in the 3rd round of the 2014 draft they knew they were getting a slick fielding shortstop whose glove alone could carry him to the majors. What they’re hoping is that he can develop into is something more.

Upon signing, Ramos was sent to the Mets Gulf Coast affiliate where he would play 51 games, splitting time between shortstop and second base. He slashed just .241/.299/.355 in 185 plate appearances and notched 14 extra-base hits without a home run.

Nobody doubts his glove which has the potential to be special, showing world class range and an above average arm. However some question if he’ll ever hit enough to reach the majors. His swing currently has far too many moving parts, but there’s ability there and he’s plenty athletic enough to make the adjustments necessary. If he can turn himself into just an average hitter– or even a notch below– he can be an everyday player who provides enough value with his glove to earn his keep.

Best Case: Everyday shortstop; lower half of the order hitter; gold glove caliber defense.

ETA: 2019

No. 14 – Akeel Morris, RP

Age: 22
Height: 6’1
Weight: 170
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Last Year: Not Ranked

Synopsis: After struggling with control and durability issues as a starter, the Mets shifted Akeel Morris to the pen in 2012 and the move immediately paid dividends, as the former 10th round pick has turned into one of the minors most dominant relievers.

Morris pitched all of 2014 for the Mets Single-A affiliate in Savannah, where he simply humiliated the league. In 57 innings the right-hander allowed just four earned runs, leading to an eye-popping 0.63 ERA. He fanned 89 hitters on the season and walked 22 to go along with his 16 saves for the Sand Gnats.

The Virgin Islands native isn’t the most dominating physical presence on the mound, but he lets his stuff do the talking. Morris attacks hitters with a fastball that sits 93-95 and has touched the upper 90’s. Once he’s set you up with the fastball he goes to his best offering, a low 80’s changeup that features great deception as a plus offering. The 22-year will mix in a slider to keep hitters honest, but it’s an average offering at best.

Best Case: Closer for the first-division team.

ETA: 2016

No. 13 – Gabriel Ynoa, SP

Age: 21
Height: 6’2
Weight: 158
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Last Year: #17

Synopsis: Gabriel Ynoa is a pitcher who thrives off of his control, and has steadily climbed through the minors with success at each stop. He’s never going to be a guy the scouts drool over, but he’s a solid pitcher with a major league floor.

The 21-year old Ynoa started off 2014 by making 14 starts for the Mets High-A affiliate in the Florida State League. He was then promoted to Double-A Binghamton where he made another 11 starts. In total the righty tossed 148.1 innings to the tune of a 4.07 ERA. He struck out 106 batters and walked just 25 in that span.

As previously stated, Ynoa isn’t going to blow up any radar guns or flash stuff that’s going to make your hair stand up. However he’s improved at every stop despite consistently being young for each league. He throws a low-90’s fastball that has solid sinking action to it. He compliments the fastball with his best offering, a changeup with good fade and deception– flashing plus potential. His third offering is a slider which is solid-average with room for improvement. His delivery is sound, compact and should promote durability.

Best Case: Back-end starter; reliable innings eater.

ETA: 2016

No. 12 – Gavin Cecchini, SS

Age: 21
Height: 6’1
Weight: 180
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Last Year: #11

Synopsis: Gavin Cecchini the younger brother of Red Sox top prospect Garin Cecchini, was a first round pick in 2012 who perhaps hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations set for a player drafted in the first 15 selections.

The younger Cecchini brother split 2014 between Low-A Savannah and High-A St. Lucie and even got a handful of AB’s in Double-A Binghamton. In all, he hit .247/.328/.378 with 27 doubles and eight home runs in 126 games. He also swiped 10 bases in 14 tries.

As a prospect there’s nothing flashy about Cecchini. You won’t find any 7’s on his scouting report. However he’s a solid player with great instinct for both his position and the game in general. He’s got a solid hit tool with a good approach at the plate and improving power that should eventually grade out above-average as a shortstop. Defensively he’s a sound shortstop who will make the routine plays and should stick at the position. As you can see, a lot of solid’s throughout his report, which is a perfect description for him.

Best Case: Everyday shortstop on a second-division team.

