WEEK IN REVIEW

The Las Vegas 51s (19-29, fourth in the Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern division) got off to a solid start this week, winning their first three games, but they’ve dropped each of their last four contests. The 51s were neutralized by Dillon Gee on Wednesday, when he limited them to two hits over six scoreless innings.

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (26-15, second in the Eastern League Eastern division) have heated up at the right time, as they now find themselves only one game back of the first place Trenton Thunder. Binghamton’s 6-1 week was their best this season.

The St. Lucie Mets (23-25, fourth in the Florida State League South division) continue their struggle to advance in the standings, although they did go 5-2 this week. Marcos Molina picked up his first win of 2017 with a strong outing on Monday.

The Columbia Fireflies (23-31, third in the South Atlantic League Southern division) lost their first three games this week before rain washed out the next two. Jordan Humphreys and Merandy Gonzalez continue to be two of the top hurlers in the league, while the Fireflies’ offense is one of the worst statistically in Class-A.

METS MINORS NEWS & BUZZ

Mets 2016 first-round pick Justin Dunn has launched a campaign to raise money for the fight against ALS. Dunn was coached at Boston College by Peter Frates, whose inspirational story sparked the Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014. Learn more and donate to the fundraiser here.

Three Mets farmhands tossed complete-game shutouts on Wednesday, as P.J. Conlon and Donovan Hand (Binghamton) as well as Jordan Humphreys (Columbia) combined for 21 scoreless innings.

Travis d’Arnaud went 5-21 with an RBI in six rehab games between St. Lucie and Las Vegas before being activated off the disabled list. Meanwhile, Steven Matz (two GS, 7.71 ERA) and Seth Lugo (two G, 8.10 ERA) have both struggled as they work their way back from injury.

Nabil Crismatt was named the Florida State League’s pitcher of the week for the period ending on May 21. Crismatt struck out 11 batters over seven scoreless innings during the week. Read more here.

Amed Rosario made the May 19 version of the Baseball America hot sheet.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS

AVG – Amed Rosario .356 (LVG), Jhoan Urena .333 (STL), Patrick Mazeika .325 (STL), Dominic Smith .309 (LVG), Luis Guillorme .294 (BNG)

OPS – Patrick Mazeika .936 (STL), Travis Taijeron .924 (LVG), Michael Paez .922 (COL), Amed Rosario .913 (LVG), Jhoan Urena .909 (STL)

HR – Travis Taijeron 8 (LVG), Dale Burdick 6 (STL), Desmond Jennings 6 (LVG), Patrick Mazeika 6 (STL), Four tied with 5

RBI – Patrick Mazeika 32 (STL), Amed Rosario 32 (LVG), Dominic Smith 27 (LVG), Michael Paez 26 (COL), Travis Taijeron 26 (LVG)

SB – Champ Stuart 16 (BNG), Patrick Biondi 13 (BNG), Amed Rosario 10 (LVG), J.C. Rodriguez 9 (STL/BNG), Four tied with 7

STARTER ERA – Jordan Humphreys 1.57 (COL), Merandy Gonzalez 1.75 (COL), Tyler Pill 1.96 (LVG), Corey Oswalt 2.25 (BNG), P.J. Conlon 3.02 (BNG)

RELIEVER ERA – Kyle Regnault 1.04 (LVG/BNG), Tim Peterson 1.08 (LVG/BNG), Max Kuhns 1.31 (COL), Austin McGeorge 1.40 (STL/COL), Matt Blackham 1.93 (COL)

SV – Chase Bradford 6 (LVG), Tyler Bashlor 4 (STL), Johnny Magliozzi 4 (STL), Adonis Uceta 3 (COL), Six tied with 2

WHIP – Jordan Humphreys 0.703 (COL), Merandy Gonzalez 0.841 (COL), P.J. Conlon 1.053 (BNG), Corey Oswalt 1.104 (BNG), Tyler Pill 1.172 (LVG/BNG)

SO – Jordan Humphreys 65 (COL), Nabil Crismatt 51 (STL), P.J. Conlon 48 (BNG), Merandy Gonzalez 46 (COL), Corey Oswalt 41 (BNG)

PROSPECT PULSE

The Mets selected Max Kuhns, a 6’3″ right-handed pitcher, with their 21st round pick in the 2016 draft, following three years at Santa Clara. He spent his junior year as the Broncos’ closer, and subsequently set the school record by saving 14 games. Kuhns was assigned to the Kingsport Mets, where he struck out 15 batters in 14.1 innings out of their bullpen.

