First of all, players that have already made it to the Bigs (Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber, etc.) are no longer considered ‘Mack prospects’. A ‘Mack prospect’ is someone that has the talent and ability to someday become a major league baseball player. I really don’t care if they become a Met. Prospects are prospects, and the only reason you have that tag next to your name is because experts around you think you will someday make it to the pros. Period.
Secondly, this will eliminate a lot of names (Mike Carp, Nick Evans, Brahiam Maldonado, etc.) who experts say have ‘the potential to make it’, but, in my humble opinion, won’t get that far. The Mets have a lot of these guys, so my list gets a lot shorter.
I also have ranked the prospects based on my projected year they will get to the majors; thus, all projected for a 2009 entry will be ranked before those projected for 2010, 2011, etc.
Lastly, there will be plenty of more names missing (Dillion Gee, Jacob Ruckle, etc.) that just hasn’t done enough… yet… to make it someday to the pros. Oh, they may get there, but it’s simply too early to tell.
So , what kind of list are we left with.
In my opinion, Real Major League Baseball Prospects.
1. SP Kevin Mulvey - Hopefully, this guy will still be wearing a Mets uniform when you read this. I believe this is, hands down, the number one SP prospect on the team, and far more talented than Humber and Pelfrey who proceeded him. Mulvey’s 2 seasons in the minors have produced a 12-11 record, a combined 3.02 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP. He also had 124 Ks compared to 48 walks, all against AA and AAA players. Yes, this is the real thing. Sort of a Brian Bannister on steroids.
MLB Projection: 2009 - SP4 in Minnesota
2. OF Fernando Martinez - Yes, I’m ranking him this high, even after bashing him for the past few months. Lots of injuries come so far with lots of raw talent. The numbers don’t jump out at you yet (2 seasons: .272/.332/.419/751), unless you’re looking at what he did on the parent Mets in ST last year (.333/.455/.444/899). Martinez will be 19 this year, and, after getting 236 at bats in AA, I can’t seem to come up with any reasons not to start him off this year in warm, humid New Orleans. That is, if he’s still a Met.
MLB Projection: 2009 - CF in Minnesota
3. SP Deolis Guerra - Guerra most probably has higher potential than Mulvey, but doesn’t have that 4-year college experience in his pocket. He has been major time babied with maximum 50 pitch counts throughout his 2 year Mets career, thus preventing him from qualifying for many wins in games he was taken out before the minimum. Still, the numbers (9-14, 3.28, 1.21 178.2 IP, 135 K, 68 BB) aren’t bad for a kid that turns 19 in April. The real exciting part was the 2.89 ERA he had in his last five August outings. Are the Mets rushing him? Sure they are, but isn’t everybody being rushed these days. I project Guerra will play AA in 2008, AAA in 2009, and will be on the Mets SP rotation beginning in 2010 at the ripe old age of 21.
MLB Projection: 2010 - SP5 on Mets
4. 2B Hector Pellot - Hector is a perfect example of a raw Latin kid turned into a true prospect. Like most ‘imports’, had a rough rookie year (2006), only followed by an All-Star performance last year at Savannah. Pellot also developed into a great defensive 2Bman, which was quite a task coming from leading all of ‘A’ ball in errors the past year for 2Bmen. No, Hector will never hit 50 home runs, but he’s faster than Jose Reyes and will give the Mets their first legitimate chance of developing a starter at a position they have always had to fill in with some outsider.
MLB Projection: 2010 – 2B – Mets
5. RP Eddie Kunz – The Mets purposely went after quality relief pitchers in the last draft and Kunz is considered the best of the lot. His fastball topped off at 94 during college and, though his debut season for Brooklyn was uninspiring (0-1, 6.75, 1.33, 12 G, 5 Sv), he still will be fast tracked to make the parent squad in 2010.
MLB Projection: 2010 - RP - Mets
6. RP Brant Rustich - Rustich was drafted in 2007 out of UCLA. He had finger surgery prior to the draft so everyone in the Mets organization held their collective breath when the 2007 season started. No problem… Brant first went 1-0, 0.87 in 5 games for Kingsport, and then ended the season going 2-0, 2.13, 0.39 in 10 relief appearances for Brooklyn. This was easily the lowest WHIP in the league. Like Kunz, he will be fast tracked and will join the Mets pen in 2010 latest.
MLB Projection: 2010 - RP - Mets
7. SP Scott Moviel - Question: How long does it take for a 6’-10” relief pitcher that debuted in 2007 in the rookie league with a 3.38 ERA and 37Ks in 40 IP, to make it to the majors?
