Bats/Throws: L/L

Height/Weight: 6’2”/170

Acquired: NDFA 2009

Born: 5/31/93 (Ocumare Del Tuy, VZ)

2010 Rank: #16

Why Ranked Here: We shift at this point from the finished products and lower-ceilings of the Turner/Emaus/Beato type to the pure potential and higher upside of Juan Urbina.  The Mets signed Uegeth Urbina’s son, Juan, at the July 2 deadline in 2009 for over $1 million.  It was the team’s largest expenditure on an amateur player in Latin America since signing Fernando Martinez for $1.4 million in 2005.

Just 17, Urbina’s fastball regularly reached into the low 90s in 2010 summer and was comfortably in the upper 80s the rest of the time.  While that’s already average from the left side, at 6’2” and a slender 170, he has room to fill out and could continue to add velocity. His feel on his changeup gives him a chance to make that into a special pitch.  Mets people were also pleased with the progress he made on his curveball in 2010.

Urbina certainly has the potential to be an above average starter, but he’s a long way and many years away from the big leagues.  He should begin 2011 in extended spring training with an assignment to rookie level Kingsport in the Appalachian League as an 18-year the likeliest destination.  The earliest Urbina could see New York would be the end of the tail end of the 2014 season.

2010: Urbina’s ran a 5.03 ERA in the rookie level-Gulf Coast League.  The most impressive things statistically were his control, he walked just 2.6 batters per nine innings and ran a K/BB ratio of 2.7.

Dr. Pangloss Says: Urbina certainly has the potential to be an above average starter, but he’s a long way and many years away from the big leagues.

Debbie Downer Says: Lets see him pitch in a full-season league.  Lots can go wrong between the GCL and the big leagues.

Projected 2011 Start: Kingsport

MLB Arrival: Tail end 2014?