Matt Harvey Pitches Tonight on SNY

Tonight, in lieu of a Mets game, as they are off today, Mets fans will get a chance to see the Mets number-2 prospect, and baseball's 25th best prospect, Matt Harvey, pitch live on SNY, in what some are calling an "audition start".

The Mets rotation, had a spot become available earlier this week, with the very unfortunate injury suffered by Dillon Gee. Gee was hospitalized earlier this week, and underwent surgery to repair a blood-clot in his throwing shoulder.

The spot in the Mets rotation, a rotation that for the most part has been very solid this season, is now up for grabs. Mets manager Terry Collins, has said that Miguel Batista could make the start, while not ruling out Matt Harvey for the spot. The Mets are very weary of "rushing" Harvey to the Majors, however, Bison's manager Wally Backman has said that Harvey could be ready for the call, right now.

 Matt Harvey with the Buffalo Bisons.

Thus far, over 18 starts, Harvey is  7-4 with a 3.39 ERA, with 102 Ks over 98 Innings. In 2 seasons in the minors, Harvey is 20-9 with a 3.35 ERA, over 44 starts. Harvey was drafted 7th overall by the Mets in 2010, in what would be Omar Minay's final draft class, as General Manager.

Harvey was also selected for the Triple-A All Star Game, in which he pitched in relief, and threw 2 hit-less innings. 

Harvey makes this crucial start tonight, at 7pm on SNY, as his Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, take on the Detroit Tigers affiliate, Toldeo Mud Hens.

With the Mets off today, all eyes will be on Matt Harvey, and if successful tonight, his next start could very well be for the New York Mets.

Billy Hamilton Inside-The-Park Home Run

Base-stealing machine, future most exciting player in the Majors, and Reds prospect, Billy Hamilton hit an inside-the-park-home run this past Sunday, in near record time.

Hamilton, playing for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos rounded the bases in just 13.8 seconds.
Even crazier, he was not running at full speed as there was no throw to the plate, and he came in standing.

Hamilton, is on pace to obliterate the professional record of  145 Steals in a season, held by Vince Coleman, which he set in Macon in 1983.

Hamilton is one of kind, having both blazing speed, and base-running instincts. Combinations of the two, are rarely seen, Rickey Henderson being the last name that comes to mind, to posses both.

Once called up, Hamilton will be a major league lead-off hitter for years to come, and will be setting records every year. He would be the most feared lead-off hitter in the bigs, since Jose Reyes.

Hamilton already has 109 Steals this season, with 45 games left to play. 

For these reasons, Hamilton cracked our Top-25 prospects list, at number 8. You can view the video of his inside-the-park homer, below:

Phillies Top 10

I have begun my quest to scout each of the Major League team's top 10 prospects, as I see them.

The next team I have scouted, is the Philadelphia Phillies. Here are prospects 6-10, on my list of the Phillies top 10 prospects:

6. Julio Rodriguez, RHP
7. Kyle Simon, RHP
8. Tyler Cloyd, RHP
9. Lisalverto Bonilla, RHP
10. Darin Ruf, 1B
 

To view the top 5, and see who made the cut, check out the Organizational Top 10, page.

Mets Top 10

I have begun my quest to scout each of the Major League team's top 10 prospects, as I see them.

The first team I have scouted, is the New York Mets. Here are prospects 6-10, on my list of the Mets top 10 prospects:

6. Rafael Montero, RHP
7. Cory Vaughn, OF
8. Matt Den Dekker, OF
9. Travis Taijeron, OF
10. Jack Leathersich, LHP

To view the top 5, and see who made the cut, check out the Organizational Top 10, page.

Lavarnway to be called up?

According to a report on www.mlbtraderumors.com The Red Sox are looking to move Catcher Kelly Shoppach, to make room for Catching prospect, Ryan Lavarnway.

 Red Sox Catcher Kelly Shoppach could end up with Mets.

Lavarnway is a Catcher we've talked about here, he could provide a spark for the Red Sox at Catcher, or as an occasional DH. Lavarnway had a cup of coffee in the Majors in 2011, after hitting 32 Home Runs between AA, and AAA that same year.

He has legitimate power, and is not terrible defensively.

Look for Lavarnway to make an immediate impact, upon being called up.

Meanwhile, Shoppach could provide the Mets, who are rumored to be interested in him, with the type of offense they have lacked at the Catching position.

5 Prospects Making an Impact In Triple-A

Right now in Triple-A there are a group of prospects that are making an impact. Some of the seasons some of those players are having, may be flukes, while others may very well be legitimate.

Here are some of the players making an impact in Triple-A right now, that I believe could very well make an impact at the major league level:

 Ryan Lavarnway-BOS-C
Ryan Lavarnway, a catcher in the Boston Red Sox organization, could be an immediate impact player at the Major League level, as either a Catcher, or a DH. He has real power, and has hit for average at almost every Minor League Level. He has hit 20+ Home Runs, in three different Minor League seasons, and has had three different seasons of 80+ RBI. He also has terrific plate discipline, boasting a .380 OBP over his time in the Minors. With those kind of numbers coming from a Catcher, there is definitely a place for him in the Majors. Defensively, he is average at best, but would not kill a team to have him back there.

