As usual, the Cyclones roster looks very good. The infield will be strong, headlined by Reese Havens, while Kirk Nieuwenhuis will have to carry the prospect banner in the outfield. The pitching staff is an interesting mix of live arms and polish, while going deep in college talent.

Catchers B/T Ht. Wt. D.O.B.

Ralph Henriquez S/R 6’1” 190 4/7/87

Cesar Cordido R/R 5’10” 207 9/10/85

I love this: Henriquez was selected by the Astros in the third round in 2005 as compensation for losing Carlos Beltran to the Mets. Henriquez hit .185/.227/.280 in 103 games for Lexington in the SAL last year.

Cordido saw action in 30 games in Kingsport and 7 games in Brooklyn last year.

Infielders B/T Ht. Wt. D.O.B.

Brandon Richey R/R 6’0” 175 4/27/86

Josh Satin R/R 6’2” 200 12/23/84

Reese Havens L/R 6’1” 200 10/20/86

Nicholas Giarraputo R/R 6’4” 202 5/29/88

Jeffries Tatford L/R 6’3” 210 9/16/84

Zach Lutz R/R 6’1” 200 6/3/86

Eric Campbell R/R 6’3” 220 4/9/87

Reese Havens was the Mets second pick at #22 overall in this June’s draft. He signed for $1.4 million. He bats with an unusually low hand position, but it works for him. Havens’ makeup earns praise in most writeups.

Josh Satin was the Mets’ 6^th round pick out of California. He’s had some success on the east coast where he was the Cape Cod League’s All-Star MVP in 2006. A second baseman mostly in college, Baseball America thinks he could be a better fit in the pros as an OF.

The Mets popped Campbell in the 8^th round out of Boston College where he was the team captain and New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) second-team 3B.

Giarraputo hit .274/.298/.365 for Kingsport last year with a team-leading 24 2B. He played 12 games at first to complement his 53 at third. His 14 errors were second on the club to Brandon Richey’s 20 committed in 39 games at shortstop. Richey hit .243/.314/.375 in 41 games in Kingsport in 2007.

Tatford hit .169/.229/.260 in 28 games for Brooklyn in 2007.

Lutz, the Mets 5^th rounder a year ago, saw action in just one game as a Cyclone.

Outfielders B/T Ht. Wt. D.O.B.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis L/R 6’2” 195 8/7/87

Will Vogl R/R 5’10” 183 12/10/83

Brandon Kawal R/R 6’3” 215 10/29/84

John Servidio R/R 6’1” 194 8/22/85

The name to remember in the Cyclones OF is the longest: Nieuwenhuis, who the Mets picked this June in the third round out of Azusa Pacific where he hit .400.

Servidio was this year’s 26^th round draft pick out of Barry University, which actually had three players drafted this year.

Kawal and Vogl are both Brooklyn superseniors. Kawal hit .302/.352/.362 in 38 games last year and saw action in three Savannah games in April. Vogl, the St. Johns product was good for .240/.310/.319 as a ‘Clone. He played nine games for Savannah and two for St. Lucie this year.

Pitchers B/T Ht. Wt. D.O.B.

Brad Holt R/R 6’4” 194 10/13/86

Eric Beaulac R/R 6’5” 195 11/13/86

Scott Shaw R/R 6’5” 225 8/3/86

Brandon Moore R/R 6’4 190 1/24/86

Chris Schwinden R/R 6’3” 200 9/22/86

Mike Lynn R/R 5’11” 185 10/11/84

Jeff Kaplan R/R 6’0” 190 7/9/85

Manuel Olivares R/R 5’11” 192 5/22/86

Junior Guerra R/R 6’5” 200 4/17/89

Tim Stronach R/R 6’4” 195 12/20/85

Yury Santana R/R 6’1” 187 8/15/82

Montero Cruz R/R 6’2” 205 11/1/86

Wendy Rosa R/R 5’10” 185 8/26/86

Pedro P. Martinez R/R 6’4” 191 7/8/85

Matias Carrillo L/L 6’2” 195 12/13/86

Jim Fuller L/L 5’10” 180 6/1/87

Jimmy Johnson L/L 5’10” 185 11/24/85

Members of the 2008 Draft Class (9)

We start with Brad Holt, the Mets supplemental first rounder. Holt is a big guy who throws hard and holds his velocity according to BA. The same can’t be said for Eric Beaulac, the Mets 9^th round pick. Out of Le Moyne College, Beaulac had an up and down season, but the up, no-hitting Rider was pretty good. BA claims he works 90-92 early in games with an average slider and a changeup that needs work. Sounds like a good value in the ninth round to me and that was before I read that Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus listed Beaulac as one of the Mets three best second-day picks.

Kaplan was the team’s 11^th rounder out of Cal State Fullerton.

Shaw was a 13^th rounder out of Illinois, who also drew some love from KG. Moore was a 14^th rounder from Indiana Wesleyan. Per BA he throws 90-93 with a “good” 78-80 mph curve.

The Mets picked Fuller in the 21^st round. A little lefty who throws with effortx, he can run his heater up to 91. BA thinks his change is better than his “fringy” breaking ball.

22^nd rounder Chris Schwinden was the Golden State Atheletic Conference Pitcher of the year for the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds. He whiffed 96 in 90.2 IP.

Jimmy Johnson was a 28^th rounder from Biola (CA). Lynn was a 30^th round pick out of the College of Charleston.

He’s Back (1)

Tim Stronach is back in Brooklyn after going 4-2, 3.41 in 31.2 IP last year.

Graduates of the 2007 Appalachian League (4)

Montero Cruz gave up one run in 12 IP in the Appy League last year after warming up with four games in the DSL and four in the GCL. Manuel Olivares and Pedro P. Martinez both worked for Kingsport. Carillo threw well for Kingsport and Savanna briefly last year.

Graduates of the 2007 GCL (2)

Wendy Rosa is a little interesting. In 30 IP in the GCL he struck out 36 (very good) and walked 24 (very wild), while giving up 21 hits (good). Yury Santa worked in three games in the GCL.