First base is one of the Mets biggest weak spots when it comes to depth in the minor league system considering three of the guys below didn’t even play the position full-time in 2015. The Mets have Lucas Duda under contract for the next two seasons making them strong at first base at the Major League Level. The hope is that once is contract is up that Dominic Smith will be ready to take over position and become the franchise 1B long-term.
Ht: 5’11” Wt: 155 B/T: R/R Age: 12/17/1995 (20)
2015 Level: Rookie league GCL Mets/Dominican Summer League Mets
Stats: 53 G, 177 PA, 157 AB, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 11 RBI, 12/21 BB/K, .306/.358/.363
If you’ve never heard of Miguel Patino, it’s likely because he didn’t play in the United States until this past August. Still, the 20-year-old put together a strong 2015 season, finishing with the sixth best batting average among infielders in the Mets system. Patino was signed on July 2, 2012 from Venezuela (in the same International Free Agent class as Amed Rosario) as a lean shortstop with above average hands and footwork, and good bat-to-ball skills.
He debuted at first base in 2013, and has seen time at every position since then, except catcher and center field. Considering he’s just barely 5’11” and throws right handed, it’s unlikely Patino will continue to see the majority of his innings at first base, but he cracks the list based on his solid performance at the plate and the lack of depth at the position in the system. Patino will open next season back in the Gulf Coast League, as he continues to become acclimated to playing ball stateside.
#4 Matt Oberste
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 220 B/T: R/R Age: 8/9/1991 (24)
2015 Level: Hi-A St. Lucie Mets
Stats: 111 G, 465 PA, 419 AB, 24 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 64 RBI, 34/73 BB/K, .301/.359/.430
Oberste was named a postseason All-Star after hitting well last season at St. Lucie, but he’s got a few things going against him. Drafted out of the University of Oklahoma in the seventh round of 2013 after his junior year, Oberste played the 2015 season almost two years above the Florida State League average age. For someone who isn’t projected to be an impact player at the major league level, that could be troubling coupled with the fact that he has been promoted at a fairly normal rate in his career.
In the Florida State League, the designated hitter is used in every game, and that’s where Oberste got the majority of his playing time last season, while Dominic Smith, understandably, received the reps at first base. If the Mets determine Oberste is worthy of moving up to Double-A with Smith, he’ll only be able to DH when Binghamton plays a National League affiliated team, decreasing his opportunities for playing time. Oberste should stay down in St. Lucie and collect more at bats to begin 2016, and progress as spots open up in the higher levels.
#3: Jayce Boyd
Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 185 B/T: R/R Age: 12/30/1990 (25)
2015 Level: Triple-A Las Vegas 51s/Double-A Binghamton Mets
Stats: 98 G, 326 PA, 299 AB, 27 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 28 RBI, 25/39 BB/K, .281/.338/.381
Boyd’s 2015 season took an interesting turn early on, when he converted from a first baseman to a full-time left fielder. Knowing that his only real shot at the major leagues would come somewhere other than first base, Boyd began training in the outfield in the 2014 instructional league. A main factor into his switch from the Mets’ standpoint was clearly Boyd’s lack of power from a position that prides itself on big hitters.
He hit one home run all of last season, and none in the offensively favorable Pacific Coast League. On the plus side, Boyd makes a lot of contact (he’s a career .295 hitter), and swings and misses very little (14.4% strikeout rate in 2015). His glove at first as been highly touted in reports, considering a rough year in the outfield, he would greatly benefit from a return to his natural position. Boyd will head back to Las Vegas in 2016.
#2: Dash Winningham
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 230 B/T: L/L Age: 10/11/1995 (20)
2015 Level: Rookie Kingsport Mets
Stats: 66 G, 290 PA, 267 AB, 19 2B, 1 3B, 12 HR, 51 RBI, 15/63 BB/K, .266/.310/.479
The first thing you notice with Winningham, the Mets eighth round pick in 2014, is his size. He’s a big guy, which translates into a lot of power potential from the left side, and even though it’s still raw, Winningham is close to reaching the point where he can maximize his talents. He hit 12 home runs last season with Kingsport, which included two multi-homer games where he knocked in a total of nine runs.
As the stats show, he doesn’t make contact very often at present, but again he has a lot of size, which translates into the power that will likely be his game as he progresses through the system. Winningham is still very young so it wouldn’t be surprising if the bat skills start to come together. His defense is nothing to write home about, but he’ll hold his own and is almost guaranteed to stay at the position moving forward. I’m confident that Winningham will spend most of 2016 in Columbia, but it remains to be seen whether it will be a full season stay, or if a pit stop in Brooklyn is in the cards.
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 185 B/T: L/L Age: 6/15/1995 (20)
2015 Level: Hi-A St. Lucie Mets
Stats: 118 G, 497 PA, 456 AB, 33 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 79 RBI, 35/75 BB/K, .305/.354/.417
Dominic Smith needed a year like 2015, and he needed it badly. Coming off a difficult season in 2014, where he struggled to generate much power in Savannah (he slugged .338, good for 94th in the organization), the 2013 first round pick broke out for 33 doubles, which led all Mets minor leaguers, and 79 runs batted in, which trailed only Josh Rodriguez in the organization. Smith was rewarded with the Florida State League most valuable player award after the season, becoming the second Mets prospect to win a league MVP in 2015 (Luis Guillorme, South Atlantic League). He followed up his strong campaign by raking in the Arizona Fall League, where he was named to the All-AFL team, after hitting .362 in 14 games.
2015 was truly the breakout year Smith needed, and he’s jumped back atop prospect lists, featured on Baseball Prospectus, and placing very well on MLB.com. It’s clear that he is more confident at the plate, and has been working out at the Barwis complex in Port St. Lucie this offseason. It’s almost a one hundred percent guarantee that Smith is headed to Double-A Binghamton this season, and he’ll get a good head start with the big league club in Spring Training. He has all the tools to be an above average player at the major league level – the stellar bat, gap power, and plus glove – and 2016 is the year where he solidifies himself as the Mets first baseman of the future.
Not surprising that first base has minimal talent in the organization. Smith really being the anomaly in a first baseman drafted early. Players typically gravitate to first, once all other positions have been exhausted. Garcia, Brosher, Thompson, Mazeika, even Conforto are all future options.
I think we definitely see Garcia and Thompson there this year. Mazeika sounds like he enjoys 1B, would be great to see him continue playing some there. Always thought that Brosher would end up at 1B.
I am a little surprised they haven’t moved Brosher over yet,
I’m pretty pumped to watch Smith up close and personal this summer here in Binghamton
Katz is a better hitter than all of them.