The CORRECT Preseason All-ACC Teams with Predictions

by John Vittas

Never have I been so upset with such a meaningless distinction as I was when the 2013-2014 Preseason All-ACC Team was announced.

Four of the five players had never even played a minute in the ACC, and only two of the players deserved this distinction in my opinion.

The Actual Team: CJ Fair, Rodney Hood, Joe Harris, Jerian Grant, Jabari Parker

To me, no freshman deserves to be in this group, even the highly-touted Jabari Parker. It's too good of a league with plenty of players who have already proven themselves as elite.

Therefore, instead of trying to project the freshman, I would simply announce an exclusive Preseason "All-Freshman" team:

G Anthony Barber (NC State)
G Tyler Ennis (Syracuse)
G Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame)
F Jabari Parker (Duke)
F Isaiah Hicks (UNC)

Honorable Mention: G Roddy Peters (MD), G Matt Jones (DUKE), G Xavier Rathan-Mayes (FSU), F Beejay Anya (Syracuse)

16 of the top 100 freshman according to ESPN will be debuting in the ACC this season, making the list above a competitive one.
Barber will be one of just three ACC-caliber players on the Wolfpack roster, so it's fair to say he will be putting up numbers. The other four are supreme talents that would be stars on any team. Ennis will run the point for a top-10 Syracuse team, and Jackson will do the same for No. 21 Notre Dame.

Photo: usatodayhss.com

Parker is the No. 2 rated player of his class and the projected No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

Hicks was the last one to make the list, only because he has a lot of competition for playing time. He should be able to play along side James Michael McAdoo, but he'll have to beat out Joel James, Brice Johnson and fellow freshman Kennedy Meeks in order to start. I say he does.


On to the upper classmen:

First Team All-ACC
G Joe Harris (Virginia)
G Dez Wells (Maryland)
F CJ Fair (Syracuse)
F James McAdoo (UNC)
F Akil Mitchell (Virginia)

I'm sure Akil Mitchell is the name that jumps off the page. You might not even know who he is. But he averaged 13 and 9 a year ago, registering 13 double-doubles. He begins the season as the conference's top returning rebounder, and has the second highest field goal percentage of all returners (TJ Warren is first). Mitchell shot it at 55% last year, and will be anchoring the middle on an improved UVA team.

Photo: strikingthelaw.com

Speaking of Virginia, Joe Harris is the general of the squad and also deserves to be on this list. At 16.3 PPG, you might be surprised to discover that the sharp-shooter is the ACC's top returning scorer.

CJ Fair is a no-brainer. Having scored 15 a game last year, he'll step in to be "the man" with Michael Carter-Williams, Brandon Triche and James Southerland all departing.
McAdoo put up 14 and 7 in 2012-2013 and is surprisingly still in Chapel Hill. It's about time he reaches his No. 6 overall Class of 2011 status, right?
Last but not least, the selection of Dez Wells might raise some eyebrows as well. But the former Xavier transfer will be the go-to guy for Maryland after the departure of Alex Len. Wells outscored Len last year and averaged 22 PPG in the ACC tournament, including a 30-point performance in a win over Duke. He can score in a variety of ways and will fill the stat sheet all season long.


Second Team:
G Rasheed Sulaimon (Duke)
G PJ Hairston (UNC)
F TJ Warren (NC ST)
F Okaro White (FSU)
F Travis McKie (WAKE)

Photo: insider.espn.go.com

White might be the only questionable selection here, but the Clearwater native is a superior athlete who shot 51% a year ago. He scored 12 a game while only taking 8.9 shots per contest. That shot total could double without Michael Snaer around.

McKie might be the most accomplished player in the conference, having collected over 1300 points and 600 rebounds in three seasons. But, he plays for Wake Forest and will be triple-teamed all season without CJ Harris around.
Warren is the league's top returning shooter (62%), and is the only key contributor to return to Raleigh.
Hairston and Sulaimon have cases to be on the First Team, but both will be sharing shots on talented rosters. You can make the argument that Sulaimon is a one-dimensional player, with scoring being his prime talent. Hairston has a host of help, and will begin the season sitting out with compliance issues.

