Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Mets Prospect Countdown: No. 21-30

by John Vittas (@JohnVittas3)

40. OF Darrell Ceciliani
39. RHP Luis Cessa
38. RHP Cameron Griffin
37. SS Jeff McNeil
36. OF Joe Tuschak
35. 1B Matt Oberste
34. RHP Hansel Robles
33. RHP Akeel Morris
32. OF Champ Stuart
31. OF Ivan Wilson

To read John's breakdown of Prospects No. 31-40, click here.


30. RAINY LARA - RHP

Bani, Dominican Republic - signed as International free agent

Opening Day Age: 23

Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie

General Numbers: 26 walks in 129.2 IPs, 1.42 ERA in 8 SAL starts
Relevant Numbers: K/9 dropped from 9 to 6.1 when he jumped levels

Positives: Rainy led the Minor Leagues in ERA for much of 2013 and was downright dominant in A-ball this year. His fastball has late, arm-side run at 90-92 which helps him miss the barrel of the bat. He throws strikes and disguises his changeup well. At 6-4, there’s still some projectability here.

Negatives:  Lara’s motion isn’t pretty and a bit stiff. He’s primarily fastball/changeup. He’s gotten outs with his slider but it isn’t going to fool many Big Leaguers. His ERA jumped from 1.42 to 3.76 upon his promotion to the FSL so unless he can develop a bigger breaking ball, expect him to become more hittable as he ascends through the system. He projects as a strike-throwing long reliever.

Style: Sidney Ponson

Across the John Preseason Top 100: 23
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 9

Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked





29. LUIS MATEO - RHP

Nizao, Dominican Republic - signed as free agent

Opening Day Age: 24

Projected Opening Day Assignment: Rehab

General Numbers: 57 hits allowed in 73 IPs in Brooklyn in 2012

Positives: Mateo has been ranked as high as the No. 4 prospect in the system. He lives in the mid-90s with a slider that was unanimously tabbed as the “Best in the System” in 2012.

Negatives: Luis barely pitched in 2013 and was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery in May. He’s 23 years old and has yet to pitch 150 Minor League innings, which is a major issue. Assuming he won’t pitch until mid-season, this most recent setback could seal Mateo’s fate as a reliever. If he’s not effective this season, it could be the end of the line for the talented Dominican.

Style: Edinson Volquez

Across the John Preseason Top 100: 18
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 40
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: 15




28. DUSTIN LAWLEY - OF

University of West Florida - 19th Round of the 2011 Draft

Opening Day Age: 24

Projected Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Binghamton

General Numbers: 26 HRs, 96 RBIs in 128 games (mostly High-A St. Lucie)
Relevant Numbers: .513 SLG with a .481 career mark (guy’s got pop)

Positives: It might be time to start taking Dustin Lawley seriously. He led all Mets prospects in home runs, extra-base hits and total bases this season. His numbers were flat out eye-popping and Lawley’s late-season promotion to Triple-A shows that the Mets’ executives are going to give him a shot.

Negatives: Age, age and age. Lawley is a 24-year old A-ball hitter. Doubters will attribute his 2013 success to his advanced age. He has a hitch in his swing and too much wasted motion in his lower body. Clearly, this hasn’t been a problem for Dustin thus far.

Style: Chris Johnson

Across the John Preseason Top 100: 31
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 26
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked




27. ADERLIN RODRIGUEZ - 3B

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - signed as International free agent

Opening Day Age: 22

Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie

General Numbers: only walked 11 times in 62 games (High-A St. Lucie)
Relevant Numbers: second straight year with an average above .260 (batted .221 in 2011)

Positives: Rodriguez hit for power with St. Lucie (.167 IsoSLG) this year and generates big-time bat speed. Many say he has the most raw power in the Mets system. He’s also slimmed down which has helped him defensively (now listed at 210 lbs).