ETA: 2016

No. 11 – Dominic Smith, 1B

Age: 19
Height: 6’0
Weight: 185
Bats/Throws: Left/Left
Last Year: #4

Synopsis: Another high profile first-round pick for the Mets (11th overall in 2013) who hasn’t yet lived up to the billing. However Dominic Smith is still very, very young and has the ability to breakout.

Smith played all of 2014 in the Sally League for the Mets Low-A affiliate in Savannah. In 126 games he hit .271/.344/.338 with just one home run and 26 doubles. He drew 51 walks and struck out 77 times.

The big first basemen out of California failed to meet many peoples expectations in 2014– his first full season as a professional. His power numbers were almost non-existent, although Savannah is a nightmare for hitters. The sweet-swinging lefty often looked off balance and overmatched in his at bats. However there’s plenty of hope for Smith. Scouts anticipate that he should hit for high averages at a pro, but will likely be more of a gap hitter than one who mashes home runs. He has a good approach at the plate for someone his age, and should draw plenty of walks as a pro which will lead to high OBP’s. Defensively he grades out as plus, but his big body could inhibit his range as he grows.

Best Case: Starting first basemen; middle of the order hitter.

ETA: 2018

MMO Top 25 Prospects, 25-21

MMO Top 25 Prospects, 20-16

2015 MMO TOP 25 PROSPECTS

25. Cesar Puello, OF
24. Robert Whalen, RHP
23. Michael Fulmer, RHP
22. Matthew Bowman, RHP
21. Champ Stuart, OF
20. Jack Leathersich, LHP
19. Casey Meisner, RHP
18. Wuilmer Becerra, RF
17. Cory Mazzoni, RHP
16. Matt Reynolds, SS
15. Milton Ramos, SS
14. Akeel Morris, RHP
13. Gabriel Ynoa, RHP
12. Gavin Cecchini, SS
11. Dominic Smith, 1B
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.

The post 2015 MMO Top 25 Prospects: Numbers 11-15 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

An MMO Fan Shot by Jason Bay

The case for Josh Bell as I see it is threefold.

1) The longstanding belief that it is having many good players together for as much of their careers as possible, all at the same time that is the critical difference in how high a team can rise. (Think Rollins, Utley, Howard)

2) Combining Bell with Brandon Nimmo is a perfect fit as they compliment each other very well whether it be in the lineup together or splitting time in certain circumstances .

3) It’s an opportunity of being able to acquire Bell without having to move any of our young high end pitching, namely Harvey, deGrom, Wheeler, Syndergaard and Matz. The immediate needs of the Pirates are such that we can add Bell without worrying about raising payroll or moving any of our prized arms.

Platoon splits for left-handed hitters in the minors do not always hold up when reaching the majors and in Nimmo’s case there is some cause for concern.

Nimmo vs. LHP

Career – .220/.331/.298, 24.2 K/9, 11.8 BB/9

2014 AA – .152/.278/.239, 22.0 K/9, 13.8 BB/9

2014 A+ – .333/.435/.417, 16.5 K/9, 12.9 BB/9

Let’s see how the switch-hitting Bell compares…

Bell vs. LHP

Career – .300/.343/.450, 11.2 K/9, 6.0 BB/9

2014 AA – .295/.354/.341, 8.3 K/9, 8.3 BB/9

2014 A+ – .320/.333/.495, 10.6 K/9, 2.9 BB/9

What this tells me is that if Nimmo does not hit LHP in the majors, Bell’s presence allows us to get the production we need from one outfield spot the 30-40 times a year we face a left-handed starting pitcher.

When we face a righthander however, is where the benefit of adding Bell really kicks in because in this case we would have both in the lineup together (Approx.120-130 starts)

Bell vs. RHP

Career – .298/.363/.449, 17.5 K/9, 9.1 BB/9
2014 AA – .280/.333/.280, 14.8 K/9, 17.4 BB/9
2014 A+ – .341/.396/.504, 12.1 K/9, 8.6 BB/9

As you can see in limited play (94 AB) the power did not show up for Bell in AA but here is where Nimmo compliments Bell if his weaker side power doesn’t develop.

