The system now has plenty of left-handed pitching prospects due to stockpiling in the 2001 and 2002 drafts, and International free agent signings. So, the Mets have decent balance.
Long Season Leagues
Peterson, Aaron Heilman (RHP), Scott Kazmir (LHP), Bob Keppel (RHP) and Patrick Strange (RHP) represent the cream of the crop. The long season leagues include a number of prospects with similar upsides yet to emerge such as Adam Elliott (RHP), Luz Portobanco (RHP), Lenny DiNardo (LHP) and Neal Musser (LHP). DiNardo has been working hard to build himself up and he should have a breakthrough season in 2003. Miguel Pinango (RHP) and Kevin Deaton (RHP) are two good prospects that should make their long season debut in 2003. Phil Seibel (LHP), despite not having overpowering stuff, has a repertoire that works nicely together. And, he might be an overachiever. Chad Bowen (RHP) who has been plagued with injuries in 2001 and 2002 could be a sleeper.
Short Season Leagues
The Mets lack returning short-season pitchers who would be considered stud prospects. Nonetheless, several arms exist that possess good potential including Jason Weintraub (LHP), Ryan Danly (LHP), Celso Rondon (RHP), Ivan Maldanado (RHP), Edgar Alfonso (LHP), and Kelvin Garay (LHP). The Mets’ Latin teams should also provide 5-6 pitching prospects. The best appear to be Yusemeiro Petit (RHP), Jose Sanchez (RHP), and Heriberto Peralta (LHP). Chris Munn (RHP) is the best potential draft and follow signee. He’s 6’4”, and weighs 175 lbs. Munn possesses a good arm and has lots of projectability. Good fastball and change up in a repetoire that already includes a slider that has bite and a sweeping curve. He started pitching in the summer 2001 so he’s short on experience. He’s attending Manatee CC. DeWayne Carver (RHP) is another possible draft and follow pitcher to keep an eye on. Great athlete was signed to play quarterback by Louisville Univ. He’s attending Daytona Beach CC.
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Capital
City Bombers
- possess good depth. The likely starters will be
Pinango, Deaton, Elliot and Kazmir. The remainder will
be competing for the last slot with pitchers from St.
Lucie. During the season, Kazmir, Elliot and Pinango
might get promoted to St. Lucie opening opportunities
later in the season for others. |
Player
(Repertoire) |
Age |
Stats
(W-L, ERA, IP) |
Comments |
|
Yunior
Cabrera* (4-FB, CB, CU) |
22 |
(4-4, 2.42, 48) |
Plagued by shoulder
pain in 2002. Caught non-fatal DR aging-itis disease. Needs
to start to build arm strength, but future is likely to be
in the bullpen. Outstanding CB will dominate left-handed
hitters. Had nice ratio (47 K/17 BB). |
|
Jason
Scobie (2-FB, CB, SL, CU) |
24 |
(4-4, 2.77, 76) |
Good repertoire, but
lack of durability so a future RP. Great CB and SL
combination. 2-FB has good sink. Adding 4-FB might help.
Ground ball pitcher allowed only 2 HR. Good ratio (67 K/24
BB). |
|
Miguel
Pinango (4-FB, 2-FB, CB, SL, CU) |
20 |
(2-7, 3.59, 80) |
Great command.
Unbelievable ratio (64 K/14 BB). Pitched well in Winter
League (3-4, 2.43, 56) with good ratio (28 K/4 BB). GB
pitcher allowing only 2 HR. Strike throwing machine. Best
pitches are low 90s FB and CU. Has some projectibility. |
|
Kevin
Deaton (4-FB, CB, CU) |
21 |
(7-1, 3.07, 82) |
Good FB. Has good
movement and tops off at 93-94 mph. Complemented nicely with
CB and CU. Occasionally, drops arm angle. Former offensive
lineman still sculpting body to a pitchers body. Excellent
ratio (93 K/ 18 BB). |
|
Adam
Elliot (4-FB, CB, SL, CU) |
19 |
(2-3, 3.69, 54) |
Great stuff, but needs
to improve command. Strong body with limited projectibility.
Currently FB sits in 87-90 mph range topping off at 93 mph.
Won't gain more than 2-3 mph. Movement similar to
Peterson's. CB is best pitch complemented with a nasty SL.
CU is developing. Allowed 7 HR. Decent ratio (51 K/16 BB).
Will need to cut down on BB. |
|
Tanner
Osberg (4-FB, CB, CU) |
20 |
(4-3, 2.20, 49) |
Canadian is still
developing. Hs some potential. Whether a RP or SP not
determined but needs to get some starts to develop. Good
ratio (37 K/11 BB). |
|
Scott
Kazmir* (4-FB, CB, SL, CU) |
19 |
(0-1, 1.50, 18) |
The top pitching
prospect. Working hard with weights and running program to
gain durability. Durability will dictate whether he's a SP.
