2011 Amazin' Avenue Top 50 Mets Prospects: # 21-30

Continuing in the week-long 2011 Amazin Avenue Top 50 Mets Prospects series, today we'll look at nos. 21 through 30. As I mentioned yesterday, you can find these rankings as well as further analysis, stats and visuals in the minor league section of the 2011 Amazin' Avenue Annual.

Take a look at the previous days' rankings here (#41-50) and here (#31-40). So without any further ado, on to today's rankings:

21. LHP Stephen Matz

(no professional experience)

A prep lefty that hits the low 90’s with ease is certainly exciting but after TJ in ’10 he likely won’t get fully underway ‘til 2012. With a strong fb and the makings of a decent curve & change up, Matz projects as a good lefty starter but not for quite a few years.

22. LHP Zach Dotson

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
MTS	GCL	0	1	3.31	4	4	0	0	0	16.1	12	6	6	0	9	18	2.33	.207

Another talented high school lefty, Dotson was a 13^th-round steal by the Mets who bought him out of a strong commitment to UGA in ‘09. Like Matz, he projects nicely due to size (6-3, 210) and a low 90’s fb with nasty life. He'll get a late start to the year in order to complete his ’10 suspension, which was reportedly for a non-PED substance.

Click past the break for nos. 23-30:

23. C Albert Cordero

Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
KNG	APP	.277	54	206	32	57	11	2	8	32	96	8	24	2	1	.306	.466	.772
SAV	SAL	.667	1	3	0	2	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	.667	.667	1.333
Minors		.282	55	209	32	59	11	2	8	33	98	8	24	2	1	.311	.469	.780

20-yr old shined in his US debut showcasing excellent defensive skills behind the plate as well as surprising pop from a catcher, trailing only Aderlin Rodriguez for the K-Mets team lead in home runs. Clear breakout candidate with the potential to jump up this list in ’11.

24. LHP Robert Carson

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
STL	FSL	7	5	4.17	17	16	0	0	0	86.1	98	42	40	5	33	69	1.34	.287
BIN	EAS	1	6	8.32	10	10	0	0	0	48.2	68	46	45	7	23	30	1.41	.343
Minors		8	11	5.67	27	26	0	0	0	135.0	166	88	85	12	56	99	1.37	.308

After a so-so first half with St. Lucie an aggressive promotion to Binghamton proved disastrous (see, 8.32 ERA). 21-year old lefty works in the low 90’s and piles up grounders thanks to true overhand delivery but shaky secondary stuff points to potential late-inning lefty long-term.

25. 3B Jefry Marte

Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
SAV	SAL	.264	82	329	40	87	19	4	6	44	132	30	65	4	5	.333	.401	.735

19-yr old made nice improvements to his offensive approach cutting K’s, walking more & showing more power before missing final 2 months with hamstring woes. Despite more errors he improved defensively and if he builds on all of this growth could break out in ’11.

26. SS Wilfredo Tovar

Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
STL	FSL	.246	30	118	14	29	5	1	0	6	36	3	22	4	3	.276	.305	.582
SAV	SAL	.281	44	160	12	45	10	0	0	17	55	8	12	4	5	.327	.344	.671
BRK	NYP	.265	18	68	11	18	2	1	0	6	22	2	9	4	3	.311	.324	.634
Minors		.266	92	346	37	92	17	2	0	29	113	13	43	12	11	.307	.327	.634

Played as high as Hi-A at 18 and held his own, showing a plus-plus glove at short and solid contact skills at the dish. Small stature (5-10, 160) probably precludes much power down the road but a role as a defensively-oriented backup MI is already well within reach.

27. CF Matt den Dekker

Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
MTS	GCL	.278	5	18	2	5	2	0	0	5	7	2	5	0	0	.350	.389	.739
SAV	SAL	.346	27	104	21	36	13	0	0	15	49	9	28	3	0	.404	.471	.875
Minors		.336	32	122	23	41	15	0	0	20	56	11	33	3	0	.396	.459	.855

Fifth-rounder in ’10 hit the ground running in Savannah where he posted a .407 wOBA as a CF with exceptional defensive ability. He swings and misses too much and his power right now is more doubles than homers but like Tovar, a floor as a defensive 4^th OF is very likely

28. 2B Jordany Valdespin

Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
STL	FSL	.289	65	270	40	78	16	3	6	33	118	8	45	13	10	.323	.437	.760
BIN	EAS	.232	28	112	8	26	8	0	0	8	34	2	23	4	2	.243	.304	.547
Minors		.272	93	382	48	104	24	3	6	41	152	10	68	17	12	.300	.398	.698

Very athletic IF impresses scouts with tools but secondary skills are highly suspect; regularly posts BB-rates under 5%. Very raw for a 23-yr old at the plate AND in the field. Batted .355 in AFL in ’10 but also had scouts talking about poor swing mechanics & trouble with breaking stuff.

29. RHP Akeel Morris

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
MTS	GCL	1	1	2.19	8	6	0	0	0	24.2	13	11	6	0	17	28	1.18	.148

Tenth rounder in ’10 from St. Thomas wowed in pro debut in GCL; hit 95mph as a 17-yr old(!) with good feel for a power curve. Possesses special arm speed and as much potential as almost any pitcher in this system; still far away but could easily jump up this list by this time next year.

30. RHP Armando Rodriguez

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
SAV	SAL	8	9	3.08	27	27	0	0	0	146.0	116	61	50	5	46	152	0.77	.214

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
ESC	DWL	1	0	6.97	8	1	0	0	0	10.1	13	8	8	0	3	11	0.46	.310

23-yr old pitched well in ’10 with Savannah, posting a 3.08 ERA with just 5 hrs allowed. Even more impressive was the 9+ K/9 paired with a sub-3 BB/9. And though he features a very strong 91-94mph fb, a spotty slurve and an undeveloped change point to relief long-term.