This is the sixth entry in our prospect series, where we’re counting down the top 50 prospects for the Mets. Four people were involved in this project and what you see is a group consensus, not the results of one person. You can view 50-47, 46-43, 42-39, 38-35 & 34-31 if you have not already seen them. Here are the next four:
30. Josh Smoker – Much like prospect 47 on our list, Mickey Jannis, the Mets rescued Smoker from the Independent leagues. A former first-round pick of the Nationals, Smoker was beset by injury problems which robbed him of his fastball. Now, with velocity back in the low to mid 90s, Smoker pitched for three different teams last year in the Mets’ org and capped his year by being added to the 40-man roster. A lefty reliever who struck out 26 batters in 21 innings in Double-A, Smoker is likely to get a shot in an org always looking for southpaws to utilize out of the pen.
29. Jose Medina – While Smoker has a better chance to reach the majors, Medina has the chance to have a longer career in the show if he can continue to build on what he did in 2015. In his second season pitching for the GCL Mets, the 18-year-old Medina saw his ERA go from 9.12 to 2.25, his WHIP go from 1.865 to 1.156 and his K/BB ratio go from 3.14 to 21.0, as he walked just one batter in 32 IP last year. If the name sounds familiar to you, Medina led all of minor league baseball with a 0.35 ERA in 2013 while pitching in the Dominican Summer League, which made him a Sterling Award winner.
28. Logan Taylor – It’s hard to keep all of the pitching Taylors for the Mets straight. There’s Blake Taylor, who came over from the Pirates in the Ike Davis deal and has spent three years in short-season ball. And there’s Corey Taylor, who the Mets picked on the 7th-round of the 2015 Draft and who had a solid debut for Brooklyn. Logan Taylor has been slowed by a variety of injuries but last year finally pitched a full season, logging 136.2 IP for St. Lucie. Neither his 3.69 ERA nor his 1.332 WHIP were overwhelming but the most important thing for him this past season was taking a regular turn in the rotation. He’s a 6’5 RHP with a full repertoire, including a low 90s fastball, a big curve and a cutter. He’ll need to show results in 2016 to retain prospect status, but this is a guy who could take a big leap forward.
27. Jake Simon – The Mets gave Simon a $300,000 overslot bonus after selecting him in the 11th-round of the 2015 Draft. That’s the third-highest bonus the Mets have given since the hard slotting system was introduced prior to the 2012 Draft. That big monetary commitment bought Simon out from attending Rice University. A 6’2 lefty with a three-pitch arsenal, Simon had a solid debut with the GCL Mets, where he threw strikes and did not allow a homer in 16 IP. He should move to Brooklyn in 2016 and the key will be in which role he performs. The Mets utilized him out of the bullpen in his first year of pro ball but everyone expects him to move to the rotation in 2016, much like they did with 2014 draftee Brad Wieck.
Not a group of household names but were starting to get to some players who have the ceilings to make significant impacts.
Sounds as if, with some good fortune, that the pitching cupboard may not be bare.
Very interested to see how Smoker does this year. Barring setbacks (both physically and performance-wise), I would not be shocked to see him at some point spend time in the Mets’ always volatile BP.
Smoker was put on the 40 man roster right before the date when qualifying minor leaguers could elect free agency. Sandy and DePo know minor league talent and their adding him to the 40 man roster right before he could be come a free agent is a great sign that he will be able to contribute in 2016.