MLB Prospect Watch

Zack Wheeler Day Has Finally Arrived

It's days like these that get moribund franchises like the New York Mets through long seasons like the ones they're in.

Zack Wheeler Day has arrived for Mets fans, and it happens to coincide with the once-every-five-days holiday that revolves around Matt Harvey's turn in the rotation to form a potentially franchise-altering double-header on Tuesday that, at the very least, should put the Mets on the back pages for the first time in a while.

Wheeler, like so many high school pitchers who make it through the minor league maze, has had quite a journey to the majors.  Two teams, a number of injuries, and dominant stretches have turned the former Gerogia high schooler into the future of the Mets, and he'll return to his home town to face the Braves in his major league debut.

We've covered Wheeler from the start of his professional career, so here are some of the highlights of our coverage of Wheeler's journey to the majors, especially from the last year:

• The story on Wheeler really got started when he was traded to the Mets at the 2011 trade deadline, straight up for Carlos Beltran, who had only two months remaining on his contract.  Wheeler had been limited by the Giants, both by the organization and by some minor injuries, but the talented that had gotten him selected 6th overall just two years prior was very much still there.  Even at the time, it seemed like a steep price for Beltran, but it would have been worth it for the Giants had they won a World Series.  Ironically, it was the only title in the past three years they did not win.
• After being assigned to Double-A to begin the 2012 season and pitching well, Wheeler was promoted to Triple-A last August.  It got the hopes up of many Mets fans who wanted to see Wheeler make a cameo last fall, especially after Matt Harvey had already joined the team, but the Mets showed the proper patience and Mets fans are going to be rewarded with a more finished product.
• Wheeler's strong 2012 season, coupled with a poor Mets rotation in the majors, led to the inevitable speculation that Wheeler could make the Mets rotation this spring.  In the end, Wheeler was sent to Triple-A and the Mets made little effort to hide the role that the Super-2 status played in the decision.
• Still, Wheeler had an awesome spring, and that didn't stop some people from making ridiculous comparisons, like this one comparing Wheeler to Stephen Strasburg.  Wheeler is very good, but he's a different style of pitcher than Strasburg.  It's an example of people getting carried away during spring training.
• As the Mets season begin to go downhill in May, the calls for Wheeler got louder.  Wheeler responded with a few strong starts in Triple-A, leading some to believe that the Mets might change their original plans based on a few good outings by Wheeler.  Wisely, they did not.
• Less than a week later, Wheeler had an injury scare that sent panic into the hearts of Mets fans.  It turned out to be minor and was fixed with a simple shot, but it's worth keeping an eye on how the Mets use him, given that the issue was with his shoulder.

Which brings us to the present.  Wheeler has been healthy and is ready for major league competition.  He should get the same kind of treatment from the Mets that Matt Harvey got last year in preparation for hitting the ground running in 2014.  And if he's half as good as Harvey, the Mets will have the makings of a very good pitching staff for their future.

Prospect Promotions: Montero, de la Rosa, Gindl

Montero Now One Step Away

All of the attention within the Mets organization typically goes towards Zack Wheeler and his impending major league debut on Tuesday, but hardcore fans took notice of another promotion within the organization, that of Rafael Montero from Double to Triple-A, reports MetsBlog.com.

Montero may not come with the hype of Wheeler or Matt Harvey, but his arrival could be just as anticipated this time next season.  Such is the excitable nature of Mets fans, desperate for the hope of what could be in the future as a way to forget about what exists today.

But Montero is worth getting excited about.  The right-hander made short work of the Double-A Eastern League, going 7-3 in 11 starts, posting a 2.43 ERA and an even more impressive 1.88 FIP, thanks to a 9.72 K/9 rate and a minuscule 1.35 BB/9 rate.

He may not be quite on the level of Harvey or Wheeler, but then again, he might be when it's all said and done.  The ability to strike out batters at Montero's rate while not walking batters is an impressive feat.  Montero has passed every test to this point with flying colors, and should spend the rest of the season in Triple-A.  He could be in line for a September call-up if he continues to have success, but his real ascension to the majors should be the 2014 version of what Harvey was last year and what Wheeler will be this season.

