There was a good article up on Adam Rubin’s blog earlier this morning about some prospects to watch going ahead — and he added some good commentary as well. First off, he notes that neither Rafael Montero nor Noah Syndergaard will likely make their debut in 2013 due to a lack of development and limits placed on their innings pitched. On that note, Montero hasn’t even been added to the 40-man roster, so it was unlikely that we’d see him up in September anyway — as much as I think Triple-A is hurting his development.
That being said, here are the six players he noted with a little blurb on each…
Travis d’Arnaud: …d’Arnaud would have been up in the big leagues by now had he not suffered a broken left foot getting struck with a foul ball while catching back in April with Vegas. D’Arnaud is expected to get clearance Monday from Mets doctors to begin playing in games. He still needs minor-league seasoning, but a September call-up is highly likely. D’Arnaud has a Russell Martin-type build and is projected to hit 20 homers a season in the majors.
Matt den Dekker: …Because he was drafted in 2010 out of the University of Florida (fifth round), den Dekker needs to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason anyway. Den Dekker’s marching orders this season were to improve his pitch-recognition skills and start making more contact. He has appeared on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays four times between college and the pros.
Wilmer Flores: …Flores leads the Pacific Coast League with 75 RBIs, and also ranks in the top 10 in the league with a .321 average. The Venezuela native more recently is getting some first-base exposure after manning second base for much of the 51s’ season.
Jack Leathersich: …No guarantee here since the Mets do not have to add Leathersich to the 40-man roster this offseason. But given the strikeout machine should be competing for a bullpen spot in spring training, why not give him some exposure now? Leathersich has struck out 217 of the 545 batters he has faced since turning pro out of UMass-Lowell.
Francisco Pena: …One Mets insider believed Pena might be a more logical call-up than Juan Centeno if the Mets carry four catchers in September, because Pena has regularly caught stars in winter ball and also was part of the Dominican Republic’s unbeaten World Baseball Classic squad.
Cesar Puello: Here is the one that really is complicated. Yes, Puello is on the 40-man roster. And, yes, he has put up gaudy numbers with Binghamton (.332, 16 HR, 65 RBIs, 21 steals). But ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” also has linked Puello to Biogenesis. And a suspension could be looming, although the Players Association chief said in a general sense on Tuesday that appeals should delay any potential discipline until 2014.
All of these six players are valid names to bring up, so let me throw my own opinion out there… I don’t think we’ll see Cesar Puello on the MLB roster this year because he still needs to work on his plate discipline a bit. He’s allowed to enjoy his success a little, and if he isn’t suspended this year, he’ll probably taste Triple-A.
I do think all the other names, outside of Francisco Pena, are almost locks to see time in the MLB this season. I’m fairly certain he’s not even on the 40-man roster, and that would mean we’d drop Anthony Recker or trade John Buck at the deadline — because the team would likely not carry more than 4 catchers at one time.
It’s good to see d’Arnaud still get some love, however, because he’s still still a top talent.
I can’t wait to see Jack Leathersich at the MLB level. I’m fairly certain he’s going to return to his AA form once he gets to Flushing with normal conditions.
I envision Leather and Satin hitting it big, and the Mets honoring them with Fabric Nite at Citifield. Kidding aside, anxious to see the K Machine in action at Citi.
Orioles just signed another Cuban 24 yr old 6’2 190lb Outfielder Dariel Alvarez to a $800,000 deal….
Last year they signed a 25yr old 6’5 200lb Cuban OF Henry Urrutia to a $750,000 deal…whom killed the minors(Double-A & Triple-A) and was called up to the majors today.
So it is safe to say money isnt the issue……….Why arent we even adding guys like this??? A position of need in the system and these Cubans have been successful….Not only the highly regarded guys like Cespedes, Kendry Morales,Chapman, Puig, Solar….but the under the radar guys like Leonys Martin, Dayan Viciedo, Alexei Ramirez.
Currently there is a stud pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez who will sign a big deal before the end of this month and a stud Shortstop Aledmis Diaz who wont sign until next year when he is 23 so he can sign for the highest offer and doesnt have to be subjected to intl slot system.
I bet we wont be interested then either smh….this is what frustrates me with this regime they are never in on anything. Youre supposed to add as much talent to the system, as possible. And noone can say hey maybe the scouts didnt feel they were worth it…if so then we(Mets) are DOOMED because these kids are all producing…look at the season Leonys Martin is having he’s doing everything out there
I’d be happy if d’Arnaud plays an actual game for Vegas
If they’re not up earlier, Flores, d’ Arnaud, Den Dekker and – if healthy – Jennry Mejia will definitely be up in September. Ruben Tejada, Zack Lutz and Mike Baxter figure to be back as well.
If they’re still on th 40-man roster, Germen & Carson will be back too.
Unless he has exceeded an IP limit, RHP Jake DeGrom will be up as well.
If he behaves, there’s a good chance that we’ll see Jordany Valdespin again too.
Either Pena or Centeno could be up as a 4th C. Maybe both if d’Arnaud isn’t healthy or goes directly to the Arizona Fall League.
That’s a dozen players right there already and probably more than the Mets would like to have up there.
Binghamton will be in the Double A playoffs, it appears, so it’s unlikely that , Tovar, Vaughn, Ceciliani or some of their Rule V eligible pitchers like Goeddel, Walters or Huchingson will get a look. Cesar Puello probably deserves a call anyway though from this group, though if he’s still in Binghamton and they advance deep into the playoffs, maybe not.
Since you can already see the looming 40-man roster crunch with all these players listed, don’t expect anybody who would not need to be protected to be called up:
So, no Montero, Mazzoni, Leathersich, Syndergaard, Verrett, etc. this fall, I’m quite sure.
Especially because beyond all those callups – some of which will have to be removed anyway – you definitely need room on the 40-man for Matz, Tapia, Ynoa and maybe Lara and Cessa too…
HAHA YOU CHANGED IT.
It has been historically often that the Mets have not been in on Cubans. In fact, the only one I can recollect is Alay Soler.
I for one get disappointed every time as much as you do.
I mean recently with the recollection.