MAJORING ON THE
MINORS: TOP 30 PROSPECTS – WUIMER BECERRA - VOL.7 – Tom Brennan
I’m doing my Top 30 Prospects articles
a bit differently – in 2 lists:
·
A
top 20 list of guys who are closing in on the big leagues. Guys who could help us in the near future or
be trade bait.
·
A
top 10 list of lower minors guys who likely won’t show up until 2017 or later.
I started with the Top 10 List of
Down-The-Road Mets Prospects.
Here’s my TOP 10 Lower Minors List So Far:
#
1 - Marcos Molina
#2
– Michael Conforto
#3
– Amed Rosario
#4
– Dominic Smith
#5 - Jhoan Urena
#6
– Vicente Lupo
So,
getting down to business, today’s # 7 slot goes to:
WUILMER BECERRA
If asked the quiz
question, who is Part III of the Trade That Keeps on Giving (Cy Young award
winner R A Dickey for Syndergaard, d'Arnaud and....) the answer is Wuilmer Becerra.
Piece
#3 was signed by the Jays internationally for well over $1 million at the age
of 17. Wuilmer's first short season ended abruptly when hit in the face
by a pitch. At 18, he put up so-so #s and continued to do so for 17
games in 2014.
Then
came game # 18. Becerra went on a machine-like tear for his last 41 games, going
50 for 152 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, and 6 HRs. So THAT’S why he was the
3rd piece in that deal!
Becerra
is a 6'4”, 190 righty hitter who IMO ought to skip short season Brooklyn and
head straight on to Savannah. I hope that is the plan. 2015 spent in a
full season league at age 20 would go a long way towards seeing how good WB may
really become and how fast that might happen.
Hopefully,
fellow 2014 Kingsport teammate Vicente Lupo will join Wuilmer in that race to
the top and both will move into my Top 20 list of guys closer to major league
careers a year from now.
As
the pitching gets tougher, it will be interesting to see if Becerra falters or
flourishes. His strikeout #s were a tad high in 2014 (55 in 228 plate
appearances) and represent a caution light going forward.
Let
me add that he likes his lefties, with a .609 slug % in 46 at bats vs.
southpaws in 2014.
Seven
prospects down, 3 to go. #8 in my next update. Keep Reading.
3 comments:
Given his lost year, which nevertheless counts toward his service time, I wouldn't be surprised if they moved him directly to St Lucie. The light seemed to go on for him last season, and it'll be fun to see what we might have in him in 2015.
Adam, great point. If he can handle Lucie, perhaps. They could start him in Gnat Land and quickly bump him to Loo-sie if he shows readiness.
Hey guys -
Back from the dead.
Becerra hit .300 with an .808-OBP for Kingsport. There's no way he's going back there in 2015.
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