We now get into the second portion of our Top 50 Mets Midseason prospects and as you will read it’s stacked heavily with players the Mets drafted this year.

#40 RHP Tyler Bashlor

HT: 5’11”  WT: 195  Level: Full Season Low-A Columbia

B/T: R/R  Age: April 16, 1993 (23) Age Dif: 1.1

Acquired: Drafted by the NY Mets in the 11th round of the 2013 draft out of South Georgia College

Preseason Rank:  Unranked

2016 Statistics:  27 G, 3 SV, 5 SVO, 2.57 ERA, 42 IP, 28 H, 14 R, 12 ER, 5 HB, 24 BB, 50 K .185 BAA

Profile: 
Bashlor is a peculiar case. Drafted for an over slot bonus in 2011, Bashlor pitched 15.2 innings in Kingsport, but tore his UCL and had Tommy John Surgery. However, his elbow didn’t feel up to it as he was set back for the 2015 season, and didn’t finally get healthy until this year.

Now that he finally can pitch, he’s showing why the Mets went over slot to get him. Bashlor has a big arm, sitting 95/96, and getting the fastball up to 98. Along with the fastball is an average curve and slider, that he uses to set up batters. While the heat is good and the off speed is adequate for the level, he has walked 12% of his batters, which will not fly as a reliever as he comes up the ranks.

What’s Next: Bashlor will likely stay in Columbia and go to St. Lucie next year.

#39 RHP Chris Viall

HT: 6’9″ WT: 230 Level: Rookie League Kingsport

B/T: R/R Age: 9/28/1995 (20) Age Dif: -1.0

Acquired: Drafted by the NY Mets in the 6th round of the 2016 draft out of Stanford

Preseason Rank:  Unranked due to being drafted this year

2016 Statistics:  6 G, 4 GS, 5.68 ERA, 12.2 IP, 11 H, 12 R, 8 ER, 1 HB, 9 BB, 17 K .216 BAA

Profile:

Viall fits the type of tall pitchers that the Mets love to draft, but unlike a lot of others, he has a real arm on him. The Stanford product usually throws from 92-95, touching 97 as a starter, but can touch 99 as a reliever. In addition, he has a true hard curveball that he has used to get batters out in front quite a bit.

While the velocity is amazing and so is the stuff, the reason he’s placed at 39 is because his control is terrible. While at Stanford, he walked 72 and struck out 68 in 99 innings, and has not held control well in Kingsport either so far. While he started out in relief at rookie ball this year, he has transitioned to starting and has increased in innings.

If he finds control, watch out, he may be a force to be reckoned with.

What’s Next: He should stick in Kingsport and then go to Brooklyn or Columbia next year.

#38 INF Jeff McNeil

HT: 6’1″ WT: 165  Level: Double-A Binghamton Mets

B/T: L/R  Age: April 8, 1992 (24) Age Dif: -0.4

Acquired: Drafted by the NY Mets in the 12th round of the 2013 draft out of Long Beach State

Preseason Rank:  #26

2016 Statistics: 3 G, 12 AB, 3 H, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 BB, K .250/.357/.583

Profile:

McNeil is an interesting middle infielder out of Long Beach State. He was lanky at first, but gained quite a bit of good weight, 35 pounds of it to be exact, during the offseason and came in looking pretty muscular and adding power. The player is a middle infield-type with average speed but an above-average bat that sprays line drives all over the field and has hit .304 in 290 career games in the minors.

He’s got a steady glove and can play second, shortstop, and third base with an above average arm that makes him capable to play any infield position just fine. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with a sports hernia on April 12th, and has not returned yet. However, he has a utility profile with an upside of becoming an average second base if he can tap into some power.

What’s Next: Maybe return towards the end of the year and play most of the year in Binghamton in 2017, should he be retained.

