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Alonso, Gimenez Headline Mets Group in AFL

By Michael Mayer

August 30, 2018 No comments

Andres Gimenez, Photo By Ernest Dove

The Arizona Fall League announced it’s rosters this afternoon for the 2018 season and the New York Mets’ contingency of players will suit up for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Mets top prospect Andres Gimenez is among the eight player group as is Peter Alonso. Joining them on the position player side is catcher Ali Sanchez and outfielder Desmond Lindsay.

The Mets will send four pitchers to the Scorpions this year, all of them right-handed in Matt Blackham, Stephen Nogosek, Eric Hanhold and Gerson Bautista.

Gimenez, 19, is currently in Double-A hitting .296/.353/.384 for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. He also has 38 stole bases this season.

Alonso has been a hot topic recently with the Mets announcing he will not play in the major leagues this year despite him hitting .279/.394/.564 with 29 doubles, 33 homers and 112 RBI between Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas.

Both Sanchez and Lindsay are talent but raw players that haven’t played many games over the last couple of years.

Nogosek, Hanhold and Bautista were all acquired in trades by the Mets last season. Hanhold is having the best season of the group with a 3.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 57 strikeouts in 47.2 innings this year between Binghamton and Vegas. He’s a personal favorite of mine with a hard sinker that hits 98 mph and a biting slider.

Blackham, 25, has limited opponents in A/AA ball this year to .179 average and has 60 strikeouts in 47 innings. Though he has issued 28 walks in that span.

Hanhold, Blackham and Sanchez are Rule 5 eligible this offseason. Minor league short-season hitting coordinator Ryan Ellis will serve as the team’s hitting coach.