Prospect This Month Comment

Zack Wheeler, RHP For his last appearance in this segment, Wheeler gets a big thumbs up.



Travis d'Arnaud, C As of earlier this week doctors have cleared d'Arnaud to begin a running program. Unfortunately, it'll still be a while before he's back in baseball shape and rehabbing. There's a good chance we don't hear about a major league debut until after September -- which actually creates the possibility to save an additional year of team control.



Noah Syndergaard, RHP Still sort of treading water. 4.91 ERA in June, but still lots of strikeouts and a single walk gives us plenty to be happy about. One more dominant run like we saw back in early May and we'll likely see a bump up to Binghamton from the system's new no. one pitching prospect.



Cory Mazzoni, RHP Mazzoni has picked it up of late posting a 3.26 ERA in three June starts, including 25 strikeouts versus five walks in that span. Far more importantly, he's now 5-for-8 at the plate this season.



Domingo Tapia, RHP

A 4.43 ERA in four June starts has tempered enthusiasm for the 21-year-old groundball machine. He just hasn't been able to find a rhythm between rain-outs and the hand injury. Not thrilled to see the K/9 dropping (7.20) and the BB/9 climbing (3.88).



Wilmer Flores, 2B

He was hot last time we checked, he's officially on fire this time. For the month of June he's batting .365/.392/.581 and he's currently pacing the circuit in doubles and RBIs. Need I remind you that he's one of the league's five youngest players?



Brandon Nimmo, OF

He's been so-so, batting .260/.363/.377 since returning from an extended stay on the DL. Obviously the 11.6% walk rate is a great sign but a 25% strikeout rate is equally concerning. Reports of his impending promotion -- along with Plawecki and Boyd -- seem unfounded to me.



Rafael Montero, RHP

The fireball gives way to the more tempered green arrow for the first time in a while for Montero. After the inevitable promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas, Montero has been strong but not quite as dominant as before. Regardless he's still giving us every reason to believe we're going to see him making starts at the major league level before too long.



Luis Mateo, RHP

After re-appearing in a pair of relief appearances for St. Lucie, word on Mateo and the elbow injury went quiet until we heard the news earlier this week: Tommy John surgery.



Jenrry Mejia, RHP

After making a pair of rehab starts for St. Lucie, Mejia had a 'flareup' of the forearm issue that's kept him off the field for the better part of the season. He's still young and talented, but it's getting harder and harder to imagine a scenario where Mejia helps the big league club like we thought he would.



Jacob DeGrom, RHP

Recently promoted to Triple-A as the 51s needed someone to take innings. Thing is he hadn't been stellar with Binghamton, posting a 4.80 ERA in ten starts. His first start in Las Vegas was more of the same as he was ok over five, one-run innings.



Kevin Plawecki, C

Cooling off a bit of late; batting .270 with one homer over the last 28 games. Regardless, the numbers remain very promotable -- .343/.416/.552 and still leading the league in doubles. After the Savannah-Charleston dogfight for the first-half playoff spot I'd say he takes the lion's share of reps in PSL from Maron/Cordero.



Wilfredo Tovar, SS

It's been a slow go for the Venezuelan shortstop but he's starting to come around. He's batting .280/.379/.340 in June, striking out just five times in 59 plate appearances.



Aderlin Rodriguez, 1B/3B

After a torrid May, the 21-year-old was beginning to cool off when an undisclosed placed him on the DL. No word as of yet as to when he'll be back.



Cesar Puello, OF

The loud tools are finally showing up all over the field as Puello is opening eyes with his outstanding recent performance for Binghamton. That means a .525/.558/.1.100 triple-slash in ten games in June -- with a brief stint on the shelf with a finger injury. Still not sure I buy the hit tool long-term but it's become clear we're looking at a definite major leaguer.



Gabriel Ynoa, RHP

He's got a 1.53 ERA with 19 strikeouts versus zero walks over his last four starts. With reports that he's touching 94 MPH, there's a chance Ynoa finishes the season as a top five prospect in this system.



Jayce Boyd, 1B

The 2012 sixth-rounder has been a revelation in 2013, earning him a recent promotion to St. Lucie. He finished his time in Savannah going 11 for his last 13.



Jack Leathersich, LHP

After mastering Double-A, the Leather Rocket has has a little more difficulty with Triple-A hitters, allowing runs in each of his first three appearances for Las Vegas. It's a slight concern for a guy that doesn't have premium stuff; however, the good sign is that he's still posted nine strikeouts over those first five innings.



Cory Vaughn, OF

An ailing elbow landed Vaughn on the DL at the beginning of June, interrupting a very strong season for the 24-year-old. Fortunately, it looks like he won't require surgery so at this point he's on the rehab trail down in PSL; hopefully he'll be able to pick up right where he left off.



Juan Lagares, OF

It's been a bit of a slog at the plate for Lagares since the call-up. However, he's batting .250 since he's been back in the lineup everyday and it sounds like the team is fully invested in giving him plenty of reps this summer to determine if he's a build to hold onto.



Zach Lutz, 1B/3B

Batting .353 with three homers in nine games since coming back from the oblique injury. It's incredible how many opportunities he's missed sitting on the DL. However, as I keep reminding Jeff, Satin better keep singing for his supper because Zach Lutz is hungry.



Steven Matz, LHP

Posting a 1.93 ERA with .152 opponent average in June after running into some blister woes at the end of May.