#37 CF Ricardo Cespedes

HT: 6’1″ WT: 200  Level: Rookie League Kingsport Mets

B/T: L/L  Age: 8/24/1997 (18)  Age Dif: -2.6

Acquired: Signed by Mets out of Dominican Republic on 8/24/13

Preseason Rank:  #57

2016 Statistics:  25 G, 102 AB, 28 H, 2B, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 22 K, 7 SB, 4 CS .275/.321/.284

Profile:

Cespedes was the top bonus in 2013, receiving 725,000 by the Mets on his 16th birthday. So far, he has been underwhelming as a bat, but has a lot of upside with possibly four or more future average tools to work with. Cespedes is a center fielder currently and runs at an above-average pace, takes good routes and has good instincts out in the outfield.

However, with the bat, there is a lot to be desired and to be developed. Cespedes isn’t very disciplined, and his swing from the left side has not found any leverage and translated into extra base hits. With some projection to grow into with his body, he could develop average gap power and possibly 10+ homer power. Cespedes is very young, turning 19 in August, and has a lot of time to develop still, so we may have something to look forward to, but it will likely take a while.

What’s Next: Should be in Kingsport the rest of the year and possibly Columbia in 2017.

#36 LHP Jake Simon

HT: 6’2″ WT: 190 Level: Rookie League Kingsport Mets

B/T: L/L Age: 1/21/1997 (19) Age Dif: -2.0

Acquired: Drafted by the NY Mets in the 11th round of the 2015 draft out of Ball HS, Galveston, TX

Preseason Rank:  #29

2016 Statistics:  6 GS, 3.41 ERA, 31.2 IP, 32 H, 26 R, 12 ER, 1 HBP, 17 BB, 35 K .252 BAA

Profile: 

Often times the less heralded Left Handed starter after Thomas Szapucki, Max Wotell, and P.J. Conlon in the 2015 draft who was signed away from Rice for $400,000, Jake Simon has some potential of his own. At the time of the draft, the projectable lefty threw 88-92 and can add some velocity as he fills out. His delivery is pretty smooth, but still needs work as he struggles with his control at times.

He has a curveball and changeup that need a bit of work, but the package is intriguing nonetheless.

What’s Next: A possibility for the Columbia Rotation

#35 SS Colby Woodmansee

HT: 6’3″ WT: 190 Level: Short-Season A League Brooklyn Cyclones

B/T: R/R Age: 8/27/1994 (21) Age Dif: 0

Acquired: Drafted by the NY Mets in the 5th round of the 2016 draft out of Arizona State

Preseason Rank:  Unranked due to being drafted this year

2016 Statistics:  31 G, 120 AB, 34 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 17 HR, 6 BB, 39 K SB/CS .283/.313/.375

Profile:

One of the top picks in the 2016 Draft, Woodmansee was selected in the fifth round out of Arizona State. He was meant to be the shortstop of an all-2016-draft Brooklyn infield. At 6’3″ 190, Woodmansee is slightly tall for a a shortstop, and a tad slow as a slightly below average runner. However, he has a plus arm and some smooth hands and is athletic enough to make the plays of the balls that come to him.

His bat is another story, where it plays well at shortstop, but if he has to move off to third base, he could have to develop power. Woodmansee hits the ball very hard, however has a lot of swing and miss. He laces hard line drives all over the field, but should only produce below-average power overall. Unfortunately, he does not walk very often, and doesn’t seem very disciplined overall.

For a shortstop, he has an overall average profile, but if he does have to move, it will hamper his value big time.

What’s Next: Will Stick in Brooklyn and then go to Columbia next year.

#34 3B Eudor Garcia

HT: 6’0″ WT: 240 Level: Full Season Low-A Columbia Fireflies

B/T: L/R Age: 5/17/1994 (22) Age Dif: +0.6

Acquired: Drafted by the NY Mets in the 4th round of the 2014 draft out of El Paso Community College

Preseason Rank:  #22

2016 Statistics:  22 G, 85 AB, 21 H, 4 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB, 18 K .247/.304/.400

Profile:

Drafted in 2014, Garcia is an interesting third baseman with a lot of power.However, he was busted for Performance Enhancing Drugs Bumetanide and Furosemide during the offseason and missed the first 80 games of the year due to suspension.

