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

Mets Mid-Season Prospect Rankings 2013 (Including Draft Picks)

by John Vittas

With the short-season teams getting set to begin their seasons and the draft now complete, it's just about time to re-shuffle the rankings as the full-season teams reach the halfway mark.

Here's the new rankings:

1. Zack Wheeler, RHP
Preseason Ranking: 1                 Current Level: AAA
Wheeler will disappear as the No. 1 prospect next week, where he's been listed for the better part of two years (for those who had him above Harvey). He's set to make his Major League debut Tuesday in his home state of Georgia against the Braves.

2. Cesar Puello, OF
Preseason Ranking: 9                 Current Level: AA
Puello has exploded over the past month, hitting .515 in the month of June. For the season, the Dominican is now hitting .330 with an OBP above .400 and a SLG percentage above .600. Puello has always been ranked fairly high purely on potential, but seems like he's finally put it all together at the plate. Sandy Alderson called him a 5-tool player last week on WFAN, as Puello has always had a large physique with the ability to run, having stolen 17 bases already this season. It could be time for people to consider Puello as the next big Mets star.

3. Noah Syndergaard, RHP
Preseason Ranking: 3                  Current Level: High-A
Noah continues to log innings in the middle levels, continuing to show he has the ability to be a legit Major League Starter. He has a 3.11 ERA but his strikeout and hit numbers are where they should be (64 Ks and 61 hits in 63 IP)

4. Travis d'Arnaud, C
Preseason Ranking: 2                   Current Level: AAA
d'Arnaud has missed almost the whole season so far with a broken bone in his foot. He should be back in a couple weeks but his stock has fallen as he continues to fight injury problems on an annual basis. His debut has been pushed back at least two months as a result.

5. Brandon Nimmo, OF
Preseason Ranking: 7                   Current Level: A
The 2011 first round pick out of Wyoming has passed all the tests in his first full Minor League season. Nimmo is batting over .300 with Savannah, drawing tons of walks as usual. Strikeouts are still a problem for him (42 in 38 games) but his potential remains enormous.

6. Rafael Montero, RHP               
Preseason Ranking: 6                   Current Level: AA
Montero continues to impress after bursting on the scene last year. He's given up just 51 hits in 66 innings and has a ridiculous 7.2 K/BB ratio. Sandy Alderson hinted that he could be up by September, and could skip right over Triple-A Las Vegas. Hard to believe he was a free agent looking for a team just three years ago, and is now the #6 prospect in the system and ready to begin a Major League career.

7. Wilmer Flores, INF
Preseason Ranking: 5                  Current Level: AAA
It's not that Flores' play has caused him to drop (he's batting .314 and leads the world in doubles with 22), it's just that Nimmo and Montero have performed so well. Flores is still a legit prospect with all the hit tools necessary to be a Big Leaguer. However, he is still looking for a position, and the two he plays (2B and 3B) happen to be the only ones taken on the Mets roster.

8. Kevin Plawecki, C
Preseason Ranking: 13                 Current Level: A
The Purdue grad has lit up the South Atlantic League, batting .322 with 30 extra-base-hits in 62 games. He can handle a pitching staff and is a complete hitter, which could make him quite the combo with Travis d'Arnaud one day.

9. Rainy Lara, RHP
Preseason Ranking: 23                 Current Level: High-A
It was a crapshoot to see which of the five dominant NYPL starters from 2012 would succeed most at the next level. Well the answer right now is Rainy Lara, who has posted an ERA south of 1.60 in 11 starts at two levels of A-ball.

10. Domingo Tapia, RHP
Preseason Ranking: 11                  Current Level: High-A
The results continue to improve for Tapia, who has a 3.30 ERA with St. Lucie, only giving up 30 hits in 43 innings. The only concern in that he's lasting less than five innings per start, which could indicate that his inevitable move to the bullpen may be coming soon.

