June 23 – June 29, 2014
Keeping
track of the hottest minor leaguers in the Mets farm system.
Hitter of the
Week: This is no contest, as
Matt ∂en Dekker slugging percentage bested
most of his competition’s OPS. Langer has described Matt as a streaky hitter on
numerous occasions, and he was as hot as I’ve seen him. With good CF defense
(another
highlight
reel play last week), a willingness to take walks and average or better
pop, M∂D is a useful piece that can be a part of the Mets future. What part he
plays is yet to be determined, as his could still end up as just minor league
depth, a useful 4
th OF/bench piece, or a starting CF. Some might
disagree that he still has a starter’s ceiling, and I guess I prefer to be
optimistic, but the player I just described has a starter’s ceiling and applies
to Matt. His 19.3 K% with Las Vegas this year (44 SO in 228 PA) would be a
career best, and better than league average. His 32.1 K% over 122 PA in the
majors is obviously too high, and that has always been the biggest knock on
Matt, but it’s based on two separate SSS sets, and he saw a 10% improvement in
his K% from 2013 to 2014. Given his adjustment to AAA – K% went from 28.4 in
317 PA in 2012 to 22.8 in 202 PA in 2013 to 19.3 in 228 PA so far in 2014 –
it’s not unreasonable to think he could show improvements in that area at the
major league level. Matt still has starting major league potential, and whether
he reaches that still depends on him keeping the K’s to a reasonable pace.
Starting Pitcher
of the Week: I considered going with
Dario Alvarez, as he recorded 77%
of his outs with the strikeout, but Matt Bowman had two strong starts for the
B-Mets, going 7 IP each time. This has been a very strong AA debut season for
Matthew Bowman, in what will hopefully be his only season at AA. His K% is
better league average (22.8% vs. 17.4% average), his BB% is better than league
average (7.4 % vs. 8.6% average), his GB% is way better than league average,
elite even (58.2% vs. 44.9% average), and despite the fact he has a lower than
average percentage of strikeouts ending in swings (swinging strikeouts/total
strikeouts), his swinging strike percentage is higher than average (11.2% vs.
8.6% average). Swinging strikeouts are a good sign of future strikeout success,
as they don’t rely on an umpire’s judgment, but that K-Swinging/K-Total is
misleading, as Bowman still his a higher total K/Sw% than what league average should
be (15.5% vs. 12.8% average).
Relief Pitcher of
the Week: Chase Bradford had another strong week for Las Vegas and is my
bet to be the first Alderson draft pick to debut.
Team of the Week:
Binghamton gets the nod with the best overall record.
3-2
record
Pitchers
Chase Bradford (1-0) – 3 G, 5.1 IP, 3 H, BB, SO, .399 OPS
Batters
Brandon Allen – 19 PA, (.286/.474/.500), 4-14, 3 R, HR, 5
RBI, 5 BB
Matt ∂en Dekker – 25, (.478/.520/1.000), 11-23, 7 R, 4 2B, 3
3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 4 SO
Wilmer Flores (with Vegas only) – 18 PA, (.353/.389/.471),
6-17, 2 2B, 4 RBI, BB, 2 SO, GIDP
Matt Reynolds – 21 PA, (), 7-18, 5 R, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SF,
6 SO, CS, GIDP
