We all know the closer situation on the Mets is dicey. They Francisco for the next two seasons, but most likely it will be closer by committee. The last closer to come through the system didn’t really pan out (Parnell). There was talk about turning Mejia to a closer, but that has been (rightfully) tossed out. So what is next for the Mets?

Some people think it will be the 25 year old Josh Edgin in the Mets farm system. Edgin was drafted in the 30th round of the 2010 draft by the Mets (and in the 50th round of the 2009 draft by the Braves). So Josh is unusual in that he is such a late draft pick for turning heads in the system. Josh is a left handed pitcher who has pitched in three levels in the Mets system in the last two seasons (Kingsport, Savannah, St. Lucie). Here are his statistical numbers, by season and by team:

2010:
- Kingsport: 31.2 IP, 18 G, 2.84 ERA, 3 SV, 3.1 BB/9, 11.9 K/9
- Savannah: 3.0 IP, 2 G, 0.00 ERA, 3.4 BB/9, 11.7 K/9

2011:
- Savannah: 31.0 IP, 24 G, 0.87 ERA, 16 SV, 2.9 BB/9, 11.9 K/9
- St. Lucie: 35.0 IP, 25 G, 2.06 ERA, 11 SV, 3.3 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

The impressive thing about his numbers is that he keeps his ERA down, he doesn’t walk much, and he strikeouts a good amount. Those K/9 numbers are what you expect and what you from a closer and his inning total from last year is also what you would expect and want. Most likely this year, barring a spring invite and a great spring, he will probably start in St. Lucie and work his way up to AA. On MiLB.com, they don’t talk about his fastball, which is 93-96 mph, as his greatest asset, rather they talk about he goes right after hitters, which is another quality you want in a closing pitcher.

In my personal opinion, this is the last time we’ll see Edgin as an under the radar type of player. If those peripheral stats continue for another season, he will continue to rise up through the system.

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It’s frustrating finding out who is playing in the winter leagues, since there are multiple leagues, and sometimes missing information. Around this time of year I start to really miss baseball, so I look up Mets players in other leagues, but I always need to make a list of who is in what league and who is playing. Instead of just keeping that list private this year, I decided to share it:

Liga de Beisbol Domincano (Dominican Baseball League): Team name in parenthesis

• Adrian Rosario (Cibaenas)
• Francisco Pena (Cibaenas)
• Juan Lagares  (Cibaenas)
• Jordany Valdespin (Licey)
• Pedro Zapata (Licey)
• Jeurys Familia (Cibao)
• Raul Reyes (Cibao)
• Yohan Almonte (Escogido)
• Ronny Morla (Escogido)
• Armando Rodriguez (Escogido)
• Valentino Pascucci (Escogido)
• Fernando Martinez (Escogio)
• Gonzalez German (Este)

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Darin Gorski is a pitcher who you may start to hear more about if he puts up a second straight season of good numbers in the minors. Gorski (who will be 24 for the 2012 season) was drafted by the Mets in 2009 in the 7th round of the draft. The left handed pitcher has pitched three seasons in the Mets system, each year at a different level starting with the Cyclones in 2009, followed by Savannah in 2010 and St. Lucie in 2011. He has posted the following numbers during his career:

2009: 3-4, 62.1 IP, 4.91 ERA, 3.8 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

2010: 6-8, 114.0 IP, 4.58 ERA, 3.4 BB/9,  8.6 K/9

2011: 11-3, 138.2 IP, 2.08 ERA, 1.9 BB/9, 9.1 K/9

From a purely numerical standpoint, there are several key, trends that appear in his stats:

1. Each year his inning totals has gone up
2. Each year his ERA has gone down
3. Each year he has walked less
4. Each year he has struck out more

He jumped on the scout radar last season because between 2010 and 2011 was his greatest change in numbers. He halved his ERA, he became a winning tarter, he really upped his innings, he nearly halved is walks per 9 innings and increased his strikeouts per game by half a strikeout. This is significant.

In fact, his increased control named him “Best Control” in the Mets farm system by Baseball America.  They also gave him the title of best changeup in the system. I’m interested to see how Gorski develops this season. If he goes up to Binghamton and has the same success as he did in A+ ball, then he may start to move up the Mets depth charts. If this happens, his development will be very similar to Dillon Gee, who is also a control type pitcher who all of sudden start to turn heads in the Mets farm system by his control of his pitches in the lower levels.

Maybe Darin will get invited to Spring Training, and then we will really get to see his stuff.

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Back on December 22nd, the Mets added depth to their catching depth to their minor league system with Rob Johnson. The signing isn’t a move to push out Thole, or even Nickeas, but rather a support for the Mets as a possible third string option. Catching is that one position that during the season will dip into the third or forth string player, so it is always a good idea to look at who that player could end up being.

Johnson broke into the majors at the age of 27 with the Mariners. He was on the Mariners roster from 2007 through 2010. In the offseason before 2011, he was traded to the Padres. He is not going to wow anyone with offense, boasting an average of .197 and OBP of .275. The 2008 season would probably be his best season with the bat as he turned in his most amount of games behind the plate (80 games) with an average of .213. Last season he caught 67 games with a batting average of .190.

The Mets are intrigued by his catching ERA. In 2009 he led all catchers with a 3.22 ERA.
He also succeeds at throwing out batters. Back in 2010 he was 4th in the American League tossing out 35% of runners.

It’s obvious that Johnson is not a player that is going to turn heads in the organization, but his ability to call games does make him a viable 3rd of 4th string catcher and makes him a good guy for the young pitchers to throw to in the Minor Leagues.

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