The St. Lucie Mets have reached the All-Star break of the 2016 season with a record of 33-31. Which is currently good enough for second place in the Florida State League South Division and are one game out with a chance as the first half division winner (due to rain outs). They need 3 victories coupled with the Pirates affiliate, Bradenton Marauders losses.

The St. Lucie team is arguably the most talented Mets minor league team, headlined by consensus top prospect Amed Rosario, R.A. Dickey trade throw-in Wuilmer Becerra, slick fielding Luis Guillorme, rising Chris Flexen, and speedster Champ Stuart. Four members of the roster were named to the FSL All Star game;  Amed Rosario, Wuilmer Becerra, Tomas Nido and Alberto Baldonado.

What has gone right…

Luis Rojas has the team headed in the right direction. Solid contributions have come from everywhere; even after graduating four pitchers. Wuilmer Becerra is hitting a level that no one expected him to, his .329 average is good for second in the FSL. Champ Stuart has already tied his career high in home run with four. Tomas Nido is having a breakout season on both sides of the ball, from behind the plate. Ricky Knapp has been solid as a staff anchor, and Corey Oswalt is striking out nearly a batter an inning. The arguably best defensive SS in the system, Luis Guillorme, being a team player, is the regular second baseman, also hit his first professional homer. 

All that is going right and that does not include the team’s best player, Rosario, who is leading the FSL in hits and triples, second in total bases, third in batting, third in RBI, eighth in slugging, and seventh in OPS. The 20-year old SS continues to draw rave reviews for the glove work, and is two walks from eclipsing his career high, after not walking in his first 10 games.

The unrealized bright spot on the team has been the work of the bullpen though. Three players that started the season in the St. Lucie bullpen have earned promotions to Binghamton. Tim Peterson took his 0.49 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 18.1 innings north, along with All Star Alberto Baldonado, and his potential AS replacement Kevin McGowan. Corey Taylor is nine for nine in save opportunities, Ben Griset has a 1.06 WHIP and a 1.25 ERA, and Paul Paez has yet to allow an earned run yet this season.  

Team Offensive Leaders – 

• Hits: Amed Rosario 78 – leads league
• Runs: Champ Stuart 38 – third in league
• Doubles: Tomas Nido 14 – tied for fifth in the league
• HR: Kevin Taylor 5  
• BA: Wuilmer Becerra .329 – second in league
• OBP: Jonathan Johnson .415
• RBI: Amed Rosario 38 – third in league
• SLG: Amed Rosario .448 – eighth in league

Team Pitching Leaders –

• Wins: Ricky Knapp 6 – tied for fourth in league
• Innings: Ricky Knapp 70.1 –tenth in league
• Starter ERA: Ricky Knapp 1.92 – third in league
• Reliever ERA: Paul Paez 0.00, 17.2 innings
• Starter WHIP: Ricky Knapp 1.11
• Reliever WHIP: Tim Peterson 0.60
• Strikeouts: Corey Oswalt 63 – seventh in league
• Saves: Corey Taylor 9 – third in league
• SO/W: Tim Peterson 10.67

What has not gone right…

For all the good contact that Becerra has made this year he has yet to hit a HR. Even with a .329 average, his slugging is sitting below .400 on the year. He has also missed a total of 20 games, mostly due to shoulder issues that have limited him to only 13 games in RF.

A lot was expected of Jhoan Urena in repeating high A, after a lost season in 2015. Yet he is struggling along with a .202 batting average, and a slugging percentage below .300. 2014 9th round pick, Michael Katz is hitting only .210 ith 1 HR and has 66 strikeouts.  

Scaryln Reyes, who was expected to be the older stabilizing force in the rotation, has struggled for most of the season. With batters hitting .291 off him, and a 1.62 WHIP his ERA sits at an unsightly 6.19.

As well as the bullpen has done collectively; Jimmy Duff (1.74 WHIP, 6.65 ERA) has struggled all year. As have the recently demoted; Mike Hepple (2.43, 9.00) and Kelly Secrest (1.58, 5.26).  

What lies ahead…

Promotions and cuts… Rosario is the key, it is a matter of time before he heads to Binghamton (author preemptively got tickets for B’Mets next week). Once he moves up, Guillorme slides over to his natural shortstop position and is joined by a promoted Vinny Siena in the middle infield. Kevin Taylor deserves a shot in Binghamton to prove he is more than organization filler. Tomas Nido is another who warrants a promotion, but catchers do not typically do so in season, so that is up in the air.

Urena’s struggles have muddied the waters a bit, as Fireflies third baseman, David Thompson needs to play against better competition, and power hitting Eudor Garcia is returning from suspension.

Some of the other players warranting promotion to St. Lucie include P.J. Conlon, Tyler Bashlor, and recent All-Star addition, Alex Palsha. A few of the players that should be considered on the roster bubble to make room include Michael Katz, Mike Hepple, and Jimmy Duff. An additional move that may warrant consideration is moving Scarlyn Reyes to the bullpen. 

The Mets, as an organization have put an emphasis on winning in the minor leagues. Which always makes roster predictions a bit tough. St. Lucie should have enough talent to continue to compete in the second half. Though how much ownership wants to deplete the inaugural Columbia roster remains to be seen.