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August 27, 2008

Next Year’s Breakouts

Scribbled by: Pat Andriola @ 1:09 am | Filed under: Articles, Mets Minors

Now that this minor league season is wrapping up, the big questions begin to loom. One of them will certainly be, “Who is going to shine next year? Who is the next Wilmer Flores or Jon Niese?” The questions are legitimate, as there are plenty of Mets prospects who have the ability to be big-time players. Here is a list of five current minor leaguers who might improve their prospect status in 2009:

CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Brooklyn Cyclones

Niuewenhuis may fall under the radar on a team that features Ike Davis, Bradley Holt, and Reese Havens, but the Azusa Pacific product should have no problem being lumped in with the three. Kirk did nothing but hit in college, and since joining the Cyclones the newly turned 21-year old has done the same. As the leadoff hitter for Brooklyn, the left-handed hitter has compiled a .288/.354/.392 line. He also is able to play great defense thanks to his quick speed and agility. While he may not be a blue chip prospect, Nieuwenhuis definitely has the ability to be either a solid major league bench player or develop his hitting and defense enough where he can become a solid starter (think a young Darin Erstad). Next year will be a key season for him, and he may take advantage of it by putting up some pretty numbers.

SS Ruben Tejada, St. Luice Mets

To those of you who scroll the MetsGeek Minor League Daily Recaps (which Mr. Eric Simon does an incredible job compiling), you may be shocked to see Tejada here, someone who is only hitting .230 on the season. However, the Panamanian shortstop is just 18 years old and won’t turn 20 until September of 2009. Some may question the Mets’ decision in putting such a young kid in High-A ball, but it may just be to get his feet wet and doesn’t seem to have that high a risk of developmental retardation. In the Venezuelan Legaue last year Tejada hit .364/.466/.479 in 121 at-bats, and in the Gulf Coast League hit .283/.401/.367 in 120 at-bats, giving him an OPS of .857 for the entire 2007 campaign. So we do know that he certainly has the ability to hit; now it’s just adjusting to better pitching and putting everything together.

C Francisco Pena, Savannah Sand Gnats

If there’s anyone I’d bank on having a big 2009, it has to be Pena. Although I have criticized him in the past, the big 18-year old has recently shown that he can put up solid numbers. During July he posted a .745 OPS, and thus far in August is hitting .323 in 62 at-bats. That gives him an overall line of .268/.311/.388 for the year. Not great, but also not terrible for a teenager in A ball. A highly touted prospect out of the Dominican Republic and the son of Yankee coach Tony Pena, Francisco is already 6’2 and 230 lbs., and is coming off of a miserable year with the Gnats in which he hit .210 with a .547 OPS. However, with baseball in his blood, hype in his head, and a solid bat in his hands, look for Pena to improve dramatically next year.

SP Chris Schwinden, Brooklyn Cyclones

Some may call this a breakout year for the big right-hander from Fresno Pacific, but next year may open more eyes and peg the label “real deal” for Schwinder. At a lanky 6’3 and lanky pitcher, Schwinden has just absolutely shut down opposing hitters this year. In 51.2 innings, he has a 1.74 ERA for Brooklyn while striking out a very impressive 56 batters. He has also walked only 11, giving him a great strikeout-to-walk ratio. Even as a big righty he has found a way to hold left-handed hitters to a .189 batting average against. Without question, this 21-year old (turning 22 next month) has been just phenomenal. Maybe a promotion and domination of some hitters in 2009 will make scouts think he’s Brad Holt 2.0.

SP Kyle Allen, GCL Mets

I am not going to lie to you: I don’t know much about Kyle Allen, but I do know that he could have a huge career ahead of him. The 18 year old from Florida (but born in Portugal of all places) is right-handed, 6’3, and 195 lbs. And boy can he get guys out. He’s holding GCL hitters to a .194 batting average against while striking out 45 in only 34 innings. He’s also given up just one homer and walked only 10, solid numbers for such a young kid like Allen. Oh yeah, he also doesn’t turn 19 until the middle of next February. The 24th round draft pick has potential oozing from all over, and we’ll see if he continues his success next season.

Pat Andriola is a sophomore at Tufts University who proudly wears his Endy Chavez jersey around the Boston-area campus. He can be reached at Patrick.Andriola@tufts.edu.

