Why the Mets should pursue Gerardo Parra

by John Vittas (@JohnVittas3)

While many Mets fans are clamoring for the return of Yoenis Cespedes, let's not kid ourselves - it's probably not going to happen. As nice as it would be to have him in the cleanup spot for 162 games, that's not the Mets philosophy, which Joel Sherman so astutely laid out in this article. They're going for depth, trying to put together a roster of 13 proven, versatile Major League position players.
Between the Michael Cuddyer retirement and the team not signing Cespedes or Ben Zobrist, it stands to reason that the Flushing front office has payroll to play with, leaving them a variety of mid-tier free agent options to fill holes in the outfield and bullpen.

Juan Lagares has struggled against right-handed pitching
throughout his career.
(Photo: Jim McIsaac)

Let me be clear, I am a Juan Lagares believer. I think he's a tremendous athlete with a sustainable, line-drive swing plane that will produce a .280 average for the next 10 years. I also think Michael Conforto has a slump-proof swing and will bat .300 with 25 homers this year. So if it were up to me, I'd run them out there 162 times and drop free agent money on a better fifth starter (there's just so many this year, might as well get one for insurance) and the back end of the bullpen. 
But the Mets insist that they need a left-handed hitting platoon partner for Lagares, and when you look at his splits, you can understand why:


Juan Lagares     AVG / OBP / SLG (OPS)
2015 vs LHP       .273 / .333 / .438  (.771)
2015 vs RHP       .253 / .271 / .328  (.599)
          
Career vs LHP     .279 / .325 / .427  (.753)
Career vs RHP     .254 / .286 / .340  (.627)

Fortunately there are some affordable options in this year's free agent class.

Ideally, the Mets are looking for an outfielder who (1) handles right-handed pitching, (2) can play a capable defensive center field and (3) can play all three outfield positions.
Looking at the list of free agent outfielders, five players fit this description and played at a league-average level or better in 2015:

Denard Span, Gerardo Parra, Alejandro De Aza, Chris Denorfia, Will Venable

The problem with De Aza is that he's only played 17 games in center field over the past two seasons. In that span, he's suited up for four different teams, which means none of them thought he could play the position adequately.

Denard Span only managed to play 61 games in 2015.
(Photo: Mitchell Layton)

This logic can also be applied to Chris Denorfia, who played only 19 games in center across three different teams over the past two years. It can also be argued that his bounceback numbers in 2015 are the result of being in a stacked lineup in a hitter's park like Wrigley Field. If he ends up in Flushing, he'll be hitting in a similar environment to Petco Park and Safeco Field, where he posted an alarmingly low .602 OPS (on-base plus slugging %) in 2014.
Venable has been on a consistent decline over the past few years and let's face it, the Mets aren't looking for maybes. They went for Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker because they are as close to sure-things as you can get.
That premise would also eliminate Denard Span, who the Mets will reportedly be scouting during a private workout next month. While Span's speed, defense and track record could be appealing to the Mets' decision makers, the team is in the middle of their winning window. Is it worth it to count on a guy who could hardly stay on the field in 2015? Span battled constant core issues and a major hip injury, only managing to play 61 games this past season. While that may make him more affordable, do you want your biggest signing of the offseason to be an ailing, 32-year-old? I wouldn't.
That leads us to Gerardo Parra - who I attest will be the best option for New York to pursue.
Most importantly, his splits mirror Lagares', as Parra has always had much more success against righties:

Gerardo Parra       AVG / OBP / SLG  (OPS)
Career vs RHP        .289 / .335 / .432  (.767)
Career vs LHP        .232 / .296 / .302  (.597)

2015 vs RHP           .303 / .336 / .473  (.809)
2015 vs LHP           .238 / .296 / .362  (.658)

Presumably, almost all of his at bats in 2015 would be against right-handed pitching, so it isn't unreasonable to assume Parra will post an OPS around .800, which would be higher than Daniel Murphy's .770 mark from 2015. It's also significantly higher than .716, which is the mark set by Mets' centerfielders in 2015 (don't forget, Cespedes is included in that), and 200 points higher than the 2016 alternative of .599, which is what Juan Lagares posted against right-handers last year.

In addition to being the perfect compliment to Lagares, Parra checks the boxes that the other free agent options do not:

(1) Durability - Unlike Span, Parra has played at least 133 games each of the past six seasons.

