Some news and notes from the organization as there is a lot of comings and goings in the minor leagues.
In what is an exciting development for all fans, MiLB.TV has announced effective May 12, all Columbia Fireflies games will be televised on-line. Now if only the Florida State League would follow suite.
Jeff McNeil is headed to St. Lucie to begin rehabbing from two sports hernias that he had surgery on. While he hopes to resume baseball activities within three weeks, the initial time table is the injury is expected to keep him on the shelf for the next four to six weeks. When he returns, his first action should come with the A+ team.
McNeil has only three games under his belt for the year and hasn’t appeared in a game since April 12. His season started great with a home run and double in the Binghamton opener, lets hope his stint in Florida is a quick one. His roster replacement in Binghamton, Phillip Evans, has started to settle down and is hitting .437 in his last 6 games.
Josh Edgin has finished his rehab assignment with a 1.13 ERA, walking two, and striking out 12. He has been optioned to Vegas to serve as major league depth effective May 10. Its nice to have quality depth in arms reach for once. Hopefully Wally doesn’t ruin him while he awaits his next big league opportunity.
(Photo by Ed Delany)
Casey Delgado made his AA debut getting roughed up for 5 runs on 11 hits in 4 innings of work. Prior to the promotion Delgado was 4-0, with a 2.67 ERA, and a 0.963 WHIP, in dominating the FSL from St. Lucie. I am not so concerned with former Frontier League pitchers performance, he should settle nicely into the Binghamton rotation this summer.
Wuilmer Becerra was written up at Baseball Prospectus by Greg Wellemeyer as one of Five to Watch. Wellemeyer notes of Becerra’s hot start, he is currently hitting .404 in his first 89 AB. “The progress Becerra has made in his approach and contact ability since coming stateside in 2013 has been staggering, as he’s trimmed his strikeout rate by almost five percentage points in each season since his 2013 debut, despite not repeating a league.”
Wellemeyer goes onto mention Becerra’s lack of HR so far with minimal concern as he did “hit 37 extra base hits last season” while calling the canyon that Graystone stadium is home. Becerra does have a respectable .472 slugging percentage on the year. The author goes on to “nitpick” that Becerra has not stolen a base yet despite “standing on first 38 times already.
A busy week among the comings and goings so far, and I for one expect to see someone promoted from Columbia to fill Delgado’s rotation spot. That move should be followed with a pitcher from extended spring training to fill that spot. P.J. Conlon and Nabil Crismatt are my suggestions if the FO wants my unsolicited advice.
Going to do some game updates on here since it’s just St. Lucie we didn’t make a game thread.
Becerra singled in the his first at bat tonight. Katz with a sac fly to give St. Lucie a 1-0 lead in the 3rd.
Corey Oswalt now has three scoreless innings for St. Lucie, still lead 1-0.
Singled in his second at bat too, now hitting .418.
Slow night for the minor leagues it seems.
I know they had Don working on a whole field approach last year, you think they are pushing that message with Becerra as well?
What are your thoughts on Oswalt?
Any potential as a prospect?
Becerra finally makes an out, lines into a double play with the bases loaded.
Still pretty young but I don’t see anything more than a potential low leverage bullpen guy.
Other than Flexen, not much in PSL that has any potential on the starting staff it seems.
Is this your assessment?
With Delgado in binghamton, that is exactly my assessment. Reyes should have started the season in the bullpen
Delgado is 26…not much of a prospect at this point, is he?
https://twitter.com/Mets_Minors/status/730543138943709184
Gavin still bothered by back I presume.
St. Lucie trails 2-1 in the top of the 7th inning.
Placed on the DL yesterday with back issue.
Has the best chance of that group to pitch in the majors.
Be a good time for Becerra to hit his first FSL HR.
Well there is always tomorrow.
Taylor on again, another nice indy ball find.
Nido two out single in the 8th inning ties the game for St.Lucie!
He has been on base three times today.
Champ Stuart leads off the 9th inning with a single in a tie game.
Becerra 3-5
PSL put up 3 so far in the 9th.
RBI double by Rosario and RBI single by Wuilmer Becerra in the 9th for St.Lucie. now up 5-2.
They intentionally walked Kevin Taylor to get to Becerra.
ProMoat
To set up for the DP….still not wise
I am actually pro IBB more than most people but cmon now you can’t do that.
I am with you. 99% of the time it’s the right move, but your electing to face a guy who has successfully reached base nearly 50% of the time against a guy who came in allowing 35% of the batters he faced reach base.
St.Lucie Mets win 5-2. Becerra with three hits and reliever Tim Peterson gets his first win of the season.
Another player who belongs in Binghamton
All in due time. After watching him get dominated by a lefty the day before and struggle with off speed stuff, he may need a little more time in A ball. He has DH-ed the last 3 games, and his shoulder may still be an issue, and I am imagining that is what is zapping his power thus far.
Probably the right move. Taylor is having a break out year, and was the lone bright spot in yesterdays game. Becerra has been DH in 3 straight games, I assume that his shoulder is still not 100% ??
Taylor has been on fire, and offers more power at this point. Becerra has been hitting a ton, but not really any extra base power right now.
I meant Peterson. Becerra should be in A ball all year, not counting playoff promotion
Taylor is hitting .386 with pop, Becerra is hitting .400 mostly combined from singles. Higher OPS, higher Slugging, 6 straight multi hit games, and he was the only offensive player to produce yesterday,, going 2 for 2 and smoking a ball for a double off the centerfield fence.
Thanks for the context, puts things in a better perspective
oh, okay. Ya, he is probably a little to old at this point to still be in A ball, and is off to a hot start.
I should have clarified in my original comment.
I had never seen Taylor before yesterday. He has a really compact swing and was impressive. He is having some kind of break out year so far. He is already 24, so it should be kept in context, but he should be ticketed for AA if he keeps this pace up.
no biggie. Most people want to talk about Becerra these days, so I just assumed that was who you meant. I saw a clunker yesterday, so I am looking forward to seeing them again this weekend and hoping for a better report
I am firmly in the camp that Becerra should be in A ball for the year. Shrinking crowd these days.
I have a theory that the organization pushes a take what the pitcher gives you and use the whole field approach at this level. With the presumption being to better identify “your pitch” that they can turn on and drive.