Christian Scott, Photo by Ed Delany of Mets Minors
On the August 6 episode of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies’ pregame show, Mets’ general manager Billy Eppler spoke to WNBF’s Jacob Wilkins regarding top prospects on the Rumble Ponies’ roster, both trade deadline acquisitions and some who have been in the system for some time now.
When asked about seeing the impact made by recently brought-in prospects Luisangel Acuña, Drew Gilbert, and Jeremiah Jackson on August 5th’s 4-3 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Eppler credited the impact to the Mets’ scouting department, player personnel group, the player development for “providing an environment where the players feel very comfortable right away.”
He also noted that with Christian Scott, one of the fastest-rising prospects in the Mets’ system this year and a 2021 fifth round selection, pitching that game, it felt like a nod to “all of our processes for acquiring talent and then developing that talent, while trying to synthesize the worlds of acquisition and development.”
In regards to bringing in prospects such as Jackson, Gilbert, and Acuña, Eppler noted that middle-of-the-field prospects tend to carry a higher price tag. He continued that Lusiangel Acuña can stay at shortstop in the future, but a move to second base “won’t be a problem for him.” Eppler raved about his internal clock, high levels of agility, arm strength, and great footwork, giving him “a lot of acumen to play in the middle of the diamond.” He noted how electric he is once he is on the bases and how his athleticism “pops”.
On the topic of Drew Gilbert, Eppler said that Gilbert plays the game with his “hair on fire.” He mentioned his strong understanding of the strike zone, his ability to impact the ball, and how strong of a center field he plays. Off of that, Eppler mentioned a strong understanding of the mindset and role that a centerfielder must have.
For Jeremiah Jackson, the return for RHP Dominic Leone, the Mets’ head executive, pointed out Jackson’s ability to play all five infield spots and possess “sneaky power.”
The conversation then turned to RHP Christian Scott, who Eppler pointed out has a “unique shape” to his fastball, allowing him to fall behind in hitters counts but fight back thanks to “hitters missing fastballs over the white, which sounds the alarms that there is something unique happening with his fastball.” He said he was also pleased with how Scott used his slider and changeup in his start against New Hampshire, in which he struck out a career-high 11 Fisher Cats.
Eppler finished by admitting that Scott has “all the making to be a very strong starter at the Major League level,” and that it is “only a matter of time for him.”
Finally, Eppler talked about RHP Blade Tidwell, who’s ceiling he said to be “enormous.” Eppler complimented Tidwell’s “top of the rotation stuff,” which makes Eppler “glad that he is here.”