11 Responses to “Next Year’s Breakouts”

Comment posted by Alex Nelson on August 27, 2008 at 1:21 am (#819600)
You know, I had every intention of mentioning Kyle Allen on Monday and completely forgot.

Here’s the scoop:

Allen was a well-regarded two-way player out of Pendleton High School in Bradenton, Florida. He was indeed born in Portugal which is where his father was stationed. He’s very athletic, and has some hitting ability, but teams generally liked him as a pitcher due to his frame and arm speed. He works in the high 80s, but he’s been clocked as high as 93, so there’s hope he’ll gain some velocity as he fills out, like Jon Niese.

He’s got a very good slider, which is good news; it’s occasionally a little too slurvy, but on the whole it’s excellent for a high schooler. No changeup to speak of.

Not sure why he fell other than the fact that he supposedly had a pretty tough commitment to NC State. The Mets signed him though–not sure for how much.

Definitely someone to keep an eye on.
Comment posted by Danny on August 27, 2008 at 8:20 am (#819604)
but born in Portugal of all places

Do you mean the greatest place in all the lands?
Comment posted by sheadenizen on August 27, 2008 at 8:38 am (#819610)
Kirk Nieuwenhuis

I have an unatural affinity to this kid for some reason. I saw him for the first time in a televised Cyclone/SI Yankee game and liked him instantly. Then I saw him in person when some of us went to a Cyclone game. There’s something about this kid that just projects success. I can’t explain it. But I’m rooting hard for him.
Comment posted by john on August 27, 2008 at 8:44 am (#819616)
They been talking alot about Allen on nyfuturestars.com lately. For all the pitching prospects the mets have, he’s kinda flown under the radar a bit.
Comment posted by Simons on August 27, 2008 at 5:27 pm (#820140)
but born in Portugal of all places

Think he’s just surprised someone from Portugal would be 6′ 3″
Comment posted by METS FAN on August 27, 2008 at 9:07 pm (#820746)
Kyle Allen was ‘born’ at Lajes Field, in the Azores, an island possession of Portugal in the Middle of the Atlantic and a US Military base.

He is only ‘18′ years old, was NC State’s top recruit and the ‘only’ recruit ‘not’ to show up on campus. He was a Rawlings/Perfect Game All-American as a Two-Way player this past year.

Was drafted in the 24th Round, but was 2nd to 4th round projection, which means he most likely would have been a 4th to 6th rounder, but was labeled as a ‘hard’ sign. Obviously, that was wrong.

Some have commented that he signed for 25K to 50K. I seriously doubt that happened, unless he had a brain fart and bad advisor.

Allen has 4 pitches according to another Blog states. FB (Two and Four Seam) (sits 90-92 - touches 93), Slider (80-84), and Change up (79-86).

Perfect Game also shows he threw 95 from the OUTFIELD. So there’s more in the tank as he grows and fills out.

Looking at the Recap from his last game, the only HR hit off of Allen was against Colby Rasmus (2005 28th Overall pick and 2008 3rd Ranked Minor League Prospect in the nation who was on Rehab with the Cardinals). Allen struck him out in the prior at bat.

He has potential/projection! Plus, he looks just like A-Rod according to this article.

http://flhsbaseballreport.com/editorial.php?edit_id=121
Comment posted by METS FAN on August 27, 2008 at 9:10 pm (#820754)
After reading the article in full, he seems to be a good kid too, which is just as important as being a good player.
Comment posted by Danny on August 27, 2008 at 11:08 pm (#821354)
Think he’s just surprised someone from Portugal would be 6′ 3″

How dare you? We have at least 5,10 people 6′3″ and above in the country.
Comment posted by Simons on August 28, 2008 at 12:05 am (#821442)
How dare you? We have at least 5,10 people 6′3″ and above in the country.

Oh, that’s right — they just got back from China.
Comment posted by Mets Prospectus on August 28, 2008 at 5:17 pm (#822187)
The breakout prospect next year will be Robert Carson. 19 year old who was in the GCL this year and moved up to Kingsport and had great success.. very nice.

like I said, 19 years old, and is also left handed. Throws low to mid 90’s with a changeup and a good slider.
Comment posted by METS FAN on August 29, 2008 at 12:00 am (#822656)
Carson is also a very good pitcher, who keeps the ball low.

He also had an article written about him on another blog and he’s seems to have strong positive character traits.

You’ll see Allen and Carson move through the system with success is my bet.