Nimmo vs. RHP

Career – .287/.409/.440, 23.3 K/9, 16.1 BB/9
2014 AA – .291/.379/.493, 17.6 K/9, 12.4 BB/9
2014 A+ – .316/.454/.477, 19.1 K/9, 20.1 BB/9

What you have in Bell and Nimmo are two players who together can be a real force in the lineup and who individually cover the others potential flaws. An outfield with Juan Lagares and Michael Conforto (plus a RH compliment to Conforto) would afford the opportunity to start three right-handed hitters or three left-handed hitters in the outfield anytime we wanted with the ability to double switch and strategize later in the game, utilizing all five outfielders in situations that accentuate their strengths and bypass their potential weaknesses.

Bell also has the arm for right field, something we do not currently have in-house unless Cesar Puello somehow comes through. And If we did execute a trade for Bell, Cesar could get his shot this year as a platoon right fielder while Bell continues to develop.

Having at the least Lagares, Bell, Nimmo and Granderson followed by Conforto does give us four outfielders which in case of injury to one wouldn’t hurt and would be a godsend in the event Conforto does not have the range to play the outfield.

The reason I think this is potentially doable is pure opportunity. Pittsburgh has Edinson Volquez and Francisco Liriano most likely departing the starting rotation as free agents and Russell Martin leaving a void behind the plate as well. They also have outfielders in abundance in Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Austin Meadows on the way.

Here’s one possible suggestion. We can offer Jon Niese, Dillon Gee (or Bartolo Colon), Kevin Plawecki and Wilmer Flores (or Daniel Murphy) in exchange for Josh Bell and RF Keon Broxton (ETA 2015),  C Reese McGuire (ETA 2017) and CF/LF Harold Ramirez (ETA 2017).

Flores or Murphy can takeover at 3B and allow Pedro Alvarez to move to 1B, and we can kick in some money to help cover part of Niese’s or Colon’s salary if necessary.

It does leave us a little bare behind the plate in case of injury, and of course means SS comes down to a competition between Tejada, Tovar and Reynolds while we await Cecchini or Rosario. But the deal would certainly accomplish the Pirates’ offseason goals and pretty much solidifies the Mets outfield for many years to come in the most impactful way possible.

It also gets us a top notch catching prospect who hits left-handed to boot, and more importantly, maintains all of our elite young pitching.

The OF in 2016 at some point would be:

LF Grandy, Nimmo
CF Lagares, Nimmo
RF Bell, Nimmo

What do you think?

* * * * * * * *

This Fan Shot was contributed by Jason Bay. Have something you want to say about the Mets? Share your opinions with over 30,000 Met fans who read this site daily. Send your Fan Shot to FanShot@MetsmerizedOnline.com. Or ask us about becoming a regular contributor.

The post MMO Fan Shot: A Case For Pursuing Pirates Prospect Josh Bell appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jayce Boyd, First Base

Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6’3″ Weight: 185 lb.
Position: First Base
Age: 23 (Happy Birthday, Jayce!)
ETA: 2015
2013 MMO Top Prospect Rank: NR

Boyd was selected in the sixth round of the 2012 draft out of Florida State University. He played both third and first base while attending FSU, and put up very impressive college numbers. He ended his career at FSU with a .349 average, 20 home runs, and 160 RBI. He was a second team All-American in 2012, and after deciding to forego his senior season at FSU, he signed with a Mets and received a $150,000 signing bonus.

The post Prospect Pulse: Jayce Boyd Will Be In The Mix In 2015 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

I thought it would be cool to look back at one of my very first Prospect Pulse pieces that I did here on MMO from about a year ago. It was on the Mets’ current centerfielder Juan Lagares.

I remember when I first wrote this, I didn’t think Lagares had a shot at getting to the big leagues until 2014 at the earliest. Matt den Dekker seemed to be all the talk headed into spring training for 2013, and I was definitely down with MDD at the time. Juan Lagares surprised many, and has become the perfect example of how you don’t always find guys that contribute to major league ball clubs ranked in the top five or ten prospects in an organization.

Enjoy.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Player Name: Juan Lagares
Bats: R  Throws: R
Height: 6’1”  Weight: 175 lb.
Position: Outfield
Age: 23 (turns 24 in March)
MMO Top Prospect Ranking: 21
ETA: 2014

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be taking an in-depth look at the prospects that will be joining the Mets in spring training as members of the 40-man roster. We are starting it off with Juan Lagares.

