Disclaimer (because someone will ask why a player I didn't see isn't on this list): This is a ranking of the best Mets prospects I saw in person this year. This is not a comprehensive Mets prospect list. I did not see Las Vegas, St. Lucie or the GCL team this year. If a player is not on the list, it is most likely because I did not see him. Otherwise, all rankings are consistent with how I would order the players within the Mets system. Oh yeah, and I am not a scout.
4. Gavin Cecchini, SS
6'1", 180
Bats/Throws: R/R
Age: (as of Opening Day 2014) 20.3
Acquired: 1st round, 2012
2013: 212 PA, .273/.319/.314, 30 K, 14 BB for Brooklyn (SS-A)
Date(s) seen: 8/24/13 @ Vermont Lake Monsters
Additional look on TV, 8/22/13 vs. Staten Island
The short of it: It's been slow-going for the 2012 first round pick, as injuries have kept him off the field, and he hasn't wowed while on it.
The long of it: I'm not exactly thrilled about ranking Cecchini off of one game. Even sitting on a hitter for a whole series won't tell you all you need to know of course, but ideally you'd get to see him against a variety of pitchers and see him make a variety of plays in the field. Also, because of the ridiculous parking situation at UVM, I missed his first at-bat. So consider this report to have a very high delta. That said, based on what I saw, and from conversations I've had with other talent evaluators, I have some concerns. He definitely plays to the scouting report as it were. There's no standout tool, but he manages to get it done in the field. The arm looks better on TV than it did in live game action, where it's solid-average, but stretched a bit at short. Didn't get to see if he had a second gear for throws or not. He moves well in the field, but is a below-average runner (granted, he was coming off a high ankle sprain) and still a bit mechanical on plays. In short, he has enough athletic tools to play shortstop in the New York Penn League, but I do wonder if that will still be true at higher levels. I have some concerns about the bat as well. It's difficult to predict how 19-year-olds will age, but I don't see him growing into average power (or moving over to third base) like his older brother. Even if he did add strength, as of right now the swing would severely limit how much he could tap into it. He tends to shuffle his feet a bit in the box, which impedes his weight transfer and often leaves him swinging with just his upper half. This causes him to end up slapping at balls rather than really driving them. Cecchini will make contact, but until he starts using his legs more, he'll be a singles hitter. Rosario and he are quite close in my mind, and I could be swayed to flip their rankings, but I think Cecchini has a higher floor. As always, high floor doesn't mean major league floor. I expect Cecchini to improve given a full healthy season, but I'm sure that won't stop the 'should of picked' crowd out there.
The projection: Second division starter (second base most likely)
Risk Factor: High. Limited athletic tools for an up-the-middle position, No track record in full season ball. Concerns if the bat will play with a move down the defensive spectrum.
What’s next: Savannah, finally.
What I'll be looking for in 2014: A full, healthy season in Savannah, a place that probably won't do much for Cecchini's raw offensive numbers.