Congratulations to Las Vegas 51’s center fielder Matt den Dekker for being awarded with the MMN Player of the Week honors. Matt started off the week on August 19th with a bang, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two home runs, two RBIs and a walk. He continued his hot hitting throughout the week which helped the 51’s to record 7 straight wins.
Matt was signed by the Mets in the 5th round of the 2010 Amateur Draft out of the University of Florida. In 2010, he played with the Gulf Coast Mets for five games and batted .278, and then was moved up to the Savannah Sand Gnats where he batted .346 in 27 games.
In 2011, den Dekker split time between St Lucie and Binghamton; in 139 games, he batted .265, 103 runs, 32 doubles, 11 triples, 17 home runs, and 68 runs batted in. In 2012, Matt started out at Binghamton where he batted .274 in 58 games and then was moved up to the previous Triple-A Mets farm team, the Buffalo Bisons. In Buffalo, Matt batted .220 in 77 games but continued with his power surge. For a second straight season, Matt hit 17 home runs and knocked in at least 68 runs batted in. He also showed some speed by swiping at least 20 bases in the two seasons.
After coming off another productive season, 2013 looked to be one that would bring Matt that much closer to reaching the major leagues. But in a Spring Training game with the Mets, he suffered a broken wrist. Even though he would not require surgery, he did have to miss a good chunk of the season. He made his 2013 debut with the St Lucie Mets and after 14 games where he batted .276 with no home runs, he was sent to the new Triple-A affiliate for the organization, the Las Vegas 51’s. In 50 games so far this season with the 51’s, Matt has just been trying to find his groove again. He is batting .297 with six home runs, but this past week, he looks to have found the same swing that propelled him up through the Mets minor league system.
Matt’s strong week has not only been a complement to the 51’s lineup, but it has also brought him closer to being worthy of a promotion to the Big club. He can hit for power, drive in runs and get on base. He is a value to an organization looking for impact players from within. The hope is that he continues to develop as he proves that his healed wrist is not an issue and that a promotion to the Mets in only imminent. This week: .444, 12 for 27, 8 runs, double, 2 home runs, 6 runs batted in, 3 walks.
Honorable Mentions
Las Vegas 51’s – 3B Zach Lutz
In a week where possibly a few 51’s players were up for the MMN Player of the Week award, Zach surely stood out and basically just missed beating our Matt den Dekker for the honor. Zach had a very good week at the plate which also help the 51’s to record 7 wins this past week. He recorded five multi-hit games this past week and seven multi-hit games in his last 10. For a season quickly coming to an end, Zach is heating up at the right time especially with the playoffs right around the corner. His hot bat will definitely help the 51’s to advance through the playoffs. This week: .379, 11 for 29, 6 runs, 3 doubles, home run, 8 runs batted in and 4 walks.
St Lucie Mets – 1B Rylan Sandoval
Rylan sits in a lineup with some real good raw hitters. Sometimes, it is very difficult to stand out in the crowd when other teammates are getting most of the attention. But this past week, Rylan has made a name for himself. The St. Lucie Mets have hit the wall, finding themselves falling very quickly out of contention for the playoffs, but a bright spot for the week was Rylan. During the week, he was consistent enough to be looked at and is given an honorable mention for fighting through and putting up some good numbers. This week: .400, 8 for 20, 4 runs, double, triple, 3 runs batted in and 2 walks.
Brooklyn Cyclones – OF James Roche
The Brooklyn Cyclones have put together a good season so far and find themselves only 0.5 games out of first place at 34-31. Contributions from this young talented lineup have helped to lead their success on the field. James Roche, who made his Mets debut with the Cyclones this season, has hit well but more so in the last 10 games where he batted .364, 12 for 33 and has hit safely in 9 of 10 games. The Mets organization is proving to have some real good young talent and James should be recognized as a player worth looking at as he makes his move through the Mets minor league system in the coming years. This week: .385, 10 for 26, 4 runs, double, home run, 5 runs batted in, 5 walks.