June 2008 Hotsheet

Written June 30th (St. Lucie), July 1st (all else)

1. A+ SS Ruben Tejada R/R 9/1/89

Before June: 45 for 211, 23 runs, 7 2b, 3b, HR, 17 RBI, 1/5 SBs, 19/36 BB/K, .213/.279/.270/.549

June: 32 for 96, 12 runs, 4 2b, 3b, HR, 9 RBI, 9/8 BB/K, 3/3 SBs, .333/.393/.427/.820

Season: 77 for 307, 35 runs, 11 2b, 2 3b, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 28/44 BB/K, 4/8 SBs, .251/.315/.319/.634

After middling around for 2 months in high A, 18 year old Ruben Tejada found his stroke in June, torching the FSL to the tune of an .820 OPS in June. If you factor out his 0 for 4 on June 1st, and his 1 for 13 to end the month, from June 2nd to June 25th, Tejada's performance was even more impressive (31 for 77, 12 runs, 4 2b, 3b, HR, 9 RBI, SB, 7/4 BB/K, .403/.452/.519/.972). What makes it even more impressive is that he was in the VSL/GCL last year.

2. A/A+ LHSP Michael Antonini R/L 8/6/85

Before June: 4-2, 2.51 era, 12 GS, 61 IP, 50 H, 15/51 BB/K, 1.07 WHIP

June: 2-2, 2.35 era, 6 GS, 38.1 IP, 33 H, 7/29 BB/K, 1.04 WHIP

Season: 6-4, 2.45 era, 17 GS, 99.1 IP, 83 H, 3 HR, 22/80 BB/K, 1.06 WHIP, .223 BAA

Antonini's pretty much come from nowhere to have one of the best statistical seasons in the minors. A pretty unheralded 18th round pick in 2007, he put up a 1.96 era between Kingsport and Brooklyn last year, largely discounted due to only 36.2 innings pitched, and the level of competition he faced. Even earlier this year, he was ignored by the prospect community at large, due to beating up on the Sally League. However, his extremely impressive 4 start showing in the FSL *should* begin to generate some buzz about Mr. Antonini. He was promoted on June 9th, after 2 June starts in the Sally League, and has continued to pitch brilliant baseball, with a scant 1.71 era in 26.1 innings at the high A level. It would be a shock, but it is within the range of possibility to see him join Binghamton for a playoff push in early August. Even if he stays in the FSL, he is on the upper edge of age/level, he turns 23 in early August.

3. A+ OF Ezequiel Carrera L/L 6/11/87

Before June: 41 for 168, 21 runs, 9 2b, 5 3b, 10 RBI, 14/31 BB/K, 10/13 SBs, .244/.312/.357/.669

June: 27 for 91, 15 runs, 2b, 4 3b, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 6/17 BB/K, 7/8 SBs, .297/.365/.462/.827

Season: 88 for 259, 36 runs, 10 2b, 9 3b, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 20/48 BB/K, 17/21 SBs, .263/.331/.394/.725

Carrera was jumped basically from the GCL to the FSL, the same as Ruben Tejada, and after the same uneven first 2 months, Carrera has also responded with an outstanding June. A very good sign for Carrera this year has been his ability to handle LHP, he's batting .281/.378/.359/.738 vs LHP in 64 ABs. Carrera hit .329/.408/.406/.813 between the GCL and a 70 AB stint in Brooklyn, most of it done after he'd turned 20 (he turned 21 on 6/11 this year).

4. A+ RHSP Dillon Gee R/R 4/28/86

Before June: 3-5, 4.28 era, 11 GS, 61 IP, 63 H, 13/48 BB/K, 1.25 WHIP

June: 3-0, 0.92 era, 4 GS, 29.1 IP, 18 H, 2 HR, 1/17 BB/K, 0.65 WHIP, .178 BAA

Season: 6-5, 3.19 era, 15 GS, 90.1 IP, 81 H, 3 HR, 14/65 BB/K, 1.05 WHIP, .242 BAA

Uh, wow. One of the most dominating months you'll ever see from any prospect at any level. Dillon Gee failed to complete 7 innings ONCE in his 4 starts (6.1 innings), he went 8 innings twice, and averaged 7.1 innings per start. It wouldn't be a shock at all to see Gee in Binghamton sometime in August, perhaps joining Antonini for that playoff push.

