Mets Minor League Report 4-4-07: Meet Your Full Season Teams
Toby Hyde
Three out of the Mets four full-season affiliates made announcements about their Opening Day Rosters Tuesday. I’ve listed each player’s name, their opening day age, and some of the teams they played for last year. At the higher levels, where guys played for other organizations, that’s noted in the parentheses.
1. New Orleans Roster
2. Binghamton Roster
3. St. Lucie
4. Savannah Roster
1. New Orleans Roster
Starting Pitchers:
RHP Philip Humber – 24 – MLB-Mets, AA – Binghamton, A+ - St. Lucie
LHP Jason Vargas – 24 – MLB-Marlins, AAA – Albuquerque (Marlins)
RHP Jorge Sosa – 29 – MLB-Braves, Cardinals
RHP Chan Ho Park – 33 – MLB – Padres, Mariners
LHP Adam Bostick – 24 – AAA Albuquerque (Marlins), AA- Carolina (Marlins)
The first four, in that order, are the scheduled starters for the Zephyrs’ first series at Nashville. I’d guess Bostick will be the fifth starter.
Relief Pitchers
RHP Jon Adkins -29 – MLB-Padres, AAA-Portland (Padres)
LHP Willie Collazo – 27 –AAA- Norfolk, AA-Binghamton
RHP Ivan Maldonado – 26 –AA-Binghamton
LHP Blake McGinley (DL) – 29 – AAA-Norfolk
RHP Clint Nageotte – 26 –MLB-Mariners, AAA-Tacoma (Mariners)
RHP Jose Santiago – 32 – Tabasco
RHP Steve Schmoll – 27 – AAA-Norfolk
RHP Lino Urdaneta – 27 – AA-Binghamton
I’m not positive who the Zephyrs fifth starter will be, but if I had to guess it would be LHP Adam Bostick who the Mets acquired with Vargas for Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom last November. Bostick was 8-7 with a 3.52 ERA in 22 starts in the AA Southern League last year.
One very intriguing arm on this club belongs to former top prospect Clint Nageotte. Nageotte, originally a fifth round pick of the Mariners in 1999 put together a very impressive first four minor league seasons. In 2002 in the Cal League he led all of minor league baseball with 214 strikeouts in 165 IP and then turned around the next year and led the AA Texas League in strikeouts with 157.
However, things have not come so easily since 2004 when he fought a lower back strain. In his first exposure to AAA with Tacoma, he struck out 63 in 81 IP, the first time he’d struck out less than a batter an inning, and when the Mariners pushed him to the Majors he was hit hard: 1-6, 7.36 in 37. Nonetheless, Baseball America was still optimistic, and ranked Nageotte as the Mariners fourth best prospect heading into 2005, although it expressed concern that his fastball had lost velocity and his slider bite in the big leagues while his changeup hadn’t progressed enough. In 2005, the Mariners made Nageotte a reliever and he accumulated just 41 IP, although his strikeout rate bounced back to a shade over 1 in 34 AAA innings.
So following that minor success in 05, (BA ranked him as the Mariners’ #9 prospect) Seattle moved him back to the Tacoma rotation for 2006 where he struggled toa a 7-7 mark with a 5.74 ERA in 19 starts. His strikeout rate plummeted to 51 in 89.1 IP and he walked 53! At one time, he threw 95 and had a devasting slider. Here’s to hoping that comes back.
Catchers
Sandy Alomar – 40 – MLB – Dodgers and White Sox
Robinson Cancel (DL) – 30 – Edinburgh (Independent)
Mike DiFelice – 37 – AA Binghamton
Yes, those are their actual ages.
Infielders
Jason Alfaro – 29 – AAA – Indianapolis (Pirates) and Buffalo (Indians)
Ruben Gotay – 24 – AAA – Omaha (Royals) and Norfolk
Anderson Hernandez – 24 – MLB – Mets, AAA – Norfolk
Fernando Tatis – 32 – MLB –Baltimore, AAA Ottowa (Orioles)
Andy Tracy – 33 – Ottawa (Orioles)
I believe Michel Abreu is still having visa problems, which explains why he’s not on the roster.