11. Cory Vaughn, OF
Preseason Ranking: 20                  Current Level: AA
Vaughn was just put on the DL, but before that, he was having the best season of his pro career. A career .255 hitter with a world of potential, Vaughn has been right around .300 all season long. Considering his raw power and the Mets need for corner outfielders, Vaughn jumps 9 spots thanks to his speed and power combo (8 SB for a power hittter).

12. Michael Fulmer, RHP 
Preseason Ranking: 12                   Current Level: A
Fulmer hasn't pitched this year due to a torn meniscus, but given that his injury shouldn't affect his future, he holds pat at number 12. The Oklahoma native is a bulldog on the mound and has the makeup to be a Major League starter.

13. Jack Leathersich, LHP
Preseason Ranking: 35                   Current Level: AAA
Leathersich was promoted to Triple-A yesterday, thanks to the most absurd strikeout numbers you'll see. He stuck out 55 batters in 29 innings of relief for Binghamton and should be next in line if Josh Edgin or Scott Rice falters. Leathersich is a testament to scouting, as the Mets found him pitching for Division II UMass-Lowell, where they took him in the 5th round in 2011.

14. Dominic Smith, 1B
Preseason Ranking: N/A                 1st Round Pick in 2013
The Mets took the California native with the eleventh pick in the draft, the highest pick they had since they took Matt Harvey in 2010. Reports say Smith should be signing soon, and he immediately jumps to number 14 in the system. A Ryan Howard clone, many called Smith the best pure high school hitter in the entire draft.

15. Jayce Boyd, 1B
Preseason Ranking: 38                    Current Level: A
The former Florida State Seminole jumps 23 spots after dominating the pitching-heavy South Atlantic League. Boyd is batting .335 and has already drawn 29 walks. He is the opposite of Ike Davis, a righty who hits for average. And he just might be Ike's replacement.

16. Gavin Cecchini, SS
Preseason Ranking: 8                     Extended Spring Training
Cecchini drops 8 spots simply because he's been hidden in the back fields of Port St. Lucie. The 19-year old has not generated the buzz that most first round picks will, but that's not to say he can't be a long-term option at shortstop. Look for him to open his season in Brooklyn next week, as he finally will get a chance to show what he can do.

17. Matt Bowman, RHP
Preseason Ranking: 37                    Current Level: High-A
Bowman is looking like the steal of the 2012 draft. The 13th-rounder out of Princeton has consistently pitched deep into games, posting an ERA in the mid-2s. The 165-pounder is proving that size doesn't matter.

18. Ivan Wilson, OF
Preseason Rank: N/A                      3rd Round Pick in 2013
If the Mets can sign Wilson, he will have as much ability as anyone in the system. The Louisiana high schooler already has a big league frame (6-3 / 220), and features plus tools across the board. He's a long way away, but if the Mets' coaches develop him correctly, Wilson can be a superstar.

19. Travis Taijeron, OF
Preseason Ranking: 33                   Current Level: AA
After a slow start, Taijeron has warmed up since the calendar hit May. He hit over .300 with St. Lucie before being promoted to Binghamton. Travis has 11 home runs and 23 doubles already. Like Leathersich, Taijeron is another testament to scouting, being drafted from Cal Poly Pomona.

20. Gabriel Ynoa, RHP
Preseason Ranking: 29                    Current Level: A
When Ynoa is on, he rolls through innings in record time, as evidenced by his 0.96 WHIP this season. He's walked just 9 batters over 11 starts. It remains to be seen whether he can afford to pound the zone at the upper levels, but for now Ynoa is as dominant as anyone in the system.

21. Armando Rodriguez, RHP
Preseason Ranking: 15                     Current Level: AAA
Rodriguez has fallen victim to the high altitude of the Pacific Coast League, giving up eight home runs in 32 innings, contributing to an ERA above five. Armando throws hard and I still think he can be a successful Major League reliever. Hopefully the PCL experience won't crush his confidence.

22. Jacob DeGrom, RHP
Preseason Ranking: 10                     Current Level: AA
After DeGrom dominated A-ball last year with his mid-90s fastball, his success has halted in Double-A. His 4.80 ERA over 10 starts and high hit numbers indicate that he needs more time to develop the off-speed stuff.