Background:

Lagares is what most would consider an under-the-radar type of prospect. You won’t find him on any top prospect lists, but after a very solid 2011 season, Lagares put himself on the map in the Mets organization. He split time in 2011 between Binghamton and St. Lucie and put up some pretty impressive numbers. In 470 at bats, he compiled a .338 batting average, hit 9 home runs, added 71 RBI, swiped 15 bases and finished with a .383 OBP. Yeah, that will turn some heads. His 2012 season took a bit of a dip, but he still put up some solid numbers.

Most analysts project Lagares as a left fielder, although he could probably play any of the three outfield positions. He has a nice athletic build, but seeing as he is turning 24, he probably won’t fill out much more (current weight is 175 lb.). That will limit his power numbers, but he still probably has the potential to be a 10-15 home run type of guy. Most believe his power numbers will limit him to a fourth outfielder role some day.

Analysis:

I’ve come across some scouting reports on Lagares’ hitting mechanics that have said he is ultra-aggressive at the plate. This is a cause of concern considering he isn’t much of a power guy. Lagares is a guy that has the potential to steal 20-25 bases in a season, so his goal should be to get on base as much as possible and to be ultra-patient at the plate.

After viewing the video on Lagares batting practice session above, a couple of things jumped out at me. Lagares opens his hips up slightly early, which is a tell-tale sign of over-aggressiveness at the plate. When I slowed down the video, it was very evident (not so easy to pick up during live speed). He should work on keeping his hips closed and allow the pitch to get closer to him which will make him a better overall hitter. If I were I pitcher I would pepper him with off-speed stuff on the outside half of the plate because that is probably his “cold zone.” You can actually see on the fourth or fifth pitch in his BP session how off-balance he was on an outside pitch. That is a pitch he should be driving to right-centerfield. By keeping his hips closed longer, it will allow him to drive the outside pitch, instead of taking defensive swings and fighting them off.

It also seemed like the bat head dragged through the zone. Lagares should be throwing his hands through the zone straight to the ball. Imagine a lumberjack chopping at a tree, which we don’t see with Lagares’ swing. This may not necessarily be an issue, and could just be the fact that he was trying to generate more power to put on a little show during batting practice. But his swing didn’t look very crisp in this particular BP session.

SNY took a look at Lagares last September on their Mets Minor League Report. Here is what Lagares’ coaches said about him:

It was nice to hear Binghamton manager Pedro Lopez say that Lagares can go as far as he wants to go. He also added that he believed Lagares was the best defensive centerfielder in the league last season. Lopez also stated that 2011 was a “Cinderella Season” for Lagares, and he had to live up to very lofty expectations in 2012. He may have fallen a tad short of expectation in 2012, but Lagares has a bright future. If he continues to work hard, maybe he can surpass the expectations that he will just be a fourth outfielder someday. Pedro Lopez seems to think he can. Depending on how he performs this spring, expect Lagares to begin 2013 with Triple-A Las Vegas.

The post Flashback: Prospect Pulse On Outfielder Juan Lagares appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

There were a couple of surprises when looking at Baseball America’s list of the top ten Mets’ prospects, most notably Kevin Plawecki jumping to No. 5, and players like Cesar Puello not cracking the top 10. You won’t find any major surprises on this list, as it’s pretty evenly distributed across the five NL East teams.

1. Lucas Giolito, RHP Washington Nationals

The 6’6″ right-handed Lucas Giolito was touted as one of the top pitching prospects in the 2012 MLB draft. High school pitchers who can fire the ball at 100 mph tend to be highly rated guys. Many scouts had him tabbed as the greatest high school pitching prospect ever. He is also armed with a ridiculous 12-to-6 curveball to go along with the heat.

In his first professional outing back in 2012, he was removed after experiencing some discomfort in his throwing elbow. Giolito later had Tommy John Surgery to replace a damaged UCL. He came back in 2013 pumping in triple digit fastballs–in other words, he hasn’t skipped a beat.

Giolito has the potential to be an ace and has the potential to move quickly due to his advanced stuff. 2014 will be a test for the young fireballer as his first full season back from Tommy John surgery.

