JAYCE BOYD TOPS THE LIST
With the amount of promising prospects that have come up through the Mets system recently, many fans have become more focused on the minor leagues. Many view the exciting crop of young players the Mets currently possess as a sign that the team will soon escape mediocrity, so the elite prospects have garnered a lot of attention. However, the Mets also possess a lot of other solid prospects that are underrated by many fans and even some analysts. Here are the top five underrated position players in the Mets system.
- Travis Taijeron: While Taijeron has usually been an older prospect for his level, he possesses impressive power potential. Taijeron dominated Florida State League pitching this season , hitting .303 with nine home runs, 20 doubles and 27 RBI in 188 at bats. His average has dropped considerably since being promoted to Double-A, but he is still hitting for a lot of power. Taijeron has 13 home runs, 16 doubles, 39 RBI and has a .486 slugging percentage in 62 games for AA Binghamton. Although there are legitimate concerns surrounding Taijeron, he provides the Mets with a powerful righthanded bat with some upside.
- Darrell Ceciliani: Ceciliani is an athletic centerfielder with an enticing combination of speed and power. Ceciliani has been a catalyst at the top of Binghamton’s lineup this season, hitting .273 while scoring 61 runs in and stealing 31 bases in 110 games. Ceciliani’s hasn’t hit for a lot of power yet, but at 6’1” 220 pounds he has the potential to hit for more power in the future. Cecelliani is regarded as solid defender in centerfield, and he is a severely underrated prospect.
- Wilfredo Tovar: With the lack of options the Mets have at SS, Wilfredo Tovar is a potential dark horse candidate to become the the starting shortstop sometime in the future. Tovar doesn’t have much power offensively, but he is a solid contact hitter and he rarely strikeouts. He has struggled to adjust to Double-A pitching, but in recent months he is starting to figure it out. The 21 year old shortstop is hitting .282/.352/.387 for Binghamton since the beginning of June, and he has four home runs and 44 runs scored in his last 238 at-bats. Defensively, Tovar projects to be a standout defender at short. Tovar has a strong and precise arm, and he has terrific range. A lot of people believe Tovar’s offense will prevent him from making an impact in the majors, but I believe he is a solid prospect because he’s an excellent defensive shortstop that has the ability to make consistent contact.
- Matt den Dekker: Many people seem to think that Den Dekker only has value because of his glove, but he does carry some offensive upside. In addition to his elite defense in center field, Den Dekker possesses great combination of power and speed. He hit 17 home runs in less than 140 games in 2012 and 2011, and also stole over 20 bases both seasons. While there are some questions about his offense, there are no questions surrounding his defense. He has fantastic range, and he makes incredibly difficult catches look routine. If he performs well in September for the Mets this season, a platoon with him and Juan Lagares is definitely something the Mets should consider next season.
- Jayce Boyd: Jayce Boyd ranks as the most underrated prospect in the system because he’s had a phenomenal season for St. Lucie and Savannah, yet he doesn’t seem to receive a lot of recognition. Overall, Boyd is hitting .325 with 9 home runs, 80 RBI and a .405 on base percentage in 119 games this season. Even though Boyd has hit only nine home runs this year, he does possess plenty of power potential. Boyd stands at 6’3” 185 pounds, and he is someone scouts always thought can hit for a lot of power. Not only is Boyd a serious threat with the bat, but he also plays superior defense at first base. Boyd was rated as the best defensive first baseman in the South Atlantic League by Baseball America this season, and he was regarded as an excellent defender coming out of college. A shoulder injury has slowed Boyd down recently, but he is an intriguing prospect that has a very bright future in the Mets organization.
While all these prospects have some flaws, they deserve a lot more recognition going forward because of their potential and their performances this season. All of these players aren’t far away from the majors, so they all could potentially be up here relatively soon.
To get the most comprehensive coverage of the Mets minor league system on the web, make sure to pay Mets Minors a visit!
