New York Mets Top 20 prospects for 2018: mid-season review

Continuing with our mid-season organization reviews, we turn our attention to the New York Mets.

This list was originally published February 14, 2018

*****THIS IS NOT A NEW LIST******

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE PRE-SEASON LIST

THESE ARE NOT NEW GRADES

1) Andres Gimenez, SS, Grade B/B+: Age 19, hitting .278/.346/.417 between High-A and Double-A, 31 steals, 22 doubles, 24 walks, 75 strikeouts in 345 at-bats; sound defensively, learning to use his speed, and showing more pop with the bat this year, seems on course to me.

2) David Peterson, LHP, Grade B/B+: Age 22, first round pick in 2017 from University of Oregon; excellent in Low-A (1.82, 57/11 K/BB in 59 innings) but has been hit hard in High-A (7.03, 26/14 in 40, 58 hits); haven’t dug into the scouting reports yet to discover why; the answer there will determine grade heading into ’19.

3) Peter Alonso, 1B, Grade B-/B: Age 23, second round pick in 2016 from University of Florida; destroyed Double-A (.314/.440/.573), more human in Triple-A (.221/.327/.462) but he’s clearly learned to tap his raw power and has maintained the strike zone; glove remains biggest concern but has shown some signs of improvement.

4) Mark Vientos, 3B, Grade B-: Age 18, second round pick in 2017 from high school in Plantation, Florida; hitting .270/.345/.492 with seven homers, 14 walks, 21 strikeouts in 126 at-bats in Appalachian League; stock ticking up.

5) Luis Guillorme, SS-2B, Grade B-: Age 23, 10^th round pick in 2013 from high school in Coral Springs, Florida; hit .301/.376/.404 with 21 walks, 33 strikeouts in 183 at-bats in Triple-A, .190/.271/.222 in 63 major league at-bats; makes contact, controls the zone, flashes the leather; even a slight strength gain would go a long way towards making him more than just a glove guy.

6) Thomas Szapucki, LHP, Grade B-/C+: Age 21, fourth round pick from high school in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; out with Tommy John.

7) Chris Flexen, RHP, Grade B-/C+: Age 24, 14^th round pick in 2012 from high school in Newark, California; 4.40 ERA in 92 innings in Triple-A, 78/31 K/BB; 12.78 ERA in 6.1 major league innings (that’s 14 hits and 13 runs total); seems like a change of scenery candidate to me.

8) Marcos Molina, RHP, Grade B-/C+: Age 23, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2011; atrocious season, 6.94 ERA in 82 innings in AA/AAA with 64/34 K/BB, 113 hits allowed; there’s obviously a physical issue; was placed on the disabled list with undisclosed injury on July 4^th then was released to clear a 40-man roster spot on July 11^th; status unclear at the moment.

9) Desmond Lindsay, OF, Grade C+/B-: Age 21, second round pick in 2015 from high school in Sarasota, Florida; hitting .208/.311/.309 with 33 walks, 71 strikeout in 236 at-bats in High-A; has the tools but has been unable to hit since leaving short-season ball; still young enough to turn things around and frequent injuries have not helped.

10) Tomas Nido, C, Grade C+: Age 24, born in Puerto Rico but went to high school in Florida, drafted in eighth round in 2012; .296/.323/.473 between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting .159/.208/.182 in 44 major league at-bats; good reviews on defense, bat remains uncertain but he’s shown developing power signs.

11) Corey Oswalt, RHP, Grade C+: Age 24, seventh round pick in 2012 from high school in San Diego, California; 6.02 ERA in 52 innings in Triple-A, 52/20 K/BB, 58 hits; 5.27 ERA in 27 innings in the majors, 19/8 K/BB; still shows potential as a fourth starter.

12) David Thompson, 3B, Grade C+: Age 24, fourth round pick in 2015 from University of Miami Hurricanes; hitting .244/.314/.359 in 78 at-bats between Double-A and NY-P rehab; has missed most of the season with a broken hand and then an elbow injury that required surgery.

13) Jamie Callahan, RHP, Grade C+: Age 23, second round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2012 from high school in South Carolina; traded to Mets in Addison Reed deal; out the rest of the year due to shoulder surgery.

14) Tyler Bashlor, RHP, Grade C+:Age 24, drafted in 11^th round in 2013 from South Georgia State University; posted 3.44 ERA in 50 innings between High-A and Double-A, 84/25 K/BB, 40 hits allowed; 2.63 ERA in 24 innings in Double-A, 30/12 K/BB; promoted to majors, has 5.40 ERA in 12 innings, 6/8 K/BB; profiles as middle reliever if he can sharpen his command a bit more.

15) Gerson Bautista, RHP, Grade C+: Age 23, signed by Red Sox out of Dominican Republic in 2013, over with Callahan in Addison Reed trade; 5.06 ERA in 37 innings in high minors, 49/11 K/BB; six runs allowed in 4.1 major league innings; like Bashlor, can be a competent reliever if the control is there.

