Wilmer Flores: Who Are You?

Why would I care about a 16 year old kid with a funny name? Because he's a Mets' prospect of course!

I just want to bring a little, tiny bit, of attention to this kid, because some people say we (Mets) have one of the worst minor league systems in all of baseball. WRONG. Our system just isn't as major league ready as others, which may mean down the line we have one of the worst systems (time will tell) and it could also mean that down the line we have a fairly good system, you dig? Well anyway, back to Grandma Wilmer (doesn't that just sound right? bad sign?).

First off here are what some scouts at Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus had to say about the kid:

"Signed out of Venezuela for $750,000, he draws some Miguel Cabrera comps."

“Flores has a huge frame and the potential for plus-plus raw power to go with the hitting skills to make consistent hard contact. Defensively, he has soft hands and an above-average arm. He’s an average runner.”

Now to the numbers. Yeah he's only in Rookie Ball but it's still professional and he's SIXTEEN YEARS OLD...

83 AB, .349 avg, .382 obp, .627 slg which equals 4 doubles, 2 triples and 5 dingers...

I went ahead and compared that small sample size to Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera, who were each in rookie ball at the ages of 18 and 17, respectively, and both had a little bit more than double of Flores' at bats. I picked Hanley and Miggy because of the Miggy comparison and because Wilmer, being a 6'3" SS with power, naturally brings Hanley to mind.

Flores OWNS Miguel Cabrera's numbers in every single possible category and has almost identical numbers to Hanley except a little less plate discipline and a little more power. More power! He's six foot three!! Tall man. There's no way he will stay at SS for his professional career simply because he's 6'3" 175lbs, so he has a lot of weight to gain and that will inevitably reduce his range. Assuming Wright'll still be there he seems to project as a 1B or LF.

Yes this kid is a baby, yes he might not even have a learners permit, and yes he will be ranked as our #2 prospect come very soon right beneath Fernando Martinez, guarantsheed.