Photo by Allen Greene Photography
66. 2B Walter Rasquin
Ht: 5’9″ Wt: 200 lb 2016 Level: Rookie Kingsport Mets
B/T: R/R Age: 3/21/1996 (20) Age Dif: -0.5
Acquired: Signed from Venezuela on 6/4/2013 ($140,000)
2016 Statistics: 49 G, 187 AB, 24 R, 3 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 8 SB, 31/16 K/BB, .294/.353/.374
Profile: Signed as a 17-year-old catcher, Rasquin has since been converted to a jack-of-all-trades infielder that has seen time at first, second, and third base. Rasquin is fairly sure-handed, having committed only 35 errors through his first four professional seasons.
At the plate, Rasquin generates little to no power from his stature. Only 20% of his career hits have been for extra bases, and his two home runs a season ago matched his career total. However, Rasquin’s game fits nicely into his size. He sprays the ball around the field well, and feasts on left handed pitching, hitting .375 with both of his home runs against southpaws in 2016.
2017 Outlook: While there was internal talk of promoting him to Brooklyn in August last season, Rasquin ultimately remained with Kingsport for the entirety of the campaign. Coney Island looks to be the soon to be 21-year-old’s destination in 2017.
67. LHP Blake Taylor
Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 220 lb 2016 Level: Rookie Kingsport Mets
B/T: L/L Age: 8/17/1995 (21) Age Dif: -1.0
Acquired: Acquired from Pirates on June 15, 2014 as the PTBNL in a trade that sent 1B Ike Davis to Pittsburgh and RHP Zack Thornton to the Mets
2016 Statistics: 5 G, 0-0 W-L, 1 SV, 8.2 IP, 12/8 K/BB, 4.15 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Profile: Although he has shown to possess loads of potential, Taylor’s may ultimately be remembered simply as one of the players that allowed the Mets to unload Ike Davis. Once acquired, Taylor made a forgettable debut with Kingsport, before joining the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2015. He looked to be making great strides before needing Tommy John surgery in July.
It was a surprise to see Taylor back on the mound in August last season, but he did look sharper, putting up three scoreless outings to finish the season, where he struck out four batters each game. At his best, Taylor can reach 95 mph with his fastball, although he has suffered from inconsistent mechanics.
2017 Outlook: Taylor was last seen pitching for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier, which was held at MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones. He will likely break camp with the Columbia Fireflies, as he makes his way back into the rotation.
Photo Credit: Allen Greene Photography
68. RHP Colin Holderman
Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 215 lbs 2016 Level: Rookie Kingsport Mets
B/T: R/R Age: 10/8/1995 (21) Age Dif: -2.0
Acquired: 9th round of the 2016 draft from Heartland Community College (Normal, IL)
2016 Statistics: 13 G, 1-0 W-L, 3 SV, 18.2 IP, 13/11 K/BB, 3.86 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Profile: The Mets went around $235,000 thousand over slot to sign Holderman for $400,000 thousand after drafting him in the ninth round last summer. The former JUCO pitcher makes his presence known off his size alone, as Holderman has drawn body comparisons to Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright. Holderman joined Kingsport in 2016 and became a reliable late inning arm for Luis Rivera.
Mechanically, Holderman is shrewd in using his long frame to hide the ball and extend with the pitch. His fastball is consistently in the low to mid 90s, and he features a change, two seamer, and a plus slider, which should already give him brownie points with the organizational pitching instructors.
2017 Outlook: Holderman could open next season in Columbia’s rotation.
69. LHP Placido Torres
Ht: 5’11″ Wt: 165 lbs. 2016 Level: Rookie Kingsport Mets
B/T: L/L Age: 5/17/1993 (23) Age Dif: +2.0
Acquired: 8th round of the 2016 draft from Tusculum College (Greenville, TN)
2016 Statistics: 13 G, 2-2 W-L, 18.2 IP, 26/6 K/BB, 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Profile: Torres is a native of North Brunswick, NJ, who attended ASA College in New York City before transferring to Tusculum in 2015. There, he struck out 162 batters in 2016, tops in the nation. It took $10 thousand to sign Torres ($175,300 under slot), who made his professional debut with Kingsport. There, he continued his dominance, finishing with 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings, second on the team to only Thomas Szapucki.
Torres is a slender pitcher, and in turn doesn’t overpower hitters with a blazing fastball. However, he keeps walks to a minimum, and pours in the aforementioned strikeouts. Torres’ fastball sits in the high 80s as he mixes in an average curveball.
2017 Outlook: Torres will return to starting pitching in 2017, whether that is with Brooklyn or Columbia is TBD.
70. 1B Jeremy Wolf
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 220 lbs 2016 Level: Rookie Kingsport Mets
B/T: L/R Age: 11/2/1993 (23) Age Dif: +1.5
Acquired: 31st round of the 2016 draft from Trinity University (San Antonio, TX)
2016 Statistics: 50 G, 183 AB, 31 R, 12 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 37/19 K/BB, .290/.359/.448
Profile: The Mets took Wolf, a standout D3 outfielder, in the 31st round last year, and immediately converted him into a first baseman with Kingsport. The position change did little to phase the experienced hitter (who put up an extraordinary .508 OBP in his senior season at Trinity), as he proved to be one of the K-Mets’ most consistent threats.
2017 Outlook: Because of his age and ability shown at the rookie level, Wolf should open 2017 with Columbia.
2017 MMN TOP 100 PROSPECTS
26-30 Two Possible 2017 Mets Bullpen Pieces
31-35 Batting Champ Tops Strong Group
Blake Taylor is one of the interesting prospects to watch this year. With a healthy season, he has the potential to move up significantly in the prospect rankings.
Could be one of the big jumpers like Nido was last season. I think Plaicido Torres has that chance too.
Interesting that Torres is being moved to the starting rotation? IMO his major league future would appear to be as a reliever. Mets must think best way for him to develop/improve is as starter.
I think he’s very similar to Conlon, who is most likely a major league long reliever. Starting lets them work on their secondary stuff more.