In this article, we will take a look at the top outfield prospects in the organization, while determining their MLB ETA's.
Click here to take a look at "Previewing 2015: the Outfield (MLB edition)"
We will rank the prospects based on the list provided by John Sickels over at minorleagueball.com.
4) Brandon Nimmo
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| Courtesy of metsmerizedonline.com |
Age: 21
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Position: CF
Acquired: 1st round via 2011 MLB Amateur Draft
MLB ETA: Late-2016
Potential: B+
Before the 2014 season, Brandon Nimmo was considered an early bust by several Mets fans. He did hit .273/.397.359 in Single-A Savannah throughout 2013, but there were higher expectations. Coming into the 2014 season, he made his first stop at St. Lucie, and made some serious noise. In 62 games, he slugged .332/.448/.458, earning himself a call-up to Double-A Binghamton.
Double-A was a different story for the youngster, as he hit .238/.339/.396 in 65 games. Despite the ups and downs, it was evident that he was beginning to mature as a player, given the huge surge in his on-base percentage.
There's one thing you know you will always get with Nimmo: plate discipline. The fact that he has a career .387 OBP in the minor leagues speaks for itself. Nimmo should continue to develop into a more complete player, as his 10 homers and 14 stolen bases that he accumulated were career bests. Nimmo should start the 2015 season in Double-A Binghamton, and potentially get a call-up to Triple-A by the end of the season if all goes well.
In the end, it's very fair to predict that he'll be in a Mets uniform by late-2016, perhaps as a September call-up. Due to his young age (still only 21 years old), I see no reason why the Mets should rush his development.
7) Michael Conforto
Age: 21
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 211 lbs
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Position: LF
Acquired: 1st round via 2014 MLB Amateur Draft
MLB ETA: Late-2016, Early 2017
Potential: A-
Conforto marked the 1st collegiate player that Sandy Alderson and Co. has selected in the 1st round throughout their entire 5 years with this organization. Coming into the draft, Conforto emerged as one of the premier hitting prospects in the game, and was expected to be an early first rounder. Many expected the Mets would grab SS prospect Trea Turner with their pick, so when the news broke of Conforto's selection, fans were shocked.
Looking at the move almost a year later, it looks like it may be a steal. Conforto played 42 games for the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2014, and did not disappoint a bit. He hit .331/.403/.448 with 3 homers in 186 at-bats. The only statistic that concerned fans was his fielding percentage, which sat at a below-average .905. percent.
The bottom line is, Conforto is going to be THIS kind of player. He'll be a slugger, but the defense is going to be a question mark, so it makes sense to place him at left field (or maybe even 1st base) in the long term. He should start the 2015 season with Single-A Savannah, and quickly jump to Double-A Binghamton if he hits a hot streak.
The Mets shouldn't rush Conforto, but since he was drafted directly from college, he should be more advanced than others who were drafted out of high school or signed as international free agents. It wouldn't be surprising to see him get a call-up toward the end of 2016, and run away with a corner outfielder job by 2017.
17) Wuilmer Beccera
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| Courtesy of milb.com |
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: RF
Acquired: Trade via Blue Jays
MLB ETA: Early-Mid 2018
Potential: B-
Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard highlighted the package that the Mets received for pitcher R.A. Dickey from the Blue Jays, and at the time, Wuilmer Beccera was looked at as an afterthought. It appeared as if Toronto just threw him in the deal to kind of sweeten the trade, but it was clear that Sandy saw something in this kid.
As a 19 year old in 2013, he only hit .243/.351/.295 in 52 games for the GCL Mets. Many fans continued to reiterate that he was simply a throw-in, and had no true upside. Sufficed to say, his 2014 performance changed the mindset for several of these criticizing fans. He slugged .300/.351/.469 for the Kingsport Mets, and began to land some media attention.
Beccera still has a long way to go, considering that he still hasn't even reached Single-A just yet. However, for a throw-in to the Dickey trade, he looks to have a much better future than Mike Nickeas, whom the Mets threw-in the Dickey deal a few years back.
It's unclear what exactly the 20 year old will develop into over time, but it's evident that his future is whole lot brighter than many had originally imagined. If he starts to make true progress through the Mets system, I'd expect to see him in a few years; perhaps 2018.
*Jayce Boyd
Age: 24
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 185 lbs
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: OF/1B/DH
Acquired: 6th round via 2012 MLB Amateur Draft
MLB ETA: Late-2015
Potential: C+
This guy can flat out hit. After being drafted in the 6th round a few years back, he was looked at as a fringe prospect. Quietly, the Mets have been rising him through the farm system, and it appears that he is ready to make the jump to the big leagues by late-2015.
He hit .292/.382/.414 with 8 homers and 59 RBI for Double-A Binghamton last season. Originally, he was thought of as an "all bat, no glove" guy, but the truth is he is certainly capable of holding his own at first base. In 183 career games there, he has only made 12 errors, which equates to a strong .993 fielding percentage.
Due to Lucas Duda's emergence on the varsity squad, it has seemed to push Boyd back in the rankings a bit, as the team has a lesser need for a 1st baseman. However, if the guy can hit in 2015 like he has been for the last few years, the Mets will have to find a spot for him on the roster. It will be very interesting to see how his 2015 season goes in Las Vegas. If he can convert to being an outfielder full-time and find success there, I see no reason as to why he shouldn't be on the team by the end of the season.
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| Courtesy of timesnews.net |
Age: 22
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 180 lbs
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Position: RF
Acquired: Signed via International Free Agency in 2011.
MLB ETA: Late-2017.
Potential: C+
Cruzado reminds me of an outfield version of Daniel Murphy, who as well know, has turned himself into a pretty fine player. The bat has always been his strong suit, and he continued to shine in throughout the 2014 season. He skipped low-A and went straight to Single-A Savannah where he hit .273/.371/.404 in 107 games. He also managed to slug 7 homers in a very pitcher-friendly league, which is impressive.
With someone like Cruzado, he has been sought at as a long-term project, similar to Wilmer Flores. The Mets brought him on board as a 19 year old, and it's clear that they don't have an exact plan with what he'll turn into. The reason why I mentioned Daniel Murphy earlier is because of Cruzado's versatility. Aside from all three outfield spots, he has experience at third base, second base, and first base.
The versatility is what may push Cruzado through the Mets system, as he looks to begin the 2015 season in either Single-A Savannah or even Double-A Binghamton.
*Champ Stuart
Age: 22
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 175 lbs
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: CF
Acquired: 6th round via 2013 MLB Amateur Draft
MLB ETA: Early-2018
Potential: C
Stuart has kind of drifted by throughout his brief minor league career. As a 6th rounder, he didn't have much hype surrounding him, but his incredible speed was what inspired the Mets to select him. In 2014, he hit a mere .256/.341/.340 in 81 games for Single-A Savannah, but managed to swipe 29 bases (while only being caught 4 times.)
It's clear that Stuart's speed is his best factor, and he could certainly be a useful player if he improves at the plate. It's very hard to predict what exactly he'll do in 2015, and I wouldn't be surprised if his bat takes another small step. He'll be one to keep an eye on for sure.
*Not on Sickels' Top 20 Prospect list.
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