Those of you that follow the Mets minor league system already know what a wonderful year they are having developing future rotational pitchers.  Right now, there are 8 prospects that look to have the goods to make it to the rotation, and 6 more that also are showing signs that they too could be major league material.  Will all of them make it?  Most probably no, and no one team can assimilate 14 additional starters over a five year period, but problems like this are fun to have.  IMO, the potential starters, and the year they first would make a full year’s contribution, are:

2007:

John Maine P R R 6' 4" 205 25 05-08-1981 -  The Baltimore Orioles drafted John Maine with the 6th pick in the 2002 draft. He was the team's Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 14-3 with a 2.27 ERA with Class A Delmarva and Frederick. He also led all of the minor leagues in strikeouts in 2003. Maine advanced through the Orioles system too quickly and made a parent team appearance in 2004. The Hardball Times had him, in 2004, as the 24th top prospect in all of baseball. In 2005, Maine was 2-3, 6.30 with Baltimore, and 6-11, 4.56 with AAA Ottawa. On 1-21-06, the Mets traded P Kris Benson to the Orioles for P Jorge Julio and Maine. OnDeck has Maine ranked as the #5 Mets prospect. Maine’s total minor league numbers through July 2006 are H/9: 7.44…  BB/9:  2.82…  SO/9:  9.56… HR/9:  0.62. His fastball is in the 94-95 MPH range. (as we all know, he’s on the parent staff and pitching within the rotation… his 2006 efforts will help determine his 2007nstatus)

Brian Bannister  -  John Sickles has Bannister with a C+ rating and ranked as the No. 4 Mets prospect. Currently, Bannister is going through the rehab system and should be back at Shea sometime this month; however, it will be 2007 before he will become an important part of the rotation.

Michael Pelfrey P R R 6' 7" 210 22 01-14-1984 - Pelfrey spent his college career at Wichita State University, where he went 12-3 in his last season, posting a 1.93 ERA in 139.2 innings. The Mets selected Pelfrey in the first round (ninth overall) of 2005 draft. He received a 5.25 contract, through 2009, with a 3.5mil signing bonus. Mike was named to the Eastern League all-star team in 2006, and OnDeck currently ranks him as the Mets No. 2 prospect. Scout.com updated their prospect rankings in July 2006, now ranking Pelfrey No. 12 in baseball. Sent back down to work on secondary pitchers and consistency.

2008:

Philip Humber P R R 6' 4" 210 23 12-21-1982 - Humber was first drafted in the 29th round of the 2001 draft by the New York Yankees, but chose to attend Rice University instead. Humber pitched 3 years for Rice University, compiling a 35-8 record and a 2.80 ERA. The Mets picked him as their No. 1 pick (third overall) in 2004, where he received a 3.7mil signing bonus. In 2005, Humber went a combined 2-7 for St. Lucie and Birmingham, and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He returned to St. Lucie on 6-28-06.  Baseball America ranked Humber the 20th top prospect in the Florida State League. Humber throws a 90-94 mph fastball that tops off at 97, a true ‘12-6’ curve, and a splitter that he also uses as a change. OnDeck lists him as the Mets No. 3 prospect. Rotoworld updated their 2006 list of prospects in July and now have Humber as 74th. Sickles had Humber with a pre-season C+ rating and ranked as the 10th Mets prospect. Scout.com updated their rankings of prospects in July 2006 and rank Huber #132 in baseball. Humber’s promotion to AA puts him back as a shoe-in for the 2008 season, if not part of 2007.

Michael Devaney P R R 6' 4" 220 23 07-31-1982 - Michael Devaney was drafted by the Mets in the 23rd round (674th overall) of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.  He attended school at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, where he was a two way player, hitting .409 with 10 HR's in his senior season. During his sophomore season, Devaney threw a no-hitter against Rockies prospect Jeff Francis.  Scout.com listed him the 43^rd top Mets prospect in 2004. In 2005, Devaney  had a wonderful season last year in Brooklyn and was one of the top pitchers in the NY-Penn league. You dream for a 23rd pick like this one. Devaney was promoted to AA in July 2006. As of the 2006 all-star break, he has a 24-7 record as a minor-leaguer and his biggest problem might be finding a spot on the parent roster.

2009

My guess at this point is that no one will go parent at the start of 2009.

2010

Jon Niese P L L 6' 3" 190 19 10-27-1986  -  Niese was voted Gatorade High School Baseball Player of the Year for two straight years. The Mets drafted him in the 7th round in 2005, and Niese got his feet wet at the GCL Mets, going 1-0 in 7 games, posting a 3.65 ERA and throwing 24 Ks in 24.2 IP.   OnDeck has Niese listed as the 18th Mets prospect. John Sickles pre-season rating of Niese was a C and was ranked the 19th Mets prospect.Possesses an 88-92 mph fastball that’s described as “sneaky fast.” Niese will celebrate his 20th birthday on Oct. 27 and many in the Mets FO think he has the highest ceiling of all the pitching prospects.

