2016 Monday Morning Mets Minors Players of the Week

May 23-29, 2016

            Keeping track of the hottest minor leaguers in the Mets farm system.

Hitter of the Week: L.J. Mazzilli. He has been working with the B-Mets hitting coach on his approach at the plate this year and has been consistently hitting the ball with more authority the past few weeks.

Starting Pitcher of the Week: Chris Flexen. The only hit Flexen allowed last week came against the first batter of his start.

Relief Pitcher of the Week: David Roseboom. Roseboom has been one of the most consistent B-Mets relievers this year

Team of the Week: Columbia Fireflies. They were the only affiliate to post a winning week, although they finished the week losing 3 straight in West Virginia.

Minors Players of the Week: 4/7-4/17, 4/18-24, 4/25-5/1, 5/2-5/8, 5/9-15, 5/16-22

GIFs of the Week: 4/7-14, 4/15-21, 4/22-28, 4/29-5/5, 5/6-12, 5/13-19, 5/20-26

Las Vegas 51s 27-22

3-4 record

Pitchers

Duane Below - 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 2B, 6 TB, 2 BB, 5 K (3 K/Sw), 9 GB: 4 FB: 3 LD: 1 PU, 93 Pitches (59 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 17 Called, 9.7% SwStr, 21.4% Whiff/Swing, 13.3 Pitches/IP, 25 BF

Nice non-40 man, 7^th/8^th starter for the franchise who is very similar to Sean Gilmartin

Rafael Montero - 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 2B, 4 TB, 5 BB (1 IBB), 3 K (3 K/Sw), 7 GB: 5 FB: 4 LD: 1 PU, 97 Pitches (52 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 13 Called, 9.3% SwStr, 23.1% Whiff/Swing, 16.2 Pitches/IP, 25 BF

The 5 walks were not vintage Montero, but his stuff has been looking good Recap

Josh Edgin - 2 IP, 2 H, 2 TB, 1 BB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 3 GB: 1 FB: 1 LD, 37 Pitches (18 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 7 Called, 10.8% SwStr, 36.4% Whiff/Swing, 18.5 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Edgin hasn’t been scored upon since his first outing of the year with St. Lucie, but as his sub-50% strike rate indicates, he’s not challenging hitters in the zone enough. He’s still in the upper-80’s with his fastball and relying a lot on his slider

Chasen Bradford - 2 IP, 2 H, 2 TB, 4 K (3 K/Sw), 2 GB: 2 LD, 32 Pitches (21 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 10 Called, 12.5% SwStr, 36.4% Whiff/Swing, 16 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Bradford has 17 K’s and hasn’t issued a walk in his last 20.1 IP, a 19-game streak that started on 4/14. Bradford looked really good out of the 51s pen when he came up in 2014 but his BB-rate more than doubled last year. The K-rate isn’t back to his 2014 rates, but his BB-rate is, and he’s been even more effective so far

Batters

Brandon Nimmo - 16 PA, 0.455/0.625/0.818, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 5 BB, 1 K, 1 CS, 10% SwStr, 22.2% Whiff/Swing, 3.8 Pitches/PA, 0.500 BABIP

He’s been out the past few days with ‘some soreness’ but Nimmo has been red-hot over the past month: 1.029 OPS, 15 XBH, 17 K: 16 BB over his last 113 PA

Travis Taijeron - 34 PA, 0.333/0.412/0.667, 6 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 5 K, 12.1% SwStr, 28.3% Whiff/Swing, 4.1 Pitches/PA, 0.348 BABIP

Per Fangraps wRC+, Taijeron’s production has improved this year, and that’s with him doing almost nothing in nearly 50 PA against southpaws, who he usually crushes. He’s an acceptable outfielder, but the Mets should give him a first baseman’s mitt ASAP. His bat has earned a look, but more importantly, the Mets will be giving James Loney a look until Lucas Duda is ready. I hope Loney is acceptable, but I expect he’ll be underwhelming, and there may be no better time to give Taijeron a look, assuming he can learn 1B well enough