Alfaro played for the Zephyrs in 2003 and 2004 while a member of the Houston Astros organization. In 2004 Alfaro played in 126 games for the Zephyrs, batting .325 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI. Alfaro's 151 hits that year ranks him 5th all-time in Zephyrs history for hits in a single season.
Outfielders
Chip Ambres – 27 – AAA Omaha (Royals)
Jesus Feliciano – AA Harrisburg (Nationals)
Carlos Gomez – AA Binghamton (Mets)
Ben Johnson – MLB Padres, AAA Portland (Padres)
Rickey Ledee – 32 – MLB, Dodgers, Mets, AAA Norfolk
Ben Johnson is trying to play his way back into the Mets crowded outfield situation at Shea, while Carlos Gomez is trying to make it even more crowded by building on his big second half of 2006.
2. AA Binghamton Roster
Starting Pitchers
RHP Kevin Mulvey – 21 –AA-Binghamton
RHP Jose Sanchez – 22—A+-St. Lucie
RHP Salvador (Sal) Aguilar – 25 – A+-St. Lucie
RHP Marcos Carvajal – 22 –AA Montgomery (Devil Rays)
RHP Michael Devaney –24—AA-Binghamton
Carvajal hasn’t started a game in the minors since 2002. In 39 relief appearances as a Montgomery Biscuit last year he was 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA. He fanned 69 and walked 39 in 72.1 IP.
Relief Pitchers
LHP Ryan Cullen – 27 – AA-Binghamton
RHP Tim McNab – 26 – AAA-Norfolk
LHP Ricardo Morales – 23 –AA Harisburg (Nationals)
RHP Carlos Muniz –26—A+ St. Lucie
RHP Brandon Nall –25 – AA-Binghamton
RHP Robert Paulk –26—AAA-Norfolk
RHP Marcelo Perez –26—A+ St. Lucie
Catchers
Mike Nickeas – 24 – AA-Binghamton
Jose Reyes – 24 – MLB Chicago Cubs
Nickeas was the return for sending Victor Diaz to the Rangers.
Infielders
Wilson Batista – 26 – AA-Binghamton
Mike Carp – 20 – A+-St. Lucie
Jose Coronado – 20 –A+-St. Lucie
J.E. Cruz – 25 – A+-St. Lucie
Brett Harper – 25 – AA-Binghamton
Mark Kiger – 26 – MLB –A’s, AA-Midland (A’s)
Corey Ragsdale – 24 – AA-Binghamton
All kinds of interesting questions among these infielders. How will Mike Carp follow up a breakout 2006 and an impressive 2007 MLB spring training? Will Jose Coronado start hitting to make himself a big-time prospect? Will Brett Harper stay healthy and get his career going again? What can Mark Kiger do for an encore? Kiger, who made his MLB debut for the depleted A’s in the playoffs became the first player of the modern era to make his MLB debut in the playoffs. Will Corey Ragsdale put his tools together and make some contact?
Outfielders
Ambiorix Concepcion (DL) – 23 – AA-Binghamton
Nic Jackson – 27 – AA- West Tennessee (Cubs)
Fernando Martinez – 18 – A+-St. Lucie, A-Hagerstown
Miguel Negron – 24 – AA-West Tennessee (Cubs)
Caleb Stewart – 24 – A+-St. Lucie
Don’t be alarmed if Fernando Martinez starts a little slowly while adjusting to AA. I’m more interested in seeing him stay healthy for a full season and kick the “injury-prone” thing.
3. St. Lucie
Although St. Lucie was the only team not to release their roster via email or website Tuesday, one can fill out the roster by filling in the blanks from the rest of the system.
The rotations should include Mike Pelfrey (for two weeks), Jon Niese, Deolis Guerra, Eric Brown and Bobby Parnell. That’s good stuff.
Interesting infielders include Emmanuel Garcia and Nick Evans while Dustin Martin and Sean Henry should be in the outfield. Speedster Corey Coles had a huge year .341/.407.421 last year, but is coming off shoulder surgery and isn’t listed on any other rosters.