MLB Projection: 2010 - SP - Mets
8. C Francesco Pena - This is the only legitimate catcher prospect the Mets have right now (though Jason Jacobs may sneak his way back on this list with a hot spring). We all have heard about the bloodline, and I watched this kid play every home game last year (at 16 years old), and I can tell you first hand, no one ever had a worse rookie year, offensively or defensively, in organized baseball. Still, you could see the raw talent dripping off his 6’3, 230 pound body. I expect baby fat to continue to turn into muscle, and don’t be surprised if Pena takes off this year. Currently, I project Pena as a backup catcher in the Bigs…not starter material, but still a MLB prospect.
MLB Projection: 2011 - C (backup) – Mets
9. SS Ruben Tejada – Boy, this guy seemed to come out of nowhere. Tejada started the 2007 season with the VSL Mets, but after hitting .364/.466/.479 in 121 at bats, it was time to send the stud stateside. All he did was follow those numbers up with a .283/.401/.367 in 120 at bats for the GCL Mets. He was named the recipient of the 2007 Sterling Award as the MVP of the VSL Mets and most experts think he will start the 2008 season in Hispanic-friendly Savannah. The Panama-born turned 19 this past September. I expect Tejada to go on the fast track, especially if he gets off to a good start this spring. That would put him on pace to end the 2008 season at A+ and start 2009 at AA.
MLB Projection: 2011 – trade-bait after Jose Reyes’ current contract is extended.
10. SP Dylan Owen – First year in pros… 9-1, 1.49, 0.87 69Ks 72.1 IP 12 BB. Okay, what’s your next act? He’s big,right? Nope… just 5-11. He’s a lefty, right? Wrong again. These would be some very exciting numbers if they came at either the AA or A+ level, but there’s a long road from Brooklyn to Queens. Right now, I project Owens will jump straight to St. Lucie (A+) for the start of the 2008 season, and, since he turns 22 this year, will be fast tracked if he keeps putting up numbers like the ones listed above.
MLB Projection: 2011 – SP – traded
11. 1B Lucas Duda - Duda only has one year under his belt (.299/.398/.462/860 at Brooklyn) and turns 22 this month (3 years at USC). Some of the players that ended the 2007 season at Savannah told me that he looks like the real deal. Does he have a shot at playing 1B for the Mets? Actually, no draft pick does after the Mets sign Mark Teixeira during the next off-season. Still, Duda is easily the top 1B prospect in the system.
MLB Projection: 2011 – 1B - traded
12. OF Ezequiel Carerra - Here’s a guy that just refuses to bat less than .300 a season. He joined the VSL Mets in 2006, the came stateside in 2007, playing for the GCL Mets (.341/.430/.436) and then Brooklyn (.300/.347/.329). His lack of power makes him a candidate for a 4th outfielder or, if he goes someday small market, a #2 hitter. Word is he now is on a very fast track, and though and will most probably start the 2008 season at St. Lucie.
MLB Projection: 2011 - OF - Traded
13. 3B Jose Jimenez - An interesting story. Jimenez was originally signed by the Brewers in 2005, but was left unprotected the following year when the Mets picked him up. All he did was bat .309 for the GCL Mets that year. He won the Sterling Award in 2007 for Kingsport, going .309/.379/.521 in 188 Abs, 17 doubles, 7 HRs, 41 RBIs and only 8 errors. Another 3B prospect on the Mets going nowhere.
MLB Projection: 2012 - 3B - Traded
14. 3B/SS/2B – Greg Veloz – Another of those Latin prospect kiddies, Veloz started out 2007 with Savannah, but couldn’t get enough play time. He was sent down to Kingsport where he batted leadoff throughout the season (.271/.344/.450 in 258 at bats, 18 SBs, 18 E) and won the Sterling Award. He’s lightning fast, and can play all 3 infield positions, which gives him a good chance of becoming a major league utility player at worst.
MLB projection: 2012 - Utility infielder - Mets
15. OF Gabriel Zavala –
Zavala captured the Sterling Award as the best Mets prospect in 2006 with the VSL (.263/.318/.484 with 8 HRs and 42 RBIs in 57 games.), which was followed by an excellent GCL stateside debut last year (.285/.364/.479 in 165 at bats).
MLB projection: too early to project
16. OF Ignacio Medrano – In 2007, Medrano played most of the season with the GCL Mets (.294/.369/.375 in 136 at bats), but was promoted to St. Lucie, where he hit .286/.286/.286 in 21 at bats.
MLB projection: too early to project
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This won’t be your average Mets prospect list.
