4. Brandon Nimmo, Outfield, Bats: L, Throws: R, Age: 19, ETA: 2015
Happy Opening Day! Here’s to starting off the season with a reason to be optimistic about the future of the Mets outfield, despite all the potential shenanigans Jason Bay and Andres Torres could offer Mets Nation this year.
Enter the promising young outfielder of the New York Mets farm system. Potential stardom is all that can be seen on the horizon for the Mets’ Brandon Nimmo.
The Mets snatched Nimmo from Cheyenne, Wyoming (the state’s first opening round pick ever) with the thirteenth overall selection in the 2011 Draft, and they sure got some raw talent.
Nimmo offers up a little bit of everything. The raw power is there. The defense is there. And the kid can run. It’s not typical of the Mets to select a flat out athlete with this high of a draft pick, so the hype is there. His power from the left side of the plate will certainly be something of value.
It has been a long time since a big time outfielder has risen up the ranks for this franchise, and every arrow is pointing at Nimmo as the Mets top positional prospect at the moment. The organization will be able to examine him more closely this year as he starts down in rookie ball. Time will tell if he has what it takes to make moves this year.
He’ll be a future bat in the Mets lineup, so long as he doesn’t fall into the same trap that most Mets outfield prospects have done so over the years. This dates back a while. Guys like Carlos Gomez, Fernando Martinez, and more all succumbed to injury and ultimately moved on. Nimmo has the athleticism and work ethic to avoid that, and the organization is banking on it.
Nimmo will require some seasoning, so don’t expect any big league appearances for a couple of years. Of course with the ridiculous turnover rate in the Mets outfield, it wouldn’t be surprising if minor league success translates into a speedy climb up the ladder for Brandon Nimmo.
10. Matt Den Dekker, Outfield, Bats: L, Throws: L, Age: 24, ETA: 2013
9. Jordany Valdespin, Middle Infield, Bats: L, Throws: R, Age: 24, ETA: 2012
8. Cesar Puello, Outfield, Bats: R, Throws: R, Age: 20, ETA: 2013
7. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Outfield, Bats: L, Throws: R, Age: 24, ETA: 2012
6. Wilmer Flores, Third Base, Bats: R, Throws: R, Age: 20, ETA: 2014
5. Reese Havens, Second Base, Bats: L, Throws: R, Age: 25, ETA: 2012
4. Brandon Nimmo, Outfield, Bats: L, Throws: R, Age: 19, ETA: 2015
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