Spring Breakout is a new Major League Baseball initiative aimed at showcasing the game’s young talent during Spring Training. The Mets’ game will be March 15 versus the Nationals. Here is the clubs’ roster:
Pitchers
Blade Tidwell, RHP
Brandon Sproat, RHP
Dominic Hamel, RHP
Tyler Stuart, RHP
Nolan McLean, RHP
Calvin Ziegler, RHP
Paul Gervase, RHP
Daniel Juarez, LHP
Wilkin Ramos, RHP
Ben Simon, RHP
Catchers
Kevin Parada, C
Ronald Hernandez, C
Vincent Perozo, C
Infielders
Jett Williams, SS
Luisangel Acuña, SS
Colin Houck, SS
Marco Vargas, INF
Jeremy Rodriguez, SS
Jacob Reimer, 3B
Jesus Baez, SS
William Lugo, INF
Junior Tilien, INF
Outfielders
Drew Gilbert, OF
Ryan Clifford, OF
Alex Ramírez, OF
Nick Morabito, OF
Rhylan Thomas, OF
Outside of recent IFA signings, this is a pretty good idea of who the Mets view as their top prospects. Nate Lavender is still battling for a spot on the Opening Day roster, which explains his absence. Christian Scott and Joander Suarez seem to be the most notable names missing, though I would add Stanley Consuegra and take out either Tilien or Thomas.
If you plan to watch this game with a 3:10 start on 3/15, drop a note in the comments section. If several people indicate an interest, we’ll have a Game Chatter for it.
Mike Vasil a prominent missing guy, too
I like Consuegra. I think its amazing that he’s gone as far and done as well as he has given all the time he’s missed to injury. That said, seven years in the minors, and still in A-ball probably discounts him as a breakout.
Huge H/R splits last year in Brooklyn. Look forward to what he can do this year in Binghamton.
I’d like to see it too. I think he gets there, but there’s is a roster crunch right now, with 15 OFs at AA or above. That does not include A Ramirez, nor does it consider giving Jett Williams more OF time. So at least two, possibly three people would have to be removed from that OF equation to make room. I’d guess that Cortes gets released rather than demoted. Suozzi is just roster filler. He can be demoted, but limited to a 1B platoon role. That leaves room for A Ramirez in AA, and one of Consuegra or Clifford. Personally, I’d still give the promotion to Consuegra, but I never know how the org feels about them. Of course, there is always the possibility of new injuries. I don’t know the status of matt Rudick’s injury. And I suppose Rowdy Jordan can be pushed back to IF duty, perhaps given more time at 3B
Mets just optioned Ramirez to Double-A.
Who are your projected OF for BNG if you don’t take Clifford? He’s a fringe OF – is there room for him there at 1B? I don’t want him to spend any more time at Brooklyn if at all possible.
LOL, you may regret asking, but here goes:
It makes for a fair debate, but I see it this way: Rudick, Jordan, Thomas, and Ramirez are already there. Personally, I would move Consuegra up now, and Clifford in June or so.
They actually showed similar HR power in high-A last year, and similar strike-out rates. And Consuegra is still a skinny kid at 6’2″, 165 lbs who might still have more power potential. He’s had over a year in high-A already, across two seasons. There’s nothing to be gained from sending him back to the same level for a third time. So its time for him to move up. He’s also a legit OF defensively, he’s 23, and he’s close to free agency. Time to see whether or not he can take the next step.
I’m fine with a 20-year old Clifford getting a full year’s worth of PAs in high-A. His movement to date has already been faster than expected, and he hasn’t provided a reason, IMO, to keep pushing the pace: His power display last year came in one of the smallest professional ballparks at any level anywhere in the country.
To your point about 1B, the impending departure of Alonso with no clear heir apparent strengthens a case for moving Clifford up quickly as a 1B. There are ways for the Mets to make room for both of them at BNG if they want to. But I’m more comfortable letting him simmer, refine things a bit more in high-A for a little bit.
And for what its worth, its exceedingly rare to see an American-born 20-year old position player in double-A. Clifford’s not exactly that exceptional, well-rounded stud, or supreme power hitter for whom an org needs to break ceilings, IMO.
Thank you for this.
Rudick, if he doesn’t go to SYR, could easily be the DH
Jordan, if he doesn’t go to SYR, could be an infielder. He played 47 games in the infield last year and 9 more in the AFL
Thomas has fewer PA in Hi-A than Clifford
My idea with the minors is to place the stars where they belong and fill in with the org soldiers. Maybe neither Clifford nor Consuegra are stars. But they’ve got more upside than Rudick, Jordan and Thomas. I’d be disappointed if the Mets prioritized any of those three over the C&C boys.
I would agree with the vast majority of that. I’m not sold that Clifford belongs in AA just yet. As for Thomas, yes, his promotion to AA seemed premature. An OF ought to have some HR power by the time he gets to the upper levels and that age, and he does not.
FYI: Preliminary rosters have been released by the A and AA teams. Consuegra and Clifford are both staying in Brooklyn right now. Instead, they demoted McIlwain and kept Cortes in Syracuse. I had expected them to release Cortes and leave McIlwain in Syr.
The Bing OF now listed as McilWain, Rudick, Thomas, Ramirez, and Suozzi. I’m pretty sure Suozzi is just roster filler, and he also plays 1B. But we also know that Jett Williams, listed a an infielder, is also supposed to get significant time in CF.
Yeah, John From Albany sent me that info this morning – very disappointed about Consuegra and Clifford.
I blame Ji Man Choi. If he opts out of his deal, JT Schwartz goes to AAA and Clifford goes to AA.
I didn’t know who Suozzi was until he started getting reps in ST, where he saw a lot of time at 1B. I’d put McIlwain in that same org filler role and I’m not a believer in either Cortes or Rudick, either.