3/19/10

"The Keepers" - #95 - SS - Gered Mochizuki

95. Gered Mochizuki – SS – Rookie – 24/yrs. –

Mochizuki was drafted in the 49th round of the 2003 draft, by Kansas City, out of the University of Central Missouri. He never signed with the Royals organization and attending college. He wa not drafted again and went into independent ball, where he resurfaced last year, playing for Evansville, of the Frontier League.

From: http://www.mauinews.com/ : - Gered Mochizuki has played a lot of baseball in his 22 years. Before he undergoes his next quest on the diamond, he is having fun this weekend playing at the ballpark where he grew up — Maehara Stadium. From his leadoff spot in the batting order, Mochizuki led the Maui All-Stars to a 10-6 win over Kauai in the semifinals of the 73rd annual Hawaii State AJA Baseball Federation Tournament on Saturday. Mochizuki, who will try out for the Orange County (Calif.) Flyers of the independent Golden State Baseball League in two weeks, was 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, four RBIs and two runs to ignite Maui’s 13-hit attack. ‘‘I’m just trying to have fun,’’ said the 5-foot-7, 160-pound Mochizuki, who was drafted in the 49th round by the Kansas City Royals out of Baldwin High School as a 17-year-old in 2003. ‘‘This format really makes it fun because I’m back with the boys.’’

From: http://www.starbulletin.com/:  - Gered Mochizuki was in his last year of fun and games.

Then the New York Mets decided they needed a middle infielder and trolled the Frontier League for talent. Mochizuki, who prepped at Baldwin on Maui, had his contract bought by the Mets on Wednesday and started at shortstop for the Kingsport (Tenn.) Mets of the Appalachian League on Friday. "If it wasn't going to be this year, it was going to be over," Mochizuki said. Mochizuki was playing for the Southern Illinois Miners in the independent Frontier League. His debut for a major league affiliate was nothing like he hoped, though. Mochizuki went 0-for-3 with a walk and a pair of strikeouts and made an error.

The Mets signed Mochizuki for the 2009 season and assigned him to Kingsport, where he went: .270/.351/.358, 10-SB in 137-AB.

Profile: I’m sure Mochizuki will only become a role player in the Mets minor league system, but pick ups like these can’t hurt. They also one in awhile actually find yourself a gem. Mochizuki will play 2010 as a 24-year old, so I do expect him to jump over Luis Nieves, Jacob Eigsti, and Robbie Shields, and wind up in Savannah in the spring.

I wrote on Feb 10:  Gered Mochizuki – a nice 2009 (.270/.351/.358/.709) from the former 49th rouner in the 2003… yes, the 2003 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals. The Mets scooped him up from the Frontier League last seasn and he will play 2010 as a 24 year old.

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