Negatives: A-Rod missed the whole second half of the season due to injury, and in effect, probably still has more to prove at the A-ball level. His slow development has put him behind the 8-ball in terms of age, and a .194 average in the Arizona Fall League won’t help his prospect status, either. The other issue is he plays third base and will have to learn a new position if he ever sniffs the Major Leagues.

Style: Adrian Beltre without the high average

Across the John Preseason Top 100: 16
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 28
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked




26. JARED KING - OF

Kansas State University - Fifth Round of the 2013 Draft

Opening Day Age: 22

Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie

General Numbers: 1.030 OPS at K-State this year
Relevant Numbers: 21 SB and 42 XBH in 119 games in 2013

Positives: King was a premium NCAA hitter, and will benefit greatly from leaving early. After a good showing in his first dose of pro ball, Jared could skip ahead to St. Lucie in 2014. He’s a switch hitter with solid all-around tools. His swing from both sides is nearly flawless, displaying good balance and rhythym. Keep an eye on King as a potential break-out guy in 2014.

Negatives: Despite being a respectable defensive outfielder, King doesn’t have one position that he excels at. He’s athletic enough to play some center, but projects better as a left fielder due to a sub-par arm.

Style: Nick Swisher

Across the John Preseason Top 100: Not in System
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 32
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked




25. MILLER DIAZ - RHP

Caracas, Venezuela - Signed as International Free Agent

Opening Day Age: 21

Projected Opening Day Assignment: A-ball Savannah

General Numbers: 2.03 ERA over 12 starts, 44 hits allowed in 66 innings (A Brooklyn)
Relevant Numbers: 11.75 K/9 - No. 1 of all starting pitching prospects

Positives: Diaz has gradually been able to turn his gifted arm into a strikeout machine over his four years of pro ball. Turning in his best season of his career in 2013, Diaz led all starting pitching prospects in both H/9 (5.9) and K/9 (11.75). His fastball is consistently in the mid-90s, and he personally told me he touched 98 this summer. All of his offerings are swing-and-miss caliber pitches,with the fastball being the moneymaker.

Negatives: Per the status quo for guys like Diaz, he needs more consistent command with all pitches and should continue to refine his off-speed pitches. Scouts say his breaking ball is a little too loopy and his changeup is recognizable. If he knocks out those kinks, Diaz can be an impact Major League arm.

Comparison: Edward Mujica?

Across the John Preseason Top 100: 40
ATJ Midseason Top 50: Not Ranked
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked




24. JOHN GANT - RHP

Wiregrass Ranch HS (FL) - 21st Round of the 2011 Draft

Opening Day Age: 21

Projected Opening Day Assignment: A-ball Savannah

General Numbers: .206 opponent average; allowed only 51 hits in 73 innings
Relevant Numbers: 1 of 2 pitchers of the NYPL to eclipse 80 Ks this season

Positives: After two years of grooming, the Mets have made John Gant into a dominant professional pitcher. They paid overslot to yank him away from his LIU Brooklyn commitment, and have turned his potential into reality. The sky is the limit for Gant, as his wiry 6-3 frame gives him all sorts of advantages on the mound.

Negatives: His offspeed pitches were rated as average-at-best by many scouts when Gant was drafted. Considering he’s not terribly overpowering, it’s pretty clear he’s improved his curve and change.

Style: Bronson Arroyo?

Across the John Preseason Top 100: 99
ATJ Midseason Top 50: Not Ranked
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked



23. LJ MAZZILLI - 2B

Univ. of Connecticut - 4th Round of the 2013 Draft

Opening Day Age: 23

Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie

Basic Numbers: .970 career OPS at UConn with 101 XBH and 60 SBs in 212 games
Relevant Numbers: led the Cyclones in AVG and RBIs in 2013

Positives: The younger Mazzilli was the Big East Player of the Year after a .354 season. The kid can flat out hit. All he’s ever done is put up numbers and be a leader. He has surprising speed and is polished at the plate. He should have no problem handling A-ball and is on the fast-track to the upper levels.

Negatives: Some say his ceiling is low and he’s not athletic enough to be a Major League middle infielder. But if he hits, he’ll be there.

