With the start of spring training quickly approaching, it’s time to unveil the official Real Dirty Mets top prospect list. This is probably the best the Mets farm system has been in several years, with some real gems at the top. And because the farm system is improving, we’ll be going through the Mets top 50 prospects. Today, let’s check out 46 – 50:
50. Tyler Vanderheiden, RP – There were at least a dozen possibilities for the 50th and final spot on the list, but I decided to go with Vanderheiden. Aside from having a long and difficult to spell last name, Vanderheiden is a submarine pitcher. The Mets took him in the 19th round last year, and he already has a niche that he’s hoping will carry him to the big leagues. In 22 innings for Brooklyn last summer, Vanderheiden had a 0.82 ERA and was a ground ball machine. The ceiling is obviously fairly low, but he knows who he is, knows his role, and knows what he has to do to get to the majors, and that means a lot at this stage in his career.
49. Logan Taylor, RP – The Mets took Taylor in the 11th round last year, and he had a successful debut in Brooklyn, with an ERA of 0.93, two walks, and 19 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. He has a nice 6’5’’ frame and has some room to fill out a little more. Taylor has a fastball in the low 90’s, a nice looking curve, and a fair amount of polish, which makes him one of the more promising arms the Mets drafted in 2012.
48. Chase Huchingson, LP – Huchingson had an up and down season in 2012, but he was a Florida State League all-star and the Mets did choose to send him to the Arizona Fall League for additional seasoning. For the most part he’s been a starter, but he’ll eventually move into the bullpen, where he’ll have a chance to make it to the big leagues as a LOOGY. He throws hard enough and has decent stuff; it’s just a matter of being ready when called upon and being consistent with his performance.
47. Albert Cordero, C – Cordero took a huge, and I mean huge, step backwards in 2012 after I ranked him 20th heading into the season. He had a stellar second half in 2011, but was disappointed by the return to Savannah in 2012 and tried to swing his way to a promotion in every at bat, which is why he ended up with a line of .194/.276/.270 in 2012. He stays in the top 50 this year because the Mets are still light on catchers and he has tools behind the plate to be a major league catcher. If he can have a bounce back year with the bat, he’ll get back on the Mets radar; of course, if he doesn’t, his career will be all but over.
46. Jack Leathersich, LP – He’s another of several potential LOOGY’s the Mets are developing in their farm system. Leathersich was untouchable early in 2012 in Savannah, before being moved to St. Lucie. In St. Lucie, he struck out an astounding 76 batters in just 48 innings (more than a batter and a half per inning). However, he also saw his walk rate increase and was somewhat hittable with a 4.13 ERA. Surprisingly, lefties had a better batting average against him than righties, and also struck out against him at a lower rate. I’m not as high on Leathersich as some other people are because of how hittable he was, but his strike out rate really makes him stand out, and if he can keep missing bats as he moves to the upper levels this year, he’ll be a guy worth watching.
57 comments
Oleosmirf
2/4/2013-8:17am at 8:17 am (UTC -4)
Leathersich at 46? With those strike out numbers it would be a let down if he’s only a loogy.
I’m expecting him to be a potential closer given now dominant he’s been
Bryan
2/4/2013-8:43am at 8:43 am (UTC -4)
I agree that the K numbers are phenomenal, but I wouldn’t call a 4.13 ERA in the FSL dominant and future closer material. The WHIP is ordinary and when he wasn’t getting strikeouts, he was somewhat hittable. It’s a little all or nothing to think he could be a closer.
Stickguy
2/4/2013-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
sounds like a 1-trick pony. and unless you are Mariano, that rarely works.
ideally, he will figure out a 2nd pitch to handle lefties (cutter, slider) and if he has enough to handle RHBs, then you can start talking closer.
srt
2/4/2013-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
Jack Leathersich….hearing good things about this young man.
SaltyGary
2/4/2013-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Fo you twitter people a amazing account was just created
@MetsBlogTypos
srt
2/4/2013-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
LOL
Stick
2/4/2013-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
I saw the fun this morning making fun of the Mets needing Boars.
at least it keeps the visitors amused.
though I have never seen a site where 90% of the comments seem to complain about the site, and make fun of the authors. Why the hell do people bother to go there?
kingman 26
2/4/2013-5:08pm at 5:08 pm (UTC -4)
A lot of people go there for the reason we all did 5 years ago–for the other commenters.