Johnny Monell - 24 PA, 0.318/0.333/0.727, 5 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SF, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 1 CS, 11.1% SwStr, 23.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.4 Pitches/PA, 0.250 BABIP

Back to providing the 51s with consistent production after a cold April

Marc Krauss - 28 PA, 0.261/0.357/0.565, 5 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 1 SF, 11 K, 15.1% SwStr, 34% Whiff/Swing, 4.2 Pitches/PA, 0.364 BABIP

61% TTO last week

Kyle Johnson - 30 PA, 0.308/0.400/0.423, 2 R, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 SB, 8.1% SwStr, 17.5% Whiff/Swing, 4.1 Pitches/PA, 0.381 BABIP

He’s been heating up with the weather and is off to a much better start with the 51s this year than in his lost 2015 – he never fully recovered from a hand injury suffered on a HBP

T.J. Rivera - 34 PA, 0.323/0.353/0.452, 6 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2 HBP, 1 SF, 8 K, 1 GIDP, 1 CS, 17.2% SwStr, 31.2% Whiff/Swing, 3.4 Pitches/PA, 0.391 BABIP

This is T.J. Rivera ‘cooling off’ in the PCL – that is a low contact rate for him. He’s played LF the past few days as he works to increase his versatility

Gavin Cecchini - 29 PA, 0.333/0.379/0.407, 7 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 SB, 8.2% SwStr, 18.8% Whiff/Swing, 3.8 Pitches/PA, 0.409 BABIP

Cecchini didn’t miss a beat while on the DL for a longer period of time than expected in May – he had a sore back – and his numbers have improved with his contact rate against the more advanced pitchers

Binghamton Mets 19-29

2-5 record

Pitchers

Casey Delgado - 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 2B, 5 TB, 4 BB, 5 K (3 K/Sw), 9 GB: 6 FB: 2 LD: 1 PU, 109 Pitches (64 Strikes), 7 Swinging, 17 Called, 6.4% SwStr, 14.9% Whiff/Swing, 18.2 Pitches/IP, 28 BF

The walks have been a problem the past two starts, but Delgado has been missing bats at a nice rate. An Indy League announcer who saw him pitch before the Mets signed him said he had been the best pitcher in that league Recap

Mickey Jannis - 12 IP, 8 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 2B, 2 3B, 14 TB, 2 BB, 9 K (7 K/Sw), 16 GB: 10 FB: 6 LD: 3 PU, 184 Pitches (124 Strikes), 17 Swinging, 32 Called, 9.2% SwStr, 18.5% Whiff/Swing, 15.3 Pitches/IP, 47 BF

Only two walks for Jannis last week, and 5 of the hits (including all 4 XBH) came from two Trenton batters Recap

David Roseboom - 4 IP, 2 H, 2 TB, 1 BB (1 IBB), 4 K (3 K/Sw), 5 GB: 3 LD: 1 PU, 52 Pitches (35 Strikes), 7 Swinging, 11 Called, 13.5% SwStr, 29.2% Whiff/Swing, 13 Pitches/IP, 14 BF

The BOOM has held Eastern League opponents scoreless in 10 of his last 11 appearances

Logan Taylor - 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 TB, 6 K (2 K/Sw), 6 GB: 2 FB: 1 LD, 62 Pitches (37 Strikes), 7 Swinging, 13 Called, 11.3% SwStr, 29.2% Whiff/Swing, 15.5 Pitches/IP, 16 BF

Taylor hasn’t had a multi-walk outing since the 1^st of May and the walks were the only part of his game I had to complain about! His stuff looks electric and could play in a major league pen right now

Batters

L.J. Mazzilli - 21 PA, 0.556/0.619/0.722, 2 R, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K, 5.5% SwStr, 17.4% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA, 0.625 BABIP

