May 8-14, 2017
Keeping
track of the hottest minor leaguers in the Mets farm system. This is the first
weekly report of the year, but I cannot guarantee that I’ll have time for this
weekly post every Sunday this summer. The rules
are ~.800+ OPS with enough PA for batters (and some exceptions); a good start
or enough good innings out of the bullpen for pitchers.
Hitter of the
Week: Dash Winningham’s 3 homers and 9 RBI’s helped Columbia go a
perfect 4-0 last week.
Starting Pitcher
of the Week: Gabriel Llanes was one out shy of tossing a Maddux before
an unearned run came home during his start last week, but still finished with a
complete game on 98 pitches.
Relief Pitcher of
the Week: Alberto Baldonado finished the week with 6.1 innings thrown
between Las Vegas and Binghamton, with 7 K: 1 BB and just 2 hits allowed.
Team of the Week:
The Fireflies had a perfect week.
Las Vegas 51s 15-22
1-5 week
Pitchers
Josh Smoker - 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 2B, 3 TB, 3 K (3 K/Sw), 6 GB: 2
FB: 2 LD: 2 PU, 61 Pitches (43 Strikes), 10 Swinging, 9 Called, 16.4% SwStr,
29.4% Whiff/Swing, 13.1 Pitches/IP, 15 BF
The Mets gave Smoker
an approximately 60-pitch limit during his start for Las Vegas, and Smoker made
the most of those pitches, but the early reports
suggest the Mets aren’t planning on using him as a starter in the Majors
Alberto Baldonado - 3.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 TB, 1 K (1
K/Sw), 7 GB: 1 LD: 3 PU, 37 Pitches (27 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 7 Called, 8.1%
SwStr, 15% Whiff/Swing, 11.1 Pitches/IP, 12 BF
w/Binghamton - 3 IP, 1 H, 1 2B, 2 TB, 1 BB, 6 K (5 K/Sw), 1
GB: 2 FB: 01 PU, 39 Pitches (26 Strikes), 8 Swinging, 10 Called, 20.5% SwStr,
50% Whiff/Swing, 13 Pitches/IP, 11 BF
Baldonado has been
charged with 2 runs since joining Las Vegas despite allowing just 1 single,
with 0 walks + 0 HBP, because a runner reached on a strikeout/wild pitch, and
ones of the runs came around to score after he left. The big 6-4 lefty from
Panama may be one of the internal options Sandy Alderson tries before looking
to the trade market for bullpen help.
Batters
Desmond Jennings - 22 PA, 0.450/0.455/1.050, 6 R, 1 2B, 1
3B, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SF, 4 K, 1 SB, 7.9% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 3.5
Pitches/PA, 0.429 BABIP
Jennings has a 1.216
OPS during an 11-game hit streak for Las Vegas, with 1 double, 2 triples, 4
homers, and 3 stolen bases during that span. He’s only had a pair of seasons
with a .748+ OPS, but Jennings has played in the majors for 7 straight seasons
with a career .716 OPS.
Dominic Smith - 28 PA, 0.400/0.464/0.680, 5 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 5
RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 GIDP, 9.8% SwStr, 19.2% Whiff/Swing, 3.6 Pitches/PA, 0.450
BABIP
Dominic Smith is up to
a 9-game hit streak, with 5 XBH in his last 5 games, and a very nice contact
rate
Victor Cruzado - 10 PA, 0.250/0.400/0.500, 1 3B, 2 BB, 2 K,
7.5% SwStr, 17.6% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA, 0.333 BABIP
Cruzado’s finally back
after spending a month on the DL and was playing CF again Sunday, which was the
first time he was in the field since opening day.
L.J. Mazzilli - 11 PA, 0.250/0.455/0.375, 2 R, 1 2B, 3 BB, 3
K, 2 GIDP, 13.3% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 4.1 Pitches/PA, 0.400 BABIP
Mazzilli is splitting
time between RF, 2B, and 3B so far with Las Vegas, and has an 1.100+ OPS for
the first half of May
Josh Rodriguez - 13 PA, 0.250/0.308/0.500, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI,
1 BB, 3 K, 7.5% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.1 Pitches/PA, 0.250 BABIP
Amed Rosario - 30 PA, 0.286/0.300/0.464, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7
RBI, 1 BB, 1 SF, 7 K, 15.2% SwStr, 30% Whiff/Swing, 3.3 Pitches/PA, 0.333 BABIP
Had a 5-game strikeout
streak snapped Sunday. He’s up to 5 multi-hit games in May after 13 in April;
he has a .189 ISO in May after a .102 ISO in April.