I REALLY try not to read the utter idiocy posted by Cerrone and Baron, but nowadays, their remarkably stupid errors all are pointed out in the comment section.
Today from that same post:
“The way I understand it, the Mets think MLB will wave that rule…”
“…Bourn, Boras and Alderson have an actual deal agreed to in principal.”
This is from a man who has titled himself “Executive Editor.”
It is embarrassing and pathetic, and he writes like a stupid 15-year-old.
SaltyGary
2/4/2013-5:14pm at 5:14 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been getting into it with the dude Benny which has been funny. Also rattling a couple others as well.
Stickguy
2/4/2013-5:15pm at 5:15 pm (UTC -4)
problem is, the comments have mostly gone downhill too. the handful of intelligent ones are lost in a sea of idiocy now.
if there are 200 comments to a post, 150 are probably making fun of Cerrone and baron, another 30 are making fun of other posters, leaving about 20 of some worth!
Also drives me nuts that the comments seem to display (at least for me) in some random order. Not sequential or chronological.
kingman 26
2/4/2013-6:14pm at 6:14 pm (UTC -4)
It has become a truly pathetic site. I mean, they are so bad now.
Some postulate that Cerrone does it on purpose to get attention.
I doubt that.
It’s just at the point where there are so many intelligent people who visit the site, that a large percentage of his readers have figured him out as the 4th-rate, semi-literate, totally unknowledgeable, lazy, utter mediocrity that he is. Mocking him has become sport; it’s a parlor game. There are so many running jokes it is hard to keep track of them all.
It’s EVERYTHING–facts, history, the English language, punctuation, repetition, gullibility. He writes like a D student 10th grader.
He has posted more than once recently that the Mets were discussing Roy Oswalt as CLOSER for 2013. This is beyond ridiculous and cannot be true.
Cerrone sucks at a level which every Met fan should be offended by. Met fans deserve better than that joke for their “official” blog/blogger.
And he brings it on himself with his incredibly comical parody of a title of “Executive Editor.”
Really, you cannot make sh*t up as funny as Cerrone’s daily idiocy.
SaltyGary
2/4/2013-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
Keith Law’s annual farm system ratings. If I remember correctly he was ranked the Mets in the mid-20′s the last two years.
14. New York Mets
The R.A. Dickey trade really boosted their system, and several Latin American arms had strong years in 2012 to bolster the system’s total value. First-rounder Garin Cecchini could move quickly for a prep kid, as he’s pretty advanced for a teenager and doesn’t have much blocking him at shortstop.
Prismo
2/4/2013-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Tejada is offended.
TRS86
2/4/2013-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
LOL, I think they mean in the system itself. In fact I couldn’t name any SS above A ball.
wanny
2/4/2013-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
tovar is the one that should be offended. if tovar is at aaa and cecchini is at low a, who of note is between?
law is right.
Stick
2/4/2013-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
tejada should live in a state of perpetual fear of being replaced. Along with Murphy, they are OK players that could get kicked to the curb quickly if a high-end guy came along to displace them.
SaltyGary
2/4/2013-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
Oh and FYI: Miami 16, Atlanta 20, Wash 21, Phili 27
srt
2/4/2013-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
So he’s got the Mets the highest ranking system in the NL east. Nice…
Philly is in trouble. All their speculated good talent is at the lower levels. Couple that with almost at the luxury tax and an aging team and finally, finally….I’m predicting their reign at the top is over for now.
Prismo
2/4/2013-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
For the Marlins to only be 16 after trading their entire team away…yikes.
Stick
2/4/2013-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
yesterday and today the Philly paper did a ranking of the farm (1-25). #1 was Biddle (a HS lefty drafted in 2011 I think) from A ball, and then a whole lotta mediocrity. Even the guys at the lower levels ont eh list did not look like anything special.
I know sometimes Eh prospects come up to be solid players, but it was really easy to see how they were ranked so low.
and keep in mind, they had a fire sale last year in July (moving Pence, Vicky and Blanton) with little to show for that.
Bryan
2/4/2013-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
You could argue it’s even higher, possibly top 10 on the strength of Wheeler and d’Arnaud alone. Who else has a pitcher/catcher combo both so highly rated?