This is probably his best stretch since joining the B-Mets and I have a feeling that first Double-A homerun is not far off

Victor Cruzado - 29 PA, 0.308/0.379/0.500, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 9 K, 1 SB, 9.1% SwStr, 22.5% Whiff/Swing, 3.4 Pitches/PA, 0.438 BABIP

Cruzado did some damage... when he actually put the ball in play last week. Strikeouts have been a problem for the soon to be 24-year old, as he’s spiked from 18% in the FSL last year to 25% so far in the EL

St. Lucie Mets 25-25

3-5 record

Pitchers

Chris Flexen - 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 2 BB, 5 K (1 K/Sw), 8 GB: 4 FB: 1 LD: 2 PU, 96 Pitches (63 Strikes), 5 Swinging, 18 Called, 5.2% SwStr, 11.1% Whiff/Swing, 15.2 Pitches/IP, 23 BF

Flexen has a nice fastball-curveball combo and has been consistent for St. Lucie over the first two months of 2016 Recap

Kevin McGowan - 4 IP, 3 H, 1 2B, 4 TB, 1 BB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 7 GB: 2 FB: 2 PU, 50 Pitches (34 Strikes), 8 Swinging, 10 Called, 16% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 12.5 Pitches/IP, 14 BF

Made a spot start in St. Lucie’s double-header and maintained the effectiveness he has showed in the pen this year

Josh Prevost - 7 IP, 8 H, 1 R (1 ER), 8 TB, 2 BB, 5 K (5 K/Sw), 14 GB: 2 FB: 3 LD: 3 PU, 85 Pitches (58 Strikes), 8 Swinging, 15 Called, 9.4% SwStr, 18.6% Whiff/Swing, 12.1 Pitches/IP, 29 BF

Big sinker will at least get him to AAA, though he may prove too hittable to last as a starter Recap

Ricky Knapp - 15 IP, 11 H, 5 R (4 ER), 3 2B, 1 HR, 17 TB, 2 BB, 11 K (8 K/Sw), 22 GB: 13 FB: 4 LD: 4 PU, 187 Pitches (127 Strikes), 15 Swinging, 35 Called, 8% SwStr, 16.3% Whiff/Swing, 12.5 Pitches/IP, 58 BF

Avoiding walks and inducing groundballs is a proven™ method for success

Batters

Jonathan Johnson - 16 PA, 0.300/0.562/0.500, 2 R, 1 3B, 6 BB, 1 K, 1 SB, 1 CS, 1.4% SwStr, 7.1% Whiff/Swing, 4.4 Pitches/PA, 0.333 BABIP

Hasn’t played much yet in 2016, but he takes a bunch of pitches and usually finds his way on base when given the chance

Lednier Ricardo - 9 PA, 0.429/0.556/0.429, 2 BB, 1 K, 6.5% SwStr, 15.4% Whiff/Swing, 3.4 Pitches/PA, 0.500 BABIP

Kevin Taylor - 23 PA, 0.238/0.304/0.571, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 GIDP, 4% SwStr, 8.3% Whiff/Swing, 4.3 Pitches/PA, 0.200 BABIP

Contact rate has been off the charts all year and had a homer in back-to-back games this week – would be surprised if he’s not in Binghamton soon

Patrick Biondi - 26 PA, 0.333/0.385/0.375, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 9 K, 2 SB, 13.5% SwStr, 27.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.7 Pitches/PA, 0.533 BABIP

Have heard him described as the best defensive outfielder in the system

Luis Guillorme - 29 PA, 0.304/0.385/0.348, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 SAC, 2 K, 1 CS, 4% SwStr, 9.5% Whiff/Swing, 3.4 Pitches/PA, 0.333 BABIP

Two straight weeks on the sheet for Guillorme after a quiet start to the season makes me happy

