1/27/15

Tom Brennan - Majoring on the Minors: Top 30 Prospects - #10 Cory Mazzoni


MAJORING ON THE MINORS: TOP 30 PROSPECTS – #10 CORY MAZZONI - VOL.21 – Tom Brennan

I’m doing my Top 30 Prospects articles a bit differently – in 2 lists:

·       A top 10 list of lower minors guys who likely won’t show up until 2017 or later.  Already done. See list at end of this article. 

·       Followed by my top 20 list of guys who are closing in on the big leagues.  Guys who could help in the near future or be trade bait. 

Here is the list so far:
20.   Daniel Muno
19.   Michael Fulmer
18.   Miller Diaz
17.   Dario Alvarez
16.   Jayce Boyd
15.   Rob Whalen
14.   Hansel Robles
13.   Gabriel Ynoa
12.   Gavin Cecchini
11.   Jack Leathersich

 Today, selection #10: CORY MAZZONI
Cory was drafted high, has great stuff, even if not Syndergaard/Matz stuff.  Mazzoni, though, has spent too much time in the infirmary in his career, and too little up on that 10 inch hill in the middle of the infield.

Mazzoni, a 2nd rounder in 2011, threw just 77 innings in 2014 after a mere 66 in 2013.  Covering 26 starts.  Some relievers throw more innings.

But he went 5-1 in 9 AAA starts, and his 4.67 PCL ERA probably equates to a 3.75 ERA in normal AAA leagues.  So despite a paucity of innings, Mazzoni finished strong, with 49 Ks in those 52 AAA innings.

So other than a crowded pitching staff, I think Cory is certainly ready for the back end of the Mets pen coming out of spring camp.  He could also be left to start in AAA, as it would allow the Mets to trade him as a viable young big league starter at mid-year to an aspiring team with pitching woes. He's a big league arm in a pitching-rich system.  He might be the best pitching prospect on a few teams at the other end of the abundance spectrum.

Mazzoni needs to come to camp healthy and throwing gas, and finish spring training doing the same, and force his way onto the Mets. He certainly is capable.

That’s why I slotted him #10 amongst the close-to-majors minor leaguers.  Whaddya think? 

MY TOP 10 LOWER MINORS LIST:

# 1 - Marcos Molina

#2 – Michael Conforto

#3 – Amed Rosario

#4 – Dominic Smith

#5 - Jhoan Urena

#6 – Vicente Lupo

#7 – Wuilmer Becerra

#8 – Luis Guillorme

#9 - Casey Meisner

#10 - Milton Ramos

15 comments:

eraff said...

"He might be the best pitching prospect on a few teams at the other end of the abundance spectrum."

This is FATUOUS RIDICULOUSNESS!....and why does it bother me????

SERENITY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom Brennan said...

I got very fatuous after the holidays. I am currently dieting. Wish me well.

Cory will be the story in 2015. At least one of many.

eraff said...

Hey...Fullmer and Mazzoni are interesting