Mets Sign Former Mariners Top Prospect Matt Tuiasosopo

by Rob Castellano on Jan 27, 2012 11:27 PM EST in Mets Minor League

SEATTLE - Matt Tuiasosopo #10 of the Seattle Mariners doubles against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field on August 3, 2010 in Seattle Washington.

According to Baseball America's Matthew Eddy, the Mets have inked 25-yr old former blue chip prospect 3B Matt Tuiasosopo to a minor league contract. The '04 third rounder spent all of 2011 with Seattle's Triple-A Tacoma affiliate where he batted .226 with 14 homers and a .735 OPS. Expect to see a lot of him in Buffalo this summer.

For those who don't know, Tuiasosopo was once very highly thought of in prospect circles based on his extreme athleticism. For two straight seasons Tuiasosopo ranked in the top five of BA's Mariners top ten. However, despite the awesome raw tools he was never able to turn it into production on the field.

In eight minor league seasons after being drafted by his hometown club, he managed just a .263/.359/.405 triple-slash while playing poor defense at third. In parts of three seasons with the big club he batted just .176 with five homers and 15 RBI's.

Relating to a point I recently made in the Top 50 rankings, athleticism or not, hitting is a really hard thing to do. And Tuiasosopo was just never able to develop the power required by his position, nor much semblance of plate discipline.

And yes, if there was any doubt that was his brother playing quarterback for the Jets and Raiders...

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Comments

org filler? or are there at least minimal expectations?

by clip on Jan 27, 2012 11:45 PM EST reply actions

Org filler

Unless he suddenly improves just about every aspect of his game.

by psiogen on Jan 28, 2012 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

was about to say at org filler

with the athletic potential to still figure things out. I don’t really see where he fits on the Bison’s though, unless he can play outfield too.

semi-related news I just saw on Johnathon Malo, good for him

2012 New York Mets, World Series Champions!

by astromets on Jan 28, 2012 1:46 AM EST up reply actions

He has played 122 innings in LF for the Mariners.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place

by Ogre39666 on Jan 28, 2012 2:37 AM EST up reply actions

Nice utility guy to have around.

He can play all 4 IF positions, plus LF.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Jan 28, 2012 4:14 AM EST up reply actions

Let's convert him to catcher too

Or to pitcher

In lobby for: Jaime Cevallos, Zack Lutz, orange unis and Rickroll as the 7th inning song.
The Unwritten Rules of AA

by Michkin on Jan 28, 2012 8:01 AM EST up reply actions

Sounds like a real winner

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
Ryder or Riot #WWWYKI

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 28, 2012 1:20 PM EST reply actions

Meh, he's more or less another Jon Malo

With the potential to be more than just Jon Malo, I guess. Sometimes these guys end up making for interesting, if inconsequential baseball memories. Val Pascucci’s HR against Cole Hamels, or that AAAA dude who got David Cone to balk at Yankee Stadium, was that Steve Bieser (and why the hell do I remember that)?

37 - 14 - 41 - 31 - 17 - 42 - SHEA

by piazza62 on Jan 28, 2012 10:04 PM EST reply actions

To be fair to Val,

he probably deserved more of a look, especially in the AL. Maybe just AAAA fodder, but his numbers have always been great. Oh well, he’s never played in the minors for an AL team anyway.

Astro Traveler

by BlackOps on Jan 29, 2012 2:58 AM EST up reply actions

He's a lot like Allan Dykstra to me

Good power, great eye at the plate, but a big, slow swing that won’t allow him to make adjustments for the nuances of major league pitching, and not enough athleticism to make up for it. They can get a look at the end of the season if the team is clinched or eliminated, but won’t be able to hit big league pitching long term.

37 - 14 - 41 - 31 - 17 - 42 - SHEA

by piazza62 on Jan 29, 2012 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

My point was that with his consistent numbers he should've gotten more than that.

Of course, we won’t ever know, because he didn’t get that shot. Even Mike Morse ended up getting something, Dan Johnson, Jack Cust, etc. Val should’ve signed with an AL team.

Astro Traveler

by BlackOps on Jan 29, 2012 5:48 PM EST up reply actions

way to young to be saying that about Dykstra in my opinion

if he could put up his AA line as a DH in the AL, especially if so during his first 6 years of team control, I think some teams would want him. He has no future on the Mets as of right now, and he would need to cut down on those k’s and/or improve his defensive reputation for him to get a 1B job in the NL. I think a poor mans Jack Cust is a good description of him right now, with the potential to be Jack Cust lite

2012 New York Mets, World Series Champions!

by astromets on Jan 29, 2012 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

Tuu Timp?

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
Ryder or Riot #WWWYKI

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 29, 2012 7:43 PM EST reply actions

Prediction:

Ralph Kiner will pronounce Tuiasosopo correctly, but mess up on the word “Matt.”

Ralph Kiner: You've gotta change the script, I don't like the script.
Gary Cohen: What's wrong with the script?
Ralph Kiner: Well the script should be the Mets win every day.

by StorkFan on Jan 29, 2012 9:08 PM EST reply actions 1 recs