 

Rubby to Boston

Thanks to some extra-inning affairs, the Boston Red Sox have been in need of fresh arms, are few arms are fresher than that of Rubby de la Rosa, who the Sox have promoted to help rejuvenate an overworked pitching staff, notes Jeff Lauderback of BoSoxBanter.com.

de la Rosa, who came over from the Dodgers in last year's money-related fire-sale, has worked as a starter this season and primarily throughout his career.  But he's worked in short stints, and in 11 starts, he's thrown just 38 1/3 innings.  He's struck out almost a batter per inning, but he's also walked 4.7 batters per nine innings.

All of these things, along with his extreme velocity and injury history, scream reliever, which is how the Red Sox will use him in the short-term.  It doesn't necessarily mean a long-term shift in thinking by the Red Sox, but for the time being, he's going to work out of the bullpen.  

 

Gindl Gets His Chance

He's done nothing but hit his entire professional career, but now, at age 24 and only because of injury issues in the majors, is Caleb Gindl getting his chance on the majors, notes Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.

Such is life when you're a 5'7" 203 lb. corner outfielder.  All of Gindl's value is tied to his bat.  Luckily, he can hit.

Gindl began the 2013 season in Triple-A for the third time.  Over the course of 1300 plate appearances there, he's hit .283/.352/.450.  He's not the big-time power hitter teams typically look for in corner outfielders, but he's got enough power to make it work and strong plate discipline.

Gindl likely isn't a major part of the Brewers future, but he can play a role on a strong team, and he's going to get a chance on this one to prove he can hit in the majors.

Prospect Action - 6/13/13

Triple-A

• Giants right-hander Chris Heston turned in a rare minor league complete game, striking out nine in the scoreless outing while allowing just five hits, writes Brandon Simes of MiLB.com.
• Zack Wheeler was dominant in what is expected to be his final start in the minor leagues, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.  The Mets right-hander, who is slated to start in the majors next week, tossed 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball while striking out seven.
• As the Tigers continue to have issues at the back of their major league bullpen, Bruce Rondon continues to dominate Triple-A, collecting his 11th save on Thursday and lowering his ERA to 0.74 on the season.

Double-A

• After seeing Xander Bogaerts receive a promotion to Triple-A, Anthony Ranaudo turned in the best start of his strong season making a case for a promotion of his own, notes Kevin Thomas of The Portland Press Herald.  The Red Sox right-hander struck out 13 batters over 7 2/3 innings of two hit baseball to advance to 7-1 on the season.
• Zach Lee took a hard-luck loss, dropping to 5-4 on the season despite allowing just two runs over six strong innings while striking out eight.  The only mistake the Dodgers prospect made was a home run allowed to Brewers outfielder Kentrail Davis, which proved to be the difference.
• Jonathan Singleton was perfect at the plate on Thursday, reaching base all five times including a pair of home runs.  The Astros prospect provided all the run support needed for Nick Tropeano, who turned in five innings of one-run baseball.

High-A

• Francisco Martinez, now back with the Tigers organization, hit a two-run home run, notes David Yates of The Lakeland Ledger.  It's the second blast in nine games since returning to the Tigers after having been dropped off the 40-man roster by the Mariners.  Martinez was originally a member of the Tigers organization but was sent to the Mariners in the 2011 Doug Fister trade.
• Jason Martinson put up the top performance of the day as the Nationals outfield prospect blasted three home runs in support of teammate A.J. Cole, who struck out 10 in seven innings of work, notes Emrich.
• Phillies third base prospect Maikel Franco homered again, giving him 15 on the season as he continues to emerge as one of the top prospects in their system.

Low-A

• Michael Ynoa is still healthy and still pitching, as the A's right-hander threw five scoreless innings while striking out five to earn his second win of the season on Thrusday.
• Rangers third base prospect Joey Gallo continues to blast home runs, hitting his 21st of the season, but he's also hitting more consistently, going 3-for-4 with a double as well to raise his batting average to .245 on the year.
• Byron Buxton went just 1-for-5 (to lower his batting average to .343!) but the Twins prospect did hit his eighth home run of the year in the game.