Columbia Fireflies 25-25

4-3 record

Pitchers

Andrew Church - 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 3B, 4 TB, 9 K (6 K/Sw), 3 GB: 2 FB: 2 LD: 1 PU, 78 Pitches (59 Strikes), 12 Swinging, 22 Called, 15.4% SwStr, 32.4% Whiff/Swing, 15.6 Pitches/IP, 20 BF

Huge full-season and 2016 debut for the 2013 HS draft pick who didn’t play for his high school team due to eligibility rules Recap

Tyler Badamo - 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 2B, 1 HR, 11 TB, 3 K (3 K/Sw), 8 GB: 10 FB: 2 LD: 1 PU, 82 Pitches (55 Strikes), 6 Swinging, 16 Called, 7.3% SwStr, 15.4% Whiff/Swing, 13.7 Pitches/IP, 25 BF

Not a big fastball, but Badamo controls and manipulates his slider nicely

Joe Shaw - 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 6 TB, 2 BB, 2 K (1 K/Sw), 18 GB: 6 FB, 87 Pitches (55 Strikes), 6 Swinging, 16 Called, 6.9% SwStr, 15.4% Whiff/Swing, 12.4 Pitches/IP, 28 BF

Lowest strikeout total of the season but huge groundball rate and a very efficient 7 innings

P.J. Conlon - 13.2 IP, 12 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 2B, 2 HR, 22 TB, 3 BB, 11 K (11 K/Sw), 20 GB: 11 FB: 8 LD: 3 PU, 195 Pitches (130 Strikes), 23 Swinging, 31 Called, 11.8% SwStr, 23.2% Whiff/Swing, 14.3 Pitches/IP, 55 BF 

Even his off night was a quality start on Sunday in West Virginia, though it led to his first loss of the year, and broke a streak of 7 straight starts with a W. His start day lines up with Scarlyn Reyes and the FSL is calling his name… Recap

Seth Davis - 5 IP, 6 H, 6 TB, 5 K (4 K/Sw), 10 GB: 3 FB: 1 LD, 53 Pitches (40 Strikes), 10 Swinging, 12 Called, 18.9% SwStr, 35.7% Whiff/Swing, 10.6 Pitches/IP, 19 BF

Great week for the future LOOGY

Tyler Bashlor - 4 IP, 3 H, 3 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (3 K/Sw), 7 GB: 2 FB: 2 LD: 1 PU, 59 Pitches (39 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 7 Called, 15.3% SwStr, 28.1% Whiff/Swing, 14.8 Pitches/IP, 16 BF

Biggest hurdle for Bashlor will be avoiding walks. He’s been sitting in the 93-96 MPH range so far this year, but reported as high as 98

Batters

Kevin Kaczmarski - 26 PA, 0.333/0.423/0.619, 5 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SF, 6 K, 1 SB, 8.1% SwStr, 22.9% Whiff/Swing, 3.8 Pitches/PA, 0.400 BABIP

Kaczmarski has been hot at the top of the Fireflies lineup and is an obvious candidate for a mid-season promotion

Vinny Siena - 31 PA, 0.360/0.484/0.440, 10 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 5 BB, 1 HBP, 7 K, 2 SB, 8.4% SwStr, 23.4% Whiff/Swing, 4.2 Pitches/PA, 0.500 BABIP

Seems like a lock to takeover second base in St. Lucie once Amed Rosario is promoted and Guillorme is shifted back to SS

Tyler Moore - 13 PA, 0.300/0.417/0.400, 3 R, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 SAC, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 16% SwStr, 38.1% Whiff/Swing, 3.8 Pitches/PA, 0.375 BABIP

There are a lot of catcher available to the Fireflies so I wouldn't be surprised if Moore ends up as Tomas Nido's backup in St. Lucie soon

#Jupiter is now the most dominant gravitational force on @NASAJuno. Orbit arrival in 38 days https://t.co/GFJvtWXtKZ pic.twitter.com/izzsxZjM7s

— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) May 27, 2016