Gerardo Parra only struck out 92 times in 155 games in 2015
(Photo: Mitchell Layton)

(2) Park Proof - Unlike Denorfia, Parra has thrived offensively in spacious outfields similar to Citi Field. He's a line-drive hitter who likes to find the gaps and leg out triples (he's hit 37 in his seven-year career) and could attack the right-center field gap at Citi Field, similar to what Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan did from 2009-2011.
His OPS figures in stadiums with massive outfields almost always out-perform his career baseline:

Career (988 Games): .730 OPS(On-Base plus Slugging %)
Sun Life Stadium/Marlins Park (15 Games): .866 OPS
Citi Field (21 Games): .844 OPS
Chase Field (385 Games): .768 OPS
Dodger Stadium (52 Games): .747 OPS
AT&T Park (48 Games): .738 OPS
Coors Field (48 Games): .725 OPS

(3) Versatility - Unlike De Aza, Parra has played 186 Major League games in center field, including 41 in 2015. He's not the defensive player that Juan Lagares or Denard Span is, but Parra's defensive metrics are similar across all three outfield positions, meaning you're not losing anything by putting him in center. Also, Parra has played over 350 games in each corner outfield spot and has more range than Michael Conforto and Curtis Granderson, meaning he could serve as a valuable defensive replacement in games when he doesn't start. In other words, against lefties, the Mets would have one of the best fourth outfielders in baseball.

(4) Trending Up - Unlike Venable, Parra is just entering his prime. He posted career highs in home runs, slugging percentage, total bases, RBI and runs in 2015. His OPS of .780 was his second highest mark in seven MLB seasons, and would have ranked third amongst Mets players with at least 300 plate appearances in 2015. His 14 stolen bases would have led the team.

Sounds pretty good, right? The only conceivable knock on Parra could be his cost. After all, he's only 28 years old and you can be sure his agent is making a similar case to the one you just read.
But considering the market and who Parra is competing against (Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon, Justin Upton, Dexter Fowler, etc), it's reasonable to think he could end up being a bargain. If the premiere players are struggling to get what they want this late in the offseason, what makes you think a complimentary player like Parra is going to get what he's looking for? If Cespedes, Gordon and Upton are begging for $100 million offers, it's not off-base to estimate that something like a three year contract for no more than $40 million could be enough to land Parra.

I get it, $13 million a year for a part-time player sounds absurd, but think about how much stronger it makes the roster. The Mets would be maximizing the performance of Lagares and Parra, and providing a capable alternative should Granderson or Conforto go down.
It's similar to the Zobrist argument - Parra's versatility make him a perfect fit on any team, whether it be the 2016-2017 Mets of Conforto/Lagares/Granderson, or the 2018-2019 Mets of Conforto/Lagares/Nimmo. He's the kind of player that fits any roster and makes your team substantially better.

So do it, New York. Go get Gerardo Parra.

Mets 2014 Prospect Rankings

by John Vittas

Pre-Season Rankings

2013 Midseason Rankings

2013 Preseason Rankings

1. Noah Syndergaard, RHP

The final member of the Mets’ Big Three of frontline starters struggled in the PCL in 2014. He did show some flashes, turning in some dominant efforts and picked up the save in the Futures Game. He still projects as an ace, but will need to get more consistent, especially with his fastball command. Expect him to crack the Mets’ competitive rotation at some point in 2015.

2. Brandon Nimmo, OF

Nimmo began to put it all together in 2014, turning in career highs with a .286 average and nine home runs. He walks at an ungodly rate which makes up for his high strikeout totals. If nothing else, Brandon will be a high character left fielder who gets on base and shows some power in the Bigs. If he can continue to shorten his swing and raise his average, Nimmo could be a perennial All Star and Citi Field favorite.

3. Kevin Plawecki, C

Plawecki has been a quick riser and could debut soon. Many wrote him off for trade bait, with Travis d’Arnaud entrenched as the catcher of the future. But Plawecki’s remarkable bat control, strong skills behind the plate and knack for hitting can make him a long-time Big Leaguer. There’s no reason he can’t team up with d’Arnaud as one of the best catching combos in the game.

