New York Mets Sleeper Prospects to Watch in Spring Training

The 2015 season looks to be an exciting one for the New York Mets. With spring training just around the corner, emerging talents wait in the wings, hoping to prove themselves.

That means it’s time to learn about the one you don't know yet, who will soon become a name that you’ll hear about moving forward. Two weeks ago, the Mets announced that they were inviting 17 non-roster players to their spring training roster. Perhaps the most exciting names to top that list are Brandon Nimmo, Kevin Plawecki and Gavin Cecchini.

Nimmo, the 13th overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft, is the most exciting name on the list for many fans. Additionally, this is his second consecutive invitation.

Eleven of the 17 players invited for 2015 training were pitchers and catchers, who must report by February 19. The remaining position players have until February 24 to report to spring training for the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

According to ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin, former Mets reliever John Franco, 54, will serve as a guest instructor for the Mets during spring training. Last season, legendary Mets catcher Mike Piazza joined the team as an instructor as well.

Franco, who played in the majors for 21 seasons and for New York from 1990 to 2004, will be a knowledgeable and insightful source of information for the young prospects who are hoping to jump into the majors in the next few seasons.

While Nimmo is the most recognizable name that the Mets staff will work out during spring training, you may want to learn about these other exciting names before spring ball kicks off for the Amazin’ Mets.

Brandon Nimmo

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

But first, let's start with the obvious: Nimmo, whom media have been raving about and whom fans have been eager to watch play for the Mets since he was selected in the early half of the first round in the 2011 MLB draft.

He is an outfielder built for success. While Nimmo is one of just four non-roster players also invited to the 2014 spring training sessions for New York, the prospect has yet to make his major league debut. In four seasons of minor league baseball, he has a .387 on-base percentage and has collected 20 home runs, including 10 last season for St. Lucie and Binghamton.

Nimmo played in a career-high 127 games last season, and his cumulative .820 OPS was his best yet in professional baseball.

It’s no surprise that Chris Mellen of Baseball Prospectus recently named Nimmo the best position player prospect for the Mets. According to a fairly exciting story in the New York Daily News, Nimmo has reportedly put on 26 pounds of muscle while training with Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder and 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen.   

"The nice thing is we don't have to push him," said Mets general manager Alderson, according to Mike Vorkunov of NJ.com, "with what we have as a starting outfield going into next season."

Veteran outfielder Michael Cuddyer (who was signed this offseason) will join Curtis Granderson, who is entering his second season for New York, as well as speedy youngster Juan Lagares. The Mets also have a deep bench for outfield, highlighted by Matt den Dekker and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

Nimmo, who made the Fall Star Game for the Arizona Fall League in 2014, will likely play the beginning of 2015 in Triple-A for the Mets.

"To me he's right on track to probably go to Las Vegas this year," continued Alderson. "If what happens going forward is similar to what happened in Binghamton, where more of the power is evident, I think he's right on track."   

But according to J.J. Cooper at BaseballAmerica.com, Nimmo could be on track to make his debut for the Mets in 2015.

“As far as an ETA, Nimmo could put himself in position for a call-up to New York with a strong first half,” wrote Cooper. “Long term, he does look to be a top-of-the-order hitter, although one who could grow into a middle-of-the-lineup role as he continues to mature and gain strength.”

Kevin Plawecki

Elsa/Getty Images

Plawecki is the No. 2 overall prospect for the Mets, as well as the top position player, according to MLB Pipeline on MLB.com.

In the overall prospect rankings on MLB.com, MLB Pipeline lists Plawecki as the No. 4 overall catcher. The 23-year-old was selected with the 35th overall pick in 2012. In three seasons, he has an OPS of .811 with 26 home runs, including five in just 43 games at the Triple-A level in Las Vegas last season.

After he boasted an impressive on-base percentage of .365 in 2014, some are beginning to wonder if the offensively talented catcher could be ready for the MLB in 2015.

Only there’s a catch (hold your applause): With Travid d’Arnaud, the Mets already have a young and talented catcher with proven offensive skills.

“If their potential starts to converge at the major league level, and it warrants major league time, then we’ll have to make a decision,” said Alderson, according to Andy Martin in the New York Daily News.

Some may call for Alderson to trade Plawecki if Mets catcher d’Arnaud starts the season off strong. In 139 MLB games over the past two seasons for New York, d’Arnaud has impressed many.

His .683 OPS with 14 home runs in the majors is a valuable asset to have for a young catcher. Where would Plawecki even get any playing time, should he become ready for action during the 2015 MLB season? 

Plawecki, who started behind the plate for the Mets in the 2014 Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game, knows that his future is uncertain. But according to MiLB.com, he’s confident with how he’s handled his unique situation.