As for shortstops, it’s really only Phillip Evans and Matt Reynolds in the levels between Cecchini and Tovar, and Reynolds likely ends up a utility guy and Evans projects more as a 2B long term. Plus, we’re looking at bare minimum three years, probably longer, until Cecchini is a factor, so there’s a lot left to play out with regards to Tejada, Tovar, and free agency at SS.
Stick
2/4/2013-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
will be interesting though when they graduate some guys this year. And that is what bugs me about these rankings (or at least, how people interpret them).
they discount the guys that are new to the majors, so still cheap/LT control guys. Which IMO is really an extension of the system.
I wonder what kind of results you would get if you re-ranked, but included guys promoted with no more than 1 year of service time?
Prismo
2/4/2013-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
I agree Bryan, 14 actually seems relatively low given some of our talent. Guy like Wheeler, D’Arnaud, Syndengaard, Flored, Nimmo, Cecchini and all our other random pitching prospects. I think it’s a pretty great system at the moment. Obviously it will appear much weaker after this season once those first 2 are called up.
Bryan
2/4/2013-3:41pm at 3:41 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, without Wheeler and d’Arnaud the system will fall considerably next year, but there’s a lot of pitchers that will have graduated or be ready to graduate from a-ball by the end of 2013 that will lead the system: Syndergaard, Fulmer, Tapia, Montero, etc.
srt
2/4/2013-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
OT: looks like Marlins are signing Valverde.
Fine with me. I’d rather have Lyons. Hope we hear on the deal being finalized soon.
TX
2/4/2013-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
Agreed
SaltyGary
2/4/2013-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Yea Valverde is in break down mode may too much mileage on his ARM. Lyon isn’t all that great eith, he has a career average of giving up a hit per inning.
TRS86
2/4/2013-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
While true for his career he has averaged more hits than innings, that is mostly due to some really bad years early in his career.
Since 2009 it’s 207 hits in 231 innings. Still not great but lower for sure.
SaltyGary
2/4/2013-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
In 11 seasons six years he averaged over 1 hit per inning and 4 other season’s his is percentage points below that average. He gives up a ton of hits, it’s just what he does. Last year along he only gave up 20 BB in over 60 innings and still had a whip of 1.25 and has a career whip of 1.4
This is the type of player to give fans angina.
greggofboken
2/4/2013-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t share the same concern here. In 5 of his last 7 seasons, his WHIP has been below the league average, and his home runs/9 also seems consistently above average. He seems fairly consistent in a spot riddled with inconsistency.
greggofboken
2/4/2013-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
Editors note: To clarify — he gives up fewer home runs than the league average.
SaltyGary
2/4/2013-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
Nope. For all pitchers that pitched a minimum of 40 innings (he pitched 61) he ranked #147 in WHIP. Seeing he only walked 20 people too, this is very high. Not a good idea to add a high contact reliever to team with a defensively inept outfield.
Put the min innings pitched to 60 and he is #113 in WHIP.
Prismo
2/4/2013-2:48pm at 2:48 pm (UTC -4)
Gimme a little context bubby!
WHIP Ranking 40 innings minimum: 85 out of 167
WHIP Ranking 60 innings minimum: 52 out of 89
So pretty middle of the road, WHIP-wise.
greggofboken
2/4/2013-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
Gary….I may be missing something. I’m not able to replicate what you’re seeing on BR. The MLB average WHIP last year was 1.309. Lyon’s MLB totals show as 1.246 (I used MLB’s since he split his time last year.) Am I missing something?
Prismo
2/4/2013-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
[I should specify I only used relievers, no starters in the rankings I listed]
greggofboken
2/4/2013-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
(To your point, the average MLB WHIP for relievers was 1.297, starters 1.316.)
SaltyGary
2/4/2013-5:00pm at 5:00 pm (UTC -4)
I ran it for both starters and relievers.
srt
2/4/2013-2:09pm at 2:09 pm (UTC -4)
OT:
AA has a post up titled: 2012 Top 5 Met Pitches
(not pitchers)
Take a look at RA’s rarely thrown change-up
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2104083/Dickey-CH-Whiff-to-Jones-in-8th-Fast.gif
Dang…I’m gonna miss watching him pitch for the Mets.
TX
2/4/2013-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
The movement on his pitches are awe inspiring.