Style: Ian Kinsler

Across the John Preseason Top 100: Not in System
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 46
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked

A little local news piece on LJ


22. CORY MAZZONI - RHP

North Carolina State University - 2nd Round of the 2011 Draft

Opening Day Age: 24

Projected Opening Day Assignment: Triple-A Las Vegas

Basic Numbers: 4.36 ERA over 12 Double-A starts; 70 hits allowed in 66 innings
Relevant Numbers: K-rate went from 6.5 in 2012 to 10.1 this year

Positives: Mazzoni has mid-90s heat and a reliable slider-splitter combo that could make him an excellent late-innings reliever. He throws strikes, having only walked only 14 batters in 66 innings.

Negatives: He battled injuries throughout 2013 and was only able to make 12 starts. It’s looking less and less likely that the NC State grad will be a Major League starter. Opponents hit .275 off him this year in the pitching-friendly Eastern League. It stands to reason that his arsenal might be more effective in relief.

Style: Brian Wilson (just the pitching)

Across the John Preseason Top 200: 22
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 27
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: 12




21. TYLER BASHLOR - RHP

South Georgia College - 11th Round of the 2013 Draft

Opening Day Age: 20

Projected Opening Day Assignment: Short-Season A Brooklyn

Relevant Numbers: 18 strikeouts in under 16 pro innings, but he walked 12 (R Kingsport)

Positives: Bashlor has a very live arm and has touched 96. When you factor in his sharp slider and unflappable mound presence, the Georgia native could be headed to a Big League bullpen some time down the road. If he continues to develop his curveball, there’s no telling how good he can be.

Negatives: Like most young fireballers, Bashlor needs to improve his control. Unfortunately, the only way he’s been able to do that is by taking mph’s off his heater. He's at least three years away.

Comparison: Jenrry Mejia

Across the John Preseason Top 100: Not in System
ATJ Midseason Top 50: Not Ranked
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Mets Prospects Countdown: No. 31-40

by John Vittas

Most prospect lists don't go to 40, so you may not have heard of most of these names. But they all possess serious upside and are worth remembering.

31. IVAN WILSON - OF


Ruston H.S. (LA) - 3rd Round of the 2013 Draft


Opening Day Age: 18


Projected 2014 Assignment: R Kingsport


Slash Line: .219 / .321 / .300 (GCL Mets)
Relevant Numbers: The Good: 13 SB in 47 games; The Bad: 65 strikeouts


Positives: Wilson is as close to a 5-tool player as you’ll see for a high school guy. He’s a supreme athlete with tons of range in the outfield and a cannon for an arm. His strength/speed combo is hard to come by and he’s only 18. He might be 5-6 years away, but Wilson has the potential to be an impactful Major Leaguer.


Negatives: Given his strikeout totals and low average, Wilson obviously has holes in his swing. There’s a reason he slipped to the third round, given his tools.


Style: Adam Jones




Across the John Preseason Top 100: Not in system
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 18
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked





32. CHAMP STUART - OF


Brevard College - 6th Round of the 2013 Draft

Photo: christschool.org


Opening Day Age: 21


Projected 2014 Assignment: Short Season-A Brooklyn


Slash Line: .240 / .388 / .353 (R Kingsport)
Relevant Numbers: There are none, Stuart is a project.


Positives: Stuart is one of the fastest baseball players on the planet and many said he was the fastest prospect in this year’s draft. His athleticism will always define his upside. He's already adept at drawing walks which is crucial for a man of his speed.


Negatives: Stuart is 21 and a rookie-league hitter at best. He’ll have to figure it out fast. This was a very risky pick by the Mets, but it could pay high dividends for a sixth rounder.


Style: Billy Hamilton


Across the John Preseason Top 100: Not in system
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 49
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked





33. AKEEL MORRIS - RHP


St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands - 10th Round of the 2010 Draft


Opening Day Age: 21


Projected Opening Day Assignment: A-ball Savannah


Relevant Numbers: NYPL hitters batted just .184 off Morris; he gave up just 29 hits in 45 innings and struck out 60!