Justin Wilson-SP-PIT
Justin Wilson is a 24 year old, left-handed Starting Pitcher, in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.  Wilson has a deceptive, yet effective delivery. In just 4 seasons in the minors, he has a record of 34-28 over 101 games, with 91 games started. As a starter, he could project to be a middle of the rotation pitcher, if he can work on his control. As a reliever, he could be a dominant, as a left-handed specialist, or pitching in the 8th. In an organization such as the Pirates, he could definitely make an impact at the Major League level, sooner than later. Look for him to come up this season for the Pirates, down the stretch as a left-handed reliever, especially in September, if they are still in the race.

Chris Archer-SP-TBR
Chris Archer, a pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, is a right-handed starting pitcher, that over 7 years in the minors, despite being only 23 years old, has been very inconsistent. He's had flashes of brilliance, such as in 2010 going 15-3 with a 2.34 ERA, and yet he's had seasons like 2011, where he pitched to a 4.09 ERA over 27 games. He has good stuff, and looks like he belongs in the Majors, if he can bring it all together. I could see him being a much more effective reliever than a starter, with 98 Ks this season already, over just 82.2 Innings Pitched.

 Tyler Cloyd-SP-PHI
Tyler Cloyd is a right-handed pitcher, in the Phillies organization, that looks to be the next great pitching prospect to come out of the Phillies organization. The Phillies, for a team who has looked to the free-agent and trade market to acquire pitching, can produce pitchers as well or better than teams known for their pitching prospects. Cloyd, could be, if given the chance, a solid Major League starting pitcher. Pitching to an 8-1 record, with a 2.01 ERA to this point in 2012, at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and an ERA below 2, at 1.96 over two levels this season, he could be ready now, especially with the trouble the Phillies have gone through this season.

Matt Clark-OF/1B-SD
Matt Clark is a power-hitting First-Baseman/Outfielder in the San Diego Padres organization. At just 25 years old, with less than 5 Minor League seasons under his belt, he has hit 95 Home Runs, and has had 3 seasons with 80 or more RBI. The ball seems to just jump off his bat, and gets out in a hurry. He is a left-handed hitter, and has pure power. A Money-Baller's dream, in addition to the power, he has terrific plate discipline, with a .360 OBP over 5 Minor League seasons. Matt Clark could be a franchise player, for the down and out Padres, and should receive a call-up this season in September, if not before.

Top 5 Most Underrated Prospects-Pat Venditte

With so many players in farm systems across baseball, sometimes players get lost in the shuffle. While some players are sometimes grossly over-rated, there are some that are very highly underrated, and yet, they go-on to have long Major league careers.

In this 5-part series, I will name 5 players that are very highly underrated, and could be that sneaky "player to be named later" of a trade that haunts the organization that traded them away, forever.

1. Pat Venditte, SHP, New York Yankees (AAA)
No, that is not a typo, and no you did not read that wrong. The New York Yankees, have a Switch-handed relief pitcher, in their system.


Venditte makes the list at number 1, because the thought of a pitcher who throws, and throws well with both hands, is insane. Literally, he is one of a kind. He is so significant in fact, that there is a rule in baseball named for, and after him. The rule was created after an incident, you can see below:

The Pat Venditte rule is explained like this:


" The pitcher must visually indicate to the umpire, batter and runner(s) which way he will begin pitching to the batter. Engaging the rubber with the glove on a particular hand is considered a definitive commitment to which arm he will throw with. The batter will then choose which side of the plate he will bat from.

The pitcher must throw one pitch to the batter before any “switch” by either player is allowed.

After one pitch is thrown, the pitcher and batter may each change positions one time per at-bat. For example, if the pitcher changes from right-handed to left-handed and the batter then changes batter’s boxes, each player must remain that way for the duration of that at-bat (unless the offensive team substitutes a pinch hitter, and then each player may again “switch” one time).

Any switch (by either the pitcher or the batter) must be clearly indicated to the umpire.
There will be no warm-up pitches during the change of arms.

If an injury occurs the pitcher may change arms but not use that arm again during the remainder of the game."

Venditte uses a 6 fingered glove, with 2 webs, so he can easily switch from hand to hand, and although this may seem gimmicky, it is not gimmick. He has been throwing switch handed since he was very young.

Right-handed he has an over the top delivery and throws a fastball, slider and a curve ball, while left-handed he has a side-armed delivery and throws a fastball and a slider. His fastball right-handed hits 94 mph, and his left-handed fastball hits 85 mph.

 Pat Venditte's deliveries, side by side.

He definitely backs-up his obvious skills with stats, pitching to a 0.83 ERA in his first professional season, with 42 Ks in 32.2 Innings, and a 1-0 record over 30 games in relief. In 5 minor league seasons, he has a 14-12 record, with a 2.30 ERA, and 318 Ks in 277.2 Innings, as well as 51 saves.

However, he is not considered a prospect per-Se, as he is 27, but I doubt there is another player in any minor league system that could provide the type of immediate impact he could. With so many teams, having so much trouble in their bullpen, how this guy is not on a major league roster is beyond me.

To me, there is no more ultimate of a reliever, he could be a left-handed specialist, a right-handed specialist, or a dominant closer, the ultimate tool for a playoff team.