Third Team:
G Jerian Grant (Notre Dame)
G Olivier Hanlan (Boston College)
F Jarell Eddie (Virginia Tech)
F Rodney Hood (Duke)
F Ryan Anderson (Boston College)

Grant has averaged 13 a game over his first two seasons, but his presence on the First Team is a joke. He's never shot above 41% in either of his two seasons. He may not even be the best guard on his own team, with Eric Atkins, Pat Connaughton and Demetrius Jackson providing the competition.

Photo: bcinterruption.com

Hanlan was the ACC Rookie of the Year and can absolutely stroke it.

Anderson has been the leader of BC for two years now, and should become a thousand-point scorer before ACC play.
Hood's appearance on the First Team is also unwarranted, with only one so-so season in the SEC to his record. If you want to talk transfers, Maryland's Evan Smotrycz shot it at 48% for a Sweet 16 team in Michigan, so why isn't he here? The only reason I put Hood this high is because Duke has nowhere else to go down low.

Fourth Team
G Quinn Cook (Duke)
G Eric Atkins (Notre Dame)
G Lamar Patterson (Pitt)
F Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse)
C Daniel Miller (Georgia Tech)

Miller is really the only true center in the ACC, having blocked better than two shots per game last year. He will be a big presence in the middle, looking to better his 51% field goal percentage from last year.
Patterson is the top returner for Pitt, and Atkins will join Jerian Grant as the senior leaders on a ranked Irish team.
Quinn Cook is an accomplished ACC point guard and Rakeem Christmas is poised to have a big year as an athletic big man.

Photo: blog.syracuse.com

Honorable Mention: Justin Anderson (UVA), Robert Carter Jr. (GT), Pat Connaughton (ND), Andre Dawkins (DUKE), Nick Faust (MD), Jake Layman (MD), KJ McDaniels (Clemson), Marcus Paige (UNC), Evan Smotrycz (MD)


For the record, here are my predicted conference standings:

1. Duke (15-3) - #1 seed in the NCAA tournament 
2. Virginia (13-5) - #4 seed
     Syracuse (13-5) - #4 seed
4. North Carolina (12-6) - #6 seed
5. Maryland (11-7) - #8 seed
    Notre Dame (11-7) - #9 seed
7. Florida State (9-9) - #12 seed
8. Boston College (8-10) - NIT
    NC State (8-10) - NIT
10. Pittsburgh (7-11) - NIT
    Georgia Tech (7-11) - CBI
12. Clemson (5-13)
    Virginia Tech (5-13)
14. Miami (4-14)
15. Wake Forest (3-15)

Mets Prospect List Preview: Ups, Downs and Superlatives

by John Vittas

With the beginning of the ATJ prospect rankings just one week away, it's time to preview the list and drop some hints on what to expect.

But first off, we'll hand out some superlative awards:

Biggest Fastball:

1. Domingo Tapia

2. Noah Syndergaard

3. Cory Mazzoni

4. Miller Diaz

5. Akeel Morris

Best Slider: Jack Leathersich

Nominees: Jeff Walters, Adam Kolarek, Michael Fulmer, Luis Mateo

Best Curveball: Beck Wheeler

Nominees: Rob Gsellman, Chris Flexen, Noah Syndergaard, Andrew Church

Best Changeup: Rafael Montero

Nominees: Ricky Knapp, Darin Gorski, Gabriel Ynoa, Adam Kolarek

Most Improved Pitcher: Akeel Morris

Nominees: Chris Flexen, John Gant, Miller Diaz, Beck Wheeler

Most Disappointing Pitcher: Domingo Tapia

Nominees: Matt Koch, Armando Rodriguez, Cory Mazzoni

Most Improved Position Player: OF Travis Taijeron

Nominees: OF Joe Tuschak, C Kevin Plawecki, 1B Jayce Boyd

Most Disappointing Position Player: SS Phillip Evans

Nominees: OF Alonzo Harris, INF Matt Reynolds, OF Gilbert Gomez

Most Power: OF Travis Taijeron

Nominees: 3B Aderlin Rodriguez, OF Dustin Lawley, OF Cesar Puello

Photo: savannahnow.com

Travis Taijeron finished second in the organization with 23 home runs in 2013.

