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New York Mets Daily Farm System Report - 6/8/12: Is Wheeler Ready For Triple-A? Wheeler Votes 'Yes'

By Rob Castellano
...and the citizens of Buffalo rejoiced.
...and the citizens of Buffalo rejoiced.

*All results from games played on Thursday, June 7th, 2012

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

The big news of the day is that Mets top draft pick Gavin Cecchini has agreed to terms on a $2.3M deal set to be officially signed this afternoon.

The beauty of the quick signing is that we'll now get to see the teenage shortstop play significant innings this year. In fact, word is that in a couple short weeks we'll be covering him on a daily basis down in Kingsport. But you don't have to wait to follow him right now on Twitter @GavinCechinni2.

AAA - Buffalo Bisons (35-26)_______________________________________

BUFFALO 3, COLUMBUS 2 (Box)

The Bisons pulled ahead in the top of the first on RBI singles from Big Val and Raul Reyes and never really looked back in this one. Starter Garrett Olson continued to be fine. The idea has been floated around these parts to move him into a bullpen role to spell Byrdak as a second lefty; however, with a .277 average against lefties -- and 9 walks in 12 ab's -- I'm not sure that would be a great fit. Enter Josh Edgin, who is starting to look more comfortable in Buffalo as he struck out three of the five batters he faced without allowing a baserunner. He now has 9 K's over his last 6+ IP. Much more of this and he'll be potentially joining Elvin in Queens.

  • 2B Brad Emaus: 0-4, K, E(5)
  • C Rob Johnson: 1-4, 2 K
  • SS Sean Kazmar: 2-4, K; Next on the chopping block at short should Quintanilla succumb to the finger injury...batting .125 in his first 6 games at Triple-A
  • DH Corey Wimberly: 2-4, RBI, K, CS(4)
  • LHP Garrett Olson: W, 5 IP, 1 ER (1 unearned), 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K
  • LHP Josh Edgin: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K; Perhaps his best performance as a Bison?
  • RHP Manny Acosta: 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K; Doing what he does best, crushing minor leaguers

AA - Binghamton Mets (27-29)_____________________________________

BINGHAMTON 4, HARRISBURG 1 (Box)

Zack Wheeler made it his personal mission to embarrass all 207 of you that voted 'No' in yesterday's poll. The 22-yr old Wheeler was dominant yet again, proving that Double-A is probably not the appropriate context for him to work out his remaining issues. Once again he just overpowered opposing hitters, regardless of his shaky command. And according to John Harper he is forcing the Mets to consider rapid promotion. More and more it's becoming clear that by the end of this season there's a good chance Wheeler is in the discussion for baseball's top overall prospect; just incredible that the Mets were able to get their hands on a pitcher of this ilk.

  • LF Juan Lagares: 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R, K, SB(11); Good to see him running more again
  • CF Matt Den Dekker: 2-4, R, K, 2 SB(9); Batting .360 over his last ten games
  • 3B Jefry Marte: 1-4, 2B, RBI, E(8)
  • 2B Reese Havens: DNP
  • C Kai Gronauer: 2-4, 2B, SB(2); Rough year for the German Sensation, currently batting .188
  • RHP Zack Wheeler: W, 7 IP, 0 ER (1 unearned), 2 H, 4 BB, 7 K, 1 HB; Just keeps on rolling, but displayed a bit of that shaky command that I talked about yesterday...regardless more and more scouts are sold on Wheeler as a future ace
  • RHP Adrian Rosario: 2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K; In other news, Rosario still hasn't allowed a run in his first 7 games at Double-A and at age 23 with good stuff he's a definite candidate for a big league role over the next couple months if he keeps this up

Hi-A St. Lucie Mets (46-14)________________________________________

CLEARWATER 3, ST. LUCIE 2 (Box)

Why does St Lucie always lose on my day?! Pretty textbook loss, not a lot to talk about here. Starter Angel Cuan wasn't particularly bad, though the lineup managed just three hits...so, yeah. With Flores out of the lineup for a day it's made quite clear that the little Mets lineup is starting to feel the impact of attrition with guys like Puello, Ceciliani and Muno on the shelf.

  • RF Cory Vaughn: 1-4, HR(11), K; You've got to love the power but after a .217 May -- currently at .235 overall -- and twice as many strikeouts as walks I'm starting to really question if he'll ever hit enough to be an impact major leaguer
  • SS Wilfredo Tovar: 0-4
  • 3B Wilmer Flores: DNP
  • 3B Robbie Shields: 0-3, K; Average down to .243, prospect status waning...
  • DH Francisco Pena: 2-4, 2B
  • LHP Angel Cuan: L, 5.1 IP, 2 ER (1 unearned), 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 HB; ERA still well below 3
  • RHP Kyle Allen: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K; With an ERA around 2, he's finding new life as a reliever
  • RHP Taylor Whitenton: 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K

Lo-A Savannah Sand Gnats (35-24)__________________________________

GAME ONE: ASHEVILLE 2, SAVANNAH 0 (Box)

Starter Rafael Montero was good, but Tourists starter Tyler Anderson was better. However, Montero continued to acquit himself extremely well as each of Savannah's three young pitchers jockey for position on this young season. Following Tapia's early season surge, Montero has come on strong for the pole position. Fulmer hasn't been as eye-popping but at age 19 he's been no less impressive...

GAME TWO: ASHEVILLE 4, SAVANNAH 5 (Box)

...which brings us to our game two starter. While it was a battle for Fulmer at times, he hung in there long enough for his offense to come back from four down as he found his way in the middle innings. He was then rewarded with a big Brandon Brown homer in the fifth to take him off the hook. Fulmer clearly didn't have his best stuff in this one but he continued to strike out nearly a batter an inning and showcase the developing secondary stuff that makes him dangerous.

★ Star of the Night ★

Wheeler. Eastern League hitters are now batting just .160 against Wheelerpro, tops in the EL and second in all of Double-A baseball trailing just 2010 second overall selection by the Mariners, LHP Danny Hultzen.

Goat of the Night

Wheeler. 0-for-3 with 3 K's at the dish? Disgraceful.

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