The Mets’ farm system has been improving and getting deeper. Last year David Groveman ranked the club’s top 50 prospects. Once again, we will list the team’s top 50 prospects but this time instead of it being a solo effort, several different writers collaborated on the rankings. A lot of research, conversations, stalemates and cooperation have gone into compiling this list over the course of several weeks.
Who’s better, the guy close to the majors who will be a 25th man on an MLB roster or the guy in a short-season league who was a low draft pick but put up a very solid year? This is just one of many things on which reasonable people can disagree. Also, keep in mind that it’s unlikely that a farm system will have 50 future major leaguers in at and even if it did, many of them would produce little or no or even negative value.
So, if we ranked your favorite sleeper prospect 47th and you think he should be 39th — there’s not a huge difference there. Anyway, here is the first installment of our list.
Darin Gorski – 50
The man with the eager grin was drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 Draft and has spent the last six seasons working his way through the Mets farm system. The 6’4″ lefty had a brief cup of coffee with Las Vegas in 2013, then joined the Triple-A affiliate for half a season in 2014 before a fractured foot ending his year. He has an excellent changeup which he used effectively to increase his K/9 to 9.23 in 52.2 innings at Binghamton and 9.70 K/9 in 47.1 innings in Las Vegas this year. His walks have gotten slightly better over the years, but not good enough, and he still gets hit very hard when he’s not striking guys out. His .294 average against and 1.61 WHIP in Las Vegas last year are all most need to see when asking if he’s ready to make the jump to New York.
Unfortunately for Gorski, 27 is not a tender age, so he’s running out of rope. With younger and quite frankly better starting pitching talent ahead of him, it’s unlikely that Gorski ever makes it to the Mets rotation. He’s had only sparse relief experience, but if Gorski were to ever make it to New York, it would probably be as a long-relief lefty in the bullpen. The question of whether Terry Collins would ever use him appropriately in that role is a conversation for another day, though. Ultimately, Gorski rounds out this list because he has legitimate talent, but he is getting lost in the shuffle.
Cam Maron – 49
At 23, the young catcher finally made the big jump to Double-A, for one game. Up until that point, Maron was having a very good season in St. Lucie, where he batted .282 with a .387 on-base percentage. His 68 strikeouts versus 61 walks in 98 games down in Florida show that he is a fairly patient hitter. His .362 SLG suggests Maron is along the lines of Juan Centeno with pop, a capable defensive catcher with a bat that can drive doubles into the gaps.
As far as catching goes, Maron threw out 27 base runners in St. Lucie, but allowed 98 stolen bases, which shows that his arm is decent, but not great. However, he only allowed four passed balls due to his good range. With that fairly solid play behind the plate and above-average plate discipline with the stick, he stands a chance of being a nice backup one day. If he was in another organization, these skills might vault him higher than we have him here. However, with d’Arnaud, Kevin Plawecki and others well ahead of him in offensive output, Maron will most likely have to bide his time for a while.
Victor Cruzado – 48
The 22-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic is making strides. He had an exceptional 2013 in Kingsport where he posted a .328/.421/.467 line in a short 40 games. Those numbers dropped back to reality in 2014, but were still extremely good as Cruzado put up .273/.371/.404 for the Savannah Sand Gnats. He showed a nice mix of speed (10 steals) and pop (7 home runs) while driving in 50 runs. His 14 doubles and six triples in 107 games are nothing to sneeze at either.
Cruzado still has to prove these numbers will stick at the higher levels, and standing at just 5’11” he’s no monster. But he’s a switch hitter, and he generates power from a very tight swing with just about zero leg kick. That swing has kept Cruzado’s strikeout numbers at a nominal pace, and it’s the type of approach that can usually last up into the majors. He’s an interesting watch as he most likely will make the jump to Double-A at some point next season. As long as that swing stays compact and he keeps getting the opportunity to play everyday, this kid may climb our list quickly.
Patrick,
I like these articles because they keep us both informed and grounded. Looking forward to the rest of the hype-free installments.
I tapped out a note a week or so ago at a Royals site, to the effect that they should acquire Gorski from the Mets. I imagine he would be available for some nominal fee.
The thinking being: Gorski will need to survive an adjustment period; to minimize that, and therefore to maximize his chances of survival, we will need a pitcher-friendly ballpark, a good defensive team, and a club with a real need for starting pitching. Kansas City has all of that.
I’m something of a Gorski fan. I hope he gets his chance. But you are right, it won’t be with the Mets.
I’d still like to see Gorski get a shot as a SP but there’s zero chance that will happen with the Mets. Maybe someone will take a flier on him in the Rule 5 Draft this year.
Gorski is the kind of guy who could hang around and be a pitcher. He’ll never be surprised that his velocity won’t carry him…the further he gets along at higher levels the more “lack of zip” is minimized.
88 MPH lefties usually don;t make it…sometimes they become Jimmy Key or Jamie Moyer.
Aha!
My fabled system of systems.
I’d still say that Gorski could be a #5 starter on an MLB team. I see him getting his shot on another franchise ala Colin McHugh.
Cam Maron is still a prospect I like, if only because he’s a contact hitter, a lefty and could be an asset off the bench for the Mets behind Travis d’Arnaud or Kevin Plawecki.
I can’t look at Victor Cruzado and see a prospect. He’s too small and he’s too old. He’s organizational depth.