23. Luis Cessa, RHP
Preseason Ranking: 26                    Current Level: High-A
In his first experience in the South Atlantic League, Cessa has pitched well, recording a 3.32 ERA over his first 10 starts. However, he's given up too many hits. His low walk total shows he needs to expand the zone, as he has the stuff to miss bats.

24. Darrell Ceciliani, CF
Preseason Ranking: 46                     Current Level: AA
The Oregon native has bounced back nicely from an injury-plagued season in 2012. After just 23 games at High-A, Ceciliani has batted .275 with 18 extra-base hits in his first AA experience. He's stolen 14 bases and plays good defense as well. Problem is he has two players of the same mold in front of him in Matt Den Dekker and Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who will both get a shot before Darrell does.

25. Andrew Church, RHP
Preseason Ranking: N/A                   2nd Round Pick in 2013
Church is the best pitching prospect to come out of a 2013 draft that saw the Mets take position players with 8 of their first 11 picks. His delivery is fluid as he already features a four-pitch mix. His fastball exceeds 90 mph. at just 18 years old.

26. Dustin Lawley, OF
Preseason Ranking: 31                      Current Level: High-A
Despite his .223 average, Lawley has slugged the snot out of the ball this year, stroking 34 extra-base hits, including 12 home runs. The Mets moved him to the outfield last year because a right-handed power bat is exactly what they need.

27. Cory Mazzoni, RHP
Preseason Rank: 22                           Current Level: AA
The NC State grad has missed a few starts due to injury and has only performed O.K. when healthy. He's given up more hits than innings pitched and has an ERA in the 4's. However, Mazzoni is still getting strikeouts with his mid-90s heater and could eventually contribute to the Mets bullpen.

28. Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B
Preseason Rank: 16                           Current Level: High-A
Aderlin's stock has dropped simply because David Wright signed a long-term deal this offseason. If he hits at the upper levels, the team could move him to right side of the infield like they did with Wilmer Flores. But his progress has been slow and steady so that decision could come later. Rodriguez has a respectable .260/.295/.427 line with St. Lucie at the moment.

29. Logan Verrett, RHP
Preseason Rank: 30                           Current Level: AA
The former Baylor righty has been the workhorse of the Binghamton staff and has thrown some gems in 2013. Verrett has only walked 18 batters in 78 innings and has an ERA below 4, but many believe his stuff won't hold up in the Majors.

30. Matt den Dekker, CF
Preseason Rank: 14                            Current Level: AAA
Den Dekker has missed the entire season with a broken wrist and has been passed up by Juan Lagares on the depth chart. With Nieuwenhuis, Lagares and Collin Cowgill already competing for centerfield, den Dekker is going to have to light it up in Las Vegas in order to get a shot. His defense is outstanding, but a .220 average in Buffalo last year shows he could need more time.

31. Hansel Robles, RHP
Preseason Rank: 25                            Current Level: High-A
After the Mets gave Robles a look in the bullpen in Spring Training, the Dominican has pitched very well in his return to the rotation. Robles has only given up 27 hits and 13 walks in 34 innings  and is boasting an ERA in the low-3s.

32. Jared King, OF
Preseason Rank: N/A                          5th Round Pick in 2013
King is a switch-hitter out of Kansas State who can flat out hit. He has fabulous bat speed and can hit for both average and power. However, being a junior and playing for a good program, he is likely to be a tough sign.

33. Casey Meisner, RHP
Preseason Rank: N/A                          3rd Round Pick in 2013
Committed to Texas Tech, Meisner is 6-foot-7 at just 18 years old. The righty can touch 94 and is the definition of projectable. Between his clean arm action and 3-pitch mix, there is a lot to like in Meisner's game, although there is a long way to go for the Texan.

34. Steven Matz, LHP
Preseason Rank: 19                             Current Level: A
You might say a 15-spot drop for a guy with 3.22 ERA and more strikeouts than innings pitched might be a bit harsh, but Matz is 22-years-old in a low-level league and is a lefty who throws 98. He should be flat out dominating, not giving up 45 hits in 44 innings. However, the stuff is still there for the New Yorker, and he has every chance to return to the area down the road.

