Coming Soon: Maryland Baseball Draft Preview

by John Vittas

Beginning tomorrow, May 24, Across the John will debut a 4-part series evaluating the University of Maryland baseball team in preparation for the 2013 MLB First Year Player Draft (June 6-8).
The articles will feature scouting reports on every player, as well as draft predictions and thoughts on their pro potential.
The reports were put together by a panel of four people close to the program who have watched a minimum of a dozen games this season each.

Maryland ace Jimmy Reed was picked in the 21st Round last year. 

Where will he get picked in 2013?

The dates for the articles to debut are as follows:

Friday, May 24 - The Seniors
Tuesday, May 28 - The Juniors
Friday, May 31 - The Sophomores
Tuesday, June 4 - The Freshman

Who Said the Mets Don't Have Catching Depth?

Minor League Catchers Following John Buck's lead in 2013

by John Vittas

Entering the 2013 season, the biggest hole in the Mets' system was undoubtedly the catching position.
Mets catchers finished dead last in the Majors in slugging percentage and third-to-last in batting last year. They were so brutally bad that they drew my eyre as the greatest disappointment of the 2012 season (http://acrossthejohn.blogspot.com/2013/01/10-biggest-disappointments-for-2012-mets.html) John Buck had more home runs in the month of April than the Mets catching core had the entire season last year.
So after 2012, the Mets decided to revamp the position, trading their Cy Young Award winner for Buck and the top catching prospect in the game, Travis d'Arnaud.

However, d'Arnaud went down with a broken big toe after playing just 12 games in Triple-A. There is no timetable for his return and so the Mets are consequently stuck with John Buck and Anthony Recker until at least the All Star Break.

While the position can still be considered a weakness if Buck cools down, virtually all Mets catchers have gotten off to an overwhelmingly positive start at the Minor League level in 2013.

No one more than Kevin Plawecki, who is batting .416 and is the only player in the Mets organization to do remain above .380. A first round pick out of Purdue last year, Plawecki's power numbers are there too, stroking five home runs and an organization-high 17 doubles in just 26 games. That total leads the South Atlantic League and puts him on a ridiculous pace for 75 this year.

Savannah's Kevin Plawecki leads the SAL in hitting (.416) and doubles (17)

Joining the party are a couple of Minor League veterans in Double-A who have been considered prospects for years but never possessed the numbers to back it up. But so far, Francisco Pena and Blake Forsythe are making names for themselves. Pena is batting .300 and Forsythe posted an April slugging percentage of .653. Like Plawecki, Forsythe leads his team in doubles and reaches base better than 40% of the time.

Blake Forsythe was a 3rd Round pick in 2010 out of Tennessee

Gordon Donovan / MetsMerizedOnline.com

Catchers Juan Centeno, Jeffrey Glenn and Albert Cordero have all shown improvement this year as well, going from afterthoughts to contributors.

While it is only one month, the catchers in the system have done what the team needs most - hit.

Coming This Summer: Cal Ripken League Coverage

by John Vittas

Beginning June 6, 2013, Across the John will have full coverage of the Gaithersburg Giants of the Cal Ripken League.
Live broadcasts, post-game articles, interviews and prospect rankings will be provided throughout the season.

The Cal Ripken League features some of the top collegiate baseball prospects in the United States and is a hotbed from Major League scouts.
To learn more about the league, including the players and teams that will be featured this summer, click here: http://crcbl.bbstats.pointstreak.com/team_home.html?teamid=50863&seasonid=21979

For more information on the Giants, including their roster and schedule, click here: http://crcbl.bbstats.pointstreak.com/team_home.html?teamid=50863&seasonid=21979

Across the John Top 100 Mets Prospects

by John Vittas

After an offseason of plentiful research, and on the Minor League Opening Day, here they are hot of the presses, the Top 100 Mets prospects heading into 2013.

Ranked on the basis of: "the probability to make an impact at the Major League level at some point"