Binghamton Mets 18-13
2-3 week
Pitchers
P.J. Conlon - 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 5 TB, 6 K (2 K/Sw), 13
GB: 4 FB: 5 LD, 97 Pitches (68 Strikes), 8 Swinging, 28 Called, 8.2% SwStr, 20%
Whiff/Swing, 12.1 Pitches/IP, 28 BF
This was his second
start of the year without a walk allowed and after allowing a homer in each of
his first two starts, Conlon has allowed just 1 homer over his last 30+ IP.
Kyle Regnault - 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 TB, 5 K (4 K/Sw),
2 GB: 2 PU, 25 Pitches (20 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 3 Called, 36% SwStr, 52.9%
Whiff/Swing, 9.4 Pitches/IP, 9 BF
Regnault threw an
immaculate inning Wednesday night in Portland.
WATCH: @RumblePoniesBB reliever @KyleRegnault threw an immaculate 7th inning in Portland Wednesday night pic.twitter.com/K5XZ44YIIW— Astro (@Astromets31) May 12, 2017
Batters
Matt Oberste - 18 PA, 0.200/0.333/0.400, 4 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3
BB, 2 K, 7.6% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 4.4 Pitches/PA, 0.231 BABIP
St. Lucie Mets 16-21
4-2 week
Pitchers
Andrew Church - 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 TB, 2
BB, 4 K (2 K/Sw), 10 GB: 7 FB: 1 LD: 3 PU, 98 Pitches (67 Strikes), 5 Swinging,
22 Called, 5.1% SwStr, 11.1% Whiff/Swing, 14 Pitches/IP, 28 BF
Church has now gone 7
innings with just 1 run allowed in 2 of his last 3 starts, but he’s allowed 4
homers during that span of 17 IP. Still just 22, the Mets 2nd round
pick from 2013 will probably be more interesting as a prospect once moved to
the Binghamton pen, which is my current guess for where he starts 2018 – he has
shown good control of a fastball that can reach mid-90’s, just having trouble
missing bats as a starter.
Joe Shaw - 11 IP, 14 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 2B, 17 TB, 2 BB, 12 K
(7 K/Sw), 12 GB: 5 FB: 12 LD: 3 PU, 197 Pitches (129 Strikes), 21 Swinging, 38
Called, 10.7% SwStr, 23.1% Whiff/Swing, 17.9 Pitches/IP, 46 BF
I think Shaw has a
good chance of ending up an interesting bullpen arm in a year or two also, but
Shaw’s problem is the opposite of Church’s: Shaw doesn’t have as good control
as Church, but his breaking ball gets whiffs at an excellent rate.
Craig Missigman - 4 IP, 4 H, 4 TB, 1 BB, 4 K (2 K/Sw), 6 GB:
4 FB: 1 LD, 63 Pitches (40 Strikes), 6 Swinging, 15 Called, 9.5% SwStr, 24%
Whiff/Swing, 15.8 Pitches/IP, 16 BF
Joshua Torres - 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 2B, 2 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (3 K/Sw),
1 GB: 3 FB: 1 LD: 2 PU, 52 Pitches (30 Strikes), 5 Swinging, 7 Called, 9.6%
SwStr, 21.7% Whiff/Swing, 15.6 Pitches/IP, 11 BF
Tyler Bashlor - 3 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 2 BB, 5 K (5 K/Sw), 2 GB: 1
FB: 1 LD, 56 Pitches (34 Strikes), 12 Swinging, 11 Called, 21.4% SwStr, 52.2%
Whiff/Swing, 18.7 Pitches/IP, 12 BF
Bashlor has held the
opponent scoreless in 10 of 12 appearances and has multiple strikeouts in 6.
