Photo by Ed Delany

After seven years as manager for the New York Mets, the organization decided it was time to move on from the winningest manager in their history. However, while they believed their Major League team needed a different voice, the organization still respected and felt they still needed Terry Collins‘ voice, especially when it came to young players.

Collins is now a special assistant to Sandy Alderson.  In his position, he is here to look at and give his assessment of the young players in the Mets farm system.  As he put it to Dom Amore of the Hartford Courant, “We’re in a situation in New York where we’ve got to find some players,” Collins said. “We’ve got to develop our own players, so I’m hoping I can help out.”

Collins’ role took him to Dunkin Donuts Park, the home of the Hartford Yard Goats, to see the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in action.  While there, he spoke with Amore and gave his assessment of some of the more renown players in the Mets farm system.

On Anthony Kay and David Peterson: “They’ve got great stuff, they’re going to pitch in the big leagues.”

On Peter Alonso: “I’ve heard nothing but raves about him.”

On Tim Tebow: “Hey, I played in this league and I didn’t hit .240, and I was a baseball player.  He’s gotten himself better. When I saw him this spring, I said, ‘Wow, his swing has changed, his body has changed, he’s buying into it. He’s trimmed down, loosened himself up, he’s become more flexible. … He’s a tremendous leader for these guys to watch his work ethic. When Sandy told me he was going to sign the guy, I said I can’t come up with a better name of a guy who knows how to win.”

Overall, based upon what we heard from Collins, it appears both he and the Mets organization are high on Kay, Peterson, and Alonso.  Moreover, they see Tebow as a guy who has not only dedicated himself to the game of baseball, but also as a role model for some of the younger players in the Mets organization.