Mets Top 100 Prospects 

1.    Zack Wheeler, RHP
2.    Travis d’Arnaud, C
3.    Noah Syndergaard, RHP
4.    Jeurys Familia, RHP
5.    Wilmer Flores, INF
6.    Rafael Montero, RHP
7.    Brandon Nimmo, OF
8.    Gavin Cecchini, SS
9.    Cesar Puello, OF
10.                  Jacob DeGrom, RHP
11.                  Domingo Tapia, RHP
12.                  Michael Fulmer, RHP
13.                  Kevin Plawecki, C
14.                  Matt den Dekker, CF
15.                  Armando Rodriguez, RHP
16.                  Aderlin Rodriguez, INF
17.                  Robert Carson, LHP
18.                  Luis Mateo, RHP
19.                  Steven Matz, LHP
20.                  Cory Vaughn, OF
21.                  Danny Muno, INF
22.                  Cory Mazzoni, RHP
23.                  Rainy Lara, RHP
24.                  Phillip Evans, SS
25.                  Hansel Robles, RHP
26.                  Luis Cessa, RHP
27.                  Juan Lagares, OF
28.                  Collin McHugh, RHP
29.                  Gabriel Ynoa, RHP
30.                  Logan Verrett, RHP
31.                  Dustin Lawley, 3B/LF
32.                  Adam Kolarek, LHP
33.                  Travis Taijeron, OF
34.                  Taylor Whitenton, RHP
35.                  Jack Leathersich, LHP
36.                  Cam Maron, C
37.                  Matthew Bowman, RHP
38.                  Jayce Boyd, 1B
39.                  Juan Centeno, C
40.                  Miller Diaz, RHP
41.                  Matt Koch, RHP
42.                  Alonzo Harris, OF
43.                  Wuilmer Becerra, OF
44.                  Darin Gorski, LHP
45.                  TJ Rivera, INF
46.                  Darrell Ceciliani, OF
47.                  Chase Huchingson, LHP
48.                  Wilfredo Tovar, SS
49.                  Gilbert Gomez, OF
50.                  Chris Flexen, RHP
51.                  Tyler Pill, RHP
52.                  Matt Reynolds, INF
53.                  Eudy Pina, OF
54.                  Joe Tuschak, OF
55.                  Erik Goeddel, RHP
56.                  Blake Forsythe, C
57.                  Eric Campbell, INF
58.                  Bradley Marquez, OF
59.                  Paul Sewald, RHP
60.                  Reese Havens, 2B
61.                  Christian Montgomery, RHP
62.                  Logan Taylor, RHP
63.                  Francisco Pena, C
64.                  Allan Dykstra, INF
65.                  Corey Oswalt, RHP
66.                  Akeel Morris, RHP
67.                  Carlos Vazquez, LHP
68.                  Adrian Rosario, RHP
69.                  Pedro Zapata, OF
70.                  Ryan Fraser, RHP
71.                  Beck Wheeler, RHP
72.                  Stefan Sabol, OF
73.                  Jeff Diehl, 1B
74.                  Hamilton Bennett, LHP
75.                  Robert Gsellman, RHP
76.                  Gonzalez Germen, RHP
77.                  Robbie Shields, INF
78.                  Marcos Camarena, RHP
79.                  Estarlin Morel, RHP
80.                  Jorge Rivero, INF
81.                  Greg Peavey, RHP
82.                  T.J. Chism, LHP
83.                  Angel Cuan, LHP
84.                  Brian Harrison, INF
85.                  Tomas Nido, C
86.                  Yohan Almonte, RHP
87.                  Tyler Vanderheiden, RHP
88.                  Rob Whalen, RHP
89.                  David Wynn, LHP
90.                  Richard Lucas, 1B
91.                  Maikis De La Cruz, OF
92.                  Albert Cordero, C
93.                  Alex Panteliodis, LHP
94.                  John Mincone, LHP
95.                  Gregory Pron, OF
96.                  Jeffrey Walters, RHP
97.                  Anthony Chavez, SS
98.                  Chasen Bradford, RHP
99.                  John Gant, RHP
100.              Brandon Welch, RHP

List was created prior to Spring Training and does not include players added or dropped during March

does not include players who have cracked the Major Leagues in more than one season (Josh Satin, Zach Lutz, Chris Schwinden, etc.)

Thoughts on the 2013 Mets Season

by John Vittas

With Opening Day just hours away, the giddiness that comes with the start of the baseball season has already set in.
With that said, despite my eternal optimism regarding the New York Mets, this is the least confident I've ever felt with an Opening Day roster. The last 5 years, the team struggled after injuries took their toll. But this year, there are holes already built into the roster.
Here are my predictions, concerns and potential bright spots heading into the year:

Top 5 Concerns

1. Who Will Fill Santana's Void?
With Johan Santana's career possibly reaching its tragic conclusion, a gaping hole remains in the rotation. Jeremy Hefner will fill it to begin the year. He is capable of eating up some innings, but will give up hits. I worry about how he will hold up later in the year when teams start to figure out what he is.
Zack Wheeler is the obvious answer to this question, but when will he come up and how effective will he be when he does?
If Shaun Marcum doesn't prove to be healthy or if Gee, Niese or Harvey get hurt, the starting rotation went from a major strength to a major weakness in just a year's time.

