Tomas Nido, Catcher

Player Profile

Opening Day Age:  22

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height/Weight: 6’0” 200 lbs

Position: C

ETA: 2018

Pre-2016 MMN Top Prospect Rank: #74th

Background

Nido was selected by the Mets in the 8th round of the 2012 first year player draft out of Orangewood Christian School, Maitland, FL.  He began his career at Kingsport in the Appalachian League for the Mets in 2012, then spent consecutive seasons in Brooklyn in 2013 & 2014 before heading to full season A-ball in 2015 in Savannah and currently spending the start of the 2016 season in St. Lucie with the St. Lucie Mets High-A affiliate.

Outside of two games back in 2014, Nido has spent his entire professional career solely at the catcher position.

Analysis

My eyeball test shows Nido to be a ‘free swinger’ who is ready to hack and attack the ball regardless if its low, high or either side of the strike zone and looks to have solid line drive power at the plate.  The stats appear to back up my observations when looking especially at the 2016 season so far in which Nido has only six walks through the first 43 games.

Also, statically, Tomas appears to be having a career year here in 2016 in every significant offensive category since turning professional in 2012.  Coming into the season with career averages of: .258 BA; .295 OBP; .355 SLG & .651 OPS, Nido is currently sitting at:  .301 BA; .329 OBP; .429 SLG & .759 OPS.

He has also worked hard on his defense which has paid off the season in which he has thrown out 44 percent of would-be basestealers in 2016.

What The Future Holds

The Mets organization, which just recently looked stacked at the catcher position at the highest level with under 30 year old top prospects and current major leaguers d’Arnaud and Plawecki is now quickly looking thin and frail. Way down in the low minors there have been some rave reviews about young teenager Ali Sanchez, but the gap between rookie level and the majors appears open for the taking at this time.

I’m curious to see what the future holds for Tomas Nido. I’m wondering how his aggressiveness will play at the double A “show me” level of competition. Despite the low BB rate, he’s enjoying a career low K rate.  It will interesting to see how his contact rate goes at the higher levels.

Top image courtesy of Ernest Dove and featured by Ed Delany