Prismo
2/4/2013-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
Not to steal any thunder from this fine list, but mlb.com posted their updated Mets top 20 prospects today.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/
1. Wheeler
2. d’Arnaud
3. Syndergaard
4. Familia
5. Flores
6. Nimmo
7. Cecchini
8. Puello
9. Havens (really?)
10. Fulmer
(etc)
Prismo
2/4/2013-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
WAIT NO WRONG LIST.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2013/#list=nym
1. d’Arnaud
2. Wheeler
3. Syndergaard
4. Nimmo
5. Familia
6. Cecchini
7. Flores
8. Montero
9. Mateo
10. Fulmer
Bryan
2/4/2013-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
Not a terribly egregious list compared to what MLB.com usually comes up with, but Mateo should not be 9, Robles should not be top 20, but other than that the top 17 or so are acceptably ranked.
kingman 26
2/4/2013-5:10pm at 5:10 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps this could be said for many teams, but below the top three, there ain’t much.
Love Montero and like Flores though.
Stickguy
2/4/2013-5:17pm at 5:17 pm (UTC -4)
that could change. They do have a few arms with some serious upside potential, that if they perform at the next level this year, will likely rocket up the charts.
That step from A+ to AA can be a big one, but if they master it, look out.
of course, every prospect doing it will be a RHP. Not expecting any position guys to crack the top 200 anytime soon, other than Flores, the man without a position!
wanny
2/4/2013-5:41pm at 5:41 pm (UTC -4)
I dont have a problem with any one on the list (I shouldnt since I am not a scout and have never seen any of these guys play), Surprised that Logan Verrett didnt find room.
Stick
2/4/2013-6:13pm at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
that is a good problem to have. Guys that you can’t believe got left off of the top 20 list!
TX
2/4/2013-6:25pm at 6:25 pm (UTC -4)
Lowrie to Oakland for Carter and some others. Something to chat about other than Bourn again and again.
wanny
2/4/2013-7:09pm at 7:09 pm (UTC -4)
I miss the Animal! (different carter, though).
Surprised the A’s are being so aggressive. My guess is that Beane doesnt lie the prospects as much as the prospects media do.
TX
2/4/2013-7:20pm at 7:20 pm (UTC -4)
Their number 4 and 11 prospects plus carter for lowrie and another. Odd move. Lowrie had career games played this past year… 97. Certainly seems like an overpay to me.
Stick
2/4/2013-8:33pm at 8:33 pm (UTC -4)
well, he must have had a reason. And since they made a movie about him and not you, I’ll assume it makes sense!
TX
2/4/2013-9:41pm at 9:41 pm (UTC -4)
They did. Anchorman. Stay classy.
Stick
2/4/2013-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
oh that was you? Cool. Can I have an autograph?
3doza33
2/5/2013-12:16am at 12:16 am (UTC -4)
Not sure how you can rank Flores so low on that list? They are going for hype over actual production and close to MLB readiness! Flores deserves the #4 rank! Familia is gonna be in relief and cechinni and nimmo have a long ways to go. Everyone forgets Flores is still only 21 years old and killed it last year while he was only 20! I can’t wait for Flores to kill it this year!! Im not happy about the mets pushing familia to the pen this year. He’s still so young and they are gonna kill his value if they really do push him to the pen!
SaltyGary
2/5/2013-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
There really isn’t any other spot for Familia. They can keep him in the minors as a starter where he will always be blocked by someone or give him MLB experience in the pen. If he over-performs then the team can look at a rotation spot next year when there will be a little more room.
I think Familia killed his own value by his inconsistent performance.
3doza33
2/5/2013-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
Familia was one of tge youngest guys in all of triple a last year. He should struggle. Give him another full year in the minors to rebound. If he has a good year then he will be a huge asset. Unless we are in tge playoff race this year there should be no reason to rush him to the MLB pen!
Bryan
2/5/2013-3:44pm at 3:44 pm (UTC -4)
I imagine the plan right now with Familia is to let him compete for a bullpen spot, and if he doesn’t make the big league club, he could go back to the AAA rotation. However, if he’s considered to be next in line for a big league bullpen spot if one opens up, then he’ll probably get work as a reliever in AAA to better prepare for the role.
3doza33
2/5/2013-7:54pm at 7:54 pm (UTC -4)
Sounds like the same mistake they made with mejia!