2. Can the Mets find steady and productive outfield?
Take 1 will include Lucas Duda in left, Collin Cowgill in center and Marlon Byrd in right.
I hope they outperform expectations, but that doesn't tend to happen with the Mets. There's plenty of options in AAA or even the bench, but it's doubtful that any of them will perform much higher than replacement level.

3. Who can be a reliable reliever?
There's many unknowns in the Mets bullpen, the greatest of which is Frank Francisco, who remains hurt after an ineffective year last year. Other than Bobby Parnell, LaTroy Hawkins and Brandon Lyon, there is almost zero MLB experience in the Mets bullpen, and that causes me concern.

4. Will Terry Collins keep his job?
Terry is a great manager. I want him here for the long term. But with his contract being up after this year, if the Mets get off to a rough start, the questions will undoubtedly swirl about his job security. That type of distraction is the last thing the team needs.

5. Will the team stay healthy?
This is the kind of team that will not be able to withstand any injuries, especially to their everyday lineup. If Davis, Wright or Murphy go down, the lineup will look incredibly bleak.
Injuries have been a major problem for New York over the past five years and it's just one of those things you cannot control.


Possible Surprises:

Collin Cowgill and Jordany Valdespin
I think both of these guys can have big breakout seasons in 2013. They're both knocking on the door of being Big League starters, and I think by year's end they will be a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of the batting order. They represent all the speed on the Mets roster and combine that with legitimate power and an entertaining flair.

Collin Cowgill

Jeurys Familia
The young righty will start the year in the Mets' bullpen. With his mid-to-high 90s heat, I could see him being a dominant back-end pitcher right now.


Guys to Keep an Eye on:

Obviously, top prospects Zack Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud will be promoted by the All-Star break and have a chance to make a big impact in the second half.
However, keep an eye on these names to come up and potentially help the team sooner than later:

Wilmer Flores - if one of the infielders goes down, Flores can step in and start right away. He's a natural hitter with some power

Rafael Montero - Montero dazzled Major League hitters in Spring Training and is good enough to be in the bullpen now. However, we may see him in the rotation come September

Matt den Dekker - I don't see den Dekker making a big impact this season, but the chances he gets called up at some point are rather high. He won't recover from his wrist injury until May, but he seems like a likely candidate to be promoted if and when an injury occurs to any Mets outfielder. He can make some noise with his glove alone.

Overall Prediction: 79-83

This is the first time I've ever picked the Mets to finish below .500, but looking at the roster honestly, I just see too many names that won't be impactful.
And without a legitimate ace like R.A. Dickey, it'll be hard for the team to even sniff the postseason.

Terps Baseball Transitions into the John Szefc Era

by John Vittas

Had a chance to catch up with members of the Maryland baseball team last week. The team is off to a 9-3 start and just cracked the top 30 in the nation.

The 90 second feature:

The longer version:

Top 10 Mets Infield Prospects

by John Vittas

10. Matt Reynolds

Univ. of Arkansas (2^nd Round of the 2012 Draft)

Bats: Right                                           Throws: Right

Opening Day Age: 22

Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie

Positives: very versatile infielder, decent speed and solid in the field, a natural line-drive hitter, compact, short stroke, good plate discipline, hits well with runners on base, athletic, has leadership qualities

Negatives: only average power, lacking a position: not enough for corner infield spot, may not be good enough defensively to be a Major League shortstop

ETA: 2015

Matt Reynolds

Projection: Reynolds is described as a high floor, low ceiling kind of player. Therefore, the Tulsa native projects as a utility infielder if he reaches the highest level. He was a captain at Arkansas and is the high-character leader you want in a locker room.

Best-Case Scenario: reliable, utility infielder (Ryan Theriot type)

MLB.com Ranks: #18 in system (#5 infielder)

Baseball America: Best Pure Hitter of the Draft Class

Across the John Rank: #52 overall

9. Wilfredo Tovar

Signed as an International Free Agent in 2007 (Venezuela)

Bats: Right                               Throws: Right

Opening Day Age: 21

Projected Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Binghamton

Positives: excellent defender, good arm, rarely strikes out (8.6%), had enough power this year (28 doubles), held his own in Double-A

Negatives: will never hit home runs, undersized for a pro athlete (5’10”/160 wet and standing on a phone book)

ETA: 2014

Wilfredo Tovar

Projection: Tovar does not look like a future Major Leaguer at first glance, but he has produced at every level and is a superb shortstop. He has to hit for a high average or he will never be a starter. The Venezuelan is straight out of the mold of Ruben Tejada, literally identical.

