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 Ten Disappointments of the 2013 Mets

by John Vittas

1. Matt Harvey’s Torn UCL

This was an absolute tragedy. It can only lead you to believe that the organization is cursed. Harvey represented everything that was “right” about the Mets. He signified the attitude, the skill set and the method for future success. And it all came crashing down at that August 26th press conference.

Harvey burned two months in ignorant denial, sealing the fate of his 2014 season. Beyond the fact that the Mets will be 6-8 games worse because of his absence, it’s disappointing purely because it will be another 17 months before we get to see him dazzling hitters again. Get well soon, Matthew.

Image: AP / sportingnews.com

The Fallout

2. Ike Davis

Ike has Regressed, with a capital R. His first half struggles have become a constant. His once-promising bat is now a liability. His .468 August OBP might keep him on the 2014 roster, but Ike has flaws in his swing that need to be corrected.

His confidence needs to be resurrected and he’d be well-served to learn how to hit a breaking ball on the outer half of the plate. Unless he shows signs of a true Major League slugger in Spring Training, the Mets might be headed in another direction at first base.

3. David Wright’s Hamstring Pull

After signing his big 10-year deal, David Wright did exactly what he was paid to do. As the Mets entered the rebuilding stage of 2013, calling up their young prospects in August and September, it was Wright who was counted on to mentor them into Big Leaguers. But when he came up lame on August 2nd against Kansas City, the Mets lost their leader, essentially ending their season.

Still a presence in the clubhouse, Wright did what he could to help the youngsters from the bench, and even made it back to play seven games in September, but there’s no denying that his hamstring injury derailed his first season as the captain, leaving late-season Mets games anything but intriguing.

Image: Jay Jaffe (mlb.si.com)

4. Ruben Tejada

The kid appears to have hit his athletic peak at 21 years old, because the past two years have been a consistent free fall. He’s drawn the ire of his head coach and general manager with a lackluster work ethic. With three years remaining on his Mets’ clock, it’s curious as to whether Tejada will be dropped, traded or buried in Triple-A.

Speaking of Triple-A, Tejada ended up in Vegas this summer to rehab, and ended up being stuck there for 57 games (not sure if you can get “stuck” in Vegas). At the Major League level, his average dropped over 80 points and he looked incredibly benign at the plate. On top of it all, his sure-handed defense took a hit as well.

5. The Lackluster Debuts of Travis d’Arnaud and Wilmer Flores

Considering these two were the top position-player prospects in the system, a combined .206 average is not exactly what the Mets were looking for upon their arrival. Phenoms are supposed to look overzealous, not overmatched. And both d’Arnaud and Flores appeared lost at the plate at times in September.

d’Arnaud isn’t going anywhere, he’s going to have to figure it out - it’s that simple. On the other hand, the Mets have to make some serious judgements on Flores this winter.

6. The Demise of Jordany Valdespin

Valdespin may have been the most gifted athlete on the Opening Day roster, but he may be unemployed very soon. ‘Demise’ is definitely the right word. ‘Fall from grace’ is another. JV went from being one of the most exciting bench players in baseball in 2012 to an absolute pathogen in 2013.

A consistent pusher of the rules, Valdespin made up for it with offensive pazazz. But when he failed miserably on the field for the first time, his presence became a detriment. Tack on the 50-game drug suspension, and I’d be shocked to see Valdespin in Flushing ever again.

Let's Try to Remember This Valdespin

7. Bullpen Prospect Injuries: Josh Edgin and Jeurys Familia

As inconsistent as the Mets’ aging bullpen was in 2013, Josh Edgin and Jeurys Familia had two of the most promising arms coming into the year: Familia a highly touted prospect, and Edgin a southpaw 30th round steal. Both can chuck it in the mid-90s, but both had their seasons halted due to injury, forcing Collins to squeeze more out of guys like Scott Atchison, Scott Rice and LaTroy Hawkins. Personally, I would've rather seen Edgin and Familia.

8. Shaun Marcum

Shaun Marcum failed to be the Zack Wheeler placeholder he was supposed to be. 10 losses in 12 starts...ouch. His 5.29 ERA was better than 1.40 points higher than his career mark. It’s a shame too, because Marcum would have gotten plenty of late-season innings had he been effective.

9. Veteran Relievers (Aardsma, Atchison, Lyon, Feliciano, Byrdak)

With the exception of LaTroy Hawkins, none of the Mets’ veteran relievers were able to reinvent themselves and be high-leverage stoppers. Headlining the list, Brandon Lyon. The 10-year vet gave up 43 hits in 34 innings and couldn’t even make it to the All Star break.

