Mack’s Top Mets Prospect List – April 2008

By John Mackin Ade
Posted Sunday, April 27, 2008

Fell Off List This Month: RP Steve Clyne, SP Dillon Gee, SP Eric Brown, SP Nathan Vineyard, IF Greg Veloz, SP Jake Ruckle, SP Bobby Parnell.

1. OF Fernando Martinez/Binghamton – April hasn’t been kind to the number one prospect. Martinez started off miserably, but did manage to rebound a little by the month’s end (let’s remember how cold it is in Binghamton in April), especially this past week where he has raised his BA by 40 points (as of 4-27: .257). He’s easily the top prospect the Mets has; however, the next 2 guys aren’t far behind.

2. SP Jon Niese/Binghamton – Niese wasted very little time proving that he truly is the top pitching prospect in the system. This is the one starting pitcher in the Mets minor league system that is pitching lights out right now, something a prospect is suppose to do. Jon’s amazing April stats: 2-1, 0.71, 1.03, in 5 starts.

3. RP Eddie Kunz/Binghamton - everybody has a bad day once in awhile and April 12th was Eddie’s (1 IP, 3 ER vs. Erie). Other than that, he is proving every day that he may be the next minor leaguer to graduate to Queens. Kunz recorded his 4th save (out of 4 attempts) this past Thursday and he seems to have mastered the lineups at the AA level. There will be no reason to send this kid to New Orleans. April stats: 1-1, 4.66, 1.66, 4 saves in 8 appearances.

4. SS Wilmer Flores/Extended – I was really hoping to see this kid in Savannah this year, but I guess the Mets are smartening up a little and letting him chill while he grows pubic hairs. My guess at this point will be highlighted in Brooklyn, but we’ll see.

5. 3B Jefry Marte/Extended – And if you think Flores is young… Marte is either in extended camp or still in his homeland. We won’t hear from this kid until June, but according to the experts, this is a real good one. Frankly, if the Mets had better guys to write about, Marte wouldn’t be ranked this high.

6. 3B Dan Murphy/Binghamton – here’s a guy that keeps forcing his name to be written back on the prospect list. Murphy had had an incredible April. But, as we all know, there is no way anyone is going to take the job away from David Wright, so Murphy is now odds-on favorite to be the first person traded this year for injury help. April killer stats: .374/.412/.493/.906.

7. SS Ruben Tejada/St. Lucie - Tejada is playing at a level too high, but he’s holding his own for a miserable team. Through 4/27, he’s hitting .247.

8. 1B Nick Evans/Binghamton – you have to respect a guy that bats the way this kid did in April (.329/.366/.600/.966). Evans returned to this list in a big way and it’s a toss-up whether he or Mark Carp goes first in a mid-season trade.

9. 1B Mike Carp/Binghamton – you have to respect a guy that bats the way this kid did in April (didn’t I just say that?). Carp was named league player of the week for the week of 4/7. Look at these April stats: .393/.433/.674/1.107. He’ll get a call up soon if Carlos Delgado doesn’t turn thigs around, or if the Mets don’t go outside the system.

10. C Francesco Pena/Savannah– Pena started out 2008 hot, but tailed off and is now settling in as a .250 hitter at the A level. He has to do better than this. Also, his fielding is still sub-par, and though I know he’s only 18, this is his 2nd year a A ball and it’s time for a true prospect to light it up. April stats: .254/.306/.343).

11. OF Ezequiel Carrera/St. Lucie – Carrera is batting first (.263) and proving every day that the promotion of him to A+ is warranted.

12. SP Dylan Owen/St. Lucie – Right now, St. Lucie is a horrible team, with bad pitching and worse hitting. With that said, Owen is earning his prospect tag by holding his own… barely (

13. OF Gabriel Zavala/Extended – still waiting to see out first glimpse of this Latin prospect.

14. 2B Hector Pellot/St. Lucie – Pellot got off to his typical slow start in early April, and then it just got worse. Through 4/27 he’s batting a miserable .271. Hector is still the top 2B prospect in the system and I’m sure he will start turning this around in May.

15. 1B Lucas Duda/St. Lucie – ‘Duda Looks Like A Lady” started off April slow, but is hot as hell right now on a very bad team. Through 4/27, Duda is batting .348 on a team where he is pitched around every game. I expect him to bump up as soon as Carp and/or Evans are traded.

16. 1B Jose Jimenez/Savannah - Jimenez started April out with a bang, but has slowed down considerably on a team that could sure use some hitting. Currently hitting .208. Let’s give him May to see if he can turn it around.

17. SP Brant Rustich/St. Lucie - Rustich remains on the IR and hasn’t pitched an inning yet this year. Believe me, with the way Lucy is playing, he’ll get in as soon as the doctor says it’s okay.

18. C Jordan Abruzzo/Savannah - I gotta mention this kid after the incredible April he just had. Projected as a 3rd string (bullpen) catcher, Abruzzo has batted lights out throughout the month in a now starting role. Check this out: .444/.510/.644/1.154.

19. SP Adam Bostick/New Orleans – Yeah, remember him? Well, he has very quietly put up some great numbers this past April for New Orleans. Yeah, I know, he’s over 24 years old, but frankly, there’s no one left in the system worth listing right now. April stats: 2-1, 2.97, 1.19 in 5 starts.

20. SP Scott Moviel/Savannah - I’ve dropped Moviel lower on this list due to his April in Savannah (9.68 ERA in 5 starts), but I simply can’t take him off the list because the Mets don’t have 19 guys better than him in the system. Let’s hope it’s beginner’s bad luck.