Thursday, August 16, 2012

2012 Mets Prospect Report: Week 19 (8/9 - 8/15)

Top Pitching Prospect of the Week

Jacob DeGrom, SP (A+) - 7.0 IP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K

DeGrom (2010, 9th round) has come out of nowhere to put himself squarely on the Mets prospect map. Essentially found money, DeGrom had elbow issues shortly after signing for $95K and wound up having Tommy John surgery, the recovery costing him his entire 2011 season. But man has he come back strong. He went 6-3 in 15 starts for A-ball Savannah, posting a 2.51 ERA in 89.2 innings, striking out 78 against just 14 walks and 77 hits. If the hard-throwing righty's first start following his promotion to Advanced A St. Lucie is any indication, he hasn't missed a beat. He'll probably start 2013 in the St. Lucie rotation, but given his age (he turned 24 in June), they could push him to AA Binghamton. Either way, DeGrom is another name to know and an arm to watch.

Honorable Mention:

Friday, August 10, 2012

2012 Mets Prospect Report: Week 18 (8/2 - 8/8)

Top Pitching Prospect of the Week

Tyler Pill, SP (A+) - 7.2 IP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K

Pill (2011, 4th round) has quietly put together a solid 2012 campaign. Splitting time between the Mets' two full season A-ball affiliates, Pill has struck out 105 while walking 22 and giving up 109 hits in 113 innings en route to a 2.31 ERA and a 1.159 WHIP. His strikeout rate has dipped a bit and his walk rate has risen slighty with his move up to Advanced A, but weeks like this past one will do plenty to fix that. The 22-year-old righty will finish out the year with a few more starts in the Florida State League and then start the 2013 season as a member of the starting rotation in either AA Binghamton or back in Advanced A St. Lucie.

Honorable Mention:

Friday, August 3, 2012

2012 Mets Prospect Report: Week 17 (7/26 - 8/1)

Top Pitching Prospect of the Week

Rafael Montero, SP (A+) - 6.0 IP, 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 14 K

A lot of people had Montero (2011, international) as a sleeper prospect coming into 2012, based on his strong showing across 4 levels of short season ball last year. Montero, who signed with the Mets out of the Dominican Republic for $80,000 in January of 2011, had been under the radar by virtue of being 3-4 years older than the typical international prospect. But having made it all the way to Advanced A ball and succeeding there in his second pro year, he's a secret no more. This week, 14 of the 18 outs he recorded came via the strikeout, and along with all those punchouts Montero issued no free passes. On the season, the 21-year-old righty has 105 Ks against just 16 walks in 114.1 innings between Savannah and St. Lucie, the Mets' two full season A-ball affiliates. He's currently tied for the organizational lead with 10 wins, and sports a sterling 2.52 ERA and 0.980 WHIP. His is a name to remember, because this winter, you'll be seeing it on a lot of Mets prospect Top 10 lists.

Honorable Mention: