In a post to Baseball Prospectus, Kevin Goldstein takes a look at 10 of the league’s better prospects who might want to forget about 2011.
For instance, he writes the following about 20-year-old Mets SS Wilmer Flores:
“Flores has long been seen as one of the Mets’ top prospects, but that’s mostly been because of his age and level. In 2011, he proved to still be more potential than reality. Nobody thinks he can stay at shortstop long-term, which puts even more pressure on his bat. “Sure, he was good in the Sally League at 17, but he hasn’t done much since,” said one evaluator. “The tools don’t even profile for a corner, which is where people will think he’ll end up.”
Flores hit .269 with 9 HR and 81 RBI in 133 games for Single-A St. Lucie in 2011. This winter, he is batting .295 with a .378 OBP in the Venezuelan Winter League.
“His best tool is by far his bat, and he shows extra-base ability that should continue to develop as he progresses,” MiLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo said in November, when he ranked Flores as the team’s best position prospect. “Most feel he won’t be a shortstop long-term, but he might have enough bat to play third in the future.”
Michael Baron: Flores is very strong and tall as he towers over most of his teammates, despite being just 20 years old. He has good gap-to-gap power, but has yet to develop the consistent home run power many people believe he is capable of. He also hasn’t hit for a high average and in 2011 he saw his extra base hit numbers decrease substantially from 2010. Flores didn’t have an eye-popping season and his performance this winter is concerning as well. I talked to him last year in St. Lucie, and he said he is aware of the comparisons to
Miguel Cabrera, as well as the buzz he will eventually change positions. And, while he says he’s comfortable with playing another position, he’s still just 20 years old and I wonder if this kind of talk could be weighing on him and his performance.
To read what Goldstein has to say about nine other prospects, including Phillies PF Domonick Brown, go here on Baseball Prospectus.
