8. Desmond Lindsay, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/15/1997 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Columbia Fireflies
2017 Stats: .220/.327/.388, 251 PA, 8 HR, 4 SB, 33/77 BB/K
Info: While he was a 2nd round selection in 2015 out of high school by the New York Mets, Lindsay was the Mets’ first pick of that season’s draft, and they attempted to swing for the fences with the selection. Injuries have delayed his ability to make an impact since being drafted, in spite of some impressive raw tools.
When he’s fully healthy, Lindsay has a power speed combo that is tough to match in the system and, frankly, one of the more impressive in the minor leagues in raw tools, with plus raw power and plus raw speed. Injuries have sapped his on-field speed and may impact his ability to ever truly reach his full speed on the field.
Defensively, Lindsay is still raw in the outfield as a high school infielder that the Mets converted to the outfield, using his speed and quality instincts to play center field at an above-average level. He possesses just an average arm in the outfield, so if he’s unable to handle center going forward, he will likely need to move to left field.
Lindsay has been noted for allowing too many pitches to go by, even good pitches, not showing pitch selectivity, but seeming just letting multiple pitches go by until he’s in a hole, which does lead to a solid walk rate, but it also leads to a significant strikeout rate. He will need to show some adjustment in that approach at the plate to access his raw power more consistently in game.
Lindsay really needs a healthy season, but he will be moving to high-A St. Lucie, which is a fairly hitting-friendly park, but in a pitching-friendly league in the Florida State League, so it will be interesting to watch his development this season.
7. Marcos Molina, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 3/8/1995 (23)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A St. Lucie Mets, AA Binghamton Mets
2017 Stats: 18 G, 17 GS, 106 2/3 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 6% BB, 19.9% K
Info: Molina was signed out of the Dominican in 2012, and he’s had a seeming up and down career in the New York Mets system ever since, including Tommy John surgery that cost him a lot of the 2015 and 2016 season.
Molina has the looks of a mid-rotation workhorse, and he has the stuff to match
Built strong and sturdy at 6’3″ and just over 200 pounds, Molina has the looks of a mid-rotation workhorse, and he has the stuff to match. His fastball velocity has varied quite a bit since his surgery, but it settled in around 90-91 in 2017, touching 93-94 with excellent sink on the ball.
Molina’s best secondary pitch is a plus slider that breaks late with depth that really gets plenty of swing and miss from both sides of the plate. What helped him make an impact in high-A in 2017 was the development of his changeup. Some variance in his command (though his control remained excellent) on the pitch in AA allowed him to get hit a little harder, but he still flashed quality skills.
Perhaps he’s not going to grow into an ace, but Molina should be able to use his plus control and development of his third pitch to handle the upper minors in 2018 and likely make a play for a rotation spot with the New York Mets in 2019.
Next: #5 and #6