We’ve made it to the top 20 of the official RDM prospect list, meaning after getting through 30 guys that probably won’t amount to much, today we’ll see a few guys that are pretty close to the big leagues with prospects 16-20. Let’s take a look:
20. Juan Lagares, OF – In 2012, Lagares couldn’t quite replicate the avalanche of power he hit with in 2011, but he remains an athletic and somewhat toolsy player that has a chance to be a useful utility player. He played mostly centerfield last year and handled the position well, which is good because without a lot of power he’s going to have to play centerfield to get to the big leagues. This will be his second season on the 40-man roster and he’ll finally get a taste of AAA in 2013, so he’s getting close, and if all the chips fall right, he may be a guy that could platoon with a left-handed centerfielder for the Mets one day.
19. Colin McHugh, RP – McHugh made his big league debut last September, and despite a 0-4 record and an ERA over 7, he showed some promise. He has a good repertoire of average pitches, including a real nice curve, and he knows how to sequence them. The Mets will give him some more seasoning in AAA this year, but he’s a big-league pitcher, even if it means a move to the bullpen, where he could be a rather useful swingman capable of pitching multiple innings and making the occasional start when needed.
18. Kevin Plawecki, C – The Mets stretched a little to draft Plawecki where they did, but they needed a catcher, and so far so good. Plawecki was already calling games in college, which is rare, so he’s mentally capable of handling a staff and physically he has the tools to be an average defensive catcher. With the bat, he led Brooklyn in homers with 7 and also drew more walks (25) than strikeouts (24). It can be tough to gauge college players the year they were drafted, but at this point there’s reason to believe Plawecki could become a big league starter, and even more reason to think he’ll be at least a back up.
17. Steven Matz, LP – In a lot of ways ranking Matz this high goes against my philosophy that health matters, and matters a lot, but Matz was just so impressive in the little time he had in 2012 (just 6 starts for Kingsport). In the only 29 innings of his professional career Matz has 34 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.55. The most likely scenario is that Matz is never able to stay healthy long enough to do anything substantial, but 2013 will be another chance for him to stay healthy, and if he can, he’s a very intriguing prospect.
16. Cory Mazzoni, RP – Mazzoni gets ranked 16th because in 2012 he got a lot closer to the big leagues, but his ceiling went down considerably. With his lack of height, Mazzoni was always a long shot to be an MLB starter, but the way his strikeout rate fell has made him look more like a middle reliever than a potential 7th or 8th inning guy. After being drafted in 2011, Mazzoni has risen quickly and may even be making a case for a big league promotion at some point in 2013, but his stuff is nothing to get too excited about and will keep him from making an impact in the majors.
17 comments
Stickguy
2/12/2013-8:33am at 8:33 am (UTC -4)
if he has a strong 1st half, Lagares could be up mid-season. hell, with this OF, anyone that has an OK start could be up mid-season!
Matz, easily the most intriguing name on the list IMO. Not really worried about him never being healthy, since he really just had 1 injury, requiring TJ, and while it took a bit of time to get back, he finally seems recovered, and plenty of guys go on to have long careers after that.
Expect him to rise quickly this year to find his level, and at least pitch at PSL
srt
2/12/2013-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
We certainly have no shortage of platoon type OFs.
Stick
2/12/2013-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
I actually am a platoon fan, in many cases.
I would rather see a well-crafted platoon than shoving a no-future, not great overall guy (especially one with big splits) in just to say you have a starter.
so, if you have a legit everyday guy, fine. or, if you are breaking in a prospect with a big future, great. But if you are making-do or using ST options, then platoons make a ton of sense.
TRS86
2/12/2013-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
I agree. It’s very possible that Kirk and Cowgill and then Baxter and Brown produce at least replacement level results.
greggofboken
2/12/2013-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
True. But that’s a very low bar. The Hippocratic oath approach to roster population: First, do no harm.
TRS86
2/12/2013-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
It is a very low bar but considering the OF last year it would be a huge step up.
greggofboken
2/12/2013-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
I’m not so certain. The cumulative WAR of last year’s outfield was 0 for the top 5 spots. Duda was -1.4 all by his lonesome.
If this year’s version, sans Duda, bring replacement level skills, unless Duda picks it up, we’ll be worse.
TRS86
2/12/2013-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Eh, while WAR isn’t my favorite I think Duda moving to LF will help him tremendously and if he struggles as bad as last he won’t be in the OF anyway, at least not for the MLB team. The other guys I think will be fine.
srt
2/12/2013-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
I don’t necessarily disagree, but I do object to all 3 OF positions being a platoon.
Is that going to necessitate we go with one less arm in the BP? ‘Cause I’m no fan of that.
Stick
2/12/2013-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
will still be IMO the 5 man rotation I described months ago.
Unless terry (and this should be an immediate firable offense) really does stick Turner out there.
assuming they abandon that plan in ST, it will be the 5 amigos in a rotation, with 1 of the lefties plenty every day, but not always the same one. Mostly Duda I would guess to start, but the others will get a chance to start vs. some LHP, until they find one that is working.
Cowpie and Brown start vs. all the LHP, Pie in CF and Brown on either corner.
one of the non-starting guys can also switch into LF for late game defensive duties to replace Duda. Until he gets traded to the AL.
srt
2/12/2013-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
I keep forgetting about Turner. It’s probably on purpose.
I guess we’re assuming Turner is a lock for the 25 man roster? ‘Cause he’s a RH bat? Bah……
TRS86
2/12/2013-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think Duda is going to be platooned. I think he will get every chance to prove he is a full-time player.
TRS86
2/12/2013-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
I could see Turner being traded. I also think that Brown will make the team and could even backup 1B some for Ike.
Stick
2/12/2013-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
then that takes care of the problem. it will just be a classic terry non-=platoon, where the starter gets plenty of rest vs. same handed pitching.
but, for the first couple of months, NP to see what you have with a Duda in LF, kirk/pie CF platoon and baxter/brown RF platoon.
but, still don’t count out the dark horse that Spin comes into camp and shows that the winter league was no fluke, and earn himself a job in CF or RF (at least as the lefty half of it)
And SRT, Turner seems to be tenured at this point, and no, I don’t know why. He is not really all that good, certainly not someone that should have a spot guaranteed.
Stick
2/12/2013-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
right now, Brown almost has to be a lock unless he is horrific in ST. they have only 2 RH OF bats, and he is the only guy with actually HR power.
srt
2/12/2013-10:38am at 10:38 am (UTC -4)
trs…wasn’t exactly implying Duda will start out as part of a platoon. But I’m willing to bet his defense might always lead to a late inning defensive replacement – if we’ve got a lead.
TRS86
2/12/2013-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
I would hope so SRT. He shouldn’t be out there but that being said he should be the only guy on the team that we have to do that for, maybe Murphy.