10. Frank Francisco

Francisco must’ve had a thing for Port St. Lucie, because he had no desire to leave. And Terry Collins had no problem hiding him there. The guy who was meant to be New York’s closer wound up “rehabbing” a sore arm for five months, finally making it to the diamond just in time for the meaningless September slogs. Add him to the list of bad contracts, safe to say that $12 million went to waste.

Photo: Getty Images, zimbio.com

Top 10 Surprises of the 2013 NY Mets

by John Vittas

1. Matt Harvey’s Rise to Stardom

As promising of a glimpse as Matt Harvey was in 2012, no one could have expected what he did in 2013. He allowed just three runs in his first four starts, striking out 32 along the way. As he sustained his dominance through the summer, Harvey became a New York heartthrob, rock star and symbol hope for Mets fans everywhere, garnering comparisons to less contemporary New York icons Tom Seaver and Joe Namath. It all culminated in Harvey earning the All Star game start, just two days after this Jimmy Kimmel video got people talking about the suave Connecticut flamethrower.

If you want any more proof that he's the man, read this Men's Journal article on Harvey

2. Marlon Byrd

Shy of R.A. Dickey, Marlon Byrd might be the best Minor League signing the Mets have ever made. He pinned down the right field job from day one and was alongside David Wright in the Mets order until his departure in late August. He finished top-10 in the league in total bases and top-5 in slugging.

Call it the steroids, but Byrd had the best season of his career at 35 years old. I’m not sure if Sandy Alderson deserves credit for this or not. But either way, think of what the Mets have gotten from the two minimum-wage signings of R.A. Dickey and Marlon Byrd: Travis d’Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, Vic Black and Dilson Herrera. Four legitimate prospects. Now that’s making something out of nothing.

Some of the big moments Byrd provided this season

3. Juan Lagares

For a guy who was an afterthought in the realm of Mets’ prospects, Lagares was the most impressive call-up in 2013. A former infielder, Lagares looked as natural and graceful in center field as anyone since Carlos Beltran patrolled Shea Stadium.

Despite some September regression, Lagares finished with respectable numbers for a rookie. But more importantly, he proved his ability to play a grueling position each and every day, doing it with ease. Lagares led the league in centerfield assists, showing all the tools necessary to be an elite defender.  

If you're a believer in sabermetrics, Lagares ranked sixth in the Major Leagues in defensive WAR (3.5), and third among all Big League outfielders, behind only Carlos Gomez and Gerardo Parra. His 3.5 score would have led MLB in 2011.

How many times did we see this in 2013?

4. Dillon Gee’s Second Half

Talk about contrast, Dillon Gee had one of the starkest mid-season turnarounds in recent memory. After carrying an ERA above six through his first ten starts, Gee became a new man. Yankee stadium is rarely an exilir for pitchers, but Gee K’d 12 and allowed just four hits on May 30 in the Bronx and never looked back.

From that day until September 10, Gee was a top-10 pitcher in the Major Leagues, posting a 2.40 ERA over that 3-month span. Not only did he finish strong, he earned his spot in a very competitive rotation and established himself as one of the best finesse pitchers in the game.

5. Eric Young

In what turned out to be a nice little move by Sandy Alderson, the Mets traded for Young midseason and finally got legitimate speed into their lineup. Despite his mediocre OPS (.658), Young provided some spectacular catches, 34 stolen bases and became the first actual leadoff hitter the Mets have had since Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan left New York.

Catches like this became routine for Young

6. Jenrry Mejia

Mejia’s Big League future was in jeopardy following Tommy John surgery in 2011 and a less-than-impressive 2012. But after some extra rehab in Florida and a couple tune-up starts in the Minor Leagues this year, Mejia hit the ground running as a Big League starter. Even though his season was cut short with yet another injury, Mejia looked like a guy finally ready to make an impact. For the first time, he had a breaking ball that had significant downward drop and a fastball that he could locate. Hence the 2.30 ERA. If he can stay healthy, it looks like Mejia finally has the command to get it done in the long run.

7. Josh Satin

After five straight minor league seasons of .815 OPS and above, Josh Satin finally got his chance in 2013, and he did not disappoint. In a season defined by a revolving door of 4-A players, Satin was able to shed that label and prove he could handle Big League pitching. A .281 average in his first real MLB season should earn him a spot somewhere.

