By Adam Rubin
November 5, 2009


Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Jenrry Mejia, rhp 2. Wilmer Flores, ss 3. Fernando Martinez, of 4. Ike Davis, 1b 5. Brad Holt, rhp 6. Jon Niese, lhp 7. Reese Havens, 2b/ss 8. Josh Thole, c 9. Ruben Tejada, 2b/ss 10. Juan Urbina, lhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Josh Thole Best Power Hitter Ike Davis Best Strike-Zone Discipline Reese Havens Fastest Baserunner Alonzo Harris Best Athlete Jordany Valdespin Best Fastball Jenrry Mejia Best Curveball Jon Niese Best Slider Brant Rustich Best Changeup Dillon Gee Best Control Chris Schwinden Best Defensive Catcher Mike Nickeas Best Defensive Infielder Ruben Tejada Best Infield Arm Jefry Marte Best Defensive Outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis Best Outfield Arm Cesar Puello

PROJECTED 2013 LINEUP

Catcher Josh Thole First Base Ike Davis Second Base Reese Havens Third Base David Wright Shortstop Jose Reyes Left Field Fernando Martinez Center Field Carlos Beltran Right Field Wilmer Flores No. 1 Starter Johan Santana No. 2 Starter Mike Pelfrey No. 3 Starter Jenrry Mejia No. 4 Starter Brad Holt No. 5 Starter Jon Niese Closer Francisco Rodriguez

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Alex Escobar, of Out of baseball 2001 Alex Escobar, of Out of baseball 2002 Aaron Heilman, rhp Cubs 2003 Jose Reyes, ss Mets 2004 Kazuo Matsui, ss Astros 2005 Lastings Milledge, of Pirates 2006 Lastings Milledge, of Pirates 2007 Mike Pelfrey, rhp Mets 2008 Fernando Martinez, of Mets 2009 Fernando Martinez, of Mets

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Billy Traber, lhp Red Sox 2001 Aaron Heilman, rhp Cubs 2002 Scott Kazmir, lhp Angels 2003 Lastings Milledge, of Pirates 2004 Philip Humber, rhp Twins 2005 Mike Pelfrey, rhp Mets 2006 Kevin Mulvey, rhp (2nd round) Twins 2007 Eddie Kunz, rhp (1st round supp.) Mets 2008 Ike Davis, 1b Mets 2009 Steve Matz, lhp (2nd round) Mets

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Mike Pelfrey, 2005 $3,550,000 Philip Humber, 2004 $3,000,000 Scott Kazmir, 2002 $2,150,000 Lastings Milledge, 2003 $2,075,000 Geoff Goetz, 1997 $1,700,000

METS LINKS

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After being eliminated from the playoffs on the final day of the regular season in 2007 and 2008, the Mets continued to generate drama in 2009—though this time it was primarily off the field. New York christened Citi Field by going 70-92, the third-worst record in the National League, after they were expected to contend.

General manager Omar Minaya fired vice president of player development Tony Bernazard, whom he viewed as a trusted friend, on July 27 after Bernazard had a series of over-the-top confrontations with members of the organization. The incidents included Bernazard removing his shirt and challenging Double-A Binghamton players to a fight after a game there, and getting into a heated exchange on a team bus with Francisco Rodriguez after a lopsided loss in Atlanta.

The front-office turnover continued after the season as well. The team fired Ramon Pena, a special assistant who oversaw Latin American operations, as well as field coordinator Luis Aguayo. Vice president for scouting Sandy Johnson was mulling retirement.

Minaya and big league manager Jerry Manuel got a reprieve after injuries decimated the major league roster, with Carlos Delgado (hip) and Jose Reyes (hamstring) not playing after May and John Maine (shoulder) and Oliver Perez (knee) missing significant portions of the season. The farm system showed its weakness at the upper levels and provided little in the way of reinforcements, which prompted Minaya to acquire plug-ins such as Anderson Hernandez, Pat Misch and Wilson Valdez.

The biggest player-development success story was Bobby Parnell, who set a franchise rookie record with 68 appearances and at one point emerged as the primary set-up man to Rodriguez. Parnell's audition as a starter didn't go as well, as he went 1-5, 7.93 in eight starts. Josh Thole came up to New York in September, batted .321 and looked better than the Mets other catching options.

After hitting .313 in New York in 2008, Daniel Murphy flopped as a left fielder, eventually succeeded Delgado at first base. He didn't hit as hoped. Fernando Martinez, the No. 1 prospect in the organization the previous two years, got a chance to replace Murphy and hit .176 before tearing the meniscus in his right knee, requiring season-ending surgery in July. Jon Niese's chance to claim a spot in the big league rotation went awry when he tore a tendon in his upper right hamstring and needed surgery in early August.

Like the Mets, the clubs at the upper levels of their system performed dismally. Buffalo, in its first season as the organization's Triple-A affiliate, went 56-87, the worst record in the International League. At 54-86, Binghamton had the worst record of any full-season team in the minors. Of New York's seven domestic minor league clubs, only short-season Brooklyn posted a winning record, and their combined 338-412 (.451) record was the second-worst in baseball.

Though the Mets bring in more money than most big league clubs, they continued to remain conservative in the draft. They spent just $3.1 million on the 2009 draft, the lowest figure in baseball. New York forfeited its first-round pick as compensation for Rodriguez and used its top choice (second round) on Long Island high school lefthander Steve Matz.

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