35. Francisco Pena, C
Preseason Rank: 63                             Current Level: AAA
Pena has flourished since arriving to the Pacific Coast League a few weeks ago. He's hit five home runs over his first 19 games and has a .328 average. Despite the small sample size, he rises 28 spots on the list because he is now the Mets' third catcher and could be promoted if John Buck or Anthony Recker go down before d'Arnaud is ready.

36. Beck Wheeler, RHP
Preseason Rank: 71                             Current Level: A
Despite some rough numbers last year, the other Wheeler has always shown impressive stuff since being signed as an undrafted free agent last year. Well, his luck has changed in 2013. He's struck out 37 batters in 25 innings and posted an ERA of 1.42. Wheeler didn't give up a run until May and is one of the best relief pitching prospects in the system after his start this year.

37. Eric Campbell, OF
Preseason Ranking: 57                         Current Level: AAA
Campbell has often been overlooked by evaluators of the Mets' system. Three years in Double-A will do that. But Campbell is putting together his best offensive season since 2010 in Las Vegas (.292/.391/.500). He just started playing the outfield for the first time in his career, which could be the only thing keeping him from Flushing.

38. Adam Kolarek, LHP
Preseason Rank: 32                              Current Level: AA
Kolarek is having another stellar season in Double-A, sporting a sub-2 ERA. He's still likely to be a Major Leaguer at some point, but for now he's stuck in Binghamton after being passed up by Jack Leathersich and failing in a brief stint with Vegas.

39. Chase Huchingson, LHP
Preseason Rank: 47                              Current Level: AA
Huchingson has flourished in his first full season as a reliever. His ERA is 2.14 and his strikeouts are up, as he makes his case to join the list of lefty relief prospects behind Josh Edgin, Jack Leathersich, Rob Carson and Adam Kolarek.

40. Luis Mateo, RHP
Preseason Rank: 18                               Current Level: AA
Mateo is on the shelf after going down with an elbow injury in his Double-A debut. The prognosis doesn't look good for a guy that jumped up prospect lists last year. When he's right, his fastball touches 96.

41. Matt Oberste, 1B
Preseason Rank: N/A                            6th Round Pick in 2013
The Oklahoma first baseman has produced as a power-hitting righty. He features a crouched stance and has good pop from the right side.

42. Jim Fuller, LHP
Preseason Rank: N/A                             Current Level: High-A
Fuller missed the second half last year after surgery, but has utterly had his way, looking healthy as ever this season. He's given up just 15 hits in 31 innings and has a 0.84 ERA. The only reason Fuller is listed this low is because he's 5-10 and 26 years-old and still pitching in A-ball. Technically, he doesn't even qualify as a prospect at his age.

43. Matt Reynolds, INF
Preseason Rank: 52                              Current Level: High-A
The former Arkansas Razorback has struggled in his first full year in the Minors. He may have been rushed to the FSL and Reynolds is still trying to find a home on the infield. The guy put up gaudy college numbers in the best league in college baseball, so you'd think he'll figure it out at some point.

44. Danny Muno, MIF
Preseason Rank: 21                              Current Level: AA
Muno's numbers have slacked since reaching the upper levels. The bad news is he's batting .224. However, the Fresno State product is still producing runs (38 RBIs) and slugging (19 XBH) at a strong rate.

45. Alonzo Harris, OF
Preseason Rank: 42                              Current Level: AA
Harris has also struggled in his first dose of Double-A baseball, with an average at .234. His speed (13 SB) and power (4 HR) combo is decent enough to keep him in the top-50, but his struggles show that he is still a good two years away.

46. L.J. Mazzilli, 2B
Preseason Rank: N/A                            4th Round Pick in 2013
The son of Lee, the UConn grad can flat out hit, posting a .364/.419/.534 line with the Huskies this year. People have criticized his defense and lack of home run power, but the younger Mazzilli has a chance to be a legit Big League hitter. Call him a right-handed Daniel Murphy.