Austin McGeorge - 3 IP, 3 H, 3 TB, 4 K (3 K/Sw), 4 GB: 3 LD,
43 Pitches (30 Strikes), 8 Swinging, 7 Called, 18.6% SwStr, 34.8% Whiff/Swing,
14.3 Pitches/IP, 11 BF
Some poor performance
and need in the St. Lucie bullpen opened the door for McGeorge to get an early
promo, and he’s running with it. He’s lasted more than an inning in 9 of 10
appearances, and has multiple strikeouts in 8.
Cameron Griffin - 2 IP, 2 H, 2 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 3 GB: 1 FB:
2 LD: 1 PU, 18 Pitches (15 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 3 Called, 11.1% SwStr, 16.7%
Whiff/Swing, 9 Pitches/IP, 8 BF
Batters
John Mora - 28 PA, 0.542/0.607/0.833, 5 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR,
6 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K, 5 SB, 4.3% SwStr, 11.6% Whiff/Swing, 4.1 Pitches/PA, 0.6
BABIP
Mora’s riding a
10-game hit streak, with 5 XBH, 5 stolen bases, and 4 K: 4 BB during the
streak. He got off to a very slow start in Aprl (.491 OPS), but he could still
force his way up to Bingo by midseason.
Jhoan Urena - 26 PA, 0.409/0.500/0.545, 4 R, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 4
BB, 3 K, 2 GIDP, 1 CS, 9.1% SwStr, 19.5% Whiff/Swing, 3.4 Pitches/PA, 0.474
BABIP
Urena is a
switch-hitter with a massive platoon split so far in 2017: 1.068 OPS vs. RHP,
.657 OPS vs. LHP. At least he’s better against righties, but always makes me
wonder if they should even be switch-hitting when there’s such a big platoon,
and Urena’s splits having been getting farther apart over the years
Patrick Mazeika - 23 PA, 0.389/0.522/0.500, 4 R, 2 2B, 1
RBI, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 2 K, 7.5% SwStr, 18.8% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA, 0.438
BABIP
Mazeika’s 201 wRC+ is
the best in the FSL (Urena is 4th at 174), and he’s doing that with
a 10.7% K-rate. He’s already up to 8 XBH in May after 9 in April, and he has
more walks this month (4) than strikeouts (3)
Jeff Diehl - 21 PA, 0.312/0.429/0.562, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2
RBI, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SF, 6 K, 18.7% SwStr, 45.2% Whiff/Swing, 3.6 Pitches/PA,
0.400 BABIP
At 6-5, Diehl is a big
dude who can do some damage when he connects. Unfortunately, even in a good
week his contact rate is very low
Wuilmer Becerra - 26 PA, 0.346/0.346/0.462, 2 R, 1 HR, 5
RBI, 9 K, 1 SB, 19.3% SwStr, 32.4% Whiff/Swing, 4.4 Pitches/PA, 0.500 BABIP
Becerra has played LF
3 times over the past 8 days and has 4 multi-hit games during that streak.
Unfortunately, the strikeouts are up this year, especially since the end of
April, and the power hasn’t shown up yet.
Columbia Fireflies 18-16
4-0 week
Pitchers
Gabriel Llanes - 9 IP, 7 H, 1 R (0 ER), 7 TB, 1 BB, 5 K (2
K/Sw), 15 GB: 8 FB: 3 LD: 1 PU, 98 Pitches (77 Strikes), 12 Swinging, 19
Called, 12.2% SwStr, 20.7% Whiff/Swing, 10.9 Pitches/IP, 33 BF
Humphreys and Merandy
Gonzalez have been getting the attention, but Llanes has been just as effective
over his last 4 starts: 29 IP (!), 21 H, 15 K: 2 BB, 3 R (2 ER), .498 OPS
allowed. The main difference is that Llanes’ strikeout rate is very low, as
he’s relied on a 60+% groundball rate during that span instead of missing bats.
Thanks to that tradeoff, Llanes has given the Fireflies more length than
expected of an A-ball starter.
Jordan Humphreys - 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 2B, 3 TB, 1 BB,
9 K (6 K/Sw), 7 GB: 4 FB: 3 LD, 98 Pitches (74 Strikes), 15 Swinging, 19
Called, 15.3% SwStr, 27.3% Whiff/Swing, 14 Pitches/IP, 24 BF
Assuming Humphreys can
finish with more than 4 strikeouts in his next start (he has 4+ in all 6 starts
this year), he will overtake the SAL strikeout leaderboard. His 34% K-rate is
top-15 in all of minor league baseball (among those qualified), and he’s one of
only 2 starters in that group with a walk rate of less than 5%.