Josh Satin finally got his chance in 2013

Photo: centerfieldmaz.com

8. LaTroy Hawkins

The guy is 40 years old and hit 96 miles per hour in his 70th outing of the season. That basically sums it up. He’s a freak and is still an above average late-inning reliever in a role that sees more turnover than any. Of all the low-risk, high-reward bullpen signings the Mets made, none proved more valuable than Hawkins.

9. All Star Weekend

The All Star festivities at Citi Field will undoubtedly be the highlight of the 2013 season, we expected that. But I don’t think baseball fans expected the Mets to put on the star-studded show they pulled off. From performances by Pitbull and Neil Diamond, to a laser show from Yoenis Cespedes, to Mike Piazza hitting one last home run in a Mets’ uniform, to one heart-wrenching farewell to the best closer in baseball history, the three days at Citi Field provided great moment after great moment. To be honest, witnessing a sold out Citi Field was good enough for me.

Notably Absent: Robinson Cano getting drilled in the knee by Harvey

The Cespedes Show

10. Journeymen Relievers Scott Rice and Carlos Torres

When Spring Training began, Scott Rice and Carlos Torres were (if you even knew they existed), at best, afterthoughts. Torres had a Major League ERA above five and Rice had only dreamed of it. Well, to the surprise of many, Rice not only made the team but carried an ERA of 3.08 into June as the team’s featured left hander. Torres earned a mid-season call-up and gave up just one earned run over his first 17 and two-thirds innings. To boot, neither one saw their success fade, both finishing with respectable season-long marks in extended innings (Rice at 3.71 and Torres at 3.44).

Ten Best Starting Pitchers of 2012

    Starting pitching is easily the biggest strength in the Mets' system this year, so picking the ten best starters was a challenge. But this list includes 10 pitchers that simply dominated the competition.

   *ONLY INCLUDES PITCHERS WHO WILL BE RETURNING IN 2013*

10. Michael Fulmer

Michael Fulmer’s April assignment to full-season Savannah in his first full professional campaign raised some eyebrows, and Fulmer proved his worth immediately.

Just one year removed from high school, Michael went 7-6 with an ERA of 2.74, posting a K/BB ratio of close to three and striking out batter a batter per inning.

Fulmer hit his stride in the dog days of summer, giving up just nine earned runs in eight starts in June and July. That’s good for a 1.71 ERA over those two months.

The first-round pick out of Oklahoma is likely to begin 2013 in St. Lucie as he continues his ascent through the system as a top prospect. 

Michael Fulmer

9. Steven Matz

Three years after being drafted in the first round in 2009 and one Tommy John surgery later, Steven Matz made his professional debut at age 21 this June.

Matz indeed looked like a 21-year-old first round pick, dominating the teenagers that populate Appalachian League.

The lefty from Long Island led every starting pitcher in the entire Mets organization in H/9 and K/9 if you make him eligible having only pitched 29 innings.

In six starts, Matz gave up just 16 hits. Yes, that would be less than three hits per start. Opponents batted just .158 against him.

The sample size is small, but the results are extremely promising. After two years of rehab, the Ward Melville H.S. grad has his velocity back up into the mid-90s.

While many experts may wait to see his 2013 season before calling Matz a prospect again, I will not hesitate to put him on my list.

Steven Matz

8. Jacob DeGrom

While we’re on the topic of Tommy John rehab, I introduce Jacob DeGrom. DeGrom missed a year and a half while recovering from his elbow surgery, only to return to the Minors with a bang.

The lanky righty from Stetson took a perfect game into the fifth inning in his 2012 season debut, allowing only one hit over six and two-thirds.

Jacob proceeded to dominate the South Atlantic League, going 6-3 with a 2.51 ERA over 15 starts before being promoted to High-A St. Lucie.

DeGrom had his way at the next level, too. He allowed just five runs in four starts, pitching in his home state of Florida.

DeGrom’s arm has been called the most talented outside of Queens. His 6-foot-4 inch frame and mid-90s fastball should serve him well as he continues to improve his slider and changeup.

As debilitating as Tommy John surgery is supposed to be, both Matz and DeGrom have not just recovered nicely, they’ve come back as better pitchers with even more velocity.

7. Rafael Montero

Talk about late bloomers, Rafael Montero signed with the Mets as an international free agent in in 2011 at 21-years-old and is already approaching Double-A in just his second professional season.

