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Mets Daily Farm System Report - 6/1/12: All Wheeler, All The Time

By Rob Castellano Updated

*All results from games played on Wednesday, May 31st, 2012

Send all of your questions about the Mets farm system to AAProspectMailbag@gmail.com to see them answered here!

AAA - Buffalo Bisons (31-23)_______________________________________

COLUMBUS 3, BUFFALO 0 (Box)

Shutout aside, yesterday was a successful day out in bucolic Buffalo, NY where three regulars did the rehab thing and looked good doing it. Thole, Chris Young and Pedro Beato all showed signs that they'll be in Queens before too much longer. As far as the game action...well let's just focus on the positive today and move on.

  • REHAB ALERT: C Josh Thole: 1-4; Back with the big club tomorrow
  • 1B Josh Satin: 1-3, BB, 2 K
  • 2B Brad Emaus: 0-4, 2 K
  • OF Matt Tuiasosopo: 0-3, BB, K
  • REHAB ALERT: RHP Chris Young: 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K; 50 of 87 for strikes (57%)
  • REHAB ALERT: RHP Pedro Beato: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 IBB, 1 K; Both inherited runners scored
  • RHP Jeff Stevens: 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K; Elvin Ramirez is on his way but Stevens is another guy who can throw in the mid-90's and has actually got some major league reps with the Cubs, and after posting a 1.54 ERA over his last ten he may be an under the radar option for the big club at some point in 2012

AA - Binghamton Mets (25-26)_____________________________________

BINGHAMTON 8, READING 1 (Box)

Yes the B-Mets won, yes the lineup was very strong in this one. But honestly it's all about Zack Wheeler at this point. He was masterful once again last night, holding the opposition to just three hits and striking out more than a batter per inning -- the seventh time he's managed that feat in nine starts. Certainly earned his birthday cake this year, compliments of Robert Carson. With a season ERA at 1.88 and a K/9 well above 10 -- for the fourth straight season -- it's become pretty clear that Wheeler is ready for Triple-A. My only concern at the end of April was a BB/9 that was once again in the ~5 range; however over his last five starts he's at a sterling 2.80. There are very few weaknesses here, to the point that I'm starting to wonder if Triple-A will present much more of a challenge. We'll find out very soon as the impending departures of both Mejia and Young from the Buffalo rotation will clear the way nicely.

Hi-A St. Lucie Mets (41-12)________________________________________

ST. LUCIE 8, PALM BEACH 3 (Box)

Big night for the li'l Mets lineup, which blew up for 13 hits but an even more impressive 11 walks. (For anyone watching closely that's been a trend throughout the system this season as many of the Mets top prospects have learned to love the free pass.) Big days from Alonzo Harris (4-for-5, 7 total bases), Blake Forsythe (2-for-3, 3 RBI) and Wilmer Flores (yawn) would all have been better appreciated on a non-Wheeler night. What little kudos remaining are in order nonetheless.

  • RF Cesar Puello: DNP; Won't be back for at least a month with the broken hamate bone
  • 3B Wilmer Flores: 3-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R, BB; Already halfway to his walk total from 2011 (27), average is up to .330 now
  • CF Darrell Ceciliani: DNP
  • SS Wilfredo Tovar: 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB, E(8)
  • RF Cory Vaughn: 1-3, R, 2 BB, K
  • RHP Yohan Almonte: 5 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K
  • LHP Jack Leathersich: 3 IP, 1 ER (1 unearned), 2 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 1 HB; Hi-A hitters are having a little more success against the Leather Rocket, still striking out a ton though

Lo-A Savannah Sand Gnats (31-22)__________________________________

GREENSBORO 2, SAVANNAH 0 (Box)

In all of the fervor of Wheeler-mania you may have missed a truly tremendous pitching matchup in Savannah last night as two of the top teenage pitchers in all of organized baseball squared off. You already know 18-yr old Michael Fulmer, who the Mets drafted with the 44th overall selection last summer. But 30 picks earlier the Marlins nabbed their top pitching prospect, 19-yr old Jose Fernandez. And while Fulmer has been impressive thus far posting a 3.74 ERA and nearly a K an inning, Fernandez has been otherworldly with a sub-2 ERA, an 11+ K/9 and a ~2 BB/9. And that pretty much describes the outcome in this game; Fulmer was very good, but Fernandez was great.

★ Star of the Night ★

I've said this before but the more I see him the more Wheeler reminds me of another first rounder out of a Georgia high school, Adam Wainwright.

Goat of the Night

St. Lucie 2B Robbie Shields has been so-so thus far this season, batting .253 with 3 homers and 7 stolen bases. But on a night when hits were not tough to come by, hard to defend the '09 third rounder for an 0-for-6 with two strikeouts. And while we're at it, you pretty much have to wear it when you rack up a Golden Sombrero so Travis Taijeron shares the dishonor.

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