Prospect Action - 6/5/13

Triple-A

• Tigers outfield prospect Nick Castellanos continued his hot streak, hitting his third home run in four games as part of a 3-for-5 day, writes John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Gerrit Cole was strong on Wednesday, tossing seven shutout innings, says Danny Wild of MiLB.com. The outing came on the same day that Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez went down with injury, which means nothing other than coincidentally convenient timing.
• Paul Demny's spot start in Syracuse didn't go too well, as the right-hander allowed seven runs in five innings despite striking out six.

Double-A

• Red Sox pitching prospect Drake Britton was virtually un-hittable on Wednesday, allowing just one hit over eight innings of work, notes The Erie Times-News.
• Cesar Puello doesn't appear to be letting the Biogenesis scandal effect his play, as the Mets outfielder hit his 10th home run of the season on Wednesday, writes Mike Ashmore of ThunderBaseball.com.  It was the third home run in as many games for Puello, who is now hitting .316/.395/.571 on the season.
• Sebastian Valle hit his fifth home run of the season, notes Philly.com.  It was the second home run in as many games for the Phillies catching prospect, who has been passed by Tommy Joseph on the organizational depth chart.

High-A

• Robbie Ray continues to have success in his second go-round at the Carolina League, as the Nationals left-hander struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings on Wednesday, notes Jake Seiner of MiLB.com.
• Max Muncy took advantage of a windy night on Wednesday, as the A's prospect hit three home runs on a night in which there were 11 total blasts.
• Henry Owens threw five scoreless innings of one-hit ball, despite walking five in the outing.  

Low-A

• Jefferson Olacio turned in his second-straight one-earned-run start since allowing 10 earned runs in an outing, as the White Sox lefty earned his second win of the season.
• Rangers outfield prospect Nick Williams hit his ninth home run of the season as part of a three-hit day.

Prospect Action - 6/4/13

Triple-A

• Andre Rienzo tossed seven shutout innings, striking out six, according to The Charlotte Observer.  The White Sox Brazilian right-hander hasn't allowed an earned run over his past two starts, but still sports an ERA over 6.00 on the season.
• Nick Castellanos hit his eighth home run of the season on Tuesday as part of a two-hit day that saw the Tigers top prospect raise his batting average to .421 over his past 10 games.
• Mike Olt, making his way back from early-season injuries, hit his second home run of the week, and on the season.  The Rangers prospect could begin seeing time in right field if the team believes that Nelson Cruz might be suspended with his role in the Biogenesis scandal.

Double-A

• Taylor Jungmann spun a gem on Tuesday, as the Brewers prospect allowed just an unearned run and two hits over seven innings of work, writes Jon Reed of AL.com.
• Cesar Puello put together a three extra-base hit day, as the Mets outfield prospect collected a pair of doubles and his ninth home run of the season.
• Anthony Ranaudo got hit around on Tuesday, allowing seven runs while failing to get out of the fifth inning.  The Red Sox right-hander has been strong this season for Portland, but this start raises his ERA to 2.43 on the year.

High-A

• Courtney Hawkins has been striking out at extreme rates this season, but the White Sox 2012 first-rounder ran into his 9th and 10th home runs of the season, notes Jonathan Raymond of MiLB.com.
• Nick Delmonico is quietly having a break-out season, but the Orioles prospect made some noise on Wednesday, collecting four hits including a home run, writes Jake Seiner of MiLB.com.
• Twins prospect Miguel Sano blasted his 14th home run of the season, but it's all his squad would manage off of Brewers prospect Jed Bradley, who gave up just the one run over six innings of work.

Low-A

• Pirates outfielder Josh Bell blasted his 8th home run of the year and is now hitting .271/.345/.466 on the season.
• Rangers catching prospect Jorge Alfaro blasted his 10th home run of the season.
• Nats lefty Matt Purke didn't get the win, but he did manage to strike out 8 batters over 4 2/3 innings.