By Matt Eddy
December 14, 2012



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.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Zack Wheeler, rhp 2. Gavin Cecchini, ss 3. Brandon Nimmo, of 4. Luis Mateo, rhp 5. Rafael Montero, rhp 6. Wilmer Flores, 3b/2b 7. Michael Fulmer, rhp 8. Jeurys Familia, rhp 9. Domingo Tapia, rhp 10. Cory Mazzoni, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Wilmer Flores Best Power Hitter Aderlin Rodriguez Best Strike Zone Discipline Danny Muno Fastest Baserunner Alonzo Harris Best Athlete Bradley Marquez Best Fastball Domingo Tapia Best Curveball Zack Wheeler Best Slider Luis Mateo Best Changeup Darin Gorski Best Control Rafael Montero Best Defensive Catcher Albert Cordero Best Defensive Infielder Wilfredo Tovar Best Infield Arm Aderlin Rodriguez Best Defensive OF Matt den Dekker Best Outfield Arm Cesar Puello

PROJECTED 2016 LINEUP

Catcher Kevin Plawecki First Base Ike Davis Second Base Gavin Cecchini Third Base David Wright Shortstop Ruben Tejeda Left Field Wilmer Flores Center Field Brandon Nimmo Right Field Cory Vaughn No. 1 Starter Zack Wheeler No. 2 Starter Matt Harvey No. 3 Starter R.A. Dickey No. 4 Starter Jon Niese No. 5 Starter Rafael Montero Closer Luis Mateo

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2012 Org 2003 Jose Reyes, ss Marlins 2004 Kazuo Matsui, ss Rakuten (Japan) 2005 Lastings Milledge, of Yakult (Japan) 2006 Lastings Milledge, of Yakult (Japan) 2007 Mike Pelfrey, rhp Mets 2008 Fernando Martinez, of Astros 2009 Fernando Martinez, of Astros 2010 Jenrry Mejia, rhp Mets 2011 Jenrry Mejia, rhp Mets 2012 Zack Wheeler, rhp Mets

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2012 Org 2003 Lastings Milledge, OF Yakult (Japan) 2004 Phil Humber, RHP White Sox 2005 Mike Pelfrey, RHP Mets 2006 Kevin Mulvey, RHP Mets 2007 Eddie Kunz, RHP Padres 2008 Ike Davis, 1B Mets 2009 Steve Matz, LHP Mets 2010 Matt Harvey, RHP Mets 2011 Brandon Nimmo, OF Mets 2012 Gavin Cecchini, SS Mets

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Mike Pelfrey, 2005 $3,550,000 Philip Humber, 2004 $3,000,000 Matt Harvey, 2010 $2,525,000 Gavin Cecchini, 2012 $2,300,000 Scott Kazmir, 2002 $2,150,000

METS LINKS

Mets Team Page Mets Top 10 Scouting Reports Last Year's Mets Top 10 Prospects 2012 Draft: Mets 2012 Draft Report Cards: New York Mets Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2013 Prospect Handbook

Even as individual Mets players achieve franchise milestones, the club has remained mired in fourth place in the National League East for the past four seasons. Win totals have diminished each year since 2010, dropping from 79 to 77 down to 74.

New York's salary expenditures and attendance continue to drop as well. Its Opening Day payroll has plummeted from $149 million in 2009 to $93 million in 2012, while Citi Field attendance has fallen from 3.2 million to 2.2 million in the same period.

The Mets may begin bidding for impact free agents again following the 2013 season, after which Jason Bay and Johan Santana come off the books. Then again, they may not, given the financial difficulties faced by owner Fred Wilpon, who took a $162 million hit because of his involvement with Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff.

Amid the gloom, Mets players delivered a number of high points in 2012. Santana threw the first no-hitter in the 51-year history of the franchise on June 1, though it required 134 pitches and he was ineffective afterward.

Signed as a minor league free agent in 2009, R.A. Dickey tossed back-to-back one-hitters in June, led the NL in strikeouts (230) and innings (234), and became the first knuckleballer to win a Cy Young Award.

David Wright, the last impact player developed by the Mets, established franchise career marks for runs, hits, RBIs and walks. He'll add more records after the club signed him to an eight-year, $138 million extension in December.

The arrival of Matt Harvey in late July served as perhaps the brightest spot for the Mets' future. The seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft, Harvey struck out 11 Diamondbacks over 5 1⁄3 shutout innings in his debut. He ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Triple-A International League—and might have done the same on this list had he still qualified—and ranked fourth among major league starters in fastball velocity (94.7 mph) and first in slider velocity (88.4 mph) among those with at least 50 innings.

The Mets have several holes to fill after ranking 12th in the NL in scoring and 10th in runs allowed in 2012. They have hope on the mound if Harvey and righthander Zack Wheeler, the system's best prospect, fulfill their potential as frontline starters.

A lack of blue-chip position prospects clouds New York's future lineup possibilities, however. Its best upper-level hitter is infielder Wilmer Flores, but he may not have enough power or defensive chops to profile as a long-term starter at any position.

Mets domestic farm clubs finished with a cumulative winning record for the third straight season, with the pitching staffs at high Class A St. Lucie, low Class A Savannah and short-season Brooklyn serving as particular highlights. All three units led their leagues in ERA, WHIP and K-BB ratio while featuring the bulk of the system's most promising arms, including Luis Mateo, Rafael Montero and Michael Fulmer.

Though the Mets sought to cut costs by going without an entry in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2012, they'll reverse course in 2013 and continue to invest in player development. For the second straight year, New York set a new franchise record for draft bonuses, upping the mark to $7 million. It also signed Dominican shortstop Amed Rosario for $1.75 million, the highest bonus it ever has paid for an international amateur.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2013 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team