First of all, players that have already made it to the Bigs (Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber, etc.) are no longer considered ‘Mack prospects’. A ‘Mack prospect’ is someone that has the talent and ability to someday become a major league baseball player. I really don’t care if they become a Met. Prospects are prospects, and the only reason you have that tag next to your name is because experts around you think you will someday make it to the pros. Period.
Secondly, this will eliminate a lot of names (Mike Carp, Nick Evans, Brahiam Maldonado, etc.) who experts say have ‘the potential to make it’, but, in my humble opinion, won’t get that far. The Mets have a lot of these guys, so my list gets a lot shorter.
I also have ranked the prospects based on my projected year they will get to the majors; thus, all projected for a 2009 entry will be ranked before those projected for 2010, 2011, etc.
Lastly, there will be plenty of more names missing (Dillion Gee, Jacob Ruckle, etc.) that just hasn’t done enough… yet… to make it someday to the pros. Oh, they may get there, but it’s simply too early to tell.
So , what kind of list are we left with.
In my opinion, Real Major League Baseball Prospects.
1. SP Kevin Mulvey - Hopefully, this guy will still be wearing a Mets uniform when you read this. I believe this is, hands down, the number one SP prospect on the team, and far more talented than Humber and Pelfrey who proceeded him. Mulvey’s 2 seasons in the minors have produced a 12-11 record, a combined 3.02 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP. He also had 124 Ks compared to 48 walks, all against AA and AAA players. Yes, this is the real thing. Sort of a Brian Bannister on steroids.
MLB Projection: 2009 - SP4 in Minnesota
2. OF Fernando Martinez - Yes, I’m ranking him this high, even after bashing him for the past few months. Lots of injuries come so far with lots of raw talent. The numbers don’t jump out at you yet (2 seasons: .272/.332/.419/751), unless you’re looking at what he did on the parent Mets in ST last year (.333/.455/.444/899). Martinez will be 19 this year, and, after getting 236 at bats in AA, I can’t seem to come up with any reasons not to start him off this year in warm, humid New Orleans. That is, if he’s still a Met.
MLB Projection: 2009 - CF in Minnesota
3. SP Deolis Guerra - Guerra most probably has higher potential than Mulvey, but doesn’t have that 4-year college experience in his pocket. He has been major time babied with maximum 50 pitch counts throughout his 2 year Mets career, thus preventing him from qualifying for many wins in games he was taken out before the minimum. Still, the numbers (9-14, 3.28, 1.21 178.2 IP, 135 K, 68 BB) aren’t bad for a kid that turns 19 in April. The real exciting part was the 2.89 ERA he had in his last five August outings. Are the Mets rushing him? Sure they are, but isn’t everybody being rushed these days. I project Guerra will play AA in 2008, AAA in 2009, and will be on the Mets SP rotation beginning in 2010 at the ripe old age of 21.
MLB Projection: 2010 - SP5 on Mets
4. 2B Hector Pellot - Hector is a perfect example of a raw Latin kid turned into a true prospect. Like most ‘imports’, had a rough rookie year (2006), only followed by an All-Star performance last year at Savannah. Pellot also developed into a great defensive 2Bman, which was quite a task coming from leading all of ‘A’ ball in errors the past year for 2Bmen. No, Hector will never hit 50 home runs, but he’s faster than Jose Reyes and will give the Mets their first legitimate chance of developing a starter at a position they have always had to fill in with some outsider.
MLB Projection: 2010 – 2B – Mets
5. RP Eddie Kunz – The Mets purposely went after quality relief pitchers in the last draft and Kunz is considered the best of the lot. His fastball topped off at 94 during college and, though his debut season for Brooklyn was uninspiring (0-1, 6.75, 1.33, 12 G, 5 Sv), he still will be fast tracked to make the parent squad in 2010.
MLB Projection: 2010 - RP - Mets
6. RP Brant Rustich - Rustich was drafted in 2007 out of UCLA. He had finger surgery prior to the draft so everyone in the Mets organization held their collective breath when the 2007 season started. No problem… Brant first went 1-0, 0.87 in 5 games for Kingsport, and then ended the season going 2-0, 2.13, 0.39 in 10 relief appearances for Brooklyn. This was easily the lowest WHIP in the league. Like Kunz, he will be fast tracked and will join the Mets pen in 2010 latest.
MLB Projection: 2010 - RP - Mets
7. SP Scott Moviel - Question: How long does it take for a 6’-10” relief pitcher that debuted in 2007 in the rookie league with a 3.38 ERA and 37Ks in 40 IP, to make it to the majors?