16) Ronny Mauricio, SS, Grade C+: Age 17, signed out of Dominican Republic for $2,100,000 in 2017; excellent pro debut so far, hitting .336/.351/.529 in 140 at-bats in rookie ball; strike zone is loose with six walks, 23 whiffs but it hasn’t hurt him yet; stock moving up rapidly into B range at least.

17) Jhoan Urena, 1B-3B, Grade C+: Age 23, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2011; hitting .245/.302/.372 with 26 walks, 87 strikeouts in 323 at-bats in Double-A; converted to outfield, seems OK in right defensively given lack of experience but the hitting is not enough for a corner spot.

18) Anthony Kay, LHP, Grade C+: Age 23, first round pick in 2016 from University of Connecticut; 4.04 ERA in 98 innings between Low-A and High-A, 100/38 K/BB; best news is that he’s healthy after missing ’17 with Tommy John; stuff has rebounded nicely, command still a bit slippery but should come around, breakthrough candidate for 2019.

19) Jordan Humphreys, RHP, Grade C+: Age 21, 18^th round pick in 2015 from high school in Crystal River, Florida; out with Tommy John.

20) Justin Dunn, RHP, Grade C+: Age 22, first round pick in 2016 from Boston College; very disappointing 2017 season but has totally turned things around in 2018, 3.02 ERA in 101 innings between High-A and Double-A, 111/34 K/BB; improvement with secondary pitches and overall command gives hope he can remain a starter, stock up, into B range.

OTHER GRADE C+:

Quinn Brodey, OF; Hitting .212/.285/.369 with 10 homers, 30 walks, 104 strikeouts in 344 at-bats in Low-A/High-A; power clear but contact?

Luis Carpio, INF; Hitting .237/.302/.389 with 10 homers, 31 walks, 64 strikeouts in 316 at-bats in High-A; developing some pop.

Gavin Cecchini, INF; Hit .294/.342/.468 in 109 at-bats in Triple-A until going down with foot injury.

P.J. Conlon, LHP; Blasted in Triple-A, 7.26 ERA in 84 innings, 57/30 K/BB, 114 hits; pitched 7.2 innings in the majors, gave up 15 hits and seven runs, past track record was much better, placed on disabled list earlier this week.

Nabil Crismatt, RHP; Strong in Double-A (3.58, 94/34 in 93), hammered in Triple-A (9.41, 17/13 in 22, 39 hits), Las Vegas is hell on pitchers.

Tony Dibrell, RHP; Nice year, 3.16 ERA in 103 innings in Low-A, 120/45 K/BB, just 85 hits; stock up.

Phil Evans, INF; Hitting .256/.327/.493 with 14 homers, 21 walks, 42 strikeouts in Triple-A, 3-for-21 in the majors; should be useful role player.

Harol Gonzalez, RHP; 4.49 ERA in 102 innings in High-A/Double-A/Triple-A, 75/32 K/BB, 104 hits; transition to high minors rough so far.

Mickey Jannis, RHP; 5.03 ERA in 111 innings in AA/AAA, 88/30 K/BB, 140 hits; another possible back-end guy.

Adrian Hernandez, OF; .254/.348/.376 in Dominican Summer League.

Wagner Lagrange, OF; .281/.354/.345 in NY-P; makes contact but lacks power.

Patrick Mazeika, C; Hitting .196/.302/.313 in AA; defense works and controls strike zone but otherwise a weak year.

Austin McGeorge, RHP; 6.02 ERA in 43 innings in A/AA, 46/15 K/BB, 59 hits; much worse than last season.

Jeff McNeil, 2B; Great year, hitting .342/.411/.617 in AA/AAA; older prospect at age 26 but clearly worthy of a shot, 4-for-17 in the majors so far with a homer, stock up.

Stephen Nogosek, RHP; 5.32 ERA in 44 innings in A/AA, 47/32 K/BB; poor control the biggest problem here.

Michael Paez, 2B; hitting .265/.335/.415 with 10 homers, 31 walks, 64 strikeouts in 325 at-bats in High-A; glove needs work but hitting is interesting.

Matt Pobereyko, RHP; 4.43 ERA in 43 innings in AA/AAA, 48/24 K/BB; another adequately mediocre bullpen prospect.

Jacob Rhame, RHP; Actually effective in PCL, 3.76 in 26 inning, 33/7 K/BB; hasn’t figured out majors yet with 8.00 ERA in 18 innings, 25 hits allowed (but a nice 14/5 K/BB); bullpen candidate moving forward.

Drew Smith, RHP; 2.68 ERA in AA/AAA, 36/13 K/BB in 37 innings; in the majors now and has held his own so far, yet another C+ish bullpen arm.

Adonis Uceta, RHP; 4.26 ERA in 25 innings in AA, 28/12 K/BB, went on DL in June with undisclosed injury.

Juan Uriarte, C; Played one game in June for Brooklyn Cyclones, then placed on 60-day DL.

Daniel Zamora, LHP: 3.72 ERA in 46 innings in AA, 61/15 K/BB, nice year but will it carry over to Vegas?

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Live by the C+ prospect, die by the C+ prospect.

The 2018 draft adds upside with Jarred Kelenic and trades added a new high octane arm in Franklyn Kilome.

Discuss!