4. Dominic Smith, 1B

Smith was pushed by the Mets and placed to a full season assignment at 18 years old and answered the call nicely. The California native batted .285, stayed healthy and is now well ahead of schedule. He was called the best pure hitter of the 2013 draft class and his smooth swing could make him a dynamic bat at the Major League level. He’s not the most athletic, but his hands and instincts make up for it.

5. Michael Conforto, OF

Conforto was probably the most advanced bat in the 2014 draft class and could be in New York within two years. He provides major offensive firepower but some question his ability to hit for average and play defense in the Majors.

6. Dilson Herrera, 2B

Herrera was the most productive bat in the Mets’ system this year, batting .319 with 43 extra-base hits at the higher levels of the Minors. At just 21 years old, Herrera should now be viewed as a serious prospect.

7. Amed Rosario, SS

Supremely talented, Rosario turned his plus tools into success in 2014, batting .288 in Brooklyn at just 18 years old. He’s at least three years away, but Rosario could be the superstar shortstop the Mets have lacked since Jose Reyes.

8. Rafael Montero, RHP

Montero cracked the Bigs in 2014, and will get a chance to audition for the 2015 rotation in August and September. The stuff is Big League adequate, and his command can make him stick long-term.

9. Steven Matz, LHP

Matz had a fantastic 2014 campaign, reaching Double-A and posting a 2.33 ERA over 21 starts. But most importantly, he stayed healthy after missing two years with arm injuries. The New Yorker has the makings of a legit Big League starter, with good movement on his 90-plus fastball, and a reliable curveball and changeup.

10. Matt Reynolds, INF

Reynolds was the surprise of 2014. A career .235 professional hitter, the former second round pick and captain at Arkansas batted an eye-popping .347 between Binghamton and Las Vegas in 2014. He’ll have to compete with Eric Campbell, Danny Muno, Ruben Tejada and Josh Satin to be the Mets’ utility infielder of the future, but Reynolds’ youth should give him an edge.

11. Marcos Molina, RHP

Still a few years away, Molina was downright dominant in Brooklyn in 2014. He’s athletic, throws 95 and already has a plus changeup.

12. Cesar Puello, OF

Puello was the disappointment of the system in 2014, but still has five plus tools. Biogenesis doubts are swirling to say the least. He might not ever be the same without the drugs.

13. Miller Diaz, RHP

Diaz has been the system since he was 17 years old, but it appears he has finally put it together at 22. His fastball has never been in question (mid-90s), but the development of his off-speed stuff will determine where he winds up.

14. Domingo Tapia, RHP

It’s puzzling that Tapia has been unable to graduate A-ball, because his mid-90s heater and changeup/slider combo should be dominant. A conversion to the bullpen may be in order.

15. Gabriel Ynoa, RHP

The master of control, Ynoa walks almost no one. His low-90s heater and plus changeup keeps hitters off balanced. Ynoa appears to be on the Rafael Montero fast track thanks to his exquisite command.

16. Matt Bowman, RHP

The Princeton alum has held up despite his diminutive frame and Tim Lincecum-like delivery. His stuff is good enough, but Triple-A will be a big hurdle.

17. Jayce Boyd, 1B

Boyd got off to a slow start in 2014, delaying his inevitable Big League debut. He should start 2015 in Las Vegas, but the emergence of Lucas Duda make his future in the system unclear.

18. Champ Stuart, OF

Stuart has blinding speed and the potential to steal 50 bases each and every year. The good news is that he hit much more than anyone expected in 2014, raising his status greatly.

19. Jeff McNeil, INF

McNeil is a hitting machine with a quick bat and thin but athletic build. If he continues to hit, he could be a good utility infielder in the Majors.

20. Gavin Cecchini, SS

Cecchini has proven to be a slow developer, and the concerns about him are warranted. His more upright stance should help him delve into whatever power potential he has, and his defense has never been in question. It’s just a matter of whether he hits.