MLB Projection: 2010 - SP - Mets
8. C Francesco Pena - This is the only legitimate catcher prospect the Mets have right now (though Jason Jacobs may sneak his way back on this list with a hot spring). We all have heard about the bloodline, and I watched this kid play every home game last year (at 16 years old), and I can tell you first hand, no one ever had a worse rookie year, offensively or defensively, in organized baseball. Still, you could see the raw talent dripping off his 6’3, 230 pound body. I expect baby fat to continue to turn into muscle, and don’t be surprised if Pena takes off this year. Currently, I project Pena as a backup catcher in the Bigs…not starter material, but still a MLB prospect.
MLB Projection: 2011 - C (backup) – Mets
9. SS Ruben Tejada – Boy, this guy seemed to come out of nowhere. Tejada started the 2007 season with the VSL Mets, but after hitting .364/.466/.479 in 121 at bats, it was time to send the stud stateside. All he did was follow those numbers up with a .283/.401/.367 in 120 at bats for the GCL Mets. He was named the recipient of the 2007 Sterling Award as the MVP of the VSL Mets and most experts think he will start the 2008 season in Hispanic-friendly Savannah. The Panama-born turned 19 this past September. I expect Tejada to go on the fast track, especially if he gets off to a good start this spring. That would put him on pace to end the 2008 season at A+ and start 2009 at AA.
MLB Projection: 2011 – trade-bait after Jose Reyes’ current contract is extended.
10. SP Dylan Owen – First year in pros… 9-1, 1.49, 0.87 69Ks 72.1 IP 12 BB. Okay, what’s your next act? He’s big,right? Nope… just 5-11. He’s a lefty, right? Wrong again. These would be some very exciting numbers if they came at either the AA or A+ level, but there’s a long road from Brooklyn to Queens. Right now, I project Owens will jump straight to St. Lucie (A+) for the start of the 2008 season, and, since he turns 22 this year, will be fast tracked if he keeps putting up numbers like the ones listed above.
MLB Projection: 2011 – SP – traded
11. 1B Lucas Duda - Duda only has one year under his belt (.299/.398/.462/860 at Brooklyn) and turns 22 this month (3 years at USC). Some of the players that ended the 2007 season at Savannah told me that he looks like the real deal. Does he have a shot at playing 1B for the Mets? Actually, no draft pick does after the Mets sign Mark Teixeira during the next off-season. Still, Duda is easily the top 1B prospect in the system.
MLB Projection: 2011 – 1B - traded
12. OF Ezequiel Carerra - Here’s a guy that just refuses to bat less than .300 a season. He joined the VSL Mets in 2006, the came stateside in 2007, playing for the GCL Mets (.341/.430/.436) and then Brooklyn (.300/.347/.329). His lack of power makes him a candidate for a 4th outfielder or, if he goes someday small market, a #2 hitter. Word is he now is on a very fast track, and though and will most probably start the 2008 season at St. Lucie.
MLB Projection: 2011 - OF - Traded
13. 3B Jose Jimenez - An interesting story. Jimenez was originally signed by the Brewers in 2005, but was left unprotected the following year when the Mets picked him up. All he did was bat .309 for the GCL Mets that year. He won the Sterling Award in 2007 for Kingsport, going .309/.379/.521 in 188 Abs, 17 doubles, 7 HRs, 41 RBIs and only 8 errors. Another 3B prospect on the Mets going nowhere.
MLB Projection: 2012 - 3B - Traded
14. 3B/SS/2B – Greg Veloz – Another of those Latin prospect kiddies, Veloz started out 2007 with Savannah, but couldn’t get enough play time. He was sent down to Kingsport where he batted leadoff throughout the season (.271/.344/.450 in 258 at bats, 18 SBs, 18 E) and won the Sterling Award. He’s lightning fast, and can play all 3 infield positions, which gives him a good chance of becoming a major league utility player at worst.
MLB projection: 2012 - Utility infielder - Mets
15. OF Gabriel Zavala –
Zavala captured the Sterling Award as the best Mets prospect in 2006 with the VSL (.263/.318/.484 with 8 HRs and 42 RBIs in 57 games.), which was followed by an excellent GCL stateside debut last year (.285/.364/.479 in 165 at bats).
MLB projection: too early to project
16. OF Ignacio Medrano – In 2007, Medrano played most of the season with the GCL Mets (.294/.369/.375 in 136 at bats), but was promoted to St. Lucie, where he hit .286/.286/.286 in 21 at bats.
MLB projection: too early to project
Mack