5. A+ C Josh Thole L/R 10/28/86

Before June: 33 for 120, 18 runs, 9 2b, 3b, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 17/13 BB/K, .275/.370/.417/.786

June: 26 for 82, 5 2b, HR, 9 RBI, 11/9 BB/K, .317/.406/.415/.821

Season: 59 for 202, 32 runs, 14 2b, 3b, 3 HR, 32 RBI, 28/22 BB/K, .292/.385/.416/.800

After a miserable April (.228/.323/.386/.709), Thole's posted back to back .820+ OPS months, turning his season around and vaulting up the prospect lists (at least MY prospect list). He had a decent season last year in Savannah, backing up Francisco Pena and Sean McCraw (.267/.372/.311/.683 in 389 ABs), and a very good 61/57 BB/K ratio, but hit for no power whatsoever, with just 17 2b in 389 ABs. Already this year in 202 ABs, he's got 14 2b, and 3 HR, his SLG is up 105 points from last season. And he is only 21 years old, right in line with age/level. I would hope the Mets are cautious with Thole, and keep him in St. Lucie all season.

6. AA LHSP Jon Niese L/L 10/27/86

Before June: 4-4, 3.47 era, 12 GS, 59.2 IP, 57 H, 23/52 BB/K, 1.34 WHIP

June: 1-1, 2.53 era, 5 GS, CG, 32 IP, 25 H, 11/27 BB/K, .223 BAA

Season: 5-5, 3.14 era, 17 GS, CG, 91.2 IP, 82 H, 3 HR, 34/79 BB/K, 1.27 WHIP, .240 BAA

Niese would be being talked about a whole lot more were it not for a stretch of games in late April into mid May where he pitched awful baseball. In a span of 4 starts, he put up 3 starts with ERAs over 8 (4.1 ip, 4 er; 4.1 ip, 7 er; 3 ip, 6 er). Those starts have significantly skewed his ERA skyward. In fact, if you took those starts out, his line would be: 5-3, 1.69 era, 14 GS, 80 IP, 62 H, 25/72 BB/K, 1.09 WHIP. He would be being mentioned among the top pitching prospects in baseball. So basically, outside of 3 starts in a 4 start span, he's significantly dominated the Eastern League.

7. AA RHSP Bobby Parnell R/R 9/8/84

Before June: 4-3, 4.78 era, 11 GS, 58.1 IP, 52 H, 33/35 BB/K, 1.46 WHIP

June: 4-1, 2.80 era, 6 GS, 35.1 IP, 34 H, HR, 11/34 BB/K, .248 BAA

Season: 8-4, 4.04 era, 17 GS, 93.2 IP, 86 H, 10 HR, 44/69 BB/K, 1.39 WHIP, 244 BAA

While the beginnings of Parnell's turnaround were seen as early as May, his periphs were still slightly out of line with his numbers (4-1, 3.28 in May with 19 walks in 35.2 innings). His June numbers were much better, across the board. He had the same 4-1 record, his lone loss coming in a horrific start on June 15th (5.2 ip, 10 h, 5 er). He similarly had a disasterous outing on May 18th (5 ip, 7 h, 6 er, 5 bb). In fact, if you take those two starts out, his May+June numbers are: 8-0, 1.94 era, 10 GS, 60.1 IP, 46 H, 24/47 BB/K, 1.16 WHIP (3.58 BB/9). While his BAA did go up from .223 to .248 in June, I think most people would take that if it meant less walks (11 in 35.1 innings in June, 2.80 per 9, versus 19 in 35.2 innings in May, 4.80 per 9).