Best Contact Hitter: C Kevin Plawecki

Nominees: SS Jeff McNeil, 1B Jayce Boyd, SS Gavin Cecchini

Best Pure Hitter: 1B Jayce Boyd

Nominees: C Kevin Plawecki, 1B Dominic Smith, 2B LJ Mazzilli

Best Defensive Catcher: Juan Centeno

Nominees: Albert Cordero

Best Defensive Infielder: SS Wilfredo Tovar

Nominees: 1B Jayce Boyd, SS Luis Guillorme, 1B Matt Oberste

Best Defensive Outfielder: Matt den Dekker

Nominees: Patrick Biondi, Darrell Ceciliani

Best Athlete: OF Cesar Puello

Nominees: OF Champ Stuart, SS Amed Rosario, OF Joe Tuschak

Most Speed: OF Champ Stuart

Nominees: OF Alonzo Harris, OF Eudy Pina, OF Cesar Puello

Now to preview the rankings, here are the guys that are no longer eligible to be on the Prospect List:

Graduated to the Majors: Zack Wheeler (Midseason #1), Travis d’Arnaud (4), Wilmer Flores (7), Matt den Dekker (30)

Dropped from Rankings: Andrew Church (#25), Logan Verrett (#29), Casey Meisner (#33), Jeff Reynolds (#43), Alonzo Harris (#45), Matt Koch (#47), Ricky Knapp (#50)

Minor League Free Agents: Armando Rodriguez (#21), Francisco Pena (#35)

Hits 25-years old by Opening Day 2014: Travis Taijeron (Midseason #19), Jacob deGrom (#22), Beck Wheeler (#36), Eric Campbell (#37), Adam Kolarek (#38), Chase Huchingson (#39), Jim Fuller (#42), Danny Muno (#44), Darin Gorski, Jeff Walters, Bret Mitchell

So yes, with Zack Wheeler debuting in Flushing this summer, there will be a new No. 1 prospect in the Mets system.

Photo: Brent Porciau (topvelocity.net)

Who will replace Zack Wheeler as the No. 1 prospect in the system?

Although d'Arnaud, Flores and den Dekker will remain on most prospect lists, I consider their debuts in the Bigs to end their prospect status. That's why guys like Vic Black and Jeurys Familia won't be on the list, either.

Andrew Church, Casey Meisner and Ricky Knapp were just not impressive enough in their pro debuts to warrant a return to the list. Reynolds, Harris and Koch were all huge disappointments, and Verrett, although effective, just gives up too many hits to stay in the Top 40. 

Everyone on the 25-plus list could potentially end up in New York, and all of those names are very successful Minor League players. DeGrom and Walters in particular have a chance to spend the majority of 2014 in Queens. 

Nine players will make their debuts on the ATJ Prospect List, including four players in the top 16. The obvious name to debut is infielder Dilson Herrera, who the Mets acquired in the Marlon Byrd trade. The other three are young and raw, but turned their superior tools into professional success in 2013. 

Two of the new names are from the 2013 draft class. In fact, there are five players in the top-40 who entered the system this past June via the draft.

Biggest Movers:

1. Steven Matz (#34 Midseason)

Matz dominated in 2013, his first full Minor League season since being drafted in 2009. His mid-90s fastball, 1.55 ERA in June and July and legendary postseason performance send him soaring into the Top 10.

2. Robert Gsellman (#48 Midseason)

Gsellman cracked the top-50 in June because of his superb spot starts in St. Lucie and Savannah. Otherwise, the 20-year old would be another newbee to the list along with his fellow 2011 draft class compatriots. 

3. LJ Mazzilli (#46 Midseason)

Despite all the hype, I started Mazzilli low on the list because of his reported "average tools." But after flirting with a .300 season in the New York-Penn League, it's pretty obvious this kid can hit.