47. Matt Koch, RHP
Preseason Rank: 41                               Current Level: A
Koch continues to give up hits (61 in 51 IPs), but his strikeouts and mid-90s fastball will keep him in the top-50. If he can ever figure out how to get swings and misses out of his secondary stuff, Koch can be big-time.

48. Robert Gsellman, RHP
Preseason Rank: 75                               Current Level: A
Gsellman has been a rover between St. Lucie and Savannah and is now on the Brooklyn roster, but the Santa Monica native has pitched well at every stop. He is very athletic for a 6-6 guy and so his potential is great, despite a fastball that is right around 90. At just 19-years old, his success in the Florida State League is staggering, as Robert appears to be well ahead of schedule.

49. Champ Stuart, CF
Preseason Rank: N/A                             6th Round Pick in 2013
Growing up in the Bahamas, Stuart didn't play much baseball until the last few years. While he's still learning the game, his ceiling is immense. He was drafted on one thing: speed. Stuart was the fastest player in the 2013 draft, and instantly becomes the fastest player in the system assuming he signs. He will need several years to learn how to hit professional pitching, but he could bring the wheels the Mets have been lacking since Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan left.

50. Ricky Knapp, RHP
Preseason Rank: N/A                             9th Round Pick in 2013
The son of former Detroit Tigers pitching coach Rick Knapp Sr., the Florida Gulf Coast righty could progress quickly if he signs. He doesn't have the ceiling of a Church or Meisner, but Knapp is a pitcher. He throws four pitches regularly and with command. He can manipulate his fastball in many ways depending on a hitter and adds and subtracts velocity as necessary.


Dropped from Rankings: Phillip Evans (24), Taylor Whitenton (34), Cam Maron (36), Juan Centeno (39), Miller Diaz (40), Wuilmer Becerra (43), Darin Gorski (44), TJ Rivera (45), Wilfredo Tovar (48), Gilbert Gomez (49), Chris Flexen (50)

Added to Rankings: Dominic Smith (14), Ivan Wilson (18), Andrew Church (25), Casey Meisner (33), Matt Oberste (41), Jim Fuller (42), L.J. Mazzilli (46), Champ Stuart (49), Ricky Knapp (50)

Graduated: Jeurys Familia (4), Rob Carson (17), Juan Lagares (27), Collin McHugh (28)

Top 10 Disappointments of the 2012 Mets Minor Leagues

by John Vittas

In what was a very successful year for the Mets Minor League teams, there were a few disappointments. From injuries, to lack of production, to unsigned draft picks, to entire lineups who failed to produce, here marks the disappointments of the Mets farm system in 2012:

10. The 2012 Draft and Signability

Many are already calling the 2011 draft one of the best in Mets history. But as of now, it doesn’t appear that Paul DePodesta and the Mets’ Minor League brain trust followed suit in 2012.

The Mets were only able to sign 19 of their 40 picks in 2012, losing 21 players to college commitments. By comparison, in 2011, they signed 37 of their 50 picks, including their top 12 selections and 19 of their top 20 picks. That’s a percentage drop-off from 74% down to 45% this year.

The biggest individual failure in the 2012 draft was the Mets inability to sign 2^nd round pick, Teddy Stankiewicz. The 6-foot-4-inch righty was projected to be a legitimate Major League starter, but instead opted to play college ball for Arkansas after the Mets’ offer wasn’t enough to woo him to the pros.

Another significant deficiency in the 2012 draft was that the team did not acquire a single left-handed pitcher, a commodity that the Big League club could certainly use at this point.

9. Pedro Zapata, OF

The prospect window is beginning to close on Pedro Zapata, who will be 25 years old on Opening Day. The tall Dominican has shown flashes of Major League potential in his six-year Minor League career, but struggled mightily in 2012, posting an OPS of just .543 in his first crack in Double-A.

Zapata’s main asset is his combination of size and speed. He stole 36 bases in back-to-back years in 2010 and 2011 and shows a very nice glove in the outfield.

