Having the opportunity to follow the Mets Minor league teams has been such a rewarding experience. Being a Mets fan for so many years, I have limited myself to only worrying about the big club, which has truly limited me to really knowing what the Mets have in their farm system. When I took on the task to pick the MMN Player of the Week, I had to truly engulf myself into each team and really get to know each player. It seemed to be a daunting task at first to follow 6 teams in the 6 levels of the Mets farm system. Now that task didn’t even include the Gulf Coast League and Dominican League teams. But what I found was more of an excitement for the talent pool that the Mets have in their farm system than I thought I could have.
I started to question the mere ignorance that a lot of us Mets fans have when we worry about where the next star will come from, does it have to be a free agent signee, do we have to trade away the future to just get a player that might be past his prime, or do the Mets truly have diamonds in the rough just waiting for their time to shine. I have to admit I never really knew what the Mets had, but these past two months, I have realized that not only do the Mets have some great young ball players, they have great organizations within the farm system. This season alone proved that with the 4 out of the 6 teams making the playoffs and the remaining two in contention to the final week of the season.
The future does look so bright for the Mets organization and if the players are handled in the right manner, we fans will get to experience some real good talent come through the system. The hope is that the Mets do not get rid of too many to try and land a superstar, because what I can see are a few superstars waiting to shine. Now it may not be as immediate as we would like to hope, but if we can have a bit of patience with them, the future of the Mets looks great.
I have been able to follow the Las Vegas 51’s and watch as a number of players moved from the team to the Big Club and they still put together an amazing run through the season to capture the Division Crown. The excitement of watching the B-Mets dominating surge to the top of their division along with the 2013 Eastern League MVP Allan Dykstra and 2013 Manager of the Year Pedro Lopez. To be able to watch the likes of St Lucie Mets own Dustin Lawley (2013 Florida State League MVP) and Bronx native T.J. Rivera (2013 Florida State League Hits Winner). The Sand Gnats surge to the top in the first half and a big win in game 1 of last nights opening round of the playoffs. The Cyclones young talented stars like L.J. Mazzilli and Gavin Cecchini who helped the team to complete the 13th consecutive season of playing .500 or better and the Kingsport Mets dominating pitcher Robert Whalen and a great group of players worth getting excited about.
The 2013 Mets farm teams have put together a great summer worth getting excited about. No matter what happens in the playoffs, they have accomplished a great feat and as the players continue to develop and grow through the system, it will only enhance the talent that the Mets have and each organization will continue to strive.
The exciting part of it all is waiting for the day that these players will wear the orange and blue at Citi Field and then we will truly watch the future unfold. Some have already made the trek and have been successful and others are on the way. So as a Mets fan, we have so much to look forward to, it will just take a little bit of patience, but I know I am willing to wait. Lets Go Mets 2014 and Beyond.
(photo credit: Gordon Donovan)
Just wondering is Allan Dystra any relation to Lenny Dystra?
I guess it is very exciting to meet these up and coming stars when they are in the minors. Sometimes after they become stars they forget how people like David are instrumental in allowing the average fans to see the human side of these ballplayers, which every fan is interested in. Keep up the good work your articles are very interesting and a good read.
“Have a bit of patience”? Thats what we have been hearing since Alderson took over. Its a broken record. 3 consecutive years. Yea lets keep being patient. Exaclty what the organization wants so they can keep drawing 2 million plus to watch a perenial loser. But he!! lets keep being patient, maybe we will see a winner in NY before my 9 year old son is in college. And FYI I don’t know any organization in baseball that would consider a 26 year old that spent at least part of the last 3 seasons in AA as someone to get excited about.
Allan isn’t related to Lenny.