This article will cover the time from my last article to the 14th. So games played from June 29th to July 14th.
AAA International League: Las Vegas
June 28th: 41-38
July 14th: 49-46
Games Played: 16
Record: 8-8
Offensive story: Wilmer Flores went into another gear over the last weeks, with both a four, and five hit game, and a two home run game mixed in. Overall, the 21 year old second baseman hit .375/.412/.641/1.052 in 64 ABs (24 hits, 8 2b, 3 HR, 4/12 BB/K). It remains to be seen where he fits defensively, but there are few questions that the bat plays in the majors.
Pitching story: There’s two, one good, and one shaky. First the good, Jacob deGrom, who had 2 very good starts (13 ip, 11 h, 3 er), and one horrible one (5 ip, 8 h, 6 er). It all adds up to 18 innings over 3 starts, having allowed 19 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 14, a 4.50 era, but a 2.87 FIP.
The shaky story was Rafael Montero, who’s had a rocky time of it in Las Vegas (of course he has, big ballpark + flyball pitcher in the PCL). His three starts during the last 2 weeks resulted in a 4.15 era/2.74 FIP, but he allowed 16 hits and 4 walks in 13 innings for a high 1.54 WHIP, and only struck out 9 (6.23 per 9), after striking out 9.72 per 9 in AA (72 in 66.6 innings).
AA Eastern League: Binghamton
June 28th: 48-28
July 14th: 58-34
Games Played: 16
Record: 10-6
Cesar Puello, who was in the midst of a raging hot streak during my last article, has “cooled” off some, and by cooled off I mean he’s not hitting like Mike Trout. Over his last 16 games, he’s hitting .309/.356/.382/.738, 17 for 55, 2b, HR, 3/16 BB/K. The K-rate is alarming, and he recently had a 10 game stretch with an 0/18 BB/K ratio, so some walks are better than none, right?
Darrell Ceciliani had a fantastic last 16 games, he hit .352/.386/.630/1.016 over the stretch, getting a double, triple and 4 homers in his 54 ABs, while also walking three times. He was a 3rd round pick in 2009, our 2nd overall selection (after Steven Matz), and has battled injury throughout his minor league career (limited to <100 ABs last year in St. Lucie). A career as a 4th OFer isn’t out of the card for Ceciliani.
I’m going to highlight a trio of BMet relievers, two of whom have flown 100,000% under the radar, rather than highlighting Noah Syndergaard (who everyone and their mother highlights all the time (for good reason)). Chase Huchingson is a lefty who has a 1.93 era in 46.2 innings in AA, and while his walk rate is a bit high (22), he’s got 50 strikeouts, and has pitched great as of late. During the Mets 16 games, he pitched in 6 of them (9 ip, 4 h, er, 5/8 bb/k, 1 era, 3.09 FIP). Adam Kolarek is another lefty, he struggled over the 5 games he pitched in (5.2 ip, 6 h, 3 er, 2 hr, 3/9 bb/k, 4.76 era/6.20 FIP). On the season, he’s got a 1.96 era in 41.1 innings with a 15/40 BB/K. Finally we have the BMets closer, Jeff Walters, who’s got a 2.37 era on the season with a 12/40 BB/K in 38 innings, and 24 saves in 26 chances. Over the last 16 games, he was a perfect 5 for 5 in saves, with a 1.93 era in 4.2 innings (1.70 FIP), and a 1/5 BB/K.
A+ Florida State League: St. Lucie
June 28th: 4-5 (second half)
July 14th: 11-10
Games Played: 12
Record: 7-5
Domingo Tapia went through a very rough 3 start stretch (7/13-7/26), but bounced back over his last 2 starts, both included in this period I’m writing about. Over his last two starts, he was 0-1, with a 2.02 era/2.53 FIP, over 13.1 ip, he allowed 6 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) while walking 5 and striking out 12. His walks are still a concern, but he’s had a limited number of horrific blowup outings which drives his overall BB/9 way up. Matt Bowman has struggled in his last two outings (10.2 ip, 12 h, 7/6 r/er, hr, 9/9 bb/k, 5.06 era/5.26 FIP).
Offensively, it’s the last two weeks here were Kevin Plawecki and Dustin Lawley. Lawley went on a 12 game rampage where he hit .295/.340/.591/.931 with 4 doubles and 3 homers in 44 ABs, and a 3/8 BB/K. Kevin Plawecki hit .351/.442/.432/.874 with 3 doubles and a 2/3 BB/K, while also being hit by 4 pitches.
A South Atlantic League: Savannah
June 28th: 4-4
July 14th: 9-11
Games Played: 12
Record: 5-7
Outside of Steven Matz and Gabriel Ynoa, there is very little positive to report with the Sand Gnats. Brandon Nimmo is now hitting sub .260, and Phillip Evans is doing his very best to somewhat salvage a lost season. Matz, however, has been en fuego all year, culminating in the Gnats last 12 games, of which he started 3, pitching 20 innings and allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits and 6 walks with 18 strikeouts, good for a 1.35 era/2.30 FIP. Gabriel Ynoa started twice, working 13.1 innings, allowing 13 hits and 4 runs, while walking 3 and striking out 11, a 2.70era/3.20 FIP.
For this reports moves, I would promote Dustin Lawley to Binghamton, and promote Cesar Puello and Allan Dykstra to Las Vegas. Lawley would take over everyday at third base, with occasional time in center field and at first base (getting him to be more of the utility man that first garnered my interest).
My first writeups on the short season teams will take place on or around the 31st/1st, which is when my next minor league recap for The Stache will be. Thanks for reading, please don’t forget to visit MetsProspectHub for all the latest on the minor league system, and follow me on Twitter, @MetsProspecthub
