Josh Satin, the organization's minor league player of the year, sat almost unnoticed in the Mets clubhouse in September. Plans for his future revolve around developing a wide enough skill set to profile as a utility player. "I'm realistic," he said.
General manager Sandy Alderson was not ready to concede that Jose Reyes would be playing for another team in 2012. But if Reyes does depart as a free agent, then Alderson is ready to admit that his successor already is on the roster in the form of 22-year-old Ruben Tejada.
Ike Davis was on a stage at Citi Field one day in November, modeling the Mets' new uniforms for 2012. But what really was on display was his ankle. Davis walked around the room with no limp, no pain and no reminders of the troubles that cost him nearly the entire 2011 season.
Lefty Darin Gorski began the season in the high Class A St. Lucie bullpen, but at least for one day, the 2009 seventh-round pick from Division II Kutztown (Pa.) had jumped past the Mets' top pitching prospects.
Mets first-round outfielder Brandon Nimmo seemed at home during a recent tour and media session at Citi Field. Actually, the only place that the 18-year-old wasn't comfortable was on the streets of New York, not surprising for a kid from Cheyenne, Wyo.
Correspondent Steve Popper selects end-of-season awards for the Mets organization, naming a best player, best pitcher and a player to monitor in 2012.
Jose Reyes always has been a draw for young Latin players in Mets spring training camp. That group includes corner outfielder Juan Lagares, a long-time friend of Reyes who has hit his way to Double-A this season after five middling years in pro ball.
No one ever questioned Mets middle infielder Jordany Valdespin's physical tools. Until this season, however, those tools had been obscured by a troublesome streak of revolt.
Traded by the Giants to the Mets for Carlos Beltran, righthander Zack Wheeler tweaked his delivery in July, returning to the delivery he used in high school. That included a return to a higher leg kick and "bringing my hands next to my head," the 21-year-old said.
These days, many things are fun for Mets lefthander Jack Leathersich, a reliever for short-season Brooklyn. He led Division II in strikeouts this spring, and now he pitches in front of 8,000 fans per game with the Cyclones.
Mets correspondent Steve Popper hands out midseason awards for the system's best player, biggest leap forward and biggest disappointment.
If the Mets need to call on an emergency starter this season, then manager Terry Collins has one name in mind: Triple-A Buffalo righthander Chris Schwinden, who has risen from obscurity this season.
The Mets shocked the industry by selecting prep center fielder Brandon Nimmo from East High in Cheyenne, Wyo., with the new front office's first-ever draft pick at No. 13 overall.
Hard-throwing Mets righthander Jeurys Familia had begun to reach toward his ceiling at the age of 21. He breezed through high Class A in six starts this season, and a promotion to Double-A Binghamton brought more good tidings.
Mets righthander Jenrry Mejia lasted just four innings in his April 29 start for Triple-A Buffalo, departing with elbow discomfort. An examination revealed bad news: a complete tear of the medial collateral ligament in his elbow.
The Mets shuttled pitchers in and out of Queens in a harsh April, but still they resisted the temptation to call upon Triple-A Buffalo righthander Jenrry Mejia.
Corner outfielder Lucas Duda made the Mets' Opening Day roster, but he knew his time in the big leagues would be limited—at least this time.
Living with diabetes, the 21-year-old Cory Vaughn spent his first year in the Mets organization like he has had to live his life, with an insulin pump attached to his hip. But that hasn't slowed the fourth-round pick.
For Matt Harvey and other Mets prospects, their first taste of spring instruction happened away from the diamond. The organization's advanced training session teaches players to cook, to manage their money and even how to handle the media.
Even at age 22, the Mets' Fernando Martinez seems to have been around forever. But his potential has been undermined by one injury after another, and he's never played in more than 90 games in a season.
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