Last week, Baseball America released its scouting reports on the top 10 organizational prospects on the horizon for the New York Mets and topping their list is right-handed pitching prospect Zack Wheeler. Our own Ben Yoel tweeted a copy of this month’s print issue of Baseball America with our boy Zack smack dab on the cover. Nice!
Obviously, Baseball America wrote this before the recent trade of R.A. Dickey, but here is what they had to say about the Mets farm system overall:
They have hope on the mound if Harvey and righthander Zack Wheeler, the system’s best prospect, fulfill their potential as frontline starters.
A lack of blue-chip position prospects clouds New York’s future lineup possibilities, however. Its best upper-level hitter is infielder Wilmer Flores, but he may not have enough power or defensive chops to profile as a long-term starter at any position.
Mets domestic farm clubs finished with a cumulative winning record for the third straight season, with the pitching staffs at high Class A St. Lucie, low Class A Savannah and short-season Brooklyn serving as particular highlights. All three units led their leagues in ERA, WHIP and K-BB ratio while featuring the bulk of the system’s most promising arms, including Luis Mateo, Rafael Montero and Michael Fulmer.
As for the Top 10, I think Cecchini and Nimmo should not be ranked higher than Flores. The thing with Baseball America is that every year a new guy gets the assignment for the Mets, this year it was Matt Eddy. Some of them base it on potential, others scouting, others still performance. I think a broader view that includes all three is the best way to go, but different strokes for different folks.
Their Best Tools for 2013 looks like this:
Best Hitter for Average – Wilmer Flores
Best Power Hitter – Aderlin Rodriguez
Best Strike Zone Discipline – Danny Muno
Fastest Baserunner – Alonzo Harris
Best Athlete – Bradley Marquez
Best Fastball – Domingo Tapia
Best Curveball – Zack Wheeler
Best Slider – Luis Mateo
Best Changeup – Darin Gorski
Best Control – Rafael Montero
Best Defensive Catcher – Albert Cordero
Best Defensive Infielder – Wilfredo Tovar
Best Infield Arm – Aderlin Rodriguez
Best Defensive OF – Matt den Dekker
Best Outfield Arm – Cesar Puello
