(MiLB.com)
A true sign that spring time and baseball season is almost here in full swing is when you get your Baseball America Prospect Handbook in the mail. If you haven’t gotten yours yet, it’s something I strongly recommend and I will give you a little preview of it’s content. The list below is their Top 30 with the players placement in our countdown in parenthesis:
- LHP Steven Matz (Next Week)
- SS Amed Rosario (Next Week)
- 1B Dominic Smith (Next Week)
- SS Gavin Cecchini (Next Week)
- OF Brandon Nimmo (Next Week)
- SP Marcos Molina (#9)
- SS/2B Luis Carpio (#8)
- OF Desmond Lindsay (#7)
- SS/2B Matt Reynolds (#21)
- OF Wuilmer Becerra (#6)
- 3B Jhoan Urena (#13)
- SS Luis Guillorme (#16)
- RHP Gabriel Ynoa (#14)
- RHP Robert Gsellman (#10)
- C Ali Sanchez (#15)
- SS Andres Gimenez (#28)
- LHP Max Wotell (#18)
- RHP Logan Verrett (#11)
- SS Milton Ramos (#19)
- RHP Seth Lugo (#12)
- 3B Eudor Garcia (#22)
- RHP Akeel Morris (#20)
- 2B L.J. Mazzilli (#30)
- LHP Josh Smoker (#27)
- C Patrick Mazeika (#36)
- RHP Chris Flexen (#17)
- SS/2B Jeff McNeil (#26)
- OF John Mora (#25)
- 1B Dash Winningham (#38)
- RHP Mike Gibbons (#41)
As you know by now all these lists are subjective and each publication has certain players they like better than others like Keith Law putting Dominic Smith at #1 and Baseball Prospectus surprising with Carpio at #2. For the most part however, the top 30 players seems to be pretty consistent among all the lists.
The things that stand out on this list for me is having Gimenez that high before playing a game, yet not leaving fellow July 2nd signing Gregory Guerrero off completely. Guerrero got a $1.5 million signing bonus while Gimenez was $1.2M, if I had Andres in the teens range I would have Guerrero a few spots behind him.
I was a little surprised when I saw Gibbons make the list, he is coming off an impressive pro debut for the Mets across four different levels and topping out with the Double-A Binghamton Mets. He does get his fastball up to 95 and showed good command only walking 18 batters in 69.1 innings between the Brooklyn Cyclones, Savannah Sand Gnats, St. Lucie Mets, and Binghamton. I talked to Michael earlier this offseason.
Two other rankings that I disagree with are Reynolds being that high and Flexen being that low. Reynolds future at this point seems to be a utility guy which isn’t worth a top 10 spot. Flexen looked great according to all reports last year when he was finally healthy, striking out 51 batters in 52 innings and holding opponents to a .232 batting average. He is one of Teddy’s candidates for a breakout season.
Here you can order the handbook.
I am with you on Reynolds. A system with this many potential regulars, a utility guys ranking should reflect that impact.
I can understand it last year maybe but not after the type of season he had in Vegas. Have no idea why the Mets aren’t playing him at different spots this spring. I would have him playing some 3B.
The only reason I can think that they are playing him exclusively at short, is to give everyone a very long look before deciding on Ruben.
Definitely but I would think that if Ruben gets traded you also need to know Reynolds can play third. Sandy even mentioned Wright’s injury when referencing a possible Tejada trade. I don’t think Reynolds would have any problem at the hot corner but he needs to get reps there.
Reynolds was drafted as a third baseman and played there last season in Vegas, a bit. I think the Mets are trying not to shakeup the apple cart just yet with their intentions as Campbell is also a backup option at third.
I know he played there in college but we are now talking five years ago and hasn’t played any in the minors at all which I think is somewhat surprising. Should she him play there if he goes to Vegas though. No room at SS/2B in that infield.