With the A-ball all-star breaks all but over the parade of promotions in the minor leagues has started, with four players being moved from St. Lucie to Binghamton and four making the move from Savannah to St. Lucie.
Moving from St. Lucie up to AA Binghamton are Wilmer Flores, Wilfredo Tovar, Cory Mazzoni, and Francisco Pena. Promoting Flores was a no brainer after he tore up the FSL in the first half hitting .289/.336/.463. Flores first came to St. Lucie midway through the 2010 season, so after two full seasons in the FSL he’s ready for AA. The issue is how the B-Mets handle playing time with Flores and Jefry Marte both being third basemen. Flores has played a little second base recently, but that’s where Reese Havens plays and he’s no where close to a AAA promotion. Marte could also see some time at first base, where he saw a little time last fall in Arizona. Either way, they’ll find a way to get Flores his at bats and after a half season at AA we should know a lot more about what kind of future Flores has. Tovar should become the primary shortstop for the B-Mets. He won’t turn 21 until August, but he’s rule 5 eligible after this season so the Mets need to see him at the higher levels after a first half line of .284/.377/.385. Tovar is a skilled defensive shortstop and despite being the 9th youngest player in the FSL he was one of the toughest in the league to strikeout, while also hitting a lot more doubles than expected. If he can keep putting the ball in play in the upper levels of the minor leagues his defense will carry him to the big leagues. Mazzoni was solid if not spectacular during the first half in St. Lucie, putting up a 5-1 record with a 3.25 ERA in 12 starts. In 64 innings he struck out 48, walked 16, and had a 1.25 WHIP. It’s not surprising that Mazzoni is moving up quickly after being a 2nd round pick last year, but he does profile more as a reliever when he reaches the majors. Pena finally gets a promotion after being with St. Lucie since the start of the 2009 season, although he missed considerable time in that span with injuries. After having so much promise years ago a lot of Mets fans have lost faith and lost track of Pena, but he’s still 22, which makes him age appropriate if not a little young for AA. He has the genes (son of Tony Pena) to be a big league catcher and he did have the second best OPS in the FSL among catchers behind only teammate Blake Forsythe. So after finally getting out of the Florida heat Pena has a great opportunity to get back on the prospect radar, something the Mets really need him to do.
Making the move from Savannah to St. Lucie will be Travis Taijeron, T.J. Rivera, Rafael Montero, and Jeff Walters. Taijeron was an obvious choice for a promotion, finishing the first half fourth in the SAL in OPS. His final line was .291/.401/.548 with 12 homers and 17 doubles. Taijeron has had an incredible first year in the organization and has been remarkable for an 18th round pick out of a division 2 college. He doesn’t have the notoriety of his now St. Lucie teammates Cesar Puello, Cory Vaughn, and Darrell Ceciliani, but Taijeron is definitely a guy to keep an eye on. Rivera has done nothing but produce since coming to the Mets and while he’s not considered to be a great prospect with a major league future, he really earned this promotion, and if he can keep producing he’ll get another one at some point. Montero is having a great season in his first full year in the U.S. after starting last year in the Dominican after being signed in January 2011. The 21-year old Montero is well prepared for the FSL. He has great control, walking 8 batters in 71 innings this year, and has a good three-pitch mix, which you don’t always see in A-ball. In 12 starts he put up an ERA of 2.52 and a WHIP under 1. Walters isn’t a name most Mets fans know, but this is a well-deserved promotion putting up a 0.95 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 28 innings, despite not even being on Savannah’s opening day roster. He was a 7th round pick in 2010 out of Georgia, so he’s already 24 and after his performance in the first half needs to move up.
To fill the holes left in Savannah, Jeremy Gould, Xorge Carrillo, and Yucarybert De La Cruz have been promoted from Brooklyn just a couple days into the Cyclone’s season.
11 comments
Stick
6/20/2012-10:20pm at 10:20 pm (UTC -4)
some interesting guys. Really curious to see Pena and Flores in AA. can they handle the pitching up there? And of course, how much time (and how successful will it be) at 2B?
And man, if Travis can keep hitting like this, he is going to rocket up the ladder.
Mr North Jersey
6/20/2012-10:56pm at 10:56 pm (UTC -4)
Nice recap on this Bryan. Any more moves to expect in the coming weeks that we should watch for?
Bryan
6/21/2012-12:32am at 12:32 am (UTC -4)
Well, with Pena in Binghamton I wonder if they’ll move Juan Centeno up to AAA. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Armando Rodriguez up there too, and possibly Darin Gorski if he can put together a few good starts in a row.
I’m really surprised Adam Kolarek didn’t get sent to Binghamton with everyone else. I think Chase Huchingson could also deserve a promotion. Also, if Cory Vaughn can get it going again it certainly could get promoted as well. With Taijeron in the picture St. Lucie’s outfield could get crowded if everyone gets healthy.
Also, 3B in St. Lucie is open so maybe Aderlin Rodriguez moves up.
srt
6/21/2012-7:59am at 7:59 am (UTC -4)
Tovar will be Rule 5 eligible after this season? Huh, don’t know why but didn’t think he was with the organization that long. Obviously, I’m wrong on that.
Was wondering about Cory Vaughn. He must have cooled off some.
Travis Taijeron…is he an OF?
Stickguy
6/21/2012-8:42am at 8:42 am (UTC -4)
Travis is an OF. And I believe he actually hits RH (a rarity in the met system it seems).
And Cory seems to be incredibly streaking. Steaming hot or ice cold, nothing in between
Bryan
6/21/2012-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
Tovar was signed at 16 and spent a season and then some in the VSL, and now he’s 21 and has played 5 seasons, which means rule 5. Vaughn hit .217 in May and .159 so far in june.
Connor O'Brien
6/21/2012-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
That’s the only downside to signing players so young like that. So will they move him to the 40-man this offseason?
Bryan
6/21/2012-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
At this point they really have to, with his defense and the way he’s made contact with the ball he looks like a guy who will make it to the majors, so I have to think someone would take him if left unprotected.
srt
6/21/2012-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
I hope they do protect Tovar. Right now, looks like he could have a nice career in the majors.
ConnorUAF
6/21/2012-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
How long before Philip Evans gets called up to Savannah?
Bryan
6/21/2012-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
It could happen before the end of the season. They just promoted Juan Gamboa to Savannah so I presume he’ll see a majority of time at SS there. It would take some combination of Evans hitting a ton and Gamboa struggling to push Evans to Savannah. But there shouldn’t be a rush, being in Brooklyn a year out of high school is right on schedule.