Adding a CU to what might already be a dominating
repertoire. Dominant ratio (34 K/7 BB) in limited IP. |
|
Chad
Bowen (4-FB, CB, SL, CU) |
20 |
(2-4, 3.22, 50) |
Since having a solid
start in 2000 when rated as the Appalachian Leagues' #14
prospect, Bowen has been plagued by injuries. Good ratio (41
K/16 BB). |
|
Brooklyn
Cyclones
- also expect June 2003 players drafted out of college
to be on the roster. Again the Mets have good depth.
And, promotions to Columbia might occur for 1 of these
starters before the season ends. There are no sure fire
stud pitchers among this group but several have
excellent upside. |
Player
(Repertoire) |
Age |
Stats
(W-L, ERA, IP) |
Comments |
|
Ryan
Danly* (4-FB, CB, CU) |
21 |
(2-3, 4.79, 57) |
Low 90s FB with CB
that has great potential. 6'7" frame has great
projectibility. Poor ratio (29 K/17 BB). Probably, a future
RP. Potential power pitcher. |
|
Matthew Lindstrom (4-FB, CB, CU) |
23 |
(0-6, 4.84, 48) |
Excellent FB and CB
combo. Very inexperienced and raw. Lacked coaching. Lost
time on Mormon mission. Might eventually be a closer
prospect. Poor ratios (39 K/21 BB). |
|
Edgar
Alfonzo* |
18 |
(0-0, 1.13, 8) |
Son of Mets minor
league coach Edgar Alfonzo. Signed late so he didn't pitch a
lot in 2002. |
|
Maikel
De Leon |
23 |
(0-2, 5.40, 23) |
Another who suffered
from DR aging-itis. Prospect status DOA. Great command. |
|
Celso
Rondon (4-FB, CB, CU) |
18 |
(2-1, 6.37, 35) |
Good FB. |
|
Jason
Weintraub (4-FB, SL, CU) |
20 |
(1-6, 5.91, 46) |
Good FB and CU. FB
sits at 87-89 mph occasionally touches 93-94 mph. Has
growing 6'4" frame and strong legs provide great
projectibility but he needs to begin that development. Could
add 5-8 mph to FB (maybe more.) Needs to develop secondary
pitches. Good ratio (37 K/ 14 BB). |
|
Rafael
Castro (4-FB, CB, CU) |
22 |
(3-5, 4.80, 54) |
Struggled in his debut
at Kingsport. Was a solid performer for the DSL team in
2001. Adequate ratio (40 K/22 BB). |
|
Ivan
Maldanado (4-FB, CB, CU) |
22 |
(0-0, 3.86, 7) |
Suffered from
mononucleosis in 2002. Has 88-90 mph 4-FB with good CU. Good
control. |
|
Kingsport
Mets
- The roster will be made up of draftees, draft and
follows and Latin summer league players. The list
includes pitchers from the Latin Summer Leagues. The
Mets have tremendous depth of talent to bring over from
their DSL teams to start. I am just listing the most
likely to be brought over. The actual pitchers brought
over won't be known until May. |
Player
(Repertoire) |
Age |
Stats
(W-L, ERA, IP) |
Comments |
|
Kelvin
Garay* (4-FB, CB, CU) |
18 |
(0-0, 6.48, 8) |
Big strong and very
young kid. Throws low 90s FB with occasional exceptional
movement sinking or runs in on left-handed hitters. CB and
CU have promise. Has excellent potential. |
|
Elvis
Camilo |
- |
(1-3, 3.92, 64) |
Great command (61 K/10
BB). Solid 2nd season with DSL Mets. |
|
Ramon
Cruz |
- |
(6-4, 2.95, 76) |
So-so command (56 K/29
BB). Didn't improve much over solid season in 2001. |
|
Heriberto Peralta* |
- |
(7-1, 1.78, 61) |
Tied for lead in wins,
and finished 3rd in ERA in Santo Domingo West Division of
the DSL. DSL Mets best first-year player. Good command (54
K/22 BB). |
|
Amauris Rosario* |
- |
(3-2, 2.37, 57) |
Finished 2nd in Ks.
Great command (76 K/18 BB). |
|
Aristides Almenar |
19 |
(3-4, 3.05, 56) |
Not quite as good in
his 2nd season. Decent command (40 K/22 K). He's a solid
ground ball pitcher (77 GB/38 FO). |
|
Jose
Sanchez |
18 |
(2-3, 2.37, 57) |
Excellent first
season. Great command (60 K/8 BB). |
|
Yusemeiro Petit (4-FB, CB, CU) |
18 |
(3-5, 2.43, 56) |
Excellent first
season. Good command (62 K/16 BB). |
· * left-handed pitcher
· & composite stats from 2 or more teams.
· age as of 4/3/03.
· 4-FB – 4-seam fastball
· 2-FB – 2-seam fastball
· ct-FB – cut fastball
· spl FB – split-fingered fastball
· CB – curve
· K-CB – knuckle curve
· SL – slider
· sl SL – slurvy slider
· ct SL – cut slider
· CU – change up.
· C-CU – circle change up.
· ct-CU – cut change up.
· GB ground ball outs.
· FO fly ball outs.
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