Bats/Throws: R/R

Height/Weight: 6’2”, 195 lbs

Acquired: NDFA (7/2/07)

Born: 4/1/91 (La Romana, DR)

Why Ranked Here: Puello was impressive in his professional debut as a 17-year old in the GCL, showing a nice swing that produced line drives to the big part of the park. He’s strong across his upper body and has solid batspeed, but wasn’t yet driving the ball consistently in games in July. That will come as he learns to use his strength. He has the range and arm to handle right.

2008: Puello’s OPS increased in every month from .537 in June to .605 in July and .867 in August. In August, he hit .357/.410/.457, walking three times and getting plunked four times in 70 AB.

Dr. Pangloss Says: Puello has a chance to grow into an everyday right-fielder.

On the Flipside: At 17, Puello is years away. He must become more patient, as he walked in just 3% of his plate appearances. The power must come for him to project as an everyday player.

Projected 2009 Start: Savannah

Bats/Throws: L/L

Height/Weight: 6’3”, 220 lbs

Acquired: 14th Rd ‘07

Born: 1/23/89 (Hattiesburg, MS)

Why Ranked Here: Carson shares many of the attributes of pitchers ranked below him on this list: really good size and a good fastball with average or better MLB velocity, sitting in the low 90s, from the left side. Carson differentiates himself in part from those below him was the development of his slider, a pitch that became an effective weapon for him in 2008. The trouble that hitters had driving the ball against Carson is reflected in the fact that he allowed just one homer in over 50 innings of work in 2008.  Moreover, he’s already filled out to some degree, and that’s not a bad thing.

2008: Carson missed almost all of 2007 after getting hit on the head by a baseball, but the high school draftee made up for lost time with a strong ’08. He announced that he was done with the GCL in early July when he allowed a combined, two hits, no walks, no runs and fanned 16 over back-to-back six inning performances. Promoted to the Appalachian League, Carson’s walk rate moved up, and his strikeout rate dropped, but he induced nearly three times as many ground balls as fly balls.

Dr. Pangloss Says: Carson is years away from the big leagues, so his ceiling and his role are still flexible.

On the Flipside: Check with Dr. Pangloss and add in the standard caveat that all young pitchers must avoid the injury bug.

Projected 2009 Start: Savannah if all goes well in spring training.

Friday, The Hospital for Special Surgery will present a seminar on Treatment, Rehabilitation and Performance Enhancement of the Baseball Player. (Click on the link for more information.)

The main event will be a talk from Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altcheck on the “Management of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury in Throwers.”  Dr. Altcheck’s talk on Tommy John Surgery will take place at 10:45.

Michael “Mickey” Levinson, PT, CSCS, who works closely with Dr. Altchek and serves on the Mets medical team as well, will talk about “Rehabilitation of the Throwing Shoulder.”

Those interested in attending can email Matt Caruso here.

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height/Weight: 5’11”, 165 lbs

Acquired: NDFA (7/11/06)

Born: 9/1/89 (Veraguas, Panama)

Why Ranked Here: Tejada survived the entire 2008 season playing nearly every day in the Florida State League at the tender age of 18. Tejada did not turn 19 until the final weekend of the season, so time is certainly on his side. Tejada has very soft hands, and an average arm at shortstop. He showed nearly average range at short where he was more comfortable moving to his left, and was working on improving his backhand pick. Evaluating Tejada’s offensive ability is made more difficult by balancing 1. his youth, 2. the four level jump he made from the GCL in ’07 to the FSL in ’08, 3. his size. Tejada’s swing works to put the barrel on the ball, but he was generating very little power or loud contact.

2008: Rushed to the FSL, Tejada had one month (June) where he hit over .300, two where he hit in low.200s (April & August) and two where he hit below .200 (May & July). The best part is that he persevered and played everyday as the smallest player on the field.

Dr. Pangloss Says: Tejada is young and can pick it. At the high end, he becomes a shortstop with a contact oriented approach at the plate who derives his offensive value from plate discipline and superior defense afield.

On the Flipside: Tejada is relatively far from the majors by advanced-A standards by age, baseball and physical development. It was impressive feat of stamina that he was on the field everyday through a hot muggy Florida summer, but now he must continue to add some strength.

Projected 2009 Start: I just can’t make the argument that Tejada is ready for AA, and with Adam Wogan indicating that Jose Coronado will start in Buffalo in ’09, there aren’t a lot of candidates to play SS everyday in Binghamton. The Mets could put Tejada on the Coronado track – that of gifted defensive SS SS -  aggressively assigning him to Binghamton, despite the fact that he has not conquered the FSL. Moreover, the St. Lucie middle infield could be crowded with Greg Veloz and Reese Havens also vying for playing time. St. Lucie is the call, with the staff working hard to find everyone enough pt.

The Savannah Sand Gnats have announced that for the first times since 1999, the team will broadcast all 140 games on the radio in 2009.   Gnats games will be carried by Star 1400 and online at www.star1400.com.  In 2008, the Gnats broadcast home games on the internet.

Mike Passanissi, who has been with the team for two years, will provide the play-by-play.

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height/Weight: 6’0”, 200 lbs

Acquired: 5^th Rd 2008 (Coastal Carolina)

Born: 3/24/86 (Conway, SC)

Why Ranked Here: Doyle hit .300 in his pro debut while learning the mechanics and nuances of professional catching. At the plate, Doyle’s approach is disciplined and contact oriented, as he drew nearly as many walks as strikeouts. His line drive swing does not generate tremendous loft right now, and might never. As a college catcher who was used to having pitches called from the bench, Doyle had to learn all about game calling as a professional.

2008: Playing against younger competition in the Appalachian League, Doyle got off to a slow start (5-for-21) but hit .319 over his final 138 AB.

Dr. Pangloss Says: Catchers, who can handle the position, and have discipline with a bat in their hand, will have a space on any big league roster.

On the Flipside: Questions about Doyles’s power limit his ceiling to a regular at the high end. Scouts weren’t totally sold on his receiving abilities, but they are on few minor league catchers. Doyle will start 2009 at age 23.

Projected 2009 Start: Savannah or St. Lucie

Bats/Throws: L/L

Height/Weight: 6’3”, 170 lbs

Acquired: NDFA (5/12/04)

Born: 9/25/86 (Valencia, VZ)

Why Ranked Here: Calero earns this ranking on three factors: lefthandedness, a plus LHP fastball (low 90s) and good size at 6’3”. In A-ball with Savannah, his K/BB ratio was a shade under four, indicating both good raw stuff and lots of strikes.

2008: Promoted to St. Lucie on June 10^th, Calero made four starts, the last three of which were three innings or shorter. He was shut down at that point after complaining of shoulder discomfort and did not pitch again the rest of the year.

Dr. Pangloss Says: If I had a tree that grew hard-throwing lefties, I’d be a very happy doctor.

On the Flipside: Calero is coming off a shoulder problem so he has the injury red flag up high.

Projected 2009 Start: St. Lucie (if he’s healthy).