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Written by Joe DeMayo
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Friday, 04 April 2008 |
 After the Mets acquired Johan Santana from the Twins, a lot of people
in baseball believed the Mets had completely tarnished their farm
system. This may be true, but the Mets strength is in the low minors
with draftees, as well as young 16-17 year old kids signed out of the
International Free Agent market. After the trade, Jim Callis of
Baseball America ranked the Mets top 10 prospects as follows:
1.Fernando Martinez – OF
2.Eddie Kunz – RP
3.Brant Rustich – SP/RP (above, left / photo courtesy UCLA)
4.Jonathon Niese – SP
5.Nathan Vineyard – SP
6.Robert Parnell – SP
7.Joe Smith – RP
8.Scott Moviel – SP
9.Danny Murphy – 3B
10.Wilmer Flores – 3B/SS
Every player on this list will play in the US this season, the question mark was if 16 year old Flores would make it to the states this year or next.
Martinez, the Mets top prospect whom Omar Minaya refused to include in any fashion in a Johan Santana trade is going to repeat Double-A Binghamton in 2008, with a possible promotion to Queens before year’s end. If Martinez stays healthy, he will put up great numbers in Double-A, and is in line to be part of the Mets team when Citi Field.
Projected Numbers: .305 BA 16 HR 80 RBI
ETA: Early 2009
Kunz, the Mets top pick in the 2007 draft will also begin 2008 in Double-A Binghamton. Not sure if he’ll close there or what, but he was a closer in college with the National Champion Oregon State Beavers. Kunz didn’t post good numbers in Brooklyn or in the Arizona Fall League, but this could be attributed to pitching for almost a year straight. Expect Kunz to see Shea Stadium this year.
Projected Numbers: 1-1 record 3.34 ERA 19 saves
ETA: Late 2008
Rustich, a second round pick out of UCLA in the 2007 draft is a big guy with power stuff, and the Mets are going to try him as a starter this season. He will begin in High-A St Lucie, and possibly move fairly quickly from there. The key to Rustich’s success as a starter is arm strength, as he did have some soreness in the spring which caused him to miss some time, as well as an offspeed pitch. Rustich likely has the best “pure stuff” in the minor leagues for the Mets, but he is a guy to watch this year.
Projected Numbers: 10-5 3.88 ERA
ETA: Mid-Late 2009
Niese, whom Met fans saw a lot of this spring will start the year with Double-A Binghamton. Omar Minaya has been quoted as saying that if there are injuries mid-season and they need to call someone up, they will consider Niese heavily. He put on a good show in the spring, showing some signs of good potential, he was another player who reportedly Minaya didn’t want to give up in a Santana trade. Look out for Niese, he looks promising with a good array of pitches, and ability to control them all. His best pitch being his Barry Zito esque curve.
Projected Numbers: 13-6 3.55 ERA
ETA: Late 2008-Early 2009
Vineyard, the Mets second pick(47th overall) in this past years draft out of high school will start in full season ball with Low-A Savannah. He shows a good three pitch combo early with his fastball,curveball,changeup, a lot of people in the Mets organization see him as a kid who will one day blossom into a #3 caliber starter. Don’t expect him to move out of Savannah this year unless he’s absolutely lights out.
Projected Numbers: 4-7 4.66 ERA
ETA: 2012
Parnell is another hard thrower in the Mets organization. He will join Niese in the Double-A rotation, though some experts project Parnell as a long term reliever with his fastball,slider combo, and lack of a good offspeed pitch. The key for Parnell is to work hard on a changeup, or a curveball, or something offspeed. He is a big strikeout pitcher, gets a lot of swings and misses on his fastball which has natural tail to it, and his strong sharp slider.
Projected Numbers: 7-7 4.42 ERA
ETA: Late 2009-Early 2010
Smith pitched for the Mets for most of 2008, in the beginning of the year dominating, but maybe the toll of a full season caught up to him and he started to get hit. And he gets another try with the big league team after beating out Brian Stokes for the last bullpen spot. It is possible Smith gets sent to Triple-A when Duaner Sanchez is ready, but I could see him pitching very well and making the decision very tough on the Mets.
Projected Numbers: 0-1 3.40 ERA (sent down when Sanchez is ready)
ETA: 2008
Moviel continues the trend of 2007 draftees in the Mets top 10 prospects. Moviel drafted out of high school had a full ride to North Carolina State to play baseball, but opted to sign with the Mets. Moviel stands at 6-11, and owns a fastball that ranges from 91-94 at his young age, with a very good curveball that scouts project will be a plus pitch at the major league level. Moviel will start in Savannah with Vineyard, and I expect the Mets take their time with Moviel and let him spend all of 2008 with Savannah, and if it’s possible he grows anymore height wise, and weight wise, he could possibly throw harder, and maybe be the first 7 foot tall player in baseball history.
Projected Numbers: 9-7 4.10 ERA
ETA: 2012
Murphy has always been a kid who can hit, defense has always been an issue for him. Jim Callis of Baseball America rates him as the second best bat overall in the system. He will be starting in Double-A this year where he’ll be challenged by some of the top pitching prospects in the game. He projects as a guy who could potentially move to first base, but with Mike Carp,Nick Evans manning first in Double-A, Murphy will stick at 3rd for now.
Projected Numbers: .270 avg 16 homers and 72 RBI
ETA: Late 2009-Early 2010
Flores was the Mets top signing out of the International Free Agent market in 2007, he signed for $750,000. Some people in baseball give him Miguel Cabrera comparisons at age 16, which could be something to get excited about. The Mets are really challenging him this year, starting him in Rookie league Kingsport, granted their season does not begin until after the draft in June. It is going to be interesting to see what Flores does, he could be a guy that flies up the prospect ranks in the next year or two.
Projected Numbers: .261 avg 1 HR 15 RBI
ETA: :Late 2013-Early 2014
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