Blake Taylor - 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 2B, 10 TB, 1 BB, 5 K
(3 K/Sw), 11 GB: 3 FB: 1 LD: 4 PU, 96 Pitches (69 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 11
Called, 9.4% SwStr, 15.5% Whiff/Swing, 16 Pitches/IP, 26 BF
After being charged
with 10 runs (4 earned) on 4/28, Taylor has made two starts, both against the
Lakewood Blue Claws: 12 IP, 10 H, 8 K: 2 BB, 3 R (2 ER). The 21-year old lefty
is the Taylor acquired for Ike Davis a few years back.
Jake Simon - 3 IP, 3 H, 3 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 9 GB: 1 PU, 38
Pitches (28 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 5 Called, 10.5% SwStr, 17.4% Whiff/Swing,
12.7 Pitches/IP, 12 BF
Simon’s first start
was interrupted by rain, so he ended up as a piggyback reliever for the second
time this year. The 20-year old lefty from Galveston was a pretty
exciting sign for the Mets after they took a chance with their 11th
round pick on him in 2015, and he’s making the jump from Kingsport this year.
Don’t be surprised if he finishes the year on some top Mets prospects lists.
Adonis Uceta - 2.1 IP, 1 BB, 3 K (2 K/Sw), 1 GB: 1 FB: 2 LD,
37 Pitches (24 Strikes), 15 Swinging, 1 Called, 40.5% SwStr, 65.2% Whiff/Swing,
15.9 Pitches/IP, 8 BF
Max Kuhns - 2 IP, 2 H, 2 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (1 K/Sw), 2 GB: 1 FB:
2 LD, 33 Pitches (23 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 12 Called, 6.1% SwStr, 18.2%
Whiff/Swing, 16.5 Pitches/IP, 9 BF
Between the starters
going deep into games, Simon piggybacking, and several other relievers needing
work, it’s been tough to find innings for Kuhns, but he racks up the K’s when
given a chance: 11 K’s over his last 3 appearances (7 IP, 26 BF), which dates
back to 4/29.
Batters
Dash Winningham - 18 PA, 0.500/0.500/1.125, 4 R, 1 2B, 3 HR,
9 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SF, 2 K, 5.2% SwStr, 10.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.2 Pitches/PA, 0.417
BABIP
After slumping
throughout the second half of April, Dash had a huge week for the Fireflies,
which was a big part of the reason Columbia went 4-0 last week. His struggles
this year have come against righties (.524 OPS, 26% K-rate vs. RHP, .971 OPS,
9.5% K-rate vs. LHP), which seems weird.
Michael Paez - 18 PA, 0.333/0.444/0.667, 5 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 1
RBI, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 4 K, 8.6% SwStr, 16.2% Whiff/Swing, 3.9 Pitches/PA, 0.400
BABIP
If you’re going to
strikeout a lot (24% so far), it helps if you hit for power (.252 ISO) or play
solid defense at a key position (he’s played 2B, SS and a little 3B this year).
Paez is likely best suited for second base at the highest level, but his pull
power display for Columbia this year has made him a potentially interesting
second base prospect.
Milton Ramos - 7 PA, 0.333/0.429/0.500, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1
BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 1 SB, 3.7% SwStr, 10% Whiff/Swing, 3.9 Pitches/PA, 0.400 BABIP
Ali Sanchez - 11 PA, 0.400/0.455/0.400, 3 R, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP,
2.2 Pitches/PA, 0.400 BABIP
Gene Cone - 19 PA, 0.312/0.421/0.375, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 3
BB, 3 K, 1 SB, 8.2% SwStr, 22.6% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA, 0.385 BABIP
Cone has above average
speed and walks a lot, but he hasn’t been driving the ball with authority much
yet this year.
#OTD 1836 F. Baily observed "Baily's Beads" during solar #eclipse. Lunar topography allows beads of light through in some places, not others pic.twitter.com/rv5lUKPzJg— Chandra Observatory (@chandraxray) May 15, 2017
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