From the roster filler reserves to the impact prospects, the New York Mets’ farm system will be key to big league success.
With a schedule numbering 162 games, a club’s need for minor league reinforcement – a helping hand from players around whom the front office did not build the big league team – is an undeniable component to Major League success.Look to the World Champion Chicago Cubs, whose ascendance to being the league’s most dangerous offense was abetted by rookie call-up Wilson Contreras. The American League Champions, the Cleveland Indians, would have sported an outfield in shambles if not for the promotion of rookie Tyler Naquin.
Then there were Trea Turner, David Dahl, Jose Peraza, Aledmys Diaz, Brandon Drury, Trevor Story and Tommy Joseph – all impact rookies who played in over 60 games for their respective National League teams. In the American League, bats like Ryon Healy, Hyun Soo Kim, Whit Merrifield, Tim Anderson and Nomar Mazara would all fit that criteria.
And of course, Gary Sanchez. He certainly cannot be forgotten. Neither can Corey Seager, the National League Rookie of the Year.
On the mound, the pitching waters were largely rippled by bullpen reinforcements from the minors, but outliers like Michael Fulmer (the A.L. Rookie of the Year) of Detroit shook baseball. The Mets had two of their own fill-in starters turned stretch-run contributors in Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman.
The Taxi Squad
Gabriel Ynoa, RHP; Rafael Montero, RHP; Sean Gilmartin, LHP; Josh Edgin, LHP; Ty Kelly, INF; Matt Reynolds, SS
You’ve seen these guys before. No, they won’t be makers of change like those ideal rookies mentioned, as they have neither the prospect nor the performance in the minors.
However, these roster plugs and injury fill-ins often make more of a difference than you’d imagine, but admittedly are not subject of intrigue.
Ynoa, Montero and Reynolds are candidates to surprise Met fans should they perform – and make a quick stint into a permanent stay – but, in all likelihood, players in this group will make a bevy of moves up and down from Triple-A to the big club – and back again.
They are appropriately titled: “The Taxi Squad.” However, when one or more makes an impact on a single game – perhaps a barn-burning extra inning affair – Met fans won’t soon forget their collective worth.
The Newcomers
Chris Flexen, RHP; Ben Rowen, RHP; Thomas Nido, C
These three were added to the 40-man roster so in order to be protected from selection in the Rule 5 Draft (a mechanism which allows other teams to take non-40 man rostered players and deploy them on the Major League team).
Flexen and Rowen are closely similar to Lugo and Gsellman in that way, and, if the Mets need it, pitching help could be on the way in these two right-handers.
Flexen, 22, is a bit young to make the leap, as he seems poised to begin 2017 at Double-A Binghamton. In 134 innings at High-A St. Lucie last year, the righty pitched to an impressive 3.56 ERA, apparently earning him the attention of the Mets’ front office.
Rowen, 28, has been around the block. A minor league vet, the submarine-style tosser pitched to a combined 2.33 ERA in Milwaukee and Toronto Triple-A affiliates last season. He also logged 11.2 big league innings in which he allowed seven earned runs. Should injury arise in the Mets bullpen, there’s a decent chance management will call on Rowen.
Nido is the fourth catcher on the Mets’ 40-man roster, and thus seems like a safe bet to be a minor league stowaway in 2017. But, there’s always a chance.
The Longshots/Unexpected
Wuilmer Beccera, OF; Marcos Molina, SP
What’s a slideshow without some longshots?
Were this category to exist prior to 2016, T.J. Rivera would qualify.
Wuilmer Becerra, 22, was the afterthought to the R.A. Dickey trade which netted the Mets Noah Syndergaard and Travis d’Arnaud. At A-plus St. Lucie, he slashed .312/.341/.391, which may earn him the promotion to AA. Having been added to the 40-man roster this offseason, mostly out of fear that a big league club would snatch him in the Rule 5 Draft, Becerra will be an outfield reserve for Mets.
Marcos Molina, 21, is not quite big-league ready – earning him the longshot tag – but he has some real potential. Many in the Mets’ system thought 2016 would launch Molina to top prospect status, but the right-hander’s elbow had different ideas.
Sidelined for all of 2016 after Tommy John surgery, Molina yielded no results due to injury and will be pitching consequentially in A-ball in 2017. But, for a righty with arm power and a developed breaking pitch, Major League bullpen holes could beckon Molina.
Beccera and Molina are the Mets’ numbers seven and eleven prospects, respectively, according to MLB.com.
The Prospect Stable
Amed Rosario, SS; Dominic Smith, 1B; Gavin Cecchini, SS
Brandon Nimmo has already played in more than 30 Major League games, so we won’t include him in the prospect wings. As for the others, here’s information from MLB.com …
- Amed Rosario, SS
- #1 Mets prospect
- #4 shortstop prospect in MLB
- #11 prospect in MLB
- 21-years-old
- Level: Double-A
- MLB ETA: 2017
- Dominic Smith, 1B
- #2 Mets prospect
- #3 first base prospect in MLB
- #55 prospect in MLB
- 21-years-old
- Level: Double-A
- MLB ETA: 2017
- Gavin Cecchini, SS
- #3 Mets prospect
- 23-years-old
- Level: MLB/Triple-A
All this looks pretty good for the team in Queens.
This trio – Rosario, Smith and Cecchini – are the minor leaguers Met fans should be most excited about, and they’re the group the rest of baseball should be most afraid of.
Rosario, a true star-in-the-making – as I opined back in August – is the golden jewel of the Mets’ system. Should injury on the middle infield arise, don’t expect Rosario to get the first call, though. Terry Collins already has T.J. Rivera, Wilmer Flores and Matt Reynolds already at his big league disposal. Even Cecchini, who’s two years older than Rosario, likely gets the first crack.
But if Rosario is as talented as suggested, his ability may well give the Mets no choice.
As for Smith, his path to the majors this season seems far clearer. Lucas Duda is the only pure first baseman on the Mets’ roster, and Smith would figure to be his replacement in the event of injury or poor play.