In his first save opportunity in the Arizona Fall League, Mets closer prospect Corey Taylor would be victimized by his defense, and he would allow a walk-off grand slam leading to the Scottsdale Scorpions 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Peoria Javelinas.
POSITION PLAYERS
- Gavin Cecchini DH 0-5, RBI, 2 K
- Matt Oberste 1B 0-4, 2 K
- Champ Stuart CF 2-4, 2B, K
After Cecchini’s hot streak, he is now 0-8 over his last two games. Still, he contributed offensively by hitting a ground out RBI in the third giving the Scorpions their first run of the game.
Oberste continued his Arizona Fall League struggles with another hitless performance. In 19 plate appearances, he has yet to register a hit or a walk.
Stuart continued his extremely impressive Arizona Fall performance. The double was his second extra base hit, and his 2-4 performance raised his batting average to .292. With Stuart being Rule 5 Draft eligible for the first time this season, he is making every case for either the Mets to protect him or for another team to select him.
PITCHERS
- Corey Taylor BS, L, 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 1 ER, BB, K
Taylor did not deserve the fate he suffered, but he certainly did put himself in position to lose the game. Taylor allowed back-to-back two out doubles to put the Javelinas on the board. He followed that up with a walk thereby putting the tying run on base. Still, Taylor did his job by inducing what should have been an inning ending ground out. The second baseman made the error leading to a bases loaded situation. Taylor still had the opportunity to get out of the inning with the save, but he allowed a grand slam.
It was the first tough outing for Taylor during the Arizona Fall League season. Hopefully, it will be a growing experience for someone that has shown he has a future as a member of a major league bullpen.
The Scorpions next game is against the Surprise Saguaros at 3:35 P.M. The game will not be televised.
Stuart is making a case for protection, though he would still be behind Rosario, Molina, Nido, and Becerra on my list.
This website seems to be saying that you do not protect an injured pitcher coming off TJS that has never been above A ball. If I am the Phillies I take a shot if he is left unprotected.
Nido is #2 behind Rosario. I doubt that Molina gets protected; IMHO it is extremely unlikely that he would get taken in the draft.
Luis Perdomo went from A ball to MLB after being taken in 2015 rule V draft.
As for Molina specifically, the injury would help a team selecting him. They could 60 day DL him to start the year, let him “rehab” in their ST complex. Then get him 3 weeks of minor league games before “returning” to action. Come July 1 activate him and bury him in the back of bullpen and still easily reach the 90 day active roster requirement. It would minimize exposure and in return a team gets a potential top 100 prospect.
As for his health, word is sitting 92/93 in AFL. With a slightly adjusted delivery.
1) The Mets have two top 100 prospects according to MLB.com and Molina is the Mets #11 ranked prospect.
2) Once a player is on the 40 man roster, I believe a team has three options on him. Molina may not be major league ready in 3 years, so better not to start the clock.
3) I understand drafting top prospects from A ball and I understand the stashing of talent, but the two combined seems like a dis-service to the player’s development and I am not sure a team would go there.
I did say potential, and the Mets total should go up with the next publishing of lists. (Dunn, Szapucki, and Gimenez will all have individual support)
Does a team have an interest in the personal development of a player? Or rather the collective development of the organization? No doubt stashing him for 1 year and returning him to AA would curb his developmemt, but if he picks up where he left off he would be worth it. As either a future player in uniform or as a trade chip down the line.
I think it’s a measured risk, if he had been healthy all of 2016 I believe he would have been protected. TJS set his timetable back and I think even someone like the Phillies would have a hard time hiding him for a year. That being said I believe there’s still an outside chance he gets protected because a team could start on him on the DL for the season and then have him start a rehab stint. He’s definitely an interesting case.