Best Case Scenario: he hits like Tejada is in the Majors

MLB.com Ranks: #16 in system (#4 infielder)

Baseball America: Best Defensive Infielder in the System

John Vittas Rank: #48 overall

8. T.J. Rivera

Signed as an Undrafted Free Agent in 2011 (Troy University)

Bats: Right                                           Throws: Right

Opening Day Age: 24

Projected Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Binghamton

Positives: off-the-charts numbers at every level so far, hits much better with runners on base, decent power (42 extra-base hits)

Negatives: lacks any outstanding tools, not considered a prospect by most

ETA: 2015

T.J. Rivera

Projection: It’s really hard to project Rivera. He doesn’t profile as a Major Leaguer so if he makes it, he’ll be a man who is defined by beating the odds, which he’s been doing since he was passed up in every single draft he was eligible for. There is no best and worst case scenarios for this guy, he blew through his ceiling a long time ago. I wouldn’t bet against him, so that's why he makes my list.

Best Case Scenario: TBD

Not in any Major Rankings

Across the John Ranking: #45 overall

7. Jayce Boyd

Florida State University (6^th Round of the 2012 Draft)

Bats: Right                                            Throws: Right

Opening Day Age: 21

Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie

Positives: plus defender, exceptional arm and good speed for a first baseman, smooth swing, natural power to all fields, Major League body, walks a ton, one of the best hitters of the decade in the ACC

Negatives: not enough power to be prototypical power-hitting first baseman (20 HR in 727 college ABs), didn’t fair too well in his first pro season (.239 average)

ETA: 2015

Jayce Boyd

Projection: Boyd’s a guy who I am particularly high on. He tore up one of the highest levels of college baseball for three straight years. He stole 22 bases, slugged 78 extra-base-hits and drove in 160 runs in 198 collegiate games. And when you consider his .424 career OBP, the kid is a consistent, well-rounded prospect. To me, he’s a sixth round steal and could be an everyday Major League player one day.

Best Case Scenario: right-handed Adam LaRoche with a little less power

Not in any Major Rankings

Across the John Rank: #34 overall

6.    Dustin Lawley

West Florida (19^th Round of 2011 Draft)

Bats: Right                                            Throws: Right

Opening Day Age: 23

Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie

Positives: no particular weakness, solid all-around player, run producer, hits a ton of doubles, good power, can play multiple positions, aggressive hitter, plays the game hard

Negatives: age, strikes out too much, could be more selective

ETA: 2015

Dustin Lawley

Projection: Lawley was one of the most productive hitters in the organization in 2012, and earned that title while playing in a pitching-dominated league. He doesn’t get cheated at the plate, and has legitimate power to all fields. Dustin can play outfield, although his main position is third base, so he’ll have to keep developing his defensive skills elsewhere if he wants to be a Met one day. A couple of comparisons Mets fans should be somewhat familiar with who Lawley emulates: Zach Lutz at the plate, Collin Cowgill everywhere else
Best Case Scenario: power-hitting third corner outfielder

Not in any Major Rankings
Across the John Rank: #31 overall

    5. Phillip Evans

La Costa Canyon H.S. (Carlsbad, CA) (15^th Round of 2011 Draft)

     
     Bats: Right                                            Throws: Right

     Opening Day Age: 20

    Projected Opening Day Assignment: Low-A Savannah

    Positives: has every skill necessary to be a good SS, works counts and walks a lot, good defender, short, compact swing, plays hard, embraces the spotlight, ahead of the age clock

    Negatives: power isn’t immense, needs to learn how to get out of slumps, needs to hit the breaking ball better

    ETA: 2015

Phillip Evans

    Projection: Evans is one of those guys who just stands out on a baseball field. Even though he’s small and doesn’t hit skyscraping bombs, Phillip plays with an intensity and a swagger that makes people notice him. He’s a line drive machine who definitely has Major League potential even without plus speed or power.

    Best Case Scenario: Elvis Andrus without the speed or a flashier Ruben Tejada

    MLB.com Ranks: #19 in system (#6 infielder)

    Across the John Rank: #24 overall

     4.    Danny Muno

Fresno State (8^th Round of 2011 Draft)

Bats: Switch                                         Throws: Right

Opening Day Age: 24

Projected Opening Day Assignment: Double-A Binghamton

Positives: never strikes out, walks at an incredible rate (14.7%) can play multiple positions, very good athlete, has some pop

Negatives: suspended 50 games for failed PED test, struggled in the Arizona Fall League

ETA: 2014

Danny Muno

Projection: Muno is being groomed as a utility man, although I do think he will be able to man an everyday position one day. He has hit on a consistent basis after being drafted out of Fresno State. His athleticism should help his defensive stock as he hits the upper levels.