Following a strong spring training performance, Kuhns cracked the opening day roster of the Columbia Fireflies, and he has not disappointed. The 22-year-old has tossed 19.2 relief innings for the Fireflies, allowing only three earned runs and recording 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings, the fifth-highest mark in the Mets’ system this season.

Max joined MMN for a Q&A, where he discussed his improvement in 2017, long term goals, and more.

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On his goals entering spring training…

“Some goals I had in spring training were to go out and compete to the best of my ability everyday and have fun while doing it. I still try and take that mindset into every game and practice we have here in Columbia.”

On his first pro season in Kingsport…

“My first season in Kingsport was a good learning experience for me. There were a lot of tough times on and off the field, so learning how to adapt to the conditions of pro baseball was challenging, but overall helped me grow as a player and as a person.”

On what has worked for him this season…

“Some keys to my success in Columbia are just having a positive and open mindset going into each and every game day. I talk to the other pitchers and Hursty [Fireflies pitching coach Jonathan Hurst] to bounce ideas off each other and it has really helped me grow as a pitcher.”

On his repertoire…

“I would like to describe myself as someone who can throw all three of my pitches in any count, and that I am consistent day in and day out, whether that be in the game or in practice. Each plan is different for each batter and I just trust [Ali] Sanchez and [Brandon] Brosher to make the right decisions behind the plate for me.”

On what the organization has stressed in his development…

“Last year the focus was on developing a change-up, and this year I would say just continuing to develop all three pitches and to be more consistent in my command of the zone.”

On his long term goals in the game…

“Obviously everyone would love to have a long major league career so that would be my biggest goal as of now, but outside of that I would just like to see where my career takes me first. Then at some point, I would like to give back to the game by coaching at a youth level.”

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TRANSACTION REPORT

5/19

Beck Wheeler placed on Las Vegas’ disabled list, retroactive to 5/18….Jayce Boyd activated from Las Vegas’ disabled list.

5/20

Travis d’Arnaud’s rehab assignment transferred to Las Vegas from St. Lucie.

5/21

Cameron Griffin and Enmanuel Zabala placed on St. Lucie’s disabled list….Josh Prevost transferred to St. Lucie’s 60-day disabled list from the 7-day disabled list….Arnaldo Berrios and Jose Miguel Medina transferred to St. Lucie from Extended Spring Training.

5/22

Steven Matz’s rehab assignment transferred to Las Vegas from St. Lucie….Blake Beavan transferred to Binghamton from Las Vegas….Mickey Jannis placed on Binghamton’s disabled list, retroactive to 5/18.

5/23

Josh Smoker recalled to New York from Las Vegas….Hansel Robles optioned to Las Vegas from New York….Asdrubal Cabrera assigned to Binghamton on a rehab assignment.

5/24

Nick Sergakis transferred to St. Lucie from Extended Spring Training….Leon Byrd transferred to Extended Spring Training from St. Lucie.

5/25

Beck Wheeler activated from Las Vegas’ disabled list….Kevin Plawecki optioned to Las Vegas from New York….Jio Mier placed on Binghamton’s disabled list….Gustavo Nunez transferred to Binghamton from Extended Spring Training.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tomas Nido was perhaps the biggest success story in the Mets’ minor league system in 2016. Following a Florida State League batting title (Nido had hit a mere .249 entering last season), he had cemented himself as the top backstop prospect in the organization. However, Nido came out of the gates in 2017 struggling mightily, hitting .196/.224/.321 through the season’s first month.

Evidently no longer hampered by a shoulder ailment, Nido has turned it up multiple notches in May, and it showed this past week, as he hit .458/.519/.750 with four doubles, a home run, and eight RBI. Overall for the month, Nido is hitting .344, tops in the system. With Kevin Plawecki back in Vegas, it’s unlikely Nido forces his way up to Triple-A anytime soon, but it is comforting to see his ability to snap out of a rough slump.

UPCOMING SCHEDULES

Las Vegas: @ Round Rock (5/26), El Paso (5/27-30), OFF (5/31), @ Reno (6/1-4)

Binghamton: Hartford (5/26-29), @ Trenton (5/30-6/1), Portland (6/2-4)

St. Lucie: Clearwater (5/26-28), OFF (5/29), Daytona (5/30-6/2)

Columbia: @ Lexington (5/26-28), Augusta (5/29-31), @ Hagerstown (6/1-4)

As a reminder, all 51s, Rumble Ponies, and select Fireflies games can be seen on MiLB.tv.