Nelson Portillo P R R 6' 0" 180 20 09-08-1985  -  Portillo is a product of the Mets Venezuelan Summer League program. In 2005,  Portillo went 6-0 with a 1.16 ERA. He allowed just 38 hits in 62.1 innings, while walking 17 and striking out 60.  In 2006, Portillo spot started for the Hagerstown Suns and was transferred to Brooklyn when their season started. Expect him to start 2007 at H-Town and move on from there

Deolis Guerra P R R 6' 5" 200 17 04-17-1989  - Guerra was one of top two international prospects secured by the Mets last year. The Mets inked the 16 year-old Guerra in July 2005 for $700,000, and he made his professional debut with Hagerstown on May 6, 2006. He actually signed the same day as fellow prospect Fernando Martinez.  OnDeck ranks Guerra as the 8^th Mets prospect. His pitches include a 91-92 mph fastball, and a developing change-up. It’s hard to judge a 17 year-old playing organized ball, but Hagerstown has purposely limited Guerra’s pitches so far this season.

Other Potential Starters:

Willie Collazo P L L 5' 9" 175 26 11-07-1979    -  Collazo was originally drafted in the 10th round, in 2001, by the Atlanta Braves, and played in their organization in Jamestown (2001), Macon (2001), Greenville (2002-2003), and Myrtle Beach (2003). The Braves lost Collazo to Anaheim in the Rule V draft, where it seemed that his career took off in the wrong direction.  2004 was spent at AA Arkansas (6-10, 4.62) and in April 2005, Collazo was suspended for 15 games for testing positive for steroids. His stats that year were  a disappointing 6.75 ERA wth the Los Angeles Angels' Class AA and AAA teams. In 320.1 minor league innings, Collazo has posted a 3.82 ERA. His second chance came in March of 2006, when the Mets signed Collazo to a minor league contract after pitching for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. The Mets promoted Collazo to AAA Norfolk on 6-28-06, after going 6-5 and 2.86 with the B-Mets.

Matthew Durkin P R R 6' 4" 220 23 02-22-1983     -   First drafted by Arizona in the 10th round/2001, Durkin chose not to sign. He went on to pitch for 3 years for San Jose State University. Matt Durkin was drafted by the Mets in the 2nd round of the 2004 draft. He signed, receiving an $800,000 bonus. He also signed late and did not report until the 2005 season. In 2005, Durkin was 4-5 with a 3.77 ERA for H-Town. Fast ball in the 91-93 range and tops off at 95. Durkin has worked hard to develop a decent curveball. OnDeck has him ranked as the #20 Mets prospect and John Sickles gives him a C rating and placed him the 15th Mets prospect. Got drilled at GCL this week… his time may be over.

Evan MacLane L  L  6-2  185  11/4/82   -   MacLane went to Feather River Community College, in California. The Mets drafted MacLane in 2003, in the 25th round. He went 23-10, 2.74 in the lower minors and reached Double-A in mid-2005. MacLane is a finesse pitcher, his fastball tops off in the mid 80s. He has a decent curveball and an outstanding changeup, MacLane throws a lot of strikes and is a Tom Glavine like position pitcher. Projected to be a mid-reliever in the majors.  Scout.com ranked MacLane the 40th Mets prospect in 2004. Currently, OnDeck ranks MacLane the 19th Mets prospect. Sickles’ pre-season rating of MacLane was C and had him ranked as the 20th Mets prospect

Bobby Parnell P R R 6' 3" 180 21 09-08-1984  -  Parnell was drafted by the Mets in the 9th round of the 2005 Draft, out of Charleston Southern University. Parnell pitched 3 years in college.  His ERA was, 2003:  4.76…  2004:  6.82…  2005:  8.86.  Many wondered why he was drafted at all, no less this high. In 2005, Parnell pitched at Brooklyn, posting a 2-3 record and a 1.73 ERA. Parnell started the 2006 season in Hagerstown. Baseball America ranked him the 20th top prospect in the NY-Penn league. OnDeck has him the 10th ranked Mets prospect, and John Sickles gave him a C+ ratings and ranked him the 9th Mets prospect

Miguel Pinango P R R 6' 1" 160 23 01-20-1983 -  Pinango was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Mets in 1999. He spent 2000 with the VSL Mets, 2001 with Kingsport, and 2002 with Brooklyn. In 2003, Pinango had a breakout season with Cap Cities (13-6  3.47) and became one of Mets top pitching prospects. His 2004 season was spent at St. Lucie (2-2  2.75) where an arm injury ended his season early. Scout.com had him ranks as the 31st Mets prospect in 2004.In 2005, Pinango’s career continued to be injury plagued, playing for GCL Mets and St. Lucie (3-2  4.13).

Jacob Ruckle P R R 6' 1" 180 20 05-27-1986  -  The Mets drafted Jacob with their 41st selection (1214th overall) in the 2004 amateur draft. Ruckle attended Mohave High School in Arizona and was signed by the Mets as a draft and follow in May 2005 after a year with Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Contract/Options Status: $100,000 signing bonus. OnDeck ranks Ruckle as the 25th Mets prospect.

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