It did take him two years to figure out rookie ball and the Florida State League, so the Mets will likely give him one more crack at Double-A before letting him loose.  Zapata batted .329 during his second season in Kingsport and .292 with 36 stolen bases in his second year with St. Lucie.  If he can duplicate that second-year success in Binghamton this season, Zapata could enter the discussion as the Mets’ fourth or fifth outfielder come 2014.

But long before that happens, Pedro must prove he can hit upper-level pitching, because all of his numbers were downright dreadful in 2012.

Pedro Zapata

8. Joe Tuschak, OF

Tuschak was considered a steal in the sixth round of the draft last year out of Pennsylvania’s Northern High School. Described as a “lottery ticket,” the Mets took a chance on the athletic centerfielder, but so far the returns have not been had.

Tuschak is hitting a lowly .197 in his first two years of rookie ball, clubbing just one home run in 78 career games between the Gulf Coast League in 2011 and Kingsport this season.

The other major issue is his strikeout rate. Tuschak fanned in 32.5% of his plate appearances this year, the third worst figure in the entire Mets organization.

He does walk a good amount, but the former high school quarterback has not been able to turn his elite athleticism into baseball success as of yet.

Joe Tuschak

7. Branden Kaupe, SS

It’s not often you hear of top draft picks coming from Hawaii, but Kaupe fits that description. A 4^th-round pick out of Baldwin High School in Wailuku this year, Kaupe’s play has matched his sketch, looking indeed like an 18-year-old who hasn’t yet been exposed to elite competition.

And that’s exactly what Kaupe was in the Appalachian League: exposed. Branden batted a frightening .173 with Kingsport, coupling his average with only two extra-base-hits in 133 at bats, adding up to a SLG% of .195. Yes, that’s his slugging percentage.

But the 5-foot-7 Kaupe is contact hitter, right? Well not exactly. He struck out in 25.7% of his plate appearances, 44 times in 50 games.

Kaupe is clearly extremely young and extremely raw, so it’s probably best to disregard the numbers from his first pro season and let him work to get better.  On the bright side, he possesses blazing speed, good plate discipline and plays what Baseball America called an energetic game.

The Mets are hoping Kaupe is on the same learning curve as fellow teenage shortstop Phillip Evans, a similar player who had a great season in Brooklyn in his second year after being drafted out of high school.

Kaupe is essentially Evans with less power, or a Ruben Tejada / Wilfredo Tovar type with more speed. 

Branden Kaupe

6. Matt Koch, RHP

It’s rare to find a Mets pitcher who disappointed in 2012, especially with the Cyclones, but Koch falls into that category.

His numbers weren’t that bad, but relatively speaking and considering he was a second round pick, he was definitely a disappointment.

Koch posted an ERA a shade above five in his professional debut, allowing 13 runs in 23 and one-third innings. His strikeout to walk ratio was 19:7, so like I said, his numbers weren’t that bad.

The Mets hope Koch was simply worn down from his 22 appearances at Louisville before arriving in Brooklyn.

When you look at Koch’s resume, it screams reliever. He was a reliever at Louisville, and a good one at that, giving up just 17 hits in 32 and one-third innings. He throws in the mid-90s, and can touch 97, but lacks good secondary stuff.

But for some reason, the Mets insist on making him a starter. Koch informed me in July that the team was slowly transitioning him to starting pitching, which was evident by his two starts to round out the season with Brooklyn.

Even though it was only two starts, his ERA was an even 9.00 and I still can’t fathom why the change is being made. The Mets need bullpen help at the Major League level and Koch can get there quickly if he can develop one plus secondary pitch. On top of that, the Mets have a logjam of starters who will be fighting for spots this spring. Why not just let Koch stay where he’s comfortable?

Matt Koch

5. Darrell Ceciliani, OF

Unlike the other nine players on this list, Darrell Ceciliani finds himself in the disappointment category, not because of his play, but because of his lack of it.

