Mostly Mets Minors

With his recent Spring Training debut for the Astros, Fernando Martinez reminded everyone just why he was such a highly touted prospect. Now while it seems unlikely that is any sort of sign for future production from the player once dubbed the next Ted Williams, it gives us all a reminder of how talented F-Mart truly is, when on the field.

Photo credit http://allthingsbubba.blogspot.com/

In July of 2005, Omar Minaya signed the Dominican born outfielder for a signing bonus of 1.4 million, noting his power potential and character as reasons for the signing. Martinez, when on the field always was able to put up good numbers for a player his age at the level he was at, as Omar Minaya and Tony Bernazzard had an overly aggressive prospect promotion strategy. Martinez played in the Futures Game in 2008.

Once upon a time, Milb.com ranked him as the number 17 prospect in baseball, saying:

Despite playing less than half a Minor League season, Martinez is still highly regarded by scouts around baseball. The Mets sent him to the Arizona Fall League in 2006, where he became the youngest player ever to participate there, and continued to push him aggressively by making the 18-year-old the youngest player in the Double-A Eastern League in 2007. A hand injury hampered him for much of the year and eventually ended his season in July.

When healthy, Martinez has tremendous potential with the bat. He should eventually hit for both average and power from a corner outfield spot. He has the ability to play decent defense and isn’t a bad runner, but all his skills are still on the raw side. Assuming he’s healthy in 2008, Martinez should be able to continue his quick ascent to New York. Starting the year back in Double-A might be the way to go, but even if he begins there, it’s unlikely he’ll finish the season at the same level.

The biggest caveat to Martinez’s game was always “when healthy…” He never could stay on the field for an extended period of time, playing in just 76, 63, 90, 45, 75, and 63 games season by season. If scouts had factored in his injuries, he would have probably taken a bit of a hit in value. His most recent injury is his most concerning, which is Arthritis in his knee.

In January he was claimed off waivers by the Astros, after being released by the Mets. This seemed peculiar to me at the time, as even though Martinez had failed to produce at the Major League level to that point, he is still only 23 years old, and still could be a good left-handed bench player and fourth OF. Could he really have been that much worse than Adam Loewen and Mike Baxter?

Martinez is a reminder to all of us prospect watchers that not every player with five tools will become the star they have the talent to be. Hopefully F-Mart will help make guys like Wilmer Flores’ and Brandon Nimmo’s paths to the Majors that much easier.

This post’s Youtube video comes via BisonsTV:

One of the hot topics for Mets fans this Spring Training has been which pitching prospect is better, Matt Harvey, or Zack Wheeler?

Today I will do my first prospect profile on 2010 1st rounder, Matt Harvey.

Photo credit http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/w-pPTsfA7-D/2011+XM+All+Star+Futures+Game/_4-F9SnCjJb/Matt+Harvey

Harvey is a 6’4 righty who throws four pitches, a low 90s fastball that can hit 96, a slider, a curve, and a change-up. Harvey is a very polished pitcher, which is evident by his ability to throw all four of his pitches for strikes when necessary. He has a clean delivery that he can repeat with ease.

Toby Hyde of Metsminorleagueblog.com ranked Harvey as his number one Mets prospect, saying:

The son of a hitting coach, Harvey has a full four-pitch arsenal with a slider, curve and changeup to complement his plus fastball. His heater sits in the low-mid 90s, and can touch 96 or 97. In the offseason after the 2011 season, he worked to add a two-seam fastball/sinker to his arsenal.

Harvey lit up the Florida State League early last season, posting an 8-2 record with a ludicrous 10.89 K/9, and a 2.66 FIP. The Mets deemed that he had done enough to earn a promotion to the Mets Double-A affiliate in the Eastern League, where he put up   a 3.23 FIP.

One key for Harvey is going to be continuing to develop the 2-seam sinker he has been working on, as that will give him a pitch he can go to when he needs a double-play, or a ground ball to keep a runner on third with less than two outs.

He should start the season at Double-A, but could be in Buffalo by June. If that is the case, we could see him pitching in Citi by August or September, being the first glimmer of hope that we have for the future.

His ceiling is a true number one starter, who could anchor the Mets’ rotation for years to come, with his floor being a Mike Pelfrey type innings eater.

And now your Youtube video for this prospect, comes via mdeeeez:

And I will try to add a poll to the end of every post from now on, to help gauge reader opinion on every matter that I post on.