21. Jack Leathersich, LHP

22. John Gant, RHP

23. Robert Whalen, RHP

24. LJ Mazzilli, 2B

25. Akeel Morris, RHP

26. Cam Maron, C
27. Robert Gsellman, RHP

28. Matt Koch, RHP

29. Cory Mazzoni, RHP

30. Kevin McGowan, RHP

31. Aderlin Rodriguez, INF

32. Cory Vaughn, OF

33. Travis Taijeron, OF

34. Michael Fulmer, RHP

35. Michael Katz, OF

36. Matt Oberste, 1B

37. Greg Peavey, RHP

38. Chris Flexen, RHP

39. Brad Wieck, LHP

40. Jared King, OF

41. Milton Ramos, SS

42. Josh Prevost, RHP

43. Paul Sewald, RHP

44. Corey Oswalt, RHP

45. Casey Meisner, RHP

46. Logan Taylor, RHP

47. Eudor Garcia, 3B

48. Kyle Johnson, OF

49. Tyler Moore, C

50. Dustin Lawley, OF

51. Luis Guillorme, SS

52. Kevin Secrest, LHP

53. Wuilmer Becerra, OF

54. Logan Verrett, RHP

55. Phillip Evans, INF

56. Maikis De La Cruz, OF

57. Rainy Lara, RHP

58. Gaither Bumgardner, RHP

59. Ricky Knapp, RHP

60. Xorge Carillo, C

61. Vicente Lupo, OF

62. Dash Winningham, 1B

63. Victor Cruzado, OF

64. Jhoan Urena, INF

65. Juan Centeno, C

66. Luis Cessa, RHP

67. Tyler Pill, RHP

68. Octavio Acosta, RHP

Don't Laugh: Why the Mets will Make the Playoffs in 2015

by John Vittas

           Try to hold in your laughter. The Mets are going to make the playoffs in 2015. Yes, I said it. Bear with me here, and you might just be convinced. From September collapses, to disgraceful contracts, to Family Guy punch lines, the Mets have been the laughingstock in a city that only tolerates winners.

            But anyone who has followed the team the past two years will tell you that there are reasons for optimism. To buy into this new-found hope, you have to understand what went wrong. And a lot went wrong.

            It all began with a change of culture in 2007. After coming within an inning of a World Series berth in 2006, the Mets choked away the season on the final day in consecutive years in 07 and 08. The perception changed. They went from a promising new team to choke artists of the highest order. Then came the bad contracts: Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, Jason Bay, Frank Francisco. The horrid deals completely hamstrung the front office for half a decade, as did Bernie Madoff’s ponzi scheme.  

Prospects like Brandon Nimmo have Mets fans optimistic

 

With no money, disappointing prospects and a lineup of misfits, fans stopped showing up. After drawing four million fans during their last winning season of 2008, just 2.1 million brave souls showed up in 2013.

So why am I suggesting that this pathetic bunch will finally turn it around? There are short-term signs and long-term signs. The short terms signs come from this year’s team. Dillon Gee and Jon Niese have again established themselves as effective, middle-of-the-rotation starters, and young gun Jenrry Mejia has been unhittable at times. But perhaps the most exciting player so far has been Juan Lagares. With an impressive mix of size and speed, Lagares has hit with power to all fields and has established himself as one of the best defensive center fielders in the game. Lagares finished fifth in the majors in defensive WAR in 2013 and put up one of the 70 best defensive seasons in the history of baseball, according to that statistic.

Another short-term sign came during the team’s 14-2 loss to the Angels last Sunday. In the midst of an embarrassing loss, first-year umpire Toby Basner called rookie catcher Travis d’Arnaud out on strikes in the seventh inning of a blowout. But the Mets didn’t roll their eyes at a bad call. The three longest tenured Mets, David Wright, Daniel Murphy and Terry Collins berated Basner. Basner ejected Wright and Murphy and a long shouting match ensued.

While many may interpret this as frustrations boiling over, I argue that it shows that this team does something that the previous Mets teams didn’t: show they care. Wright and Murphy are the leaders of the team, they’re two of the few winning players the Mets have. But for the previous four years, they’ve been silent. They showed up, got their hits and went home. To see them both erupt over a call that had nothing to do with their at bat says a lot. After all, it was Travis d’Arnaud who got punched out, not them. But clearly Wright and Murphy believe in the prospects like d’Arnaud and will defend them, even in a meaningless at bat.

“We have each others backs for sure,” Wright said after the game. “When something happens to one of us, it happens to all of us. Just in general, we need to have each other’s backs. And we do.”

  It’s a start. In order for the boys from Flushing to return to relevance, they’ll need both a change in mindset and an arrival of talent. Well the arrival of talent appears to be on its way, which is why there is reason for optimism.

Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard. Got that? Go back and read it again. Those three young arms are the foundation, the reason the Mets could become perennial contenders. Long-term success in Major League Baseball requires consistent starting pitching, and those three can provide it. All three have fastballs in the upper-90s and knee-buckling breaking balls. And 2015 is the year they will finally be united. With those three at the top of the rotation, competition bears itself out at the bottom. Mejia, Colon, Gee, Niese, Jacob DeGrom and Rafael Montero will all battle for rotation spots next year, and surely the two best from that group will be above average fourth and fifth starters. 

So there’s young, controllable strong starting pitching and a few veteran positions players in Wright, Murphy and Curtis Granderson to hold their hands and show them the way. The last step of the process is to win back the fans’ faith, get them to show up, make money and buy the remaining pieces necessary.

Picture this. The old Mets front office was like an innocent child in search of cookies. They got confident after successful signings of Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran. That combined with the success of 2006, and the Mets thought they could attack the cookie jar with reckless indulgence. They signed Oliver Perez and Jason Bay, which represents the classic “mommy caught you red-handed” moment. So she puts you in timeout, aka the Mets had to swallow their checkbook for five years. Lesson learned, the next time you approach the cookie jar, you do so with caution. You trade an aging knuckleballer for a couple prospects, you sign a chubby sinker-baller for only $10 million a year. OK, so the analogy ends there, but the point is, the Mets and GM Sandy Alderson won’t splurge like Omar Minaya did. Everything is systematic and calculated. Alderson’s strategy allows for financial flexibility down the road. It allows for the team to make multiple mid-level signings each offseason, rather than tie up payroll in guys like Oliver Perez.

Therefore, when the team does start to compete again, and their income starts to head back north, Alderson will have the ability to address the holes that remain via free agency or by trading part of his plethora of arms. 

That’s the formula. That’s what makes 2014 and 2015 different from 2010 and 2011, for example. The Mets finally have assets, they have the best farm system in baseball, and they have the right approach. In other words, Alderson is too wise to get caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Makeup to the Max: Maryland Freshman Mike Shawaryn is Made of Moxy and Ready to Turn the Program Around

by John Vittas

Originally Published for Terp Report (April 10, 2014)

It was only his fourth career start, but Maryland freshman Mike Shawaryn was already at the top of the college baseball world. Just minutes removed from stifling and defeating the nation’s number two team, Shawaryn looked through the Florida sunshine into the left field bleachers to find his parents, who had made the trip down to Tallahassee to witness their son’s crowning achievement. As you would expect, the Shawaryn contingent was all smiles, as was their budding superstar.

But as is the case in baseball, there are up and there are downs. The last two weeks for Shawaryn fall into the down category. After beginning his college career with five straight wins, including three against ranked opponents, Shawaryn has hit the proverbial wall.

The lineups of Clemson and Wake Forest dispatched Shawaryn early each of the past two weekends, roughing him up for nine runs in seven and two-thirds innings. While the stout ACC batting orders may have gotten to Shawaryn between the lines, his mental clarity remains in tact.

“The day after, you look back at it and realize it’s a real learning experience,” Shawaryn said. “I didn’t know I was going to have this much success this early and this is the first time I’ve really struggled at the college level. You have to make adjustments now, so that later in the season you don’t let those mistakes happen again.”

If the first five starts by the 19-year-old impressed you, it might be his response to the two most adverse that amaze onlookers.

“You have to be the same guy every day. Whatever happens on the field, leave it on the field. Especially as a pitcher, you’re the focal point of the whole game. If you get down or have bad body language, everyone is going to see that. Getting down on yourself is not going to help you get the next pitch over.”

While Shawaryn’s ability to manage failure may appear refined, he hasn’t had to do it very often. He won four Non-Public A state titles during his time at Gloucester Catholic in New Jersey, while also adding multiple All-American accolades and an American Legion World Series title to his resume. Perfect Game USA ranked him the No. 4 prospect in the state.

“He’s strong mentally,” sophomore catcher Kevin Martir said. “He’s the kind of kid who wants the ball. He’s the kind of kid who gets outs.”

“He has really good makeup, he doesn’t get messed up mentally,” Maryland head coach John Szefc said. “He can reset himself and get back in the zone quick. He’s pitched in big situations before he got here, he has a good feel for pitching in pressure situations and he’s the kind of kid who welcomes the pressure.”