“As of right now, I'm a Met, and I'm happy where I am,” said Plawecki, in an interview with Robert Emrich. “I'll just keep working out and be ready to go come spring training.”

Gavin Cecchini

Associated Press

Cecchini, 21, was invited to spring training for the Mets and has lots to prove.

This seems to be thematic for the young shortstop, who was drafted in the first round with the 12th overall pick for New York in the 2012 MLB draft. His selection raised some eyebrows—rightfully so, of course, considering the Mets selected him just one selection after Addison Russell, for comparison, with top prospects including Corey Seager still available at the same position.

According to MLB Pipeline, Russell is the No. 5 overall prospect in 2014 Prospect Watch, and Seager is No. 13. They are ranked third and fourth, respectively, at the shortstop position, while Cecchini has not yet cracked the top 10.

His numbers, to date, have not been particularly flashy either. His career batting average is a subpar .251 in the minors, with an on-base percentage of a decent .322. Speed isn’t his thing either, considering he has recorded just 17 stolen bases in three seasons.

According to FanSided's Michael Lecolant, Baseball America ranked Cecchini as the No. 2 overall prospect for the Mets in 2012. In 2013, Cecchini fell to No. 9 overall in the organization. Coming into this season, he is the No. 10 overall prospect for the Mets.  

“Offensively, we think he’s a guy who is going to hit first or second in a lineup and be a very tough out, hit for average, get on base, hit for a little power,” said Paul DePodesta, according to MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com.

In his first season in the minors, Cecchini recorded just one home run in 218 plate appearances. During his second season, over 212 plate appearances for the Brooklyn Cyclones, Cecchini failed to hit a single home run.

“We’re not expecting him to go and hit 30 homers, but he’s not going to hit three either.”

So what's going on? And when should you start to feel excited about this guy?

Fortunately for the Mets, Cecchini seemed to find his stride in 2014. He hit eight home runs—including five while playing High-A ball in St. Lucie. Adding 27 doubles and 5 triples, both career highs, Cecchini improved his 2014 slugging percentage to .378 after recording a .314 while playing Low-A ball in Brooklyn.

He also improved his walk rate from 6.6 percent in Brooklyn during his 2013 campaign to 10.7 percent during his 2014 campaign, demonstrating better patience at the plate.

“Cecchini’s strong walk rate is a good sign on its own,” wrote Sean Cunningham for Amazin’ Avenue. “But the fact that it has significantly improved speaks to one of Cecchini’s greatest—and well-documented—traits as a prospect: his work ethic.”

Before the 2014 season, Cunningham actually wrote for Bleacher Report that Cecchini was the No. 1 prospect to watch that season. Now, before the 2015 season, I’ve concluded that the same is true for the 2015 season.

With the Mets' uncertainty at the shortstop position, and with Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada still unable to prove themselves as “the shortstop of the future” for the Mets, Cecchini is a sleeper to make the jump in 2015. 

If Cecchini is unable to prove himself, by the way, look for infield prospect Matt Reynolds to be the next man up for attention at shortstop.

Steven Matz

USA TODAY Sports

Matz, 23, has created a decent amount of hype heading into the 2015 MLB season.

He is the youngest pitcher invited to the upcoming spring training to earn an actual roster spot. In fact, the only younger players on the entire Mets roster are Wilmer Flores and Wilfredo Tovar. In three professional seasons in the minor leagues, Matz boasts an impressive strikeout rate of 9.3 per nine innings with an equally admirable WHIP of just 1.177 over 275.1 innings.

Some of the hype surrounding the young lefty includes a recent New York Daily News headline stating that Matz “could be the next Jacob deGrom," which is particularly impressive considering that deGrom took home the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year Award.

Baseball Prospectus also named Matz the second-best overall prospect for the Mets heading into the 2015 season.  

While the Mets drafted him in 2009, Tommy John surgery delayed the start of his professional career until 2012.

Now, however, the Long Island-born lean and lanky hurler is ranked as the No. 8 overall left-handed pitching prospect, according to MLB.com.

“I think Steven Matz is the best pitching prospect that we have,” said Triple-A manager Wally Backman, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. “For me, he’s untouchable.”  

Last season, in his final 12 games for Double-A in Binghamton, he posted a ridiculous strikeout-to-walk ratio: 4.93. His ERA was a quality 2.24 in Binghamton and St. Lucie last season, and he allowed just three home runs over the course of 140.2 innings pitched.

Developmentally, Matz appears ready to take off. When spring training begins for the Mets, keep your eyes open for this talented pitcher, regardless of the other talent that will already await him as competition for playing time in the MLB.

“The Mets have so many good arms in their minor league system, if you don’t do well, you will get put aside,” Matz told Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. “That definitely gives you a little extra push, a little extra drive."