Las Vegas 51s

Phillip Evans
MLB Stats: 19 G, 38 PA, 33 AB, 4 R, 10 H, 2 2B, RBI, .303/.395/.364
MiLB Stats: 127 G, 510 PA, 466 AB, 58 R, 130 H, 26 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 56 RBI, 2 SB, 3 CS, .279/.341/.418

A year after winning the Eastern League batting title, Evans struggled offensively in a hitter’s league.  The main reason is he saw his BABIP drop from an unsustainably high .386 to a still high .316.  Still, Evans improved as the season progressed hitting .332/.391/.521 from July 1st to the end of the season.  Still, Evans probably doesn’t get called up to the majors if not for all the injuries that befell the Mets.

While with the Mets, he showed you aspects of his game you like.  He’s a good defender, and he’s a contact hitter.  After removing him from the 40 man roster, the Mets have signed him to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training.

Binghamton Ruble Ponies

David Thompson
Stats: 133 G, 529 PA, 476 AB, 62 R, 125 H, 29 2B, 3B, 16 HR, 68 RBI, 8 SB, 6 CS, .263/.325/.429
MMN Rank: 29

Over the course of the 2017 season, Thompson had a terrific June and August.  Surrounding those months, Thompson largely struggled at the plate which is why despite his hitting .300/.350/.550 between those two months, he finished with a .263/.325/.429 batting line.  Even with these struggles, he had a good year defensively at the position, and he remains the Mets best minor league option at the position.

St. Lucie Mets

Jhoan Urena
Stats: 135 G, 570 PA, 502 AB, 77 R, 139 H, 34 2B, 3 3B, 14 HR, 70 RBI, 18 SB, 3 CS, .277/.358/.440
MMN Rank: 30

The 2015 season left Urena with two broken hamate bones, and the 2016 season left everyone wondering if Urena could hit the way the Mets once envisioned he would.  Urena would hit this year, and he would hit well enough that the Mets would give him a surprise late season promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas.  However, questions still remain with him.  Now, it is about his ability to play third.  With his posting a .908 fielding percentage at third this season, Urena continuously found himself playing other positions during the season and was listed as an outfielder for the Instructional Leagues.  Ultimately, where Urena winds up will be a function of how he hits and where the need is when he’s Major League ready.

Nick Sergakis
Stats: 65 G, 252 PA, 206 AB, 33 R, 52 H, 17 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 12 SB, 3 CS, .252/.371/.432

The reputation for last year’s 23rd round draft pick is he’s a winner that will get every ounce out of his potential.  He’s shown that with the Mets so far hitting better than may have originally been expected of him.  As a result, he’s forcing his way into the lineup.  Overall, he’s a natural second baseman, but with the middle infield logjam at the lower levels of the minors, he’s getting exposure at other positions including third base.  He’s a good fielder there, but the main sticking point with him there isn’t his bat but whether he has the arm strength for the position.

Michael Paez
Stats: 127 G, 522 PA, 439 AB, 56 R, 108 H, 30 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 66 RBI, 9 SB, 10 CS, .246/.351/.392
MMN Rank: 24

Paez was a collegiate shortstop drafted in the heavy 2016 heavy shortstop draft for the Mets.  While he may be best suited for second base,he’s split time between second and third fairly evenly since he was drafted.  If Paez hits like he did in Columbia when he lead the league in doubles before his call-up to St. Lucie, the team will find him a real home.  If he struggles like he did in Brooklyn and St. Lucie, the Mets will be less apt to designate him as a second or third baseman.

Columbia Fireflies

Blake Tiberi
Stats: 5 G, 22 PA, 18 AB, 3 R, 3 H, 2B, 2 RBI, SB, .167/.318/.222

Tiberi opened the season as the third baseman for the Fireflies, and many were expecting him to have a breakout season similar to the one Paez had in Columbia this season.  Unfortunately, Tiberi’s season was really over before it began with the infielder needing season ending Tommy John surgery.  He is currently listed on the rehab portion of the Instructional League roster.  Still, there is hope he can be healthy enough to play next year.

Colby Woodmansee
Stats: 54 G, 196 PA, 179 AB, 17 R, 27 H, 7 2B, HR, 6 RBI, .151/.214/.207

Unfortunately, Woodmansee would battle injuries all year, and he would not be able to build upon his strong season with Brooklyn in 2015.  With the Mets looking to shuffle a number of talented players between second, third, and short, next year presents itself to be a bit of a make or break season for Woodmansee.  If he is healthy, and he shows the steady hands and quick bat he showed in Brooklyn, we will see him re-emerge as a player to watch.

Best of Short Season

Mark Vientos
Stats: 51 G, 211 PA, 191 AB, 23 R, 50 H, 14 2B, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 2 CS, .262/.318/.398
MMN Rank: 10

The Mets second round draft pick was one of the top prep bats coming out of this year’s draft.  After a slow start, he picked things up hitting three homers in August and getting called up to Kingsport by year’s end.  At the moment, the Mets are predominantly playing him at shortstop allowing the young player to stick there until he proves he can no longer play the position.  With that said, it is believed he will eventually move to third where he promises to be a good defender.

Carl Stajduhar
Stats: 52 G, 191 PA, 168 AB, 12 R, 23 H, 6 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, SB, CS, .127/.225/.226

The Mets 18th round selection this season has big power potential, which has not translated in his playing time in Brooklyn.  At third base, Stajduhar may not have the range to stick at the position long term.

 

Rigoberto Terrazas
Stats: 54 G, 241 PA, 210 AB, 45 R, 73 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 24 RBI, SB, .348/.413/.486

Terrazas wasn’t guaranteed the starting third base role before the season, but he more than earned that role improving each and every aspect of his game.  He was in the top 10 in most Appalachian League offensive categories, and he was named an All Star.  He should get every opportunity to show the Mets next season his breakout was not a fluke.

Gregory Guerrero
Stats: 38 G, 154 PA, 143 AB, 17 R, 31 H, 3 2B, 3B, 12 RBI, SB, 3 CS, .217/.257/.252
MMN Rank: 21

Guerrero is a smart and talented player who has all the skills to succeed like his famous uncle.  Unfortunately, he was not able to start pulling all of them together and start getting results.  Part of the reason for that was he dealt with shoulder issues most of the season.

OTHER POSITION BREAKDOWNS:

Catcher

First Base

Second Base