Shawaryn’s drive to win has become infectious, as he, along with a group of accomplished freshman and sophomores have changed the mindset of a team that hasn’t had a winning record in the ACC since 1981.

The patriarch of that Shawaryn contingent, Michael Sr., played football at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and always guided his son towards sports. The younger Shawaryn credits his family’s sports background for the winning mentality that has accompanied him to College Park.

“It helps you with determination and work ethic,” Shawaryn said. “When I was younger, I would just play all the sports. I think the biggest thing it really helped is my competitiveness and drive. And that is still instilled in me today, just the drive to get it done and get the W.”

Shawaryn’s blasé gait may disguise that drive, as he strolls around practice like any other pitcher, laid back and unassuming. But when it comes time to work, Shawaryn's coolness is replaced with a palpable pinpoint focus. He doesn’t mess around.

“As a person, you can just tell he was someone who takes care of business, worked hard and was always on task,” Terps’ senior ace Jake Stinnett said. “That was the first thing I noticed about him. He wanted to know exactly what he was doing that day, exactly what the practice plan was. He was here to work hard and really make an impact.”

That’s exactly what he’s done. While ripping off those five wins, Shawaryn posted a streak of 18 consecutive scoreless innings. Spanning almost three full starts, it was snapped in the eighth inning of that seminal victory in Tallahassee. 

However, Shawaryn limited No. 2 Florida State to just that one run, thanks to a timely 5-2-3 double play that helped the freshman escape a bases loaded, late-inning jam.

It was at that point that Shawaryn let loose, jumping, yelling, fist pumping and glove-slapping his way to the dugout.

“I’m composed in between the lines, but after I step off the mound on those big types of plays, you can let a little emotion go,” Shawaryn said after the game. “It was a big play so I let loose a little bit there.”

It’s that same excitability and intensity that catches on with Shawaryn’s teammates and make his attitude contagious.

“Shawaryn is a funny kid,” Martir said. “He’s always having fun, he’s always smiling. He always puts a smile on everyone’s face.”

The mental balance that Shawaryn displays is what all baseball players yearn for. The ability to maintain the obsession to win while remaining even-keeled and positive sets him apart. The perfectionistic, competitive, never-satisfied mentality overrides everything, while Shawaryn puts careful thought into every decision he makes.  

That includes the biggest decision he’s ever had to make, turning down professional money and other scholarships to come to Maryland.

“He was a tough nut to crack for a while,” coach Szefc said about the recruiting process. “He had a previous relationship with [pitching coach] Jim Belanger when he was at Monmouth. That’s what got us in the door with him. I think he was attracted to the business school here. He’s a really, really good student.”

Nothing seems more appropriate for Shawaryn than a degree in business. He has two valuable assets in his right arm and advanced mind, and it shouldn’t be hard to attract investors. Drafted in the 32^nd round of the 2013 Major League Draft, Shawaryn turned down a contract offer from the Kansas City Royals.

“The reason I came back was just because I wanted 3-4 years with Coach Bellanger,” Shawaryn said. “He does a really good job with the pitching staff and really helping you develop. I thought that would be really helpful taking my game to the next level. He does a good job of editing footage and showing you what you did wrong.”

There will be plenty of footage to dissect from Shawaryn’s Clemson and Wake Forest starts, but after all, that’s why he is here.

“I think I’m just maturing with the game,” Shawaryn said. “I’m still young and there’s a lot more I need to know.”

Not eligible to be drafted again until 2016, Shawaryn has plenty of time to watch film with Coach Bellanger, and plenty of time to help turn the program around in the mean time.

“We want to come and play. We come out here and give our all,” Shawaryn said. “We’re all here to do something special and create a special program.”

Armed with that mantra, the Terrapins are off to a historically good start in 2014, and have a very real chance to break the school record in wins and snap a number of dubious losing streaks.

Senior Jake Stinnett and Shawaryn have proved to be a lethal 1-2 punch in the ACC. The senior Stinnett has been through it all: from being benched as a position player, to now earning first round grades as one of the best pro prospects in the country. They say it takes one to know one, and Stinnett sees potential in Shawaryn.

“It’s going to be a great year for him. I would not be surprised to see him be an All-ACC type of guy,” Stinnett said about Shawaryn. “He can do whatever he wants to do.”