ETA 2015 

2. Maikel Franco, 3B Philadelphia Phillies

Maikel Franco has pretty much shot himself out of the cannon in the Phillies organization. He was signed as an international free-agent back in 2010 out of the Dominican Republic, and should be making his Triple-A debut and possibly be a mid-season call-up.

Franco’s swing generates a ton of power, featuring a big load and very quick hands through the zone, but he can be aggressive at times. He crushed 31 home runs between the FSL and EAS leagues in 2013. For being aggressive, he doesn’t strike out as much as you would think–only 12 percent of the time in 2013. He also hits for average.

His speed will limit him to a corner infield position, and he could be primed as the heir apparent at first base behind Ryan Howard.

ETA 2014

3. Noah Syndergaard, RHP New York Mets

Syndergaard, who will turn out to be the key acquisition from the R.A. Dickey trade, is a tall and imposing figure on the mound. Standing 6’6″, he looks as if he can dunk a basketball just as easily as he can whip a fastball by a batter.

His mechanics are effortless, and the ball explodes out of his hand with his high-90s fastball. His curveball is excellent, and while there have been some knocks on his changeup in the past, it looks like it is developing nicely. He keeps hitters off-balance, and when he needs to, can blow a 96 mph fastball by the hitter.

Syndergaard will start the season with Las Vegas (AAA) and be primed for an early July call-up.

ETA 2014

4. Travis d’Arnaud, Catcher New York Mets

Travis d’Arnaud will be inheriting the starting catcher job for the New York Mets in 2014. Is the ability to be an All-Star caliber catcher there? Yes. Are there still question marks with regards to d’Arnaud? Also, a yes.

The biggest question mark hanging over d’Arnaud’s head at this point is whether he can remain healthy enough to withstand the daily rigors of being an everyday catcher in the big leagues. The catching and hitting skills are there, but he has to be on the field or those skills don’t translate to anything.

Regardless, Mets fans should be excited to have a guy on the roster that can to potentially hit .300 and pop 20-30 home runs from behind the plate in the future.

ETA 2014

5. Jake Marisnick, OF Miami Marlins

I like Jake Marisnick a little bit more than Baseball America, who had him ranked No. 3 on their recent top ten prospect list for the Miami Marlins (behind Andrew Heaney and Colin Moran). Marisnick made his major league debut last season with the Marlins, and was completely over matched by the big league pitching–there is no nicer way to put it.

He strikes out quite a bit, but he can find success by staying off the front foot and trying to drive the ball to right-center. The Marlins rushed him a bit, and I would have liked to see him spend some more time in the minor leagues polishing up his hitting. The tools are all there, and he could have benefited from more minor league at bats.

The former third round draft pick is also an excellent defender who gets excellent reads and can cover a ton of green in the outfield. If he can polish up the hitting, he profiles as the best outfield prospect in the NL East (Brian Goodwin being a close second).

ETA 2014

Here is the rest of the top ten in less detail…

6. Andrew Heaney, LHP Miami Marlins

Heaney has a silky smooth delivery. His fastball can get into the mid-90s and his slider is filthy. He also features and above average changeup.

7. Lucas Sims, RHP Atlanta Braves

A converted shortstop, he works off his fastball which sits in the low-mid 90s and is working on a changeup to go along with his mid-70s slurve.

8. Christian Bethancourt, Catcher Atlanta Braves

Mets fans will get this reference–Christian Bethancourt is basically Juan Centeno with power (maybe not as good defensively as Centeno, but you get the point). Bethancourt is an excellent defensive catcher who may be the starter in Atlanta with Brian McCann headed for free agency.

9. Rafael Montero, RHP New York Mets

If David Wright is Captain America, and Noah Syndergaard is Thor, then Rafael Montero is Hawkeye. Montero’s poise and pinpoint control make him a virtual lock for the Mets’ rotation in 2014 (barring any off-season moves).

10. Brian Goodwin, OF Washington Nationals

Brian Goodwin is a legit five tool talent. His instincts may hold him back from cashing in on those five tools and being an All-Star someday, but he should pan out to be a solid major leaguer. He has excellent speed, but there are still questions on whether he can stick in centerfield and what type of hitter he will become.

The post The Top Ten Prospects in the NL East appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Welcome to the second installment of our offseason Mets Organizational Depth Chart. Each week, we’ll take a look at the top players at each position in the Mets organization. We hope to provide fans with some insight as to what the Mets currently have at the major-league level on a position by position basis. We’ll also introduce some players you can expect to hear about from the Mets minor-leagues in the coming years.

