The New York Mets took Purdue catcher Kevin Plawecki with their supplemental first-round pick in the 2012 first-year player draft. He was the 35th overall pick in the draft, and spent his first season as a professional in short-season A with the Brooklyn Cyclones. After compiling a .250/.345/.384 line with seven homers and 27 RBIs, the organization decided he should start the season with Low-A Savannah. Well, minor league expert Keith Law disagrees:
I think it is totally freaking ridiculous that he’s in the Sally League at 22. RT @mets1283: @keithlaw what do you think of Kevin Plawecki
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) May 28, 2013
When you look at what Plawecki has done in his first 47 games as a Sand Gnat, one can argue that Law has a point. Through 174 at-bats, Plawecki has been tearing the cover off the ball to the tune of a .351/.431/.580 line, with six home runs and 36 RBIs. He shares the league lead in batting average with teammate Jayce Boyd, and is in the top-10 in numerous offensive categories. Here is where he currently stands among his Sally League peers:
- .351 batting average (T-1st)
- .431 OBP (3rd)
- .580 Slug% (4th)
- 20 doubles (1st)
- 61 hits (T-2nd)
- 101 total bases (3rd)
By the looks of it, Plawecki is having a monster year, and has become a doubles machine for the Sand Gnats. His solid start to the season has solidified the marked improvement the Mets have seen in their organizational depth at the catcher position.
A promotion for the 2012 first round pick to Advanced-A St. Lucie seems to be on the horizon, and it sure as heck should be. He’s proved his worth in Low-A and is ready for the next challenge.
While he is clearly ready for A+, I assume the thinking is that they want to keep giving Cam M the majority of the work to see if he can get out of his slump and replicate 2012 at Savannah.
Otherwise no other reason not to challenge him up a level.
He will be promoted after the end of the first half of the season.
This new regime has been painstakingly slow in moving young hitters up the ladder. Obviously we all hope it’s for the best and really aids their development. My fear is the worse…but then again,I am a Mets fan so that’s pretty much to be expected.
hey. you have a pretty good post there mate.