Luis Guillorme was recently named the MVP of the SAL league. Having a prospect receive a league award is great whether they are a “Top Prospect” or “Organizational Filler” but Guillorme’s role within the organization is unclear.
The Mets have been starting Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores at shortstop throughout 2015. They have Matt Reynolds in AAA, Gavin Cecchini in AA (injured), Amed Rosario in A+, Milton Ramos in Rookie ball and Guillorme is somewhat lost in the mix.
What exactly does Guillorme’s profile look like?
He’s a small slender defensive shortstop who runs well. He has ultimately no power and might never record a home run in a full career of baseball but he is a hitter who can get on base. He’s a .300 hitter and through 118 games in 2015 he’s managed 51 walks with only 70 strikeouts. The problem here is that Guillorme profiles as another Tejada. Back in 2010 Tejada was 20 years old and putting up numbers comparable to Guillorme’s but in AAA Buffalo.
What does this mean?
It means that Guillorme fits closer to the “Organizational Filler” title than the “Top Prospect” one but, at the same time, earning the MVP is still something worth applauding.
AAA:
Las Vegas MVP, Dilson Herrera – Herrera was not particularly memorable in the majors but in AAA he was dominant. He managed a .327/.382/.511 line with 23 doubles, 2 triples and 11 home runs. He also stole 13 bases and only struck out 59 times in 81 games played. He appears to have a bright future with the Mets which might spell the end for our beloved Daniel Murphy.
Brandon Nimmo ends the year hurt – Nimmo homered on 9/3 and 9/4 but could not play the final few games as the 51s narrowly missed the playoffs. It was a positive year for Nimmo but with the tremendous success of Conforto the fans are tired of waiting for him to make good on his potential.
AA:
Binghamton MVP, Michael Conforto – He graduated to the majors and took off running but we shouldn’t forget how good Conforto was in AA. Over 45 games he managed a .312/.396/.503 line with 23 walks and 35 strike outs. Obviously, he’s going to have a significant future.
Gavin Cecchini deserves and honorable mention – Many fans were very down on Cecchini going into the year. He responded with his best year in the minors to date. He managed a .317/.377/.442 line displaying solid power and an advanced eye. Perhaps we should get excited about him… finally.
A+:
Port St. Lucie MVP, Dominic Smith – Smith was having an abysmal year and then, like a light switch, turned things on. He finished the year with a .771 OPS and 33 doubles. He is not going to be a high home run hitting player but he will be a solid hitting player.
Jeff McNeil earned his promotion – McNeil is an interesting case. He hits, but doesn’t have much speed or power. He could develop into a solid pinch hitter if he can continue to develop his OBP skills.
A:
Savannah MVP, Wuilmer Becerra – While Guillorme won the award from the league, Becerra is the most talented player on the roster. His .290/.342/.423 line is solid and his 27 doubles, 3 triples and 9 home runs in a difficult park are both impressive. What gets forgotten in the mix is that he also stole 16 bases on the year.
Eudor Garcia is the obvious honorable mention – Where are all the pitchers? We traded or promoted them. Garcia beats out Corey Oswalt and Chris Flexen (both of whom had fine years) because he really stepped up his game. It will be excited to see Port St. Lucie next season.
A-:
Brooklyn MVP, Alex Palsha – Yeah… Brooklyn was pretty bad in 2015 but Palsha looked very good in the bullpen. The most important stats to keep in mind are his 0.77 WHIP and his 12.42 K/9.
Jeff Diehl was pretty good… I guess – Diehl had a .844 OPS, which is great but it is hard to be happy with the Brooklyn team.
R:
Kingsport MVP, Patrick Mazeika – He is sitting on a .354/.451/.540 line and looks to be a very good hitting catcher prospect. We’ll need to see how he develops defensively but he can do little wrong if he keeps hitting like he has been.
Kevin Kaczmarski was nearly as good – .355/.415/.512 lines are very good and Mazeika nearly lost the decision because Kaczmarski can steal bases. He stole 20 in 64 games.
Guillorme will get as manychances than Tejada did, if only because he looks the part better than Ruben ever did; which is to say, he is not as think of midsection as Tejada. Anyhow, he has a chance to be a better offensive player than Rube.
And you know what? If his ceiling is Ruben Tejada, then he’s a major leaguer, and better than what some of the teams are running out there. Which would you rather have for your team in 2015, Ian Desmond, or Ruben Tejada plus the $9 million difference in their respective salaries?
The Key: Guillorme is 20 in Single A and Tejada was 20 in AAA doing basically the same thing.
Aha! I agree, Tejada’s early arrival was very impressive, even though it wasn’t remarked upon much at the time.
I would stipulate, however, that Ruben didn’t have as much talent blocking his progress upward as Guillorme does today. The Mets system has improved from days gone by, even with all the trades and promotions.
David,
I’m really enjoying your “Mets Minors” pieces. I think it would be helpful an evaluating each player if you could include the age and position. Thanks.
Really don’t understand why the Mets left Kaczmarski and Mazieka for the entire season, unless it was to fill some Eastern European quota. Both were old for the League, and should be in a hurry, especially Kaczmarski; and both were clearly better than the Appy League.
I think they were determined to make Brooklyn terrible.
Dominic Smith does not impress me at all.Not nearly enough offensive punch for the position he plays.That may change.
Herrera should make the team out of spring training and ease into playing time when Flores plays SS or 3B. He will eventually be the Met lead off hitter and have a better Met career than Murphy, and that is saying a lot.
Cecchini should start next year at AAA and needs to put up another good year so that he will be ready to take Tejada’s place in 2017. He has moved ahead of Reynolds but Reynolds should not be counted out.
Lucas Duda’s recent DL stint had Murphy playing 1B and the Mets not missing a beat. That his how I envision Dominic Smith in a few years. He is the second minor leaguer that will have a better Met career than Murphy, and that is saying how good this minor league system is.
Congrats to Guillorme as the league MVP but you are correct that he is the third best position player on the team. Wuilmer Becerra may be patrolling right field for the Mets come 2018. He is five tool and what you failed to mention is that he has a great arm and range. Eudor Garcia is the best third baseman in the system but he is blocked until 2021 by the Captain. He should still find a way to get to Citi before then.
Jeff McNeill can hit and I think he is also a nice guy. The dark horse, and a player I have seen and liked is Matt Oberste. He has more power than the 6 home runs he hit this year and seems to be developing his stroke.
David, thanks for the update every week