John Sickels, who does an incredible job over at MinorLeagueBall.com released his updated Top 150 Prospects list today. The list features four Mets prospects.
#18 Noah Syndergaard, RHP (Grade: A-)
The big Texan known as Thor has spent the entire 2014 season in Triple-A Las Vegas and has pitched with less than dominant results. The numbers are surely respectable though, considering that Syndergaard is just 21 years old and pitching in possibly the worst pitchers league in baseball. In 32 innings spanning across six starts for the 51’s, Noah has posted a 3.94 ERA. He’s struck out 28 batters and walked 12.
#46 Rafael Montero, RHP (B+)
Syndergaard’s rotation mate in Vegas, Montero has also had his ups and downs while trying to conquer the Pacific Coast League. Montero has started six games for the 51’s, pitching to a 4.31 ERA through 31.1 innings. He’s struck out 30 and walked a very uncharacteristic 12 batters so far in 2014.
#63 Travis d’Arnaud, C (B+)
d’Arnaud entered 2014 coming off a disappointing cup of coffee with the Mets in 2013. Despite that he was universally ranked as one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball. When 2014 started it looked like 2013 all over again. Travis struggled to hit, and his defense appeared to suffer as well. However in the past few weeks the former first round pick appears to be turning it around. For the season he’s hitting .209/.303/.299 with one homerun and three doubles through 21 games.
#109 Brandon Nimmo, CF (B-)
It was a surprise to see Nimmo overlooked by some prospect rankers coming into 2014. As a former first round pick who was coming off of an impressive season at Low-A Savannah, there was a lot to be excited about. Perhaps this is the season that Nimmo starts to force his way into the top prospect conversation. Playing all of his games for High-A St. Lucie, the Wyoming native has excelled despite being almost two years younger than league average age. Through 26 games Brandon has a ridiculous .384/.508/.515 slash line to go along with two homers, five doubles and five stolen bases.
In The Picture
Sickels went on to rattle off the names of some prospects who just missed the cut for the list. Included in it were four more Mets prospects. Infielder Wilmer Flores (Las Vegas), southpaw starter Steven Matz (St.Lucie), catcher Kevin Plawecki (Binghamton), and first basemen Dominic Smith (Savannah).
(Photo Credit: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun)
