Starting today, The Real Dirty Mets minor league staff will be revealing their list of the Mets top 10 prospects heading into the 2011 season. We will be counting down one a day for the next ten days until we reveal number 1.
Starting off our list at number 10 is right-handed pitcher Jeurys Familia. Familia is a 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic, who has pitched in the Mets minor league system for the last three seasons. With his 6’3’’ frame, his velocity sit in the low 90’s, and has the potential to increase even more as his body fills out. Familia held a sub-3 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in his first two years, which are really impressive numbers for a young pitcher. Upon making the move to high-A ball in 2010, he struggled greatly with his control for much of the season, putting up an inordinate amount of walks, which caused his ERA to skyrocket from what it was in the previous two seasons. However, Familia was able to return to form in August where he won three of his final four decisions, finishing with a 6-9 record. But more importantly, Familia appeared to resolve his control issues while also striking out batters at a high rate, accumulating 137 strikeouts in 121 innings over the course of the season. Believing that the guy who pitched in August and early September is the real Familia is what places him tenth on our list.
Familia’s velocity and ability to get strikeouts gives him the potential to be a real good middle of the rotation starter, especially if his secondary stuff improves. His velocity alone, should give him a chance to be in a major league bullpen. Other than his secondary stuff, the key for him going forward is going to be his control and not walking batters at the rate he did for most of 2010. After his strong finish last year the Mets should feel comfortably bumping him up to AA Binghamton. If all goes well for him in 2011, Familia could be in the mix to fight for a spot on the major league roster this time next year.
8 comments
stickguy
2/17/2011-5:59pm at 5:59 pm (UTC -4)
the mets really could use having a couple of the young electric arms at the lower levels (and I’ll include Mejia) come through, and reasonably quick. It is going to hurt having to continually patch the rotation with stop gap guys.
though if Johan comes back effective, and dickey holds together for his 2 years, barring any injuries at least the front 4 should be sound through 2012. Just need those young guys for the 5 hole and replacement parts by 2013!
metsfan4decades
2/17/2011-7:31pm at 7:31 pm (UTC -4)
wow….I’ve been reading about Familia for a couple of years. Assuming you’re working from 10 on down, where #1 is your top prospect, then I’m encouraged by this.
Bryan
2/17/2011-8:23pm at 8:23 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, he is #10. I really like him. Good size, velocity, and if you discount the first 2/3 of last year he’s got a good K/BB ratio. I actually think we’ll know pretty quickly this year if he’s going to end up being a good big league pitcher. If he gets off to a good start in Binghamton (assuming he starts there) I think it would be a really really good sign.
hazmet
2/17/2011-9:02pm at 9:02 pm (UTC -4)
Lovin’ your work so far. Can’t wait to see where Puello, Flores rank and if Harvey breaks the list. I’ve alway’s contended that the Mets system isn’t as broken as the media makes it out to be. Given some of the talent we’ve been reading about and the likes of Niese, Gee, Parnell, Thole, Ike have already contributed in the Bigs. Could they be better, sure, but they aren’t that bad either.
Now if Matz could get healthy and get a few years under his belt to see if we have something. Big year for Familia this year, hopefully he doesn’t go Holt on us.
Bryan
2/17/2011-9:52pm at 9:52 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you for the kind words. I won’t spoil the surprise of seeing the rest of our list. I think that if Niese, Parnell, and Thole can take their game to the next level in the next couple years people may re-think the perception of the system from a couple years back.
I actually think Familia pulled a bit of a Holt (not nearly as bad, of course) the first part of 2010 and was able to find his way out of it late in the year, so I think he’ll do well going forward.
stickguy
2/17/2011-10:23pm at 10:23 pm (UTC -4)
I think the system has some real talent, and some interest “tools” guys that have legitimate high end potential.
they just seem to be missing the high end, super star, can’t miss stud guy that seems to be what gets a system ranked at the top.
an abundance of solid guys that can actually contribute though at the ML level, or bring back talent in a trade, is certainly worth a lot too.
metsfan4decades
2/17/2011-10:33pm at 10:33 pm (UTC -4)
Given the fact that we haven’t had a high draft pick in round one in quite a few years, this goes back to scouting and drafting well with whatever first couple of picks we did have. Add to that non draft signings.
So here’s hoping that with the changes put in place in these areas by the new FO, we’ll see a signing or two very soon that has the high, superstar type potential that seems to be lacking.
Wouldn’t hurt either if the majority of signings have the potential to be ML contributers at some level. As you said, this kind of prospect depth in the minors nets you that ML talent in the form of a trade.
stickguy
2/17/2011-10:51pm at 10:51 pm (UTC -4)
well, I hope that they will have to work extra hard to find those superstars at the end of the first round, meaning that the team is winning a lot of games!