Positives: There are a lot of positives to Morris’ 2013 season. The improvement results-wise are stark. His ERA dropped from 7.98 and an even 1.00. His opponents’ average dropped 70 points, basically becoming unhittable in 2013. Morris can get it into the mid-90s and seems to have reappeared to the prospect scene after his live arm went to waste in 2012.


Negatives: His command and off-speed stuff have a long way to go. He averaged better than a walk per two innings. He can get away with that in A-ball, but he’ll have to keep refining everything before he gets to the top. Also, he’s max-effort guy at only 6-1, 170, and so durability is a question.


Style: Jose Veras

This is when Morris was struggling last year, but you get the idea of how violent his motion is



Across the John Preseason Top 100: Not Ranked
ATJ Midseason Top 50: Not Ranked
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked





34. HANSEL ROBLES - RHP


Dominican Republic - Signed as International Free Agent


Opening Day Age: 23


Projected Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Binghamton


Relevant Numbers: 0.75 GO/AO, 8 HRs allowed in 15 starts (too many in the FSL)


Positives: Robles can still get it up to the mid-90s with his fastball, but didn’t do it consistently in 2013. His secondary stuff is also above-average and he can throw four pitches for a strike.


Negatives: Many people are losing faith in Robles after a rocky 2013. A 3.72 ERA in the Florida State League is respectable, but many had him pegged as a Major League reliever in Spring Training. The biggest problem: He lost the pinpoint command he displayed in 2012. Injuries could have led to the majority of his regression, as he battled oblique and back issues all season. Also, he’s only 5’11”, which is why many expect him to end up in the bullpen.

Photo: metsmerizedonline.com



Style: Kris Medlen (no good ones)


Across the John Preseason Top 100: 25
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 31
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked




35. MATT OBERSTE - 1B (pronounced OBER-stee)


Univ. of Oklahoma - 7th Round of the 2013 Draft


Opening Day Age: 22


Projected Opening Day Assignment: A-ball Savannah


Slash Line: .208 / .245 / .286 (SS-A Brooklyn)
Relevant Numbers: .373 hitter on a nationally ranked college baseball team, 11 HRs, 60 RBIs and 13 SBs in 64 games at OU


Positives: Oberste left Norman as a junior and is a polished hitter. He can go the other way with power, generates tremendous bat speed and only committed 3 errors in 64 games. He’s more athletic than most first basemen, having starred in baseball, basketball and football in high school.


Negatives: Oberste struggled in his first taste of pro ball, but that can probably be chalked up to being worn out from a long and intense college season. Jayce Boyd saw the same NCAA-to-NYPL regression in 2012, and Boyd bounced back with a historic season in 2013. More importantly, some scouts see Oberste’s unconventional stance and leg kick as a problem. Only time will tell.


Style: Jeff Bagwell




Across the John Preseason Top 100: Not in the system
ATJ Midseason Top 50: 41
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked




36. JOE TUSCHAK - OF


Northern HS (PA) - 6th Round of the 2011 Draft




Bats: Left Throws: Right


Opening Day Age: 21


Projected 2014 Assignment: Short Season-A Brooklyn


Slash Line: .271 / .313 / .376 (R Kingsport)
Relevant Numbers: .233 AVG against lefties


Positives: He's remarkably athletic (had D-I football scholarship offers to play QB) and finally showed some baseball skill in 2013, the first season he's hit over .210. Tuschak has plus arm strength and a smooth swing. His 3 home runs and perfect stolen base percentage are the tip of his talent iceberg.


Negatives: It’s taken him three years to figure it out, meaning Tuschak is 21 and has yet to reach Single-A. If he can’t handle Brooklyn, the high school phenom might never make it.