Photo: twoguystalkingmetsbaseball.com

LJ Mazzilli began his pro career in the same city that his dad made it big, New York

4. Champ Stuart (#49 Midseason)

I started Stuart low for the opposite reason of Mazzilli, he had the tools but no numbers. After a respectable first pro season with the bat, he might have a chance. 

5. Jayce Boyd (#15 Midseason)

Boyd is rising through the system quickly after a monster offensive campaign in 2013. One of the most decorated college hitters in the system, Boyd was ahead of the game from Day 1. He's no Michael Wacha, but it's very possible he could go from Florida State to the Majors in under three years. 

6. Gabriel Ynoa (#20 Midseason)

The Dominican won the South Atlantic League Player of the Year Award at just 20-years old. He formed a dynamic duo with the aforementioned Steven Matz. Both will make huge jumps on the ATJ List heading into 2014. 

Biggest Droppers

1. Rainy Lara (Midseason #9)

2. Luis Cessa (Midseason #23)

3. Darrell Cecliani (Midseason #24)

4. Ivan Wilson (Midseason #18)

5. Cory Vaughn (Midseason #11)

Lara, Cessa and Ceciliani all had very good statistical seasons in 2013. However, with their prospect clocks running out, they were either passed up by other players or I had them pegged too high to begin with.

Wilson and Vaughn still have Major League tools, they just didn't perform in the second half.

10 PLAYERS OF THE ATJ TOP 40 METS PROSPECTS WILL BE REVEALED EACH OF THE NEXT FOUR TUESDAYS:

Tuesday, November 12: No. 31-40

Tuesday, November 19: No. 21-30

Tuesday, November 26: No. 11-20

Tuesday, December 3: No. 1-10

Coach Turgeon Talks 2013-2014 at Booster Breakfast

by John Vittas

Mark Turgeon spoke candidly about the upcoming season at the Coaches vs. Cancer benefit breakfast Tuesday, which was attended by about 50 of the team's top boosters.

Turgeon was in good spirits, telling stories of on-campus parking mishaps, personal experiences with boosters, and even his GPA at Kansas.

He went on to talk about what he expects from each of his players, and began with the man he'll lean on most.

"Dez Wells has really grown up and has matured quicker than anyone else I've ever been around," Turgeon said. "And he's been through a lot."

With reports indicating that Wells will take over for an injured Seth Allen at point guard, it's obvious that Turgeon has developed immense trust in Wells.

Turgeon's comments at the breakfast came just hours before Allen broke his foot in practice Tuesday afternoon.

"Seth Allen has really improved defensively and now he even passes the ball every now and then," he joked. Fans won't get a chance to see that until January.

Allen broke his foot in practice Tuesday

"Nick's got to be our best perimeter defender. In a scrimmage against a very good Big East team, he held their best scorer to 1-for-7 shooting."

The team played Villanova in a closed scrimmage, so it can be infered that Faust had Ryan Arcidiacono's number. Arcidiacono hit 71 three-pointers last season, averaging 12 points-per-game.

"Chuck [Mitchell] and Shaq [Cleare] have improved their bodies a lot and Jake Layman has turned it around in the classroom. He's become a better student with the new haircut."

Layman is now sporting a traditional look and has left the freshman flow behind.

Turgeon talked glowingly about 6-9 freshman Damonte Dodd, "He's really coming fast. I'm not sure he knows what he's doing yet, but he plays fast and really runs the floor. And he's not a pre-Madonna like you see so often."

Turgeon also mentioned that Michigan transfer Evan Smotrycz will play a big role on the 2013-2014 Maryland team, as he figures to crack the starting lineup, especially after the Allen injury.

The Maryland coach went on to mention some higher profile names that won't be suiting up in red, black and gold this winter.


"I'm trying to get Obama up here for the Oregon State game," he said. Michelle Obama's brother, Craig Robinson is the head coach for Beavers, which is why many believed the game was scheduled in College Park, just miles away from the D.C.

Turgeon went on to reminisce about a recent conversation he had with Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Turgeon said Krzyzewski takes pride in being the most hated man on Maryland's campus.

Duke and Maryland will have one last conference showdown in Durham on February 15.

