Thursday, April 16, 2009By Mike Steffanos
Not much time for a big post today, so here's a quick look at how some of the Mets minor league prospects closest to the majors have been faring in the early going.
Buffalo (AAA)
OF Fernando Martinez: .267/.353/.567, 1 HR, 3 RBI
In only 30 AB this season, Martinez has 4 doubles, a triple and a home run. Currently DHing, he will reportedly begin playing OF again by the weekend.
1B, OF Nick Evans: .077/.273/.192, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Evans is off to a rough 2-30 start in Buffalo.
SP Dillon Gee:0-2, 4.66 ERA, 1.55 WHIP
In his first two starts in Triple-A Gee has allowed 10 hits, including 3 HR, in 9 2/3 innings. He has struck out 9 and walked 5.
SP Jonathon Niese:0-1, 9.00 ERA, 2.71 WHIP
Also in 2 starts Niese has been roughed up somewhat, with most of the damage coming in his first start. He's allowed 13 hits and 6 walks in 7 innings of work so far.
SP Nelson Figeroa:0-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.70 WHIP
Figueroa, who is likely to take Mike Pelfrey's upcoming turn, had an excellent first start against Pawtucket, pitching a scoreless 7 inning 2-hitter.
RP Eddie Kunz:0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.79 WHIP
In 6 1/3 innings spanning 3 appearances, Kunz has allowed 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. Kunz has pitched 2 innings and 3 innings in his last couple of outings, perhaps signaling that the Mets now see him more of a middle innings guy at the major league level.
Binghamton (AA)
C Josh Thole: .316/.409/.421, 0 HR, 1 RBI
The Mets most advanced catching prospect is off to a good start through his first five games in Double-A.
SP Michael Antonini:1-0, 2.79 ERA, 1.55 WHIP
The southpaw Antonini who, like Dillon Gee, got a long look from the Mets this spring, is off to a good start two games into the season. He has 12 strikeouts and 4 walks in 9 2/3 innings.
Much farther away, of course, are the players in the two full-season Class-A leagues, St. Lucie and Savanna.
At Advanced A St. Lucie, last year's 3 top picks -- Ike Davis, Reese Havens and Brad Holt -- are playing together.
Davis, playing first base, is hitting .333/.333/.417 with 0 HR and 1 RBI in 6 games. He's still looking for his first professional home run.
Havens, playing shortstop, is hitting .261/.333/.522 with 1 HR and 3 RBI.
Starting pitcher Holt is 1-1 with an 8.38 ERA in 2 starts. Almost all of the damage was from his first start, last time out he went 6 shutout innings with 7 Ks and a walk.
Class A Savannah has two of the Mets best young prospects, SS Wilmer Flores and 3B Jefry Marte. Both are off to good starts 6 games in. Flores is hitting .320/.333/.360 with 3 RBI while Marte is hitting .308/.308/.385 with 3 RBI. Both players will turn 18 later this summer.
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Comments (4)
The guys I would love to see come up through the ranks and make significant impact are: Jefry Marte, Wilmer Flores, Pena, Gee, and Thole. I hope these, and of course others, can be solid ballplayers in the big leagues. Thanks for the report.
Posted by L.J.Phipps | April 17, 2009 2:23 PM
Mike, the amazing thing on Ike Davis is that not only hasn't a 1st Rd draft pick hit a home run in the pros, but he hasn't seemed to had a single walk last year or this. Am I correct in recollecting that his OBP was the same or lower than his batting avg last year? If so, that is a stunning combination of lack of power and lack of batting eye to date. Hopefully he turns it around quickly.
Posted by DKA | April 18, 2009 8:20 AM
Davis had 23 walks in 239 PA for Brooklyn last year, which is pretty good actually. He has no walks in 23 PA so far this year, but that's too early to read anything into it. The big thing is that Davis' value was as a potential slugger, and the complete lack of HR is certainly a huge concern.
Posted by Mike Steffanos | April 18, 2009 2:23 PM
Mike - Belated thanks for this farm report. Thole was the kid who impressed me the most when I saw them in March. His hitting discipline is very similar to Murphy's. I wouldn't be surprised to see him stick with the big club by this time next year.
Posted by NostraDennis | April 22, 2009 5:25 PM