Aside from Queens, the most exciting part of the Mets universe was in Port St. Lucie. It was there that the Mets would have their top three draft picks from the 2019 draft make their professional debuts. It would also serve as the place for the professional debuts of some of their top international free agent signings.

All told, when you have that much talent in one place, it is no wonder the GCL Mets would finish the season tied atop the Gulf Coast League Eastern Division. Unfortunately, the end of the season would be canceled due to Hurricane Dean.

By that point, Brett Baty was already long gone. The 12th overall pick from this year’s draft would play five games in the GCL. After hitting .350/.480/.650, he would be quickly promoted to Kingsport. Another top prospect, Francisco Alvarez, a player who received the largest signing bonus in team history, hit .462/.548/846 over seven games before he was promoted.

One top prospect who would last a full year in the Gulf Coast League was William Lugo. The 17 year old was signed out of the Dominican Republic during the 2018 signing period. The Mets were aggressive with him partially because, as Baseball America put it, he has “an aggressive, confident swing on pitches in the zone and lays off borderline pitches, hitting lasers all over the field.”

He did not have the production you’d hope. In his 43 games, he would hit just .158/.280/.219. Lost in that was not only was this his first professional experience, but he was also 2.4 years younger than league average. One promising sign is his having a .400 OBP over the final six games.

Beyond Lugo, there were plenty of prospects who would thrive at this level. Kenedy Corona had a good year in the GCL ranking in the top 10 in runs, hits, total bases, SLG, and OPS. Jose Peroza had the fourth most homers in the league, and Warren Saunders had the fourth best batting average. Zach Ashford, the Mets sixth round draft pick out of Cal State Fresno, was fourth in the league in doubles and fifth in OBP.

Speaking of the 2019 draft, the Mets would see their second and third round draft picks, Josh Wolf and Matthew Allan, make their professional debuts.

Wolf would over power hitters at this level with his fastball, which can reach 97 MPH, and his 12-6 curveball. In eight innings pitched, Wolf would walk just one while striking out 12. Allan would show a similar repertoire which would yield similar results. In his 8.1 innings pitched in the Gulf Coast League, he would walk four while striking out 11. Like Baty, he would join the Brooklyn Cyclones at the end of the year as they would win their first ever outright New York-Penn League championship.

Beyond them, Joander Suarez would have a 1.79 ERA while striking out 47 batters in 41.1 innings pitched. Those 47 strikeouts were the fourth most in the league. Robert Colina and Jeffrey Colon would have the tenth most wins in the league. Colon would also tie for seventh in the league in holds along with Brailin Gonzalez and Liam McCall.

Overall, the Gulf Coast Mets were a success on the field in terms of their team record, but they were an even bigger success as they had their top prospects develop. This level proved to be a springboard for Baty, Alvarez, and Allan, each of whom would be promoted and have success at a higher level. There was also players like Suarez and Wolf who had strong seasons which should serve as a springboard to a strong 2020 campaign.

MMN Top Prospects

5 – Brett Baty
6 – Matthew Allan
8 – Francisco Alvarez
11 – Josh Wolf
14 – Adrian Hernandez
27 – William Lugo

Coaching Staff

Manager – David Davalillo
Bench Coach – Jay Pecci
Pitching Coach – Ariel Prieto
Hitting Coach – Joel Fuentes

Batting Leaders

G – Ryan Shinn 46 (League 6th)
PA – Ryan Shinn 188
AB – Kenedy Corona 151
R – Kenedy Corona 35 (3rd)
H – Kenedy Corona 47 (7th)
2B – Zach Ashford 13 (Tied 4th)
3B – Jose Peroza 2
HR – Jose Peroza 6 (Tied 4th)
RBI – Zach Ashford 23
TB – Kenedy Corona 73 (Tied 7th)
BB – Ryan Shinn 24
SB – Kenedy Corona 11
HBP – Ryan Shinn 12
BA – Warren Saunders .323 (4th)
OBP – Zach Ashford (5th)
SLG – Kenedy Corona .483 (9th)
OPS – Kenedy Corona .885 (8th)

Pitching Leaders

W – Robert Colina, Jeffrey Colon 4 (Tied 10th)
ERA – Joander Suarez 1.79
G – Jeffrey Colon 19 (1st)
GS – Joander Suarez, Franklin Parra 8 (Tied 8th)
SV – Jeffrey Colon 3 (Tied 6th)
HLD – Jeffrey Colon, Brailin Gonzalez, Liam McCall 2 (Tied 7th)
IP – Jhonfran Escalona 41.1
K – Joander Suarez 47 (Tied 4th)
WHIP – Jhonfran Escalona 1.040
K/9 – Joander Suarez 10.5
K/BB – Joshua Cornielly 5.00