Best Case Scenario: Marco Scutaro

Baseball America: Best Plate Discipline in System

Not in any Major Rankings

Across the John Rank: #21 overall

     3. Aderlin Rodriguez

Signed as an International free agent at 16 years old

Bats: Right                                            Throws: Right

Opening Day Age: 21

Projected Opening Day Assignment: High-A St. Lucie

Positives: most power of any Minor Leaguer, can be a 30-40 HR guy in the Bigs, good arm, hit 51 XBH this year and drove in 83 runs, had his best season in 2012

Negatives: very little range, has never hit for a high average, takes a while to adjust to each level, doesn’t have a set position, blocked by Davis and Wright

ETA: 2015

Aderlin Rodriguez

Projection: With a tremendous bounce back season in 2012, Aderlin Rodriguez is back on the map as a legitimate Major League prospect. His 24 home runs and 83 RBIs lead all Minor Leaguers. He got his average up to a respectable .263 as well, and sported a slugging percentage of .476. It took Aderlin nearly two years to figure out the SAL, but he’s only 21 so there’s still plenty of time for him to keep improving. For a team that desperately needs power, this man is the most pure source they have outside of New York.

Best Case Scenario: Aramis Ramirez with less of an average

Not in any Major Rankings

Baseball America: Best Power Hitter in Organization

Baseball America: Best Infield Arm in the System

Across the John Rank: #16 overall

     2.    Gavin Cecchini

     Barbe H.S. (Lake Charles, LA) (1^st Round, 12^th overall in 2012 Draft)

Bats: Right                                            Throws: Right

Opening Day Age: 19

Projected Opening Day Assignment: Short Season-A Brooklyn

Positives: great all-around shortstop beyond his years, incredible athlete, great baseball mind/instincts, advanced hitting skills, good arm and baserunning ability

Negatives: not one tool is super special, needs to develop more power if he’s going to be a star

ETA: 2016

Gavin Cecchini

Projection: Cecchini is a teenager and still has a lot to prove, but he has all the makings of a Major League shortstop. From playing on ESPN at 12 years old in the Little League World Series to having a brother who is a Red Sox prospect, Gavin has the spotlight and pedigree questions answered already. His humble attitude and raw ability adds up to a kid who has absolutely nothing stopping him from being a starting infielder in the Big Leagues. It’s all within his control.

Best Case Scenario: Erick Aybar with leadership capabilities

MLB.com Ranks: #6 prospect in system (#1 infielder)

Baseball Prospectus Ranks: #6 prospect in system (#2 infielder)

Baseball America: #2 prospect in system (#1 infielder)

Baseball America: Best Pure Hitter of the 2012 draft class

Across the John Rank: #8 overall

      1.    Wilmer Flores

Signed as an International free agent in 2007

Bats: Right                                            Throws: Right

Opening Day Age: 21

Projected Opening Day Assignment: Triple-A Las Vegas

Positives: naturally powerful person, makes consistent contact, good plate discipline, has developed legit power, .300 average with 50 XBH last year, always stays healthy

Negatives: slow-footed, doesn’t have a position, average defensively

ETA: late 2013 / early 2014

Wilmer Flores

Projection: Flores is a natural hitter who has rekindled his stock in many prospect rankings after a strong 2012. With the Mets infield seemingly set, it’s hard to picture Flores playing for the Mets this year. He’s probably almost ready to contribute and can be an impact bat very soon, but he needs to find a position first. My guess is they try him at second base and trade Daniel Murphy next year if Flores performs in Las Vegas. Wilmer hits a lot of fly balls, so it’s very possible that the thin PCL air sends his home run totals to the moon. If an infielder gets hurt for the long-term, it’s very possible we see the Venezuelan this season.

Best Case Scenario: poor man’s Miguel Cabrera

MLB.com Ranks: #7 in system (#2 infielder)

Baseball America: #6 in system (#2 infielder)

Baseball America: Best Hitter for Average in the System

Baseball Prospectus Ranks: #5 in system (#1 infielder)

Across the John Rankings: #5 overall

Honorable Mention: Eric Campbell (#57), Allan Dykstra (#64), Jeff Diehl (#73), Robbie Shields (#77)