If you wish to focus on wins and losses, the Kingsport Mets did not have a successful season. With a 29-37 record, the team finished in fourth place in the Western Division.
However, wins and losses are tangential in the Appalachian League. The league is about player development and players taking advantage of opportunities. No player exemplifies what the Appalachian League is about than Rigoberto Terrazas.
Heading into the season, Kingsport had a third base vacancy. Terrazas stepped up and took advantage of that opportunity. He improved in every facet of his game. He became a better hitter, and he was a good infielder.
The end result was Terrazas having a breakout season hitting .348/.413/.486 with 16 doubles, two triples, three homers, and 24 RBI. To no surprise, he ranked among the Top 10 in many offensive categories. Of a less surprise, he was named an All-Star.
For the first time since 2015, there would actually be two All-Stars from Kingsport. The other, Wagner Lagrange, was a prospect held in higher regard, and to that end, it was really no surprise he was named to the All Star team.
Still, there is a considerable gap between surprise and fulfilling expectations. Like Terrazas, Lagrange put in the hard work and dedication needed for him to develop as a player. He would also rank among the Top 10 in many offensive categories in a season where he hit .335/.379/.465 with 10 doubles, a triple four homers, and 40 RBI.
From an offensive perspective, Kingsport really had a standout season. In addition to Terrazas and Lagrange, Anthony Dirocie had a terrific season as a power hitter leading the league in homers. If he had enough games to qualify, Edgardo Fermin would have finished second in the league in batting average and fourth in OBP.
On the pitching front, Kingsport saw a couple of outstanding performances from two low round 2017 draft picks. Steve Villines, the Mets 10th round draft pick, made eight appearances going 2-1 with a 1.08 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, and an 11.9 K/9. With how well he pitched in that small sample size, Villines was quickly promoted to Brooklyn.
Aaron Ford, the Mets 21st round draft pick, would have a similar rise. In 10 appearances for Kingsport, the left-handed pitcher was 1-2 with a 1.17 ERA, 0.783 WHIP, and a 14.1 K/9. In a departure from what you would typically expect from a left-handed reliever, Ford showed reverse splits limiting right-handed batters to a .122 batting average while left-handed batters hit .250 off of him. His outstanding pitching earned him a promotion to Columbia.
Another low drafted 2017 draft pick who distinguished himself was Joe Cavallaro. Unlike the aforementioned pitchers, the 24th round draft pick was used as a starter. He wound up becoming the staff ace going 3-1 with a 2.34 ERA, 0.952 WHIP, and a 9.1 K/9.
Overall, Manager Luis Rivera was able to give many players an unexpected opportunity during the 2017 season. These players took full advantage of the opportunity. When you have players drafted late stepping up and players in your organization having breakthrough seasons, it is hard to argue the Kingsport season is anything other than a successful one.
Coaching Staff
Manager: Luis Rivera
Pitching Coach: Josue Matos
Hitting Coach: Ender Chavez
MMN Top 40 Prospects
37 OF Wagner Lagrange
Awards
Postseason All Star: 3B Rigoberto Terrazas, OF Wagner Lagrange
Player of the Week: RF Dionis Paulino (7/17/17), 3B Rigoberto Terrazas (7/24/17)
Pitcher of the Week (8/28/17): LHP Aneury Olivo
Batting Leaders
PA: Anthony Dirocie 251
R: Rigoberto Terrazas 45 (3rd Appalachian League)
H: Rigoberto Terrazas 73 (4th Appalachian League)
2B: Anthony Dirocie 19 (4th Appalachian League)
3B: Anthony Dirocie & Dionis Paulino 3 (5th Appalachian League)
HR: Anthony Dirocie 11 (League Leader)
RBI: Anthony Dirocie 48 (3rd Appalachian League)
SB: Dionis Paulino 10 (10th Appalachian League)
BA: Edgardo Fermin .352
OBP: Edgardo Fermin .425
SLG: Jeremy Vazquez .667
OPS: Jeremy Vazquez 1.000
Starting Pitching Leaders
W: Joe Cavallaro, Jose Geraldo, Carlos Hernandez 3
ERA: Joe Cavallaro 2.34
GS: Ezequiel Zabaleta 12 (Tied 4th Appalachian League)
IP: Carlos Hernandez 64.1 (2nd Appalachian League)
K: Carlos Hernandez 59 (4th Appalachian League)
WHIP: Joe Cavallaro 0.952
Relief Pitching Leaders
(Minimum 5 Appearances)
W: Marbin Montijo & Pedro Perez 3
ERA: Steve Villines 1.08
G: Yeudy Colon & Marbin Montijo 17
SV: Mac Lozer 3
IP: Marbin Montijo 28.0
K: Marbin Montijo 37
WHIP: Aaron Ford 0.783
Monster numbers for Terrazas. His future with the Mets looks quite limited, however. He’s already eligible for Rule 5. And while no one will poach him this year, they could if he has a big 2018, and he’s also a free agent after 2019. Hard and extremely rare for anyone to go from Kingsport to 40-man in that short a time.
From a review of several international free agent signees, it seems that the Mets are allowing these young players to develop in the DSL for two or three years, with at lease two years in short season ball. I know they are so young, and Rosario Flores and Giminez are exceptions, but they need to get these players over here and through short season in 3-4 years to give them time to get through the minor league before they become free agents,
YES!! I’ve been noticing that as a problem for several years now. When the A club was in Savannah and went on the road, I would sometimes listen to the other (home) team’s broadcast and several announcers noted that the Sand Gnats frequently have one of the oldest teams in that league.
That said, they have made progress in that area and have started moving some kids more aggressively since DePodesta left shortly before the 2016 season. And after releasing nearly 30 players from mostly short season teams last off season, I suspect we’ll see a lot more kids skipping levels and getting to Columbia sooner.