The Terps open their season on Friday, November 8 against No. 19 Connecticut at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Top 10 Breakout Performers in Baseball in 2013

by John Vittas

Many new stars emerged this season for baseball to market and fans to savor for years to come. In case you missed it, here’s the guys who made a name for themselves in 2013.

Honorable Mention: Shelby Miller, Marlon Byrd, Brandon Belt, Yu Darvish, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Travis Wood

10. Manny Machado

After a promising 51 games as a teenager in 2012, Manny Machado hit the ground running in his first full Major League season. Anchoring the hot corner in Baltimore, the Miami native racked up 189 hits (including 68 for extra bases) and a league-high 51 doubles. At an age where most kids are either in A-ball or college (20), Machado is already one of the most productive players in the Majors.

Photo: baltimoresportsreport.com

9. Chris Johnson

The former Astros farmhand went from an afterthought to a legitimate offensive threat in the span of one season. Johnson was neck-and-neck for the batting title all season long, and finished with a .321 mark, the highest of his career by a longshot.

8. Hisashi Iwakuma

After three years of trying to stick in America, Iwakuma accomplished that and then some in 2013. The former Tokohu Rakuten Golden Eagles star blossomed into an elite pitcher, earning the All Star title in his first full season in an MLB rotation. Both his 14 wins and 2.44 ERA exceed his superstar teammate, Felix Hernandez.

Photo: sportsillustrated.cnn.com

7. Domonic Brown

Domonic Brown had never batted above .242 in three Major League seasons, before dropping 27 bombs and raising his average 37 points in 2013. In a year marked by an aging Phillies team, it’s Brown that’s headed in the other direction.

6. Jean Segura

At just 23 years old, the Dominican shortstop racked up 173 hits in his first full Major League season. He was one stolen base away from leading the league and made the All Star team as a rookie. Segura will be a fixture on the Brewers infield for years to come, following a long line of Dominican shortstops.

5. Josh Donaldson

Probably the most shocking of any name on this list, the former Auburn Tiger finished top-10 in the A.L. in RBIs, SLG, OBP and OPS in 2013. Prior to 2013, Donaldson had struggled in his brief Major League stints and batted just .248 in two seasons of Triple-A.

4. Matt Carpenter

Speaking of a lot of hits in his first full MLB season, Matt Carpenter stroked 199 for St. Louis. After moving to second base in honor of David Freese, the former blue-chip prospect batted .318 in 2013, leading the Majors in hits.

Photo: usatoday.com

3. Jose Fernandez

Talk about the path less traveled, Jose Fernandez never threw a pitch in Double or Triple-A, but was still tabbed as the ace of the Miami staff heading into 2013. He did not disappoint. The Cuban fireballer gave up 111 hits and 172 innings (yeah, seriously) and as you would expect, finished with a WHIP below one. That 5.8 H/9 pace was the best in baseball. It’s safe to say he has NL Rookie of the Year on lock.

Photo: bleacherreport.com

2. Matt Harvey

Overshadowed by his recent Tommy John surgery, Matt Harvey’s 2013 was marked by stardom. Having allowed just three runs over his first four starts, Harvey and was off and running. He sustained his dominance throughout the summer, earning the All Star Game start on his home mound. Harvey would have been top-3 in strikeouts if not for the injury and still wound up third in the Majors in ERA.

1. Yasiel Puig

When the Dodgers signed Yasiel Puig to a seven-year, 42 million dollar deal in 2012, Baseball America called the deal “puzzling.” Well, now we all know why they did it.

Whether it’s his shocking speed or infuriating flair, Yasiel Puig will make you watch. And for 6 million per season? Whose puzzled now?

Photo: sports.yahoo.com

Top 10 Minor League Headlines from 2013

by John Vittas

1. The Dominance of Noah Syndergaard

By far the most Major League-relevant storyline from the farm system in 2013 was the first season of Noah Syndergaard. He wasn’t good, he was great. All the numbers indicate future success, and from what the scouts say, he will be an ace.

Syndergaard gave up 10 less hits than innings, and struck out better than 10 batters per nine. If you take out his disaster of a final start in August, he posted a 2.43 ERA. But superseding the numbers is his stuff, which reportedly improved in 2013.

