Overview of Catcher Prospects

Probably, outside of starting pitching, catching represents the positional strength of the system. Justin Huber is the obvious jewel among the catching prospects. Huber has few weaknesses with the bat and only needs to substantially improve his throwing. Otherwise, he looks like a top prospect. He's already demonstrated solid power potential and his body has room to fill out. Jason Phillips is major league ready but blocked by Vance Wilson and Mike Piazza.

Michael Jacobs may play mostly 1B, but his value is his lefty bat that projects to 20 HR plus power. John Wilson, Brett Kay and Jimmy Anderson possess the tools that may allow them to emerge as quality prospects.

Norfolk Tides - Josh Pressley (1B) might begin at Norfolk platooning at 1B and DH or at Binghamton.
Player (Position)	Age	Stats (BA, HR, RBI)	Comments
Jason Phillips (C)	26	(.282, 13, 65)	Blocked by Vance Wilson and Piazza. Definitely MLB ready projects to starting or platoon player. Hit well with Mets in limited AB. (.368, 1, 3).
Joe Depastino (C)	29	(.298, 5, 27)	Career minor leaguer.
Binghamton Mets - John Wilson should get his chance to shine without a platoon logjam at Binghamton.
Player (Position)	Age	Stats (BA, HR, RBI)	Comments
Virgil Chevalier (3B, C)	29	(.297, 8, 53)&	Career minor leaguer.
John Wilson (C)	23	(.240, 6, 22)	Has tools might be a late bloomer. Got off to a horrendous start and suffered from the 3-catcher platoon with Jacobs and Kay. Finished strong when he had consistent AB. Showed power despite only 175 AB. Good plate discipline.
St. Lucie Mets - the Mets generally carry more than 25 players on this roster earlier because their extended spring training camps are held here, so the extra players can get additional work at the camp.
Player (Position)	Age	Stats (BA, HR, RBI)	Comments
Justin Huber (C)	20	(.286, 14, 93)	Top prospect. Few weaknesses offensively. His body is projectible. Potentially, a 25 HR plus type hitter with decent BA and good OBP.
Michael Jacobs* (C/1B)	22	(.251, 11, 64)	Potential nice lefty hitting bench player. Likely to begin season at 1B/DH. Helps alleviate log jam at C position.
Joseph Hietpas (C)	23	(.252, 2, 29)&	Has performed well in limited opportunities. Spent much of the season as Huber's caddy.
Capital City Bombers - one of the catchers competing for slot at Brooklyn likely to end up here by June if not sooner.
Player (Position)	Age	Stats (BA, HR, RBI)	Comments
Brett Kay (C)	23	(.225, 7, 27)	Struggled at St. Lucie after a great April, hampered by the 3-catcher platoon at St. Lucie in 2002. Has good tools, and remains a prospect.
Francisco Sosa (C)	24	-	Speedy catcher is a career minor leaguer.
Brooklyn Cyclones - also expect June 2003 players drafted out of college to be on the roster. Anderson and Wilson should compete for starting job. But, a platoon is likely with Beuerlein playing multiple positions.
Player (Repertoire)	Age	Stats (W-L, ERA, IP)	Comments
Jimmy Anderson (C)	21	(.217, 0, 6)	A toolsy  player who can catch and throw but is raw with the bat.
Brandon Wilson (C)	20	(.252, 2, 12)	Has been plagued by a degenerative shoulder condition that has been aided by medicines. Has power, but remains very raw. At this stage, he's a marginal prospect with a lot of work ahead of him.
Tyler Beuerlein# (C/1B/OF)	23	(.199, 9, 20)	Has had a tough time adjusting after playing Division III baseball. Also, has been hampered by sore arm.
Javier Ochoa	24	(.239, 2, 11)	Career minor leaguer.
Kingsport Mets - the roster will be made up of draftees, draft and follows and Latin summer league players. The list includes players from the Latin Summer Leagues.
Player (Repertoire)	Age	Stats (W-L, ERA, IP)	Comments
Zachary Clements	22	(.200, 0, 3)	Raw catcher who played for Division II team. The Mets might eventually convert him to the OF. He has some power and is athletic.
Danilo Reynoso	20	(.179, 0, 3)	Product of Mets DSL team has had limited opportunities in both 2001 and 2002.
Yunir Garcia	20	(.233, 3, 15)	Demonstrated outstanding plate discipline (17 K/27 BB) and more power in 90 AB than anticipated based upon VSL performance in 2001.

· * left-handed hitter
· # switch hitter
· & summary stats from 2 or more teams.
· age as of 4/3/03.

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