We come to third team in our roster projections after already previewing what the Las Vegas 51’s and Binghamton Mets teams could look like to start the 2016 season. St. Lucie is coming off disappointing 68-70 season, they will be losing one Most Valuable Player in Dominic Smith but adding another with Luis Guillorme.

The big surprise here now is that the Mets will be sending top position player prospect Amed Rosario back to St. Lucie, at least to start the season. The Mets are citing cold weather according to Marc Carig.

Infielders

Luis Guillorme – Defensive whiz that earned the South Atlantic League MVP in 2015.

Jonathan Johnson – On base machine walked 76 times in 120 games last year

Michael Katz – First baseman that hit eight homeruns last year.

Jhoan Urena – Top third base prospect coming off lost year due to injuries.

Amed Rosario – Mets number two prospect heading into the 2015.

Jeffrey Diehl – Best hitter on a historically bad offensive Cyclones team, hit .289/.394/.450.

Outfielders

Wuilmer Becerra – Coming off a breakout year with .423 SLG in extreme pitchers park. 

John Mora – Hit 22 doubles, 12 triples, and stole 14 bases in 2015.

Stefan Sabol – The Swingin Samoan who spent parts of last three seasons with the Sand Gnats.

Champ Stuart – 80 grade speed but struck out 141 times in 97 games last season.

Patrick Biondi – Led Mets minors with 38 steals last year. 

Catchers

Colton Plaia – Organizational guy that was a 2015 FSL all-star.

Tomas Nido – Finally got semi-regular playing time in 2015, with career highs in homeruns (6) and RBI (40).

Starting Pitchers

Michael Gibbons – Coming off solid pro debut over four different levels, hits 95 MPH.

Chris Flexen – Breakout candidate that seems to finally be healthy.

Josh Prevost – Tall righty (6’8″) that was Mets 5th rounder in 2014. 

Corey Oswalt – Control specialist that walked less than a batter per game in 2015.

Casey Delgado – Pitched to 3.17 ERA for Savannah after signing out of Indy ball. 

Relief Pitchers

Alberto Baldonado – Lefty that struck out 74 in 56.2 innings last season. 

Luis Mateo – Former starter that is working way back from injury, allowed only 12 hits in 22.2 innings last year. 

Ben Griset – LOOGY that held lefty hitters to a .180 average last season for Savannah.

Mike Hepple – Contact pitcher that was a 2015 FSL all-star, another guy you will see in AA soon. 

David Roseboom – Lefty that struggled for first time in pro career with St. Lucie last season.

Kevin McGowan – 13th round pick in 2013 that is organizational depth at this point. 

Tim Peterson – Missed 80 games last year due to suspension for PED’s, 10.4 K/9 in career. 

Roster Analysis:

St. Lucie is going to have a solid defensive team which will help with a starting staff that for the most part is looking to induce early contact. A potential roster clog at third base was alleviated unfortunately by Eudor Garcia being suspended for the first 80 games of the season. By the time he is ready to come back, Urena will hopefully be in Binghamton with Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith in a ridiculously talented infield.

The catcher logjam in the Mets minor league system brings Plaia back to St. Lucie, he should get pushed by Nido who was praised by Ian Levin for having a good spring. The outfield is loaded with guys that have some plus tools with Becerra becoming a top 10 Mets prospect and Mora opening some eyes with his strong 2015 campaign. Stuart will have to fight for playing time after showing an inability to put the ball in play and use his speed as a weapon last season.

I see two breakout candidates on this pitching staff in Mateo and Flexen who shown plus stuff at times but have both struggled to stay healthy. Baldonado is an intriguing bullpen guy that showed the ability to get righties and lefties out in 2015, he has also started 25 games in his career.

Other names you should see in St. Lucie this year include Jean Rodriguez (UT),  Vicente Lupo (OF), Alex Palsha (RHP), and Ricky Knapp (RHP). Draft picks from 2015 that could make it to Tradition Field are Patrick Mazeika, Kevin Kaczmarski, P.J. Conlon, Corey Taylor, and Vinny Siena.