David Peterson and the next crop of Mets prospects

David Peterson, LHP: Prior to the draft I was asked who, of my short-listed players, I would be most happy with the Mets drafting.  Without hesitating I answered David Peterson.  Most people agreed that the Mets would be targeting college players and that pitching was going to be a primary concern.  With other options on the table the Mets chose to go with University of Oregon’s towering lefty and for a number of reasons, it looks like a good decision.

 

The Stuff: Depending on your scouting report his Fastball ranges from 90 – 94 MPH with plenty of life.  He has a good slider and changeup combination and a curveball “work in progress” that may or may not be scrapped by Met coaching.  His mechanics are good and his ¾ arm slot seem to not draw any injury concerns from scouts.

 

The Plan: Peterson will almost certainly be heading to Brooklyn where he will be showcased for the local fans.  Assuming he is successful in 2017 he would proceed to Port St. Lucie in 2018 with a major league debut optimistically scheduled for 2020.

 

Mark Vientos, SS/3B: One of the youngest players in the draft the Mets look at Vientos as a long term solution to the third base position.  His offensive upside is extremely high but fans need to set expectations accordingly as he will have a long road to the majors.  The Mets appear confident that he will sign with the team and forgo his commitment to Miami University.

 

Quinn Brodey, OF: None of Brodey’s offensive stats really scream off the page.  Scouts like his contact oriented swing and think that he’ll develop some power over time.  He doesn’t have the range to play center field and his arm is a little too weak for right limiting his options defensively.

 

Tony Dibrell, RHP: Armed with a 96 MPH fastball and an above average slider and changeup Dibrell factors as more than a depth pitching pick for the Mets.  His fastball will need better movement and control to take advantage of his natural gifts.

 

Matt Winaker, OF/1B: Scouts like Winaker’s swing mechanics and approach at the plate.  He also has the athletic ability to play in the outfield despite being used as a first baseman for most of his college career.  He has a good eye but was only starting to swing for power this past year.

 

Marcel Renteria, RHP: Boasting a fastball that can reach 99 MPH you might begin to worry about the arm of this pitcher, who is only 5’11”.  He has an above average curveball and a simple delivery that may keep away the injury bug but an eventual shift to the bullpen might be in his future.

 

Conner O’Neil, RHP: Another college starter but one of a mold unlike most Mets of recent memory.  O’Neil’s best pitch is not his low 90s fastball but instead his curveball is rated as his “best” pitch.  O’Neil doesn’t have a high ceiling but does look good enough to reach the majors if his offerings translate.

 

Trey Cobb, RHP: Yet another college pitcher, Cobb throws in the mid 90s grading out as having a reasonable amount of potential.  One reason he may have been selected this late is that his throwing mechanics are unusual and may need to be corrected.

 

Cannon Chadwick, RHP: Despite the name, he doesn’t throw very hard.  His fastball sits in the high 80s and he relies more heavily on breaking pitches.  Similar to O’Neil, he features a breaking pitch (slider) as his best offering.

 

Stephen Villines, RHP: The 7th college pitcher in the Met draft and joins O’Neil and Chadwick as a new crop of breaking ball specialists.  Villines’ mechanics generate a lot of movement which has generated surprisingly good power pitching numbers for a guy whose fastball doesn’t hit 90 MPH.

 

AAA: Las Vegas 51s

 

Amed Rosario not forcing Met’s hand – While one could argue that Rosario belongs in the majors now, he’s no longer crushing the ball like he was earlier in the season.

 

Dominic Smith a steady bat – While Rosario swings hot and cold, Smith seems to always have a steady ability to get hits.

 

Gavin Cecchini in the majors.

 

Kevin Plawecki shows how different the PCL is – .896 OPS in AAA and a .381 OPS in the majors.

 

AA: Binghamton Rumble Ponies

 

P.J. Conlon still getting it done – Nothing phenomenal about his numbers but he’s gotten through 7.0 innings in his last two starts.

 

Chris Flexen looks brilliant – In his last start, he managed 7.0 innings, only gave up 5 hits and struck out 8 batters.

 

David Thompson remembers he has power – He has three home runs in his last 2 games.

 

Kevin Kaczmarski earning some praise – While he probably grades out as a 4th outfielder, he’s almost major league ready.

 

Marcos Molina promoted to AA.

 

A+: Port St. Lucie Mets

 

Justin Dunn appears on a more even keel – He’s not mowing anyone down but things are no longer looking grim.

 

Wuilmer Becerra more whiffs – Mets need to improve his plate discipline before he can become anything.

 

Peter Alonso struggles continue – Looks like Alonso was not ready to skip Columbia.

 

Patrick Mazeicka struggles through June – In April .964, in May, .853 and now in June he has a .654 OPS.

 

Jhoan Urena not super slow – He’s not a base stealer but he has stolen a few bags this season.

 

Nabil Crismatt simply masterful – 9.0 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts in his last start.

 

A: Columbia Fireflies

 

Desmond Lindsay much better – Guess who is hitting .303 over his last 10 games?

 

Thomas Szapucki step by step – He’s not reached dominant numbers but he’s quickly getting in gear.

 

Jordan Humphreys should we be concerned? – He’s pitched 6.0 innings in his last two starts and only given up 10 hits and 2 earned runs in that time but the strikeout numbers are stiffly down.

 

Merandy Gonzalez could be Mr. Consistency – He looks like a future rotational workhorse.