Style: none yet


Across the John Preseason Top 100: 54
ATJ Midseason Top 50: Not Ranked
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked





37. JEFF McNEIL - SS


Long Beach State Univ. (CA) - 12th Round of the 2013 Draft


Bats: Left Throws: Right


Opening Day Age: 21


Projected Opening Day Assignment: A-ball Savannah


Slash Line: .329 / .413 / .409 (R Kingsport)
Relevant Numbers: none, small sample size


Positives: McNeil raked in his first pro experience and may have hit his way over Brooklyn and straight to a full season assignment. Clearly, his college bat was too good for the Appalachian League. McNeil’s value skyrockets if he can hit, because he can play several positions. For those worried about his power potential, he did knock 29 XBH in just over 100 games between his time with the Mets and the Dirtbags of LBSU (yes, the Dirtbags).


Negatives: His ceiling is rather low, as he’ll likely be a utility infielder at best in the Majors. If you follow the system, think Danny Muno from 2011. Both had advanced bats and were taken in the mid-rounds from solid, D-1 programs in California.

Photo: collegebaseballdaily.com


Style: Daniel Descalso


Across the John Preseason Rank: Not in system
ATJ Midseason Rank: Not Ranked
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked





38. CAMERON GRIFFIN - RHP


Columbus State University - 34th Round of 2013 Draft


Opening Day Age: 22


Projected 2014 Assignment: Short Season-A Brooklyn


Basic Numbers: only 5 hits allowed in 9 NYPL innings
Relevant Numbers: there are none


Positives: Griffin has only experienced success since becoming a pitcher this year. He’s 6-3, 200 pounds, and has a naturally live arm. Jacob DeGrom has developed the blueprint for this type of project.


Negatives: The Mets took a flyer on Griffin, a college third baseman who batted .210 at the Division-II level this spring. But the scouts obviously saw something they liked in the Peach Belt conference alum. The negative is that Griffin has only been pitching for one year and is 22 years old. They’ll probably have to keep him in extended Spring Training, which puts him behind the 8-ball in terms of age. He makes this list on mysteriousness.


Style: no one yet


Across the John Preseason Rank: Not in Organization
ATJ Midseason Rank: Not Ranked
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked



39. LUIS CESSA - RHP


Mexico -  Signed as International Free Agent in 2008


Opening Day Age: 21


Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie


Basic Numbers: 8-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 21 starts in Savannah (A)
Relevant Numbers: more H than IP, 1.30 BB/9 (3rd best walk rate of all Mets prospects)

Photo: metsminorleagueblog.com


Positives: consistently 90-plus with heater, excellent command, still has time to grow


Negatives: Cessa saw a statistical decline in his first full-season assignment, which is a red flag for a guy who touches 94 and has the command he does. It’s likely that he’s lacking movement. He should probably expand the strike zone a little bit more too.


Style: James Shields


Across the John Preseason Rank: 26
ATJ Midseason Rank: 23
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked




40. DARRELL CECILIANI - OF


Columbia Basin College (OR) - 4th Round of the 2009 Draft


Opening Day Age: 23


Projected Opening Day Assignment: Triple-A Las Vegas


Slash Line: .268 / .322 / .380 (AA-Binghamton)
Relevant Numbers: 31 stolen bases, only hit .243 vs. lefties, 11-for-his-last-72 in the regular season, 105 Ks in only 113 games


Positives: Ceciliani finally stayed healthy for a full season, breaking a career mark with 113 games played. His 31 stolen bases is best in the system and he has the range to play centerfield. If there was a superlative for best attitude in the system, Darrell would win it, as he can constantly be found freestyle rapping or pulling pranks on his teammates, which can go a long way in any clubhouse.

Here's the proof, this is a must-watch: Darrell's Dance Party


Negatives: Doubters say the Oregon native has lost a step in the outfield and well eventually settle in left because of his average arm. But more alarming is their belief that Ceciliani’s swing has holes that will be exploited at the Major League level.


Comparison: Brett Gardner


Across the John Preseason Rank: 46
ATJ Midseason Rank: 24
Jonathan Mayo Top 20: Not Ranked


Each Tuesday, we'll unveil the next group of ten prospects.