8. AA 1B/3B/LF Nick Evans R/R 1/30/86

Before June: 50 for 171, 30 runs, 8 2b, 5 3b, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 17/32 BB/K, .292/.356/.538/.894

June: 32 for 94, 18 runs, 6 2b, 2 3b, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 8/25 BB/K, .340/.392/.606/.999

Season: 82 for 265, 48 runs, 14 2b, 7 3b, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 25/57 BB/K, .309/.369/.562/.931

Evans had a brief 23 AB cup of coffee in the majors, and aside from his first game (3 for 4, 3 2b), did very little, but he really wasn't expected to. Upon rejoining the BMets in June, he proceeded to put on a show, OPSing 1.000 and getting 13 XBH in 94 ABs. Remember, this is Evans rookie season in AA, and he's excelling at it. His numbers vs LHP are as insanely high as they've always been throughout his career (.368/.439/.690/1.128), but it is his numbers vs RHP this year which are impressing (.281/.333/.500/.833). We would expect the Mets to keep Evans in Binghamton for the duration of the season, unless they fall out of it, in which case you may see Evans, along with other AA prospects, up in the majors.

9. A RHSP Scott Moviel

Before June: 3-7, 6.24 era, 11 GS, 49 IP, 63 H, 20/34 BB/K, 1.69 WHIP

June: 5-0, 2.76 era, 5 GS, 29.1 IP, 24 H, 2 HR, 6/19 BB/K, .218 BAA

Season: 8-7, 4.94 era, 16 GS, 78.1 IP, 87 H, 7 HR, 26/53 BB/K, 1.44 WHIP, .274 BAA

Moviel bounced around the bottom for 2 months in the Sally League, understandable after pitching in HS last season (!). However, much like the other rushees (Carrera and Tejada), Moviel turned it on in June, SWEEPING THE LEG!, and putting up good numbers while doing it. His BB/9 for June was cut in half from the previous 2 months combined (3.673 in April+May, 1.841 in June). He averaged almost 6 IP/GS, versus 4.455 in April+May. His hits per 9 were 2/3 lower in June, his WHIP plunged from 1.69 to 1.02. It was a great month for the righty, it remains to be seen if he can buuld off it.

10. A RHSP Maikel Cleto R/R 5/1/89

Before June: 1-4, 4.04 era, 11 G, 8 GS, 55.2 IP, 62 H, 16/36 BB/K, 1.40 WHIP

June: 1-2, 2.72 era, 6 GS, 39.2 IP, 37 H, 2 HR, 8/22 BB/K, .252 BAA

Season: 2-6, 3.49 era, 17 G, 14 GS, CGSO, 95.1 IP, 99 H, 3 HR, 24/58 BB/K, 1.29 WHIP, .273 BAA

Cleto jumped onto many prospect radars with a complete game 3 hit shutout on May 22nd, and that game seemed to energize him, as he hasn't looked back since, with a 2.63 era from that game and forward, in 8 GS, with an average of 6.833 IP/GS, including 5 games of 7 innings or more. Cleto's been doing it with a heavy power sinker, generating a better then 2:1 go/fo ratio in June, where he averaged 6.61 IP/GS. He needs to K more batters, but his walk rate is very low for someone so young, at just 1.815 per 9 in June, and 2.266 overall on the season. Cleto is definitely one to keep an eye on, he could vault up prospect lists with a good season this year, at just age 19.

Not Hot

1. A+ 1B/OF Lucas Duda L/R 2/3/86

Before June: 63 for 216, 24 runs, 14 2b, 5 HR, 36 RBI, 23/51 BB/K, .292/.365/.426/.791

June: 18 for 88, 6 runs, 5 2b, 3b, 8 RBI, 17/26 BB/K, .205/.336/.284/.621

Season: 81 for 304, 30 runs, 19 2b, 3b, 5 HR, 44 RBI, 40/77 BB/K, .266/.356/.385/.741

Yeesh. Lucas Duda had about as nightmarish a month as you could imagine, he struck out once per game, and didn't do much hitting. Luckily for him, he did walk 17 times during the month, the most of any month for him, that was the only thing which saved him from a sub .600 month. It was nice to see that BB/K ratio firm up, but his last 2 months combined have been brutal. In addition, Duda's struggling mightily vs LHP, hitting just .195/.300/.253/.553 in 87 ABs. It is a long jump from Brooklyn to St. Lucie, but he has to rebound in July.

