Tag: Mets 2011 draft

A Look at Three First Basemen Drafted in 2011

Posted on by metbaseball

The Mets drafted three first basemen in 2011: Ryan Hutson (Rd 36), Tant Shepherd (Rd 24), and Cole Frenzel (Rd 7). All three are currently playing for Mets farm teams.

In his last 10 games with the GCL Mets beginning with the July 7 game, Ryan Huston has been swinging the bat much batter. In that span he’s hit .310 with nine hits in 29 at bats. Five of those were extra base hits, which gave him a slugging average during that period of .552. As a result, he’s upped his average by 45 points. Before July 7, it was .205; now, it’s .250. His OPS is .778.

Surprisingly, the right-handed batter is hitting righties much better than lefties. Against righties he’s hitting .269; against lefties, .188.

Tant Shepherd, who played first base for the University of Texas, has been switched to third base by the Kingsport Mets. The move has not helped his bat. He’s currently hitting only .167 in 42 at bats with only two extra base hits, both doubles, and one RBI. In contrast, in his final season at Texas, he hit .303. The Mets might want to consider returning him to first base. His OPS is .514.

In Brooklyn, Cole Frenzel is manning first base. Frenzel is hitting .297. In 37 at bats, he has seven RBIs but only two extra base hits, a double and a triple. The left-handed batter is hitting well against both righties (.294) and lefties (.333). His OPS is .765.

Though Shepherd is not currently playing first base and is in a batting slump, those three draftees seem to have improved substantially the Mets farm system’s future at first base.

Mets Shift Shepherd’s Position

Posted on by metbaseball

It appears that the Mets are testing Tant Shepherd’s versatility. Drafted this year out of the University of Texas as a first baseman, the Kingsport Mets positioned him at third base in yesterday’s game, a position Shepherd played twice during his college career, both times in his freshman year. In yesterday’s game, Shepherd had a throwing error.

Mazzoni to Pitch Soon for the Cyclones

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According to ESPN’s Adam Rubin,

N.C. State right-hander Cory Mazzoni, the Mets’ second-round pick earlier this month, should appear in a game with Brooklyn within a week, although his innings counts will be severely restricted.

Mazzoni, drafted this year by the Mets in the second round, has a fastball that has reached 96 mph. It’s one of four pitches he throws.

Josh Edgin’s Out Pitches

Posted on by metbaseball

According to Toby Hyde, St. Lucie reliever Josh Edgin

has a pair of big league pitches, a fastball that’s been 93ish and touched 96 on occasion and a wipeout slider in the low 80s. He’s played around with adding a two-seam fastball and a changeup, but his fastball and slider are his meal tickets.

With those “meal ticket” pitches, he’s been feasting on opposing batters. Given the Mets need for a better bullpen, if Edgin continues to mystify batters with his fastball and slider, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him invited to Spring Training in 2012.