Norfolk Tides

Jeff Keppinger 364/432/485 4/1 bb/so 33 ABs
Luis Garcia 333/394/667 3/9 bb/so 30 ABs
Angel Pagan 194/306/194 5/13 bb/so 31 Abs

Heath Bell 0.00 ERA 6.2 IP 0 hits 0/14 bb/so
Jae Seo 4.91 ERA 11.0 IP 12 hits 2/10 bb/so
Royce Ring 1.93 ERA 4.2 IP 4 hits 2/5 bb/so
Scott Colyer 4.91 ERA 3.2 IP 5 hits 2/6 bb/so
Grant Roberts released

Gifted with arguably the best plate coverage in the entire organization, Jeff Keppinger has been able to hit for a high average during his minor league career. The biggest knock on him, however, has been his relatively low walk totals. A slap hitter with little power, Keppinger needs to use his amazing plate coverage to foul tough pitches and draw more walks, or else his future is as a utility man. So far, it appears as if he’s gotten the message.

After a nice season last year in the hitters’ paradise that is the PCL, and a strong spring this year, Luis Garcia needs to prove he’s no fluke. Its early in the season, but 3 Hrs in 30 Abs sounds like a good way to do that. If he can keep even remotely close to that rate (1 HR per 10 Abs), he’ll be backing up Eyechart in no time. Angel Pagan has had a tough start. Sure the walks are nice, but how in the world does a guy who hits for no power strikeout 13 times in 31 Abs?

If luck exists, Jae Seo has bad luck. Just before Aaron Heilman cemented his position as the Mets’ 6th starter, the Korean right-hander threw a pretty good game (6 IP, 3 ER, 7 strikeouts, no walks) and would probably have started against the Marlins this week had this not happened.

MetsGeek.com’s official pitcher Heath Bell has been simply ridiculous this season. There’s no other way to put it. He’s faced 20 batters, and retired them all, 11 via the strikeout. In other words, FREE HEATH BELL. The bullpen bloc at Norfolk hasn’t been that bad, but not as dominant as I expected. Royce Ring seems to have bounced back from a tough season. Well, at least he’s striking out people now. Colyer is making his best Victor Zambrano impersonation and Grant Roberts will have to look for a new organization. No word on when Strickland or Moreno are scheduled to be back.

Binghamton Mets

Aarom Baldiris 287/372/342 5/7 bb/so 38 ABs
Anderson Hernandez 275/310 /300 2/8 bb/so 40 ABs
Mike Jacobs 250/289/333 2/6 bb/so 36 Abs

Yusmeiro Petit 0.00 ERA 7 IP 5 hits 0/9 bb/so
Brian Bannister 0.00 ERA 11 IP 5 hits 2/15 bb/so
Kevin Deaton 1.64 ERA 11 IP 9 hits 0/9 bb/so
Orlando Roman 0.00 ERA 10 IP 4 hits 0/9 bb/so
Matt Lindstrom 3.00 ERA 9 IP 7 hits 5/6 bb/so

He’s still not hitting for any power, but Aarom Baldiris still is doing his thing: Getting on base. Officially converted to 2b, the Venezuelan right-hander could form a pretty nice 2b combo with the aforementioned Keppinger once Matsui’s contract is up. Someone who won’t be up then is Anderson Hernandez. Not only is he not walking, but he also has already 3 errors early in the season. Don’t worry though, at least he’s not blocking anyone. You know, like Mike Jacobs, who’s not off to the greatest start. Another victim of the Mets position switch-mania, the former catcher is now playing first base. Let’s hope that the organization realizes that Jacobs is only a prospect because he can catch, and ends this project as soon as possible.

Limited to a pitch count, Yusmeiro Petit hasn’t been able to pitch much all this year. When he has though, he’s been phenomenal, as has been the entire B-Mets rotation. The most surprising development this year has been Brian Bannister’s rise as a pitching prospect. Following up a very solid Arizona Fall League, the USC product has pitched two masterful games to start the season and is crediting his curveball for the early success. Let’s hope he can keep it up.

St. Lucie Mets

Lastings Milledge 229/270/371 2/8 bb/so 35 ABs
Brett Harper 268/302/756 2/10 bb/so 41ABs
Yunir Garcia 158/333/316 5/7 bb/so 19 ABs
Shawn Bowman 091/167/091 3/15 bb/so 33 ABs

Philip Humber 0.90 ERA 10 IP 4 hits 1/10 bb/so
Evan MacLane 0.82 ERA 11 IP 6 hits 1/12 bb/so

The Florida State League is arguably the toughest hitting environment in the minor leagues. As such, there is a danger of undervaluing and overvaluing prospects in it. Hitters, as you would expect, are made to be worse than they really are, and pitcher, understandably, are thought to be better than they are. With that being said, the offensive numbers of the Mets’ prospects in the FSL are rather ugly. None are hitting for average, with the exception of Harper, no one is hitting for power, and with the exception of Garcia, no one is drawing any walks. Certainly, this is a very small sample size, but the early results are not good.

While the hitters are struggling to hit, the pitching prospects in the FSL are thriving in the pitching friendly environment. Philip Humber, the Mets’ first round pick last year, is off to a tremendous start. That K/BB is impressive for someone making a professional debut, even if that someone is as polished as Humber. Likewise, Evan MacLane, who last year was embarrassingly “promoted” to Brooklyn is showing last year was no fluke.

Hagerstown Suns

Ambiorix Concepcion 247/247/407 0/7 bb/so 37 ABs
Mike Carp 267/367/769 4/11 bb/so 26 ABs
Carlos Gomez 267/321/423 2/6 bb/so 26 ABs
Grant Psomas 395/425/763 2/4 bb/so 38 ABs

Gabby Hernandez 4.32 ERA 8.1 IP 6 hits 4/9 bb/so
Matt Durkin 0.00 ERA 7 IP 5 hits 4/8 bb/so

By completely killing the ball, the Mets’ new affiliate is following the tradition of the old one: Hitting the ball. Hard. The star of the show has been Psomas who has been simply outstanding. In 38 Abs, he has 29 bases and 8 extra-base hits. Mike Carp, only a 19 year old, has also been hot, and has added 4 homeruns. Keep an eye on him. He’s a sleeper. In addition to these two, the H-Mets also have more firepower in toolsy prospects Ambiorix Concepcion and Carlos Gomez.

Aside from one inning (4 runs, 2 walks, 3 hits in the first inning of his 2nd start), Gabby Hernandez has been pitching well. Another product of the 04 draft, Matt Durkin, is also with the team. He made his professional debut the other day with mixed results. He didn’t allow any runs, and only a hit, but he was very wild. He was then used in relief in his next appearance with better results.