4. Savannah Sand Gnats
Pitchers
RHP Josh Stinson – 18 – A-Hagerstown, R-GCL Mets
RHP Tobi Stoner – 22 – SSA-Brooklyn
LHP Todd Privett – 20 – SSA-Brooklyn, R-Kingsport Mets
RHP Matt Durkin – 24 – A-Hagerstown, R-Kingsport, R-GCL Mets
RHP Greg Mullens – 22 – SSA- Brooklyn, R-Kingsport
RHP Nelson Portillo – 21 – A-Hagerstown, SSA - Brooklyn
RHP Emary Frederick – first pro season
RHP David Koons – 23 – SSA-Brooklyn, R-GCL Mets
RHP Jeremy Mizell – 23 – SSA-Brookly
RHP Jorge Reyes – 22 – A-Hagerstown, SSA – Brooklyn
RHP Tim Stronach – 21 – R-Kingsport
LHP Julio Polanco – 20 – R-Kingsport
I didn’t see official confirmation on the rotation, but it will definitely include Stinson, Stoner and Privett. I’d think it would also include two of the following: Durkin, Mullens, Portillo, Stronach.
The Mets popped Stinson in the 37th round last year and he posted a 2.00 groundball to flyball ratio while mastering two levels. Baseball America, which ranks him #16 in the Mets system, praises his 2 seamer and sees him as a middle of the rotation starter if it all comes together for him.
Stoner, who signed for a whopping $1,000, has a four pitch arsenal– fastball, cutter, curve and change. He was very good in the New York Penn League 6-2, 2.15 ERA, but struck out 62 in 84 IP, so he wasn’t completely overpowering. BA ranks him #22.
Privett is another guy who slips into the back of the BA top 30 at #24. BA calls him a “finesse” pitcher.
Durkin, the Mets second rounder in 2004 out of San Jose State has fought injuries and threw just three innings above rookie ball last year. He had a big fastball in college, but it hasn’t been there as a pro. It’s time for him to get rolling.
Polanco has missed bats in the Domincan Summer League in 04 and 05, punching out 82 in 54.1 IP in 2005 and whiffed 44 in 53.2 IP in the Appy League last summer.
The Mets signed Emary Frederick out of Southern University this March along with his teammate Darren Clark. Frederick who was largely a reliever for the Jaguars was a first team pitcher on the BlackCollegeBaseball.com Awards last June.
Catchers
Francisco Pena – 17 – first pro season
Sean McCraw – 21 – SSA-Brooklyn, R-Kingsport
Once again, the Mets will boast one of the youngest players in the SAL thanks to Francisco Pena. Baseball America ranks Tony Pena’s son as the Mets #12 prospect, so he’s got the bloodlines.
Infielders
Juan Lagares -18 – DSL Mets
Hector Pellot – 20 – A-Hagerstown
Luis Rivera – 23 – A-Peoria (Cubs), Hagerstown, SSA-Brooklyn
Josh Thole – 20 – R-Kingsport
Gregory Veloz – 18 – DSL Mets
Leivi Ventura – 23 – A-Hagerstown
D.J. Wabick – 22 – R-Kingsport, SSA-Brooklyn
Baseball America said that in one executive’s opinion, SS Lagare’s ceiling was “similar to that of Jose Reyes.” Hello hype.
2B Veloz is another toolsy youngster who stole 28 bags last summer. Should be a very interesting keystone for the Sand Gnats this summer.
DJ Wabick crushed the Appy League to a tune of .327/.415/.455. However, he’ll turn 23 in May, so he’s already old for the level.
Outfielders
Dan Stegall – 19 – R-GCL Mets
Elvis Cruz – 23 – A-Hagerstown, SSA-Brooklyn
Brahiam Maldonado – 21 – R-Kingsport
Jonathan Sanchez –21—A-Hagerstown, SSA-Brooklyn,
Stegall, who BA ranked #29 is a toolsy OF who had signed a letter of intent to play QB and carry guns at the University of Miami. Sorry, cheap Hurricane joke. Anyway, this is another aggressive assignment considering he hit .214/324/.262 in the GCL.
Maldonado hit .281/.363/.530 with 17 2B and 7 HR in 56 games in Kingsport. He was a little old for the league. I like him as a super sleeper.