Syndergaard dropped his arm slot and didn’t lose any command, allowing him to pump 96-98 consistently. Not to mention he has a wipeout curveball. I’d be shocked if Noah wasn’t in the Mets’ rotation by July 1 next year. The prospects of a Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard, Niese, Gee rotation is a pleasant one. When you factor in Rafael Montero and Jenrry Mejia, it gets even scarier.

Photo: Baseball America

Syndergaard stands to make the Harvey-Wheeler duo a trio

2. The Success from Top to Bottom

The once A-ball prospects we’d been hearing about have now reached the upper levels and Paul DePodesta has continued to stock talent from top to bottom, resulting in wins throughout the program.

The system-wide .532 winning percentage is impressive, but consider that the four full-season squads posted a .569 mark. That percentage over a 554-game sample will make statsitcal nerds jump out of their seats.

The 51’s 81-63 mark was the best by a Mets Triple-A team since the Matt Franco-led 2001 Norfolk Tides. Keep in mind, the majority of the Triple-A talent resided in Flushing this season, and their rotation was full of journeymen, so it’s no surprise that the 51’s led the PCL in slugging. Give Wally Backman a lot of credit here.

A championship was won by a Mets affiliate in 2013 as well (seeing “championship” and “Mets” in the same sentence is mind-blowing). It was the first by a Mets’ affiliate since 2006. The low-A Savannah Sand Gnats took the South Atlantic League title thanks to a Johnson-Schiling-like postseason rampage put on by Steven Matz and Gabriel Ynoa. Those two led the league’s second-best pitching staff to a 3.15 team ERA and a 77-61 overall record.

But the best team in 2013 was the Double-A Binghamton Mets. Their 86-55 (.610) mark cleared the rest of the competition in the Eastern League by a comfortable 10 games, as the pitching staff and offense both ranked top-2 in the league. Manager Pedro Lopez led the B-Mets to their first playoff appearance since 2004 in his first season at the helm. He has dominated at every level he’s coached at, and has become a major managerial prospect in baseball.

Photo: metsmerizedonline.com

1B Allan Dykstra was a huge reason for the B-Mets offensive success

3. The Arrival of the Lefty Relievers

For a Major League team that lacked a lockdown lefty, the Mets’ now possess several successful southpaws in their farm system. Jack Leathersich, Adam Kolarek, Hamilton Bennett, Jim Fuller, TJ Chism and Chase Huchingson all had dominant seasons, and made believers out of many scouts.

Outside of Leathersich, the rest of the group appeared to be non-factors on most prospect lists, but Kolarek and Huchingson have continued to dominate Double-A hitters, and could be in Flushing sooner than later.

Here’s some of the numbers:

Leathersich: 102 strikeouts in 58 innings

Kolarek: 2.28 ERA - third straight season with an ERA below 3, has improved that mark in each of his 4 minor league seasons

Bennett: 1.85 ERA (2nd straight sub-2 season, career 2.30 ERA)

Huchingson: 55 hits in 67 innings, 1.61 ERA in his first season in the pen

Fuller: 0.84 ERA in St. Lucie, 15 hits in 32 innings

Chism: 2.21 ERA (3rd consecutive season below 2.40)

4. The Power of Dustin Lawley, Allan Dykstra and Travis Taijeron

Speaking of non-factors on the prospect scene, the three sluggers listed above all had tremendous seasons. All with 20-plus homer seasons, it was Dykstra who posted a .938 OPS, walking an eye-popping 102 times.

Lawley finished second in the organization (Wilmer Flores) with 96 RBIs and led the system with 26 home runs. However, Taijeron might be the most promising of the bunch, since he can play multiple outfield positions and led the trio in average for most of the season, posting a .303 mark with St. Lucie.

5. Michael Fulmer’s Lost Season

The young Oklahoma star missed the first half of the season after tearing his meniscus in Spring Training, and then was forced to shut it down at the end. He managed just nine starts, two of them of the rehab variety. He did fare well, however.