Ceciliani missed more than 80 percent of the season due to various hamstring issues. It’s something Darrell will always have to deal with, similar to what Jose Reyes went through during his career.

Thing is, whenever Ceciliani plays, he’s been good. In 85 at bats this year, the Oregon native batted .329 with eight extra-base-hits and ten walks. Ceciliani also picked up 66 additional at bats in the Arizona Fall League this October, posting an OBP of .402.

Some other strengths of the former 4^th-round pick include his strong glove, good speed and ability to hit to all fields.

Despite the injuries, Ceciliani still possesses considerable upside. His positive attitude, jubilant personality and young age (22) should aid his adjustment to the upper-levels of the Minor Leagues.

He just needs to stay on the field.

Darrell Ceciliani (Kid's a clown)

4. Cesar Puello, OF

Like his St. Lucie teammate Ceciliani, Cesar Puello spent considerable time on the shelf with hamstring problems in 2012.

He played nearly half the season (66 games), but was only O.K. in his second season in the Florida State League.

The Dominican-born outfielder batted .260 and drove in only 21 runs. He did have 21 extra-base-hits, but only four were round-trippers. As a top-10 prospect each of the last two years, the Mets believed Puello could develop Big League pop, but that has yet to be seen.

The most alarming part of Puello’s game is his inability to draw walks. He drew just seven free passes in nearly 240 plate appearances in 2012. That equates to a walk rate of 3.0%, good for dead last in the entire Mets organization.

He did improve that rate in limited play this winter, but the real good news is Puello’s full package. He is a physical specimen who can run, defend and hit. Baseball America called his arm the best of any outfielder in the system. If Puello can ever develop more power, he has a chance to be a legitimate five-tool Major League player.

Cesar Puello

3. Savannah’s Offense

While the Sand Gnats’ pitching staff led the South Atlantic League in ERA (by a lot), the offensive numbers appeared on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Savannah batted just .244 as a team and was one of only two squads that failed to steal 100 bases.

19 of the 21 players to don a Gnats uniform in 2012 hit under .300, with Cam Maron and T.J. Rivera as the only exceptions.

The main culprits, all of whom had over 200 at bats, were Albert Cordero (.194), Yucarybert De La Cruz (.195), Brandon Brown (.222) and Charley Thurber (.223).

The SAL is known as a pitcher-friendly league, but a team that ranks in the bottom four of almost every offensive category is disappointing at any level.

Offensive Ranks (Out of 14 Teams):
Runs Scored:                          575                11^th

AVG:                                     .244               11^th

OPS:                                      .691               11^th

SB:                                         98                  13^th

2. Akeel Morris, RHP

Morris was considered one of the purest raw pitching talents in the Mets’ system prior to his American debut in 2011, but he pitched his way to prospect purgatory in 2012.

His electric stuff and high strikeout numbers should have progressed him through the lower levels with ease, but Morris has yet to pitch above rookie ball, tossing to the tune of a 7.98 ERA in Kingsport this year. The largest contributing factor was surely Akeel’s 22 walks in 38 and one-third innings.

However, following a ten-run debacle on July 24, the Mets moved Morris to the bullpen. The move worked wonders and Morris was considerably better pitching in relief. He gave up just two earned runs in his final 16 innings, despite still issuing ten free passes over that span.

The former 10^th round pick out of the Virgin Islands still has a long way to go, but it seems the new role may be of great benefit.

Akeel Morris

1. Albert Cordero, C

There was no bigger disappointment in the Mets farm system in 2012 than Albert Cordero.

It all started this spring when the Mets chose NOT to promote Cordero to High-A after his strong 2011 season in Savannah, excelling in a league known for pitching with a slash line of .286/.324/.382.

But the Mets’ decision proved appropriate, as Cordero regressed with a capital R. That line dropped to .194/.276/.270 in 2012.

23-years-old and still fumbling around in low-A ball, Cordero’s hourglass is about to run out.

The shame in all of it is that Albert is widely considered the best defensive catcher in the system, with Baseball America donning him that honor earlier this month despite the struggles at the plate.

Albert Cordero