A Rich Farm System
Last year was about as injury-plagued as any season can get. Key pieces to the team’s success that led to a World Series appearance in 2015 fell at an alarming rate. The laundry list of names and the injuries they had suffered became especially alarming:- Matt Harvey – Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Jacob deGrom – Issues with the Ulnar Nerve in his right elbow
- Steven Matz – Bone Spurs
- Zack Wheeler – Tommy John surgery in 2015
- David Wright – Spinal Stenosis
- Neil Walker – Back surgery due to a herniated disc
The injuries thinned the Mets roster to the point where Alderson and manager Terry Collins were playing farm hands each game. Gavin Cecchini, Brandon Nimmo, T.J. Rivera, Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo were among the names of players who got some Major League experience.
The exciting part is that each played well and helped lead the Mets to a Wild Card berth, bringing an optimistic view of the future.
The farm system gets deeper when adding in the names of Amed Rosario, Dominic Smith and Justin Dunn — the top three prospects in the minors. Rosario is expected to be special, and could provide the long term answer at shortstop for New York.
Alderson can hold off on draining the farm system early this season, because help is on the way . . .