Despite the lack of time on the mound, Fulmer is touted as a kid who already knows how to pitch, so the lost time isn’t as detrimental as it usually would be for a 20-year-old. He’ll probably be back in Port St. Lucie next year, but his 2015 arrival time may still be feasible.

Photo: ESPN

Fulmer in Spring Training (left)

Disclaimer: He may fall out of the top-10 on many prospect lists, but don’t get caught napping on Fulmer.

6. The Next Wave of Starting Pitchers Takes Shape

This could be the most promising news of the year. Despite the plethora of arms throughout the system, the lower levels lacked them. But four youngsters posted big-time numbers after showing considerable improvement in 2013:

John Gant: 81 Ks in 71 IPs (2nd in league behind teammate Miller Diaz), 2.89 ERA

Chris Flexen: 8-1 with a 2.09 ERA, 53 H in 69 IPs, 2 shutouts at 19 years old

Rob Whalen: 1.87 ERA in first full season, .187 opponents AVG, 2.4 ground outs per fly ball

Robert Gsellman: 2.58 ERA pitching at all 3 levels of A-ball, only 20 years old

A little seasoning has given their Big League bodies some Big League arsenals. All were drafted for their potential, and all are beginning to realize it. All four have gotten their fastballs consistently over 90 miles an hour, and all have touched 94 at one time or another.

Chances are we’ll see them all together in Savannah next year, which would make for yet another dominant, promising staff for famous pitching coach Frank Viola.

Photo: metsmerizedonline.com

19-year old Chris Flexen

7. The Suspension of Cesar Puello

No position player in the system has as high of a ceiling as Cesar Puello. He was often talked about before 2013, but there was always a caveat next to his prospect status: he never put up numbers. Well this year, he did.  And he hit a lot. He batted .326 in 91 games, boasting a robust .950 OPS at the Double-A level. It took him five years, but at 22, Cesar Puello was finally hitting, and doing it for power (16 HRs).

However, he did it all under a cloud of suspicion, as his name was one of the few non-Major Leaguers on the Biogenesis list. And sure enough, the suspension came down in August and Puello’s best professional year came to a screeching halt.

There was a chance he would have played for the Mets in September if he was clean, but regardless, I’d bet we see him in New York at some point in 2014.

8. The Domingo Tapia Project

Domingo Tapia throws hard, 100 miles-an-hour to be exact. But his first stint in the Florida State League did not go well, as he walked 63 batters in 101 innings. The worst part was that he averaged less than five innings per start, including a few where he was yanked in the second inning.

There’s no doubt the Dominican Tapia has promise, but he will have to sharpen up his breaking ball and locate more consistently to reach the Show.

 Photo: metsminors.com

Domingo Tapia

9. Matt Reynolds Looking Like a Waste of a Second Rounder

He was never a big prospect, but Matt Reynolds was an elite college hitter with leadership ability and a strong  all-around game. Well in his first two years in the Minors, he’s a career .234 hitter with just eight home runs. A 23-year old who can’t hit in A-ball leaves doesn’t sound as appetizing as a 21-year old 2nd-round captain out of the SEC, which is what Reynolds was less than two years ago.

Photo: ncaa.com

Former Razorback star Matt Reynolds

10. Rainy Lara and Gabriel Ynoa Not Looking Back

Remember that dominant 2012 Brooklyn Cyclones rotation? Well the crew had an overall successful 2013. Luis Cessa and Hansel Robles had solid years, but it was Gabriel Ynoa and Rainy Lara who shined.

While in Savannah, Lara led the entire Minor Leagues in WHIP (0.89) and ERA (1.42) through his first eight starts, earning him the promotion to the Florida State League. Ynoa, on the other hand, remained in Savannah and absolutely lit up the South Atlantic League.

He finished fourth in the league with a 2.72 ERA, giving up just five runs in his final four regular season starts. Ynoa carried his dominance into the playoffs, where he gave up just two runs in 14 and two-thirds postseason innings, leading the Gnats to the SAL championship.

Former Met, New York-native and 3-time MLB All Star Frank Viola continues to work wonders with young Mets' arms when they reach Savannah