Today Baseball America released their top 20 Prospects for the Pacific Coast League. Steven Matz and Dilson Herrera placed 3rd and 10th respectively on the top 20 with both of their excellent performances this year on the Las Vegas 51’s.

Here’s what they said:

3. Steven Matz

Age: 24. B-T: R-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 200. Drafted: HS—East Setauket, N.Y., 2009 (2).

Though Matz was selected in the second round of the 2009 draft, he didn’t make his pro debut until 2012 following a prolonged recovery from Tommy John surgery. He’s proved to be worth the wait and excelled at Las Vegas before making his major league debut in June.

Matz has a loose, easy delivery and throws his fastball in the mid-90s, occasionally reaching as high as 97 mph with the pitch. His changeup is his best secondary offering, and he also mixes in a good, high-70s curveball. He commands his whole arsenal well and isn’t afraid to challenge hitters.

Matz still must prove he can handle a full season’s workload, for he never has thrown more than 140 innings in a season and spent two months on the major league disabled list this year with a partial tear of the lat muscle on his left side. If Matz is able to improve his durability, he has the makings of a top-of-the-rotation starter.

10. Dilson Herrera

Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 150. Signed: Columbia, 2010 (Pirates)

Herrera vaulted from the Florida State League to the major leagues in just five months last year, skipping past Triple-A on his way to Queens. He returned to the minor leagues this season, this time with Las Vegas.

Herrera hit .327/.382/.511 in 81 games with the 51s, and would have finished fourth in the PCL batting race had he gotten enough plate appearances to qualify. But a three-week stay on the disabled list due to a broken right middle finger and a few stints in the big leagues left him just shy.

Herrera has an excellent feel for hitting. He’s a disciplined hitter whose up-the-middle-approach and quick swing enable him to hit for high averages. He has good bat speed and produces consistent hard contact. He has mostly gap power but has hit double-digit home runs in all three of his years in full-season ball. Herrera has an average arm and fringy range, but is a capable second baseman. He earns praise for his makeup and work ethic

As well, they had some things to say during their Chat:

John (DC): Where would Kevin Plawecki have landed in the top 20?
Teddy Cahill: Plawecki fell about 50 plate appearances short of qualifying. Had the Mets left him in Las Vegas long enough to get those PAs, he’d probably have fallen somewhere in the 5-8 range, though his dip in offensive production this year (had it continued in Triple-A) would have merited a bit more scrutiny.

Bren (Pearl River, NY): It was really disappointing given the Mets SS situation that Matt Reynolds never played himself up this year. Do you still a big league role for him?
Teddy Cahill: Reynolds was on the DL with an elbow strain for a little bit, which didn’t help him as he tried to break through to the big leagues. But with the Mets, he’s fighting a tough depth chart to break through at shortstop. Gavin Cecchini will be in Triple-A next year and Amed Rosario isn’t too far behind. Reynolds, if he stays with the organization, is more likely destined for a utility role. He’ll probably need to show a little more with the bat than he did this year to carve out a niche for himself.

Thoughts:

• Never changed my thoughts about Reynolds becoming a Utility Player, and he might be very decent in that role ongoing. It’s one of Cecchini, Rosario, Guillorme, or Ramos who are part of the future at SS for the Mets now.
• They’re right about Matz, he needs to stay durable, and I hope that starts next year…
• Herrera might surprise, he’s young and has nothing left to prove at Vegas next year. I disagree on the fringy range, he d covers the infield better than a few of the guys the Mets have ran out there. If he had the arm of a shortstop, I wonder how well he would have been regarded.

Anyway, that wraps up Baseball America’s league rankings.