The New York Mets are now filling out their rosters for their minor league affiliates. The Low-A Columbia Fireflies released the roster today.
The star-filled unit features six of the top 28 New York Mets prospects (as ranked by MLB.com and Baseball America), Columbia native and former University of South Carolina Gamecocks outfielder Gene Cone and two-time BCS National Champion Tim Tebow.
Outfielder Desmond Lindsay (#4, Baseball America), right-hander Merandy Gonzalez (#14, BA), infielder Luis Carpio (#16, MLB.com), catcher Ali Sanchez (#21, MLB), infielder Milton Ramos (#23, MLB) and right-hander Harol Gonzalez (#28, BA) make up the list of Mets prospects on the roster.
Furthermore, Jose Leger returns to manage a team that also features 10 former top-10 round draft picks and three Mets Sterling Award winners (given annually to the best player at each Mets minor league level).
Cone – who led South Carolina to a Super Regional in last year’s NCAA tournament – returns to his hometown after being selected by the Mets in the 10th round last June. Cone’s 31-game hit streak during the 2016 season was a USC school record and the longest streak in Division-I baseball last year. The 22-year-old played his high school ball at Spring Valley, just 20 minutes from Spirit Communications Park.
Another Palmetto State star joins Cone in Columbia this season. Infielder Michael Paez helped Coastal Carolina capture the 2016 College World Series last June, defeating Arizona in the best-of-three championship series. Paez’ walk-off base hit against LSU in the Super Regional punched the Chanticleers’ first-ever ticket to Omaha.
In addition to Cone and Paez, other former top-10 round draft picks include Lindsay (Out-of-Door Academy, 2015 – 2nd round), infielder Blake Tiberi (Louisville, 2016 – 3rd), Ramos (American Heritage HS, 2014 – 3rd), right-hander Austin McGeorge (Long Beach State, 2016 – 7th), infielder Dash Winningham (Trinity Catholic HS, 2014 – 8th), righty Colin Holderman (Heartland CC, 2016 – 9th) and right-hander Witt Haggard (Delta State, 2015 – 10th). Left-hander Blake Taylor was drafted in the 2nd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 and was acquired by the Mets in a trade the following year.
After being selected by the Mets in the 2nd round two years ago (New York’s first selection, though, in the 2015 draft), Lindsay posted two superb seasons. The Floridian hit .303 in 2016 with both Brooklyn and the Gulf Coast League Mets (rookie). Baseball America describes Lindsay as “already physically mature for a teenager” and projects him to be the Mets starting centerfielder in as soon as three years.
Both Harol and Merandy Gonzalez (no relation) anchor a stellar pitching staff. Harol was named a New York-Penn League All-Star after leading the league in ERA (2.01) and strikeouts (88). The 22-year-old’s seven wins were a team-high for Brooklyn. Baseball America predicts Merandy Gonzalez to be New York’s “breakout prospect” in 2017. Keep an eye on Joseph Zanghi out of the bullpen, too, after the right-hander led all Brooklyn relievers with a 1.23 ERA. His eight saves were tied for third in the New York-Penn League.
Brandon Brosher (Brooklyn-best five home runs in 2016), Anthony Dimino (Kingsport-best .325 batting average in 2016) and Ali Sanchez (2014 Dominican Summer League Sterling Award winner) create a more-than-capable trio behind the plate.
Winningham returns to Columbia after pacing the Fireflies with 12 home runs and 69 RBIs during the club’s inaugural season. Three other 2016 Fireflies – Ramos, Haggard and Brosher – will also call Spirit Communications Park home to start the year (not including left-hander Seth Davis and catchers Jose Garcia and Natanael Ramos who will begin the season on the disabled list).
In addition to Leger, pitching coach Jonathan Hurst (a Spartanburg, South Carolina, native) and hitting coach Joel Fuentes return to Columbia’s dugout this season, as does Athletic Trainer Kiyoshi Tada. Tanner Miracle joins the staff as the new Strength and Conditioning Coach.
The Fireflies open the 2017 season on Thursday, April 6 against the Augusta GreenJackets (San Francisco Giants). The four-game series continues through April 9 before the Fireflies welcome the Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers) to town for a three-game set from April 10-12.
2017 Roster Breakdown
Pitchers (14): Matt Blackham, Harol Gonzalez, Merandy Gonzalez, Cam Griffin, Witt Haggard, Taylor Henry, Colin Holderman, Jordan Humphreys, Max Kuhns, Gabriel Llanes, Austin McGeorge, Blake Taylor, Adonis Uceta, Joseph Zanghi
Catchers (3): Brandon Brosher, Anthony Dimino, Ali Sanchez
Infielders (5): Luis Carpio, Michael Paez, Milton Ramos, Blake Tiberi, Dash Winningham
Outfielders (4): Gene Cone, Desmond Lindsay, Tim Tebow, Jacob Zanon
Disabled List (3): Seth Davis (LHP), Jose Garcia (C), Natanael Ramos (C)
Top-30 Mets Prospects (7):
- Desmond Lindsay (Baseball America)
- Merandy Gonzalez
- Luis Carpio
- Ali Sanchez
- Milton Ramos
- Harol Gonzalez
Sterling Award Winners (3):
2016 – Desmond Lindsay (Brooklyn)
2015 – Adonis Uceta (Gulf Coast League Mets)
2014 – Ali Sanchez (Dominican Summer League Mets)
States/Countries Represented (15): California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Dominican Republic, Venezuela
Drafted, Signed out of High School: 6
Drafted, Signed out of College: 12
International Signings: 5
Undrafted Free Agent Signings: 2
Acquired by Trade: 1
2013 Draft Class: 3
2014 Draft Class: 4
2015 Draft Class: 5
2016 Draft Class: 7
Right-Handed Pitchers: 12
Left-Handed Pitchers: 2
Right-Handed Hitters: 7
Left-Handed Hitters: 5
Switch Hitters: 0
Majority of 2016 Season In:
Columbia (A) – 3
Brooklyn (short season-A) – 14
Kingsport (advanced-rookie) – 6
DNP (injury) – 2
DNP – 1