The second part of this series will take us to first base.

MLB

Lucas Duda/Josh Satin/Ike Davis

Normally, I’d write up each player on their own — but it almost feels like we need to combine their respective talents to get a solid major league player. Duda is the most patient of the group — while Satin makes the most contact and Ike is probably the best fielder/has the most raw power. At different times, each of them has demonstrated the ability to play at a high level — but sustaining it for a long period of time is the problem. Davis frustrates me the most — you don’t hit 32 home runs by accident. I always thought he would be the star out of the group, but he failed to find himself last year. With the Mets unlikely to give Jose Abreu a serious offer, these are the names you’ll have to look forward to — and the few guys that are close in the minor league group.

On the Farm

1. Dominic Smith

Who else but Dominic Smith? Our first-round pick in 2013, Dominic Smith has the potential to turn into quite the young hitter down the line. He’s certainly not a liability on defense, considering he was once a corner outfielder, so he’ll turn into an asset at 1B defensively with a strong arm. He possesses a mature approach at the plate and could find himself moving through the system quickly, as he already made his way to Kingsport.

He started this year off slow in the GCL as he was adjusting to facing more left-handed pitching — and pitchers that used more breaking balls. However, he turned it on as the year went along, dominating August with a .372/.443/.526 slash and a 23.9% LD Rate and 12.5% Strikeout Rate (29-for-78). If I had to project him down the line, I often say he’ll turn into Todd Helton without the benefit of Coors Field — so perhaps a .280 hitter with 25-30 home runs. He could turn out to be the best first baseman the Mets have drafted in a while.

ETA: 2017

2. Allan Dykstra

Dykstra will likely play this year out in Las Vegas with the potential for a call-up looming through most of said year. The Mets are not strong at first base — and some are itching to see what Dykstra can do at the MLB level. Acquired in a trade for Eddie Kunz, he turned it on this year with a .274/.436/.503 slash — meaning he got on base almost 44% of the time. He cranked 21 long balls in just 489 plate appearances as well, and walked 102 times, which is pretty damn impressive. Dykstra likely won’t hit for a high average at the MLB level — because he strikes out too much —  but could maybe crack about 10-15 home runs with a high OBP — which would seemingly fit the organizational philosophy.

ETA: 2014 (Sept.)

3. Jayce Boyd

Boyd owned Savannah last year — in fact, at the time of his promotion to St. Lucie, he was slashing .361/.441/.494. He finished the season batting .330/.410/.461 across both levels with nine home runs in 529 plate appearances. Dykstra’s got more pop in his bat than Boyd, but Boyd makes more contact and strikes out considerably less — which explains why he has some appeal. A polished hitter through and through, Boyd could find himself moving through the system quickly and on an MLB bench. He’s got a sweet swing and when you make contact as often as he does, they’ll find a job for you somewhere.

ETA: 2015

4. Matthew Oberste

Oberste was a guy that I liked coming out of the 2013 draft — I thought he could be a sleeper pick out of that group. He still has the tools to be a solid player someday — and oddly enough, he compares well to Jayce Boyd. Boyd is the better fielder of the two, but Oberste also makes solid contact without much in the home run column. There’s a really small chance he could start hitting for some power, but it’s hard to say. I think he’s got a good swing speed-wise, but mechanically his stride is long and will leave him prone to striking out a lot. He struggled to make contact this year with just a .208 average, three home runs, and 56 strikeouts in 273 plate appearances. I’m never one to give up on a player after their first year in the pros — especially short-season — so let’s see what happens.

ETA: 2018 

5. Eric Campbell

Campbell will probably see some time with the MLB team as a bench player this season. A right-handed semi-utility bat, Campbell can play both corner infield and outfield positions in a pinch, although he seems most comfortable at first base. After injuries and some struggles in the Minors, Campbell will find himself at age-27 at the start of next season without much behind his name. He’s a good potential bench player, since he has pop in his bat (25 doubles in both ’12 and ’13) and a career average of .279. At his age, Campbell’s no longer a prospect, but with the Mets status at first base, anything is possible.

ETA:  2014

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