While he didn’t set the world on fire in 2014, he went to Savannah and hit 36 extra base hits, including two homers in a notoriously terrible park for power hitters and nine overall. He has plus bat speed from the left side, and the ability to barrel the ball very well. He, however does not walk often and strikes out quite a bit, limiting his offensive ceiling in the batting average variety to at most .270.

His position is more questionable as he is a stocky guy with below-average speed, and a below-average arm. The most likely destination in his future is first base, where with the bat, he should be just fine.

What’s Next: He should be staying in Columbia this year and finally going to be St. Lucie next year.

#33 INF T.J. Rivera

HT: 6’1″ WT: 205 Level: Triple-A Las Vegas

B/T: R/R  Age: 10/27/1988 (27)  Age Dif: 0.5

Acquired: Undrafted Free Agent Signed in 2011 By New York Mets

Preseason Rank:  #37

2016 Statistics:  85 G, 330 AB, 111 H, 19 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 17 BB, 45 K, 2 SB, 3 CS .336/.374/.482

Profile: All Rivera does is hit, not for much power, but he just hits for average, and a lot of singles. The Bronx Native was signed in 2011 as an undrafted Free Agent and then went on a career-long hot streak ever since, slashing .321/.367/.427 for his career. Unfortunately for him, the Mets Organization do not appreciate that he just hits, and wished that he drew more walks, which is why we haven’t seen him called up yet. He was also passed over in this past December’s Rule V Draft, but he continues to prove to organizations that he should be up in the major leagues, finding ways to hit.

For fielding, he has played a majority of Third Base, but can play second base, first base, and shortstop, in a pinch. His arm is above average, and he has moderate range, and below average speed. We’re not sure if he will ever get the chance he’s earned.

What’s Next: He’ll stay in AAA, who knows if the Mets will call him up?

#32 RHP Cameron Planck

HT: 6’4″ WT: 218 Level: Rookie League Gulf Coast

B/T: R/R Age: 3/05/1998 (18) Age Dif: –

Acquired: Drafted by the NY Mets in the 11th round of the 2016 draft out of Rowan County High School

Preseason Rank:  Unranked due to being drafted this year

2016 Statistics:  No Statistics Available

Profile:

Probably one of the most shocking draft signings of the year due to the fact that he got a $1,000,001 bonus, Planck has plenty to prove with his upside. A tall righthander who idolizes Syndergaard, he touches 95, and could possibly add slightly a little bit more with a little bit of projection. However, he has not been able to locate his fastball well.

In addition to poor fastball location, his slider, which flashes average at times, is inconsistent, and needs work on his changeup. To live up to his million-and-one dollar bonus, he’ll need a lot of development.

What’s Next: Will likely have a few short stints in the Gulf Coast League this year and join a rotation next year.

#31 3B Blake Tiberi

HT: 5’11” WT: 205 Level: Short-Season A League Brooklyn Cyclones

B/T: L/R  Age: 2/16/1995 (21)  Age Dif: 0

Acquired: Drafted by the NY Mets in the 3rd round of the 2016 draft out of University Of Louisville.

Preseason Rank:  Unranked due to being drafted this year

2016 Statistics: 26 G, 89 AB, 21 H, 2B, 2 3B, 7 RBI, 12 BB, 12 K, 2 SB, CS .236/.317/.292

Profile: Drafted in the third round of the 2016 draft, Tiberi boasts an intriguing bat out of University of Louisville. A guy who barely strikes out and walks just as much is usually rare, and we have it with this third baseman who usually knows how to get his bat on the ball. A player who hit .315 in the Cape League, he hits very well for contact, but does not have the plus power profile you’d expect from a third basemen. It’s instead more along the lines of average power that may top around 15 home runs a year. There is talk they will retool his swing for next year.

As for defense, Tiberi is a guy with moderate range at third base, and not the usually athletic profile, but has worked on his agility and should have no problem staying at the hot corner. His hands and arm are average, and should work well there.

What’s Next: Will stay in the star-studded Brooklyn lineup and go to Columbia next year.

To See Numbers #41 to 50, please click here.