Columbia FirefliesWith the minor league season over, we start to review the future. For the next four weeks I will be reviewing some of my predictions regarding which of the Met prospects will play at which level. This first week will focus on some of the players who I think will be headed to the Columbia Fireflies to start their 2017 seasons.

Lineup:
1. Jacob Zanon, CF
2. Colby Woodmansee, SS
3. Desmond Lindsay, LF
4. Anthony Dimino, 1B
5. Dash Winningham, DH
6. Blake Tibieri, 3B
7. Ali Sanchez, C
8. Nick Sergakis, 2B
9. Ricardo Cespedes, RF

Rotation:
1. Thomas Szapucki, LHP
2. Anthony Kay, LHP
3. Harol Gonzalez, RHP
4. Merandy Gonzalez, RHP
5. Raul Jacobson, RHP

Bullpen:
1. Joseph Zanghi – Closer – RHP

The Outfield:
The star of the outfield is clearly Lindsay who the Mets could, conceivably promote to Port St. Lucie. The safer money is that he starts in Low A and earns a promotion by June or July to the FSL. The other two spots I have projected going to Jacob Zanon and Ricardo Cespedes. Zanon is one of the fastest prospects from the 2016 Brooklyn Cyclones and Cespedes was one of the most impressive young Mets in Kingsport. I’m projecting Cespedes to skip over Brooklyn but I think he’s capable.

The Infield:
The 2017 Firefly infield is basically a repeat of the 2016 Cyclone lineup. The key piece that is obviously missing is Peter Alonso, who I’ve skipped up to Port St. Lucie. In his place I’ve given the starting first base position to Dimino who put on a fine offensive display in 2016. Winningham, the DH, is the only offensive hold-over from the previous year but thanks to Alonso he gets a second chance to make things work in the SAL.

The Pitching:
The four best starting pitchers: Szapucki, Jacobson and the Gonzalez’s from Brooklyn get promoted to Columbia while Anthony Kay makes his Met debut in the SAL. Kay did not pitch for the Mets in 2016 and I doubt the Mets will make him wait for the Cyclones to start playing or start him in Port St. Lucie. The closer for the Cyclones, Zanghi, will also make his way to Columbia. In Brooklyn, he achieved some fantastic results last season and may warrant some attention if he continues to succeed..

8 comments on “Mets Minors: Thomas Szapucki should headline the 2017 Fireflies

  • TexasGusCC

    David, saw this yesterday on MLBTR. Have to admit, I’m pretty disappointed to only see four names. Although the first three names were in the top 86, that’s average for 30 teams. I don’t think I missed anyone as I was scanning.

    http://www.baseballranks.com/2016/09/17/top-250-milb-rankings-september-2016-the-braves-have-a-bright-future/

    • David Groveman

      The only other names that probably belong on the tail-end of the list are Peter Alonso, Justin Dunn and Desmond Lindsay.

      Mets have guys coming up but they are mostly below Port St. Lucie

  • Gregg

    I’d rather see Szapucki at St. Lucie, I think he has the possibility to be in the majors as soon as mid-2018. But we’ll see.

    • David Groveman

      It’s possible but remember that Szapucki began 2016 in Kingsport and finished the season injured.

  • Hobie

    Zanon has Champ Stuart speed but not even his (whiffle-weight) bat.

    Lindsay in CF and Tebow in LF? (only half kidding).

    • David Groveman

      To be fair,

      I didn’t consider Tebow playing on any team. I guess it’s possible.

  • Joe

    Kay won’t pitch in 2017, he recently had tommy john

  • David Groveman

    Thanks Joe,

    This was written prior to the surgery. You can add that Raul Jacobson isn’t on the team anymore either but there are likely some other candidates to take those spots.

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