Down on the Farm, @MetsProspectHub’s look at what’s been happening in the farm system. For this first look, I’ll discuss the team up to this point, and then, since I’ve brought the hotsheet back to MPH, I’ll discuss four prospects who have raised their stock this season, and four that have lowered their stock this season.
Las Vegas 51s
May 18th: 31-12
Pre-game June 1st: 34-22
Games Played: 13
Record: 3-10
Since our last look at the 51s, they’ve been absolutely decimated by callups, losing all manner of pitching and hitting to the majors, and it shows, as they’ve gone just 3-10 in their last 13 games, still, they hold a comfortable 7.5 game lead over second place El Paso (lol). About the only player that’s been playing well down there who ISN’T current in the majors is Andrew Brown, who in the 13 games played from the 18th to the 31st, is hitting an ungodly .357/.451/.810/1.261 in 42 ABs, with 5 doubles, a triple and 4 homers. Along with 7 walks. He might be the guy who comes up when the Mets option/DFA out Carlyle/Eveland.
Binghamton Mets
May 18th: 23-16
Pre-game June 1st: 30-24
Games Played: 15
Record: 7-8
The BMets had a 4 day 6 game series against first place Portland in the interm. They got slaughtered in the series, losing 5 of 6, falling from 2.5 games out at our last check, to their current position, 7 games out. Despite that, Kevin Plawecki awoke offensively in the last 15 games, going off for a .300/.321/.640/.961 clip, with 5 doubles and 4 homers in 50 ABs, but only 2 walks. Plawecki had been tredding water before this torrid clip, making the jump from high A to AA.
St. Lucie Mets
May 18th: 24-19
Pre-game June 1st: 32-23
Games Played: 12
Record: 8-4
It’s sexy time. Gonna go right for the climax off the bat here.
Brandon Nimmo hit .333/.429/.556/.984 over the 12 games this period, with 2 doubles and 2 homers, while walking 6 times. And Dilson Herrera had more of a split period of hotness, hitting .423/.464/.692/1.157 over the first 6 games of this 12 game sample size before falling into a slump.
However, if you extend Herrera’s stretch back into the timeframe of my first article for TDS, from May 9th to May 23rd, Herrera hit .459/.469/.656/1.124 over a 14 game, 61 AB stretch. Not bad at all for a 20 year old.
And oh yeah, still sexy time: Steven Matz, who went 12 innings and struck out 11 in 2 starts, and allowed opponents to hit just .250/.283/.318/.601. Gabriel Ynoa (13 ip, 11 h, 1/11 bb/k; .229/.245/.250/.495) and Michael Fulmer (12 ip, 10 h, 6/12 bb/k; .227/.346/.364/.710) have also kicked it into gear during May.
Savannah Sand Gnats
May 18th: 28-14
Pre-game June 1st: 36-16
Games Played: 10
Record: 8-2
The Gnats just keep on rolling, ballooning their lead to 11 games in the SAL South with a torrid 8-2 stretch. Of course it’s been with mostly pitching, but Dom Smith is hitting again, with a .350/.409/.400 line over these 10 games, (14 for 40, 2 2b, 4/6 BB/K). Also hitting well is sleeper OF prospect Victor Cruzado, who (for some of us) burst onto the scene last year after he lit up the APPY league. Over this 10 game stretch, Cruzado hit .333/.400/.462/.862 (13 for 39, 3b, HR, 5/7 BB/K).
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4 quick prospects who have improved their stock:
1. cf Brandon Nimmo. A+: What can you say about the season Nimmo is having so far? Use every descriptive synonym you have for “outstanding”, Nimmo fits it. .926 OPS, 45 walks, only 46 Ks, .332 average, 15 XBH, 9 steals, it’s been a rousing success. (ranked 11th preseason MPH)
2. c Kevin Plawecki. AA: .321/.351/.497/.848, 51 for 159, 21 runs, 13 2b, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 7/21 BB/K. Plawecki’s hitting, hitting well and most importantly, hitting for power, with 5 HRs, all in the month of May. While his BB/K has deteriorated (19/21 in A+, 7/21 in AA), the power surge makes up for it. (ranked 10th preseason MPH)
3. ss Gavin Cecchini. A: Everyone knows I’ve never been a believer in Cecchini, well, he’s doing nothing to make me look good. 17 XBH in 182 ABs, 19 walks, a .743 OPS as a 20 year old in the hitter’s graveyard that is Historic Grayson Stadium. Right now I’d probably slide him into the top 12. (ranked 24th preseason MPH)
4. rhsp Matt Bowman. AA: Bowman’s had a very weird season, with 35 of his 47 Ks coming in 3 games, and the other 6 featuring just 12 Ks, but his composite numbers are pretty good. He’s a candidate right now to move into the mid 20s or so. (ranked 40th preseason MPH)
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1. OF Cesar Puello. AAA: .263/.340/.350/.690, 36 for 137, 23 runs, 5 2b, 2 3b, HR, 12 RBI, 9/25 BB/K. Hasn’t been playing everyday, and when he does play, he’s generally been awful. Not a good sign at all in the hitter’s paradise of Vegas/PCL (ranked 3rd preseason MPH)
2. RHP Chris Flexen. A: Flexen has been absolutely abysmal this season, but given all the shuffling in the rankings, and several prospects already graduating, Flexen would probably retain his ranking, or slide slightly. (ranked 18th preseason MPH)
3. RHP Jeff Walters. AAA: 3-3, 9.82 era, 18.1 ip, 35 h, 20 er, 8/12 bb/k. You can forgive alot with pitchers in this enviroment, but he’s issuing way too many walks, and not getting any Ks, that is a horrific combination you cannot forgive (ranked 20th preseason MPH)
4. RHP Luis Cessa. A+: Cessa, coming off a great season in the Sally (19/124 BB/K in 130 innings) has been pretty terrible in A+. Despite a pretty 3.35 era, he’s running a 12/23 BB/K in 48.1 innings. Walkrate is great, K rate is beyond abysmal. Right now I’d probably flip he and Bowman in my rankings. (ranked 22nd preseason MPH)