2. A OF Richard Pena R/R 8/15/87

Before June: 33 for 129, 21 runs, 8 2b, 8 RBI< 9/12 SBs, 17/30 BB/K

June: 12 for 74, 7 runs, 4 RBI, 13/28 BB/K, 5/6 SBs, .162/.297/.162/.459

Season: 45 for 203, 28 runs, 8 2b, 12 RBI, 30/58 BB/K, 14/18 SBs, .222/.328/.261/.589

Pena was having a decent season before June, albeit with very little power, but a respectable walk rate. Pena spent the balance of the 2007 season in Kingsport, where he hit .227/.365/.357/.722 in 154 ABs. And whether it's a coincidence or not, he fell apart after hitting the 175 AB mark this year, which was 18 fewer then he had last season (he's 2 for his last 28 with 11 Ks, a very good .071 average). Pena obviously needs to find his second wind, and quickly.

Not Enough PT to Qualify

1. R SS Wilmer Flores R/R

22 for 57, 13 runs, 3 2b, 3b, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 0/8 BB/K, .386/.410/.632/1.041

He's 16. Nuff said.

2. R 1B/3B Stefan Welch L/R 8/12/88

18 for 45, 12 runs, 2 2b, 4 3b, 9 RBI, 4/2 BB/K, .400/.451/.622/1.073

He's 19. He was signed out of Australia in the 2006 IFA period, and played in the GCL last year, where he hit .288/.346/.353/.699 in 139 ABs, with an 11/22 BB/K ratio.

3. R OF Gabriel Zavala R/R 5/14/87

12 for 35, 6 runs, 6 2b, 3b, 7 RBI, 0/13 BB/K, .343/.361/.571/.933

Zavala was signed during the 2004 IFA period out of Valencia, Venezuela. 2007 was his first season in the states, he hit .285/.364/.479/.843 in 165 ABs in the GCL. He's playing for Kingsport this season.

4. A- IF Zach Lutz

11 for 32, 3 runs, 3 2b, 6 RBI, 6/6 BB/K, .344/.447/.438/.885

Lutz was drafted in the 4th round of the 2007 draft, but missed all of the minor league season with a foot injury.

5. R 3B Jefry Marte R/R

8 for 26, run, 4 2b, 3b, 5 RBI, 1/6 BB/K, .308/.345/.538/.883

Marte comes from the same IFA class as Wilmer Flores, but he is playing in the GCL, where he is doing very well in 26 ABs.

Just Missed:

AA 1B/LF Mike Carp

June: 30 for 98, 13 runs, 4 2b, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 17/19 BB/K, .306/.409/.469/.878

A late month swoon for the ages (6 for 50) prevented Carp from nabbing the top spot in this month's hotsheet, and the longer the slump went on, the further he fell, until he fell completely out of the top 10. Still, I wanted to acknowledge Carp, and his ridiculous hot streak which, unfortunately for him, bridged perfectly the months of May and June. Between May 19th and June 17th, you could not get Mike Carp out. At all.

May 19th - June 17th: 40 for 97, 14 runs, 7 2b, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 19/16 BB/K, .412/.509/.577/1.086

A+ RHSP Dylan Owen

June: 4-1, 4.39 era, 5 GS, CG, 26.2 IP, 33 H, 4 HR, 4/26 BB/K, 1.39 WHIP, .297 BAA

Like Carp, it was a late month swoon that prevented him from cracking the top 10. Owen got demolished for 8 hits and 6 runs in just 3.1 innings in his final start, which pushed his monthly ERA to that bloated 4.39 you see, up from the 2.70 it was before that start. Owen was 4-0, 2.70 prior to that awful outing, and much like Carp, I wanted to acknowledge that fine pitching.