In terms of record, it was a down year for the Chad Kreuter led St. Lucie Mets squad. It was also an uneven year in terms of player development. However, there were some highlights, especially on the pitching front. Over the course of the season, Justin Dunn would go from a potential bust to a borderline top 100 prospect in the game.

This year, former Mets bullpen coach Ricky Bones is now St. Lucie’s pitching coach. He will have a series of power arms he will be working with in both the rotation and the bullpen. If Bones is going to have the same impact on these arms as Marc Valdes had last year, it will be a very successful season for the Florida State League affiliate.

On the position player front, hitting coach Bruce Fields has his work cut out for him. He has a group of talented and still raw players who have a particular aspect of their game which needs developing. Ultimately, his success in getting through to these players will determine whether St. Lucie will be competing for a spot in the playoffs or whether they will have a third straight losing season.

INFIELDERS

Blake Tiberi – Typically speaking pitchers need over a year to recover from Tommy John surgery. If the same principle applies to position players, we could see Tiberi fulfill the power potential he had when he was drafted.

Jeremy Vasquez – Vasquez makes up for his lack of power with an ability to reach base (.369 OBP). He began the 2018 season with a streak of 29 games reaching base successfully and his being named a South-Atlantic League Player of the Week (4/29/18) and an All-Star.

Cody Bohanek – Bohanek was the other player the Mets received from the Astros in the J.D. Davis trade. He’s a glove first player who has an excellent 26.5 percent walk rate in his minor league career.

Carlos Cortes – The ambidextrous throwing second baseman and left-handed hitter showed the offensive promise the Mets believe he has with his hitting .289/.359/.433 in August for Brooklyn.

Manny Rodriguez – Mets lower minors are short on utility infielders, giving the 10th round pick an opportunity to skip Columbia.

OUTFIELDERS

Hansel Moreno – Moreno has utilized his speed well stealing bases and playing good defense in the outfield. As he matures physically, he has hit for more power setting career highs in doubles and homers last year. With better plate discipline, he could have a breakout year. He will likely see time on the infield as well.

Desmond Lindsay – Lindsay retooled his swing and showcased it during the Arizona Fall League where he hit .286/.355/.643.

Matt Winaker – Winaker developed a power stroke last year, which combined with his on-base skills, makes him an interesting outfield prospect in the Mets farm system. He could see some time at first base this year.

Jacob Zanon – Three years after he was drafted from NAIA Lewis-Clark State College, Zanon remains a bit raw being unable to fully translate his speed and exit velocities into the production you’d expect. One of the reasons for the struggles could be how he has been a bit injury prone.

Quinn Brodey – So far in his career, Brodey has not quite hit at the level expected, but it should be noted he has played in notoriously difficult offensive environments, especially for left-handed batters.

CATCHERS

Dan Rizzie – Rizzie has a strong arm behind the plate throwing out 38 percent of attempted base stealers. He also began to unlock his offensive potential last year hitting .283/.352/.380 from July 1 to the end of the season.

Nick Meyer – Meyer is a defensive oriented catcher who has skills as an excellent receiver, game caller, and who has quick pop times and a strong arm.

STARTING PITCHERS

Tony Dibrell, RHP – Dibrell has a power arm, and he led the South Atlantic League in strikeouts last year. Should he develop more control and his promising change-up, his prospects as a starting pitcher will improve significantly.

Marcel Renteria, RHP – Renteria has a good two pitch repertoire with a low-mid 90s fastball and power slider. He took a positive step forward last season cutting down his walks per nine from 5.6 in Brooklyn to 2.7 in Columbia last year.

Joe Cavallaro, RHP – The sidearmer dominated the South-Atlantic League last year with a 2.09 ERA and 9.7 K/9 leading to his promotion to St. Lucie.

Briam Campusano, RHP – Campusano has predominantly been a two-pitch pitcher who is attempting to add a third offering. His stuff as good enough last year to strike out over a batter per inning (9.3).

Chris Viall, RHP – While the expectation is Viall will eventually transition to the bullpen, he and his upper 90s fastball continues to put up big strikeout numbers in the rotation. Last year was a career best for him with a 12.8 K/9.

Luc Rennie, RHP – The Mets signed Rennie out the Frontier League, and Rennie would pitch well in limited duty for Columbia not only striking out 9.8 per nine but also walking just 1.9 per nine.

BULLPEN

Carlos Hernandez, RHP – The skinny 24-year-old had arguably his best season (3.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 55 K in 48.1 IP) in 2018 after transitioning to the bullpen full time.

Conner O’Neil, RHP – O’Neil mixes four pitches but mostly relies upon his slider to attack batters. In his professional career, he has struck out 11.0 batters per nine.

Yeizo Campos, RHP – While he may pitch out of the bullpen, he will likely be utilized in piggyback starts. He is a four-pitch pitcher who has the ability to locate the ball effectively. At the moment, with his height and age, durability is most likely his biggest issue.

Thomas McIlraith, RHP – McIlraith transitioned to the bullpen last year. While his numbers were not promising, it is interesting to note when he pitched one inning or less, i.e. like a more traditional middle reliever, he had a 1.17 ERA.

Max Kuhns, RHP– Kuhn’s missed most the year while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He should be prepared to start 2019 where he left off in 2017, which was using a power fastball and slider to strike out 13..0 batters per nine.

Darwin Ramos, RHP – The 23-year-old struggled overall last season in Columbia (4.74 ERA), but did allow only two home runs and struck out 73 in 74 innings.

Ryley Gilliam, RHP – Gilliam was touted as one the most Major League ready prospects in last year’s draft, and Gilliam would back that up with a 2.08 ERA and a 16.1 K/9 in Brooklyn last year.

We believe that both left-handed starters David Peterson and Anthony Kay will begin the season in Double-A Binghamton which hurts the overall outlook of this squad. The rotation is still likely good enough to keep them in games while hoping guys like Lindsay and Cortes can spearhead the top of the lineup.

The infield could have a different look in the second half if the Mets continue their aggressive with the youngsters that are starting in Columbia.

We believe that starters Thomas Szapucki and Jordan Humphreys will start the season in extended spring.