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Jim Callis from MLB.com chose and broke down the Top 20 prospects from the 2015 Arizona Fall League. The list starts with St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher Alex Reyes who lit up the radar gun before having his fall season end early due to 50-game suspension for drug of abuse.
First base prospect Dominic Smith was the only Met on the list and he comes in at number seven. Smith hit .362/.483/.511 with four doubles, homerun, six RBI and 12 walks in 14 games for the Salt River Rafters. Here is what Callis had to say about Smiths’ fall:
- The best pure hitter in the Fall League, he made a run at the batting title and MVP Award before an oblique strain sidelined him for most of the second half. Smith maintains a disciplined approach, delivers line drives from gap to gap and should have 20-homer power once he starts to turn on more pitches.
Callis also puts Smith ETA for the Majors at 2017. He will start the 2016 campaign with the AA Binghamton Mets after being the Florida State League Most Valuable Player this season.
The Mets Gavin Cecchini would have been in consideration if he had played more than four games. Cecchini was 5 for 13 with four walks and five runs scored before leaving the team with a shoulder injury.
Out of MLB.com’s Top 25 AFL prospects from 2014, eleven of them went on to make their Major League debut this season.
Cecchini might have made the list if he didnt go down early to injury.
Definitely think he would have, was continuing his great season. Was really looking forward to seeing him play for Team USA too.
I love Smith’s upside. Lots of people are getting excited about the Olerud comps. And Olerud is a really good player. But I’m shooting for the moon with this kid. Joey Votto or bust. And looking at the numbers…Smith is about a year ahead of Votto after finishing his age 20 season at High A. Oh, and next comes Binghamton and Vegas where his hitting numbers should get even better. Vote or bust people. Vote or bust.
When Conforto was down there they called him a gap to gap guy with possible 20 HR power too. I think Conforto hits 25-30 HRs once they bat him in the right spot.
For me, my Smith “true” comp, will begin at Binghamton. Before Binghamton, all of our stadiums tend to favor our pitching prospects. Binghamton at least plays more “even”. I like Smith a lot, and expect him to keep getting better.
Which shoulder did he injure?