The man dominated A-ball with his devastating changeup and pinpoint control, allowing just 19 walks in 122 innings between Savannah and St. Lucie. That’s an unheralded 1.40 BB/9 rate.

He didn’t give up many hits either, with a H/9 rate of 7.08. All that equates to is the best ERA and WHIP of any full-season Mets starter.

With his breakout season in 2012, Montero has surfaced in the top-10 of almost every Mets prospect list, and could continue to progress quickly because of his advanced arsenal.

Rafael Montero

6. Matt Harvey

We all saw what Matt Harvey did at the Major League level, making some very capable sluggers look foolish on his way to an ERA of 2.73 in his rookie season.

Matt’s AAA numbers weren’t as good, but when you consider that he led the entire system in strikeouts and posted a K/9 rate of close to 10, Harvey was extremely effective.

His fastball touched 98 and lived in the mid-90s con\sistently. If he continues to work on his changeup and can continue to snap off those knee-buckling hooks, there’s no reason the U.N.C. grad can’t be a perennial All-Star.

Matt Harvey

5. Gabriel Ynoa

The 19-year-old Dominican dazzled the New York-Penn League in 2012. He pumps the zone with a low-90s fastball and lives on the corners.

He’s a true strike-thrower who was still able to maintain a WHIP below one and only give up 61 hits in 76 and two-thirds innings. So you know his stuff is good.

The key for Gabriel is his advanced changeup, which he disguises well to keep hitters off-balanced. His frame should allow for him to grow as a pitcher and athlete.

When you consider that he’s just 19-years old, weighs only 158 pounds and already shows great command at the professional level, Ynoa could become a front-line prospect within the next couple years.

4. Zack Wheeler

When it comes to effectiveness and the raw ability to make hitters miss, it’s hard to top super-prospect Zack Wheeler.

His ERA numbers won’t jump out at you like the other guys on this list, but Wheeler’s 3.27 mark in his first battle with AAA is strong.

Wheeler’s stuff left AA hitters overmatched early in the year before being promoted to AAA-Buffalo in early August, right after Matt Harvey reached the Bigs.

His numbers held consistent in Triple-A, striking out 31 batters in 33 innings and finishing the season strong with a 2-hit outing against Lehigh Valley, the Phillies’ affiliate.

If Wheeler can get his walk rate down (3.56 BB/9) and overflow the strike zone, his stuff is good enough to induce weak contact and get him even deeper into games.

Zack Wheeler

3. Luis Mateo

Like Ynoa, Luis Mateo was equally as dominant in all statistical categories. The one column Mateo proved superior was in strikeouts. He utilized his mid-90s fastball and devastating slider to post a 10.44 K/9 ratio, the best of any Mets pitcher to throw at least 30 innings.

Baseball America projects Mateo as a potential Major League closer down the road. His high velocity and two-pitch prominence may just fit that mold.

I’m interested to see how long the Mets keep Mateo as a starter, considering they have the pleasant problem of having too many starting pitchers worthy of a rotation spot coming into 2013.

2. Hansel Robles

Robles found success at every level in his four-year Minor League career, but no season was more fruitful than 2012.

He headed up a staff of Latinos that opened up a can of you-know-what on the NYPL. Two others also made the top five of this list.

Robles’ numbers are a thing of beauty: 72.2 IP, 47 hits allowed, a 6-1 record, an ERA of 1.11, an opponent average of .184.

He led the league in ERA and opponent’s average and has turned his smaller frame into an advantage, firing off of a strong base with sound mechanics. He has a full arsenal of weapons and could progress quickly as a reliever.

1. Jon Niese

Niese made major strides in 2012, asserting himself as a front-end of the rotation pitcher. He had career highs in WHIP (1.17), ERA (3.40), innings (190), strikeouts (155) and wins (13).

The low WHIP and development of his cutter allowed Niese to get deep into games. He gave up just 8.2 hits per nine innings and has induced weaker and weaker contact each season.

My favorite stat about Niese is that he pitched at least six innings in his final 20 starts of 2012. He would have easily broke 200 innings had the Mets stuck with a 5-man rotation.

If Niese can carry over his success into 2013, he could be among the league leaders in innings pitched, proving to be a true work horse.

With R.A. Dickey gone, I think it’s safe to say that Jonathon Niese is not only the most productive pitcher from 2012, but the best pitcher in the Mets organization.

The Best Pitcher in the System Returning in 2013