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Amed Rosario Named Top Pacific Coast League Prospect, Smith Sixth

By John Sheridan

September 19, 2017 5 Comments

Baseball America has included two New York Mets prospects in their 2017 Top 20 Pacific Coast League prospects:

1. SS Amed Rosario

2017 MiLB Stats: 94 G, 425 PA, 393 AB, 66 R, 129 H, 19 2B, 7 3B, 7 HR, 58 RBI, 19 SB, 6 CS, 328/.367/.466

2017 MLB Stats: 38 G, 137 PA, 143 AB, 16 R, 35 H, 2 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 7 SB, 2 CS, .265/.292/.417

MMN Rank:

Recap: Entering the season, Rosario was considered among the best prospects in baseball, if not the best due to his glove and his improving offense. This season, he proved those prognosticators correct because he’s improved in every facet of his game.

His manager Pedro Lopez points out why. On defense, Lopez noted, “One thing he learned this year was how to position himself,how to better learn swings and take control over the infield.”

Offensively, Lopez said of his shortstop, “He’s still aggressive, but he’s staying away from those marginal pitches and focusing on pitches he can drive.”

With these improvements, Rosario has not only been named the top prospect from the Pacific Coast League this year, but also the Rookie of the Year.

1B Dominic Smith

2017 MiLB Stats: 114 G, 500 PA, 457 AB, 77 R, 151 H, 34 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 76 RBI, SB, CS, .330/.386/.519

2017 MLB Stats: 36 G, 135 PA, 124 AB, 15 R, 28 H, 6 2B, 7 HR, 22 RBI, .226/.281/.444

MMN Rank: 2

Recap:  The common refrain with Smith the past few seasons was he needs to hit for more power. Even in the Pacific Coast League, that wasn’t something that came immediately for him.

However, with a huge July that saw him hit eight homers and slug .725, the concerns about his power hitting ability abated. More than that, he became a more well rounded hitter.

As his manager said, “His plate discipline is what stands out.  He’s not going out there just to hit home runs. He has power, but he stays within himself. He stays up the middle with his approach, and most of his home runs come by hitting the ball the opposite way.”

With an ever improving hitting approach, better than expected athleticism, and a slick glove at first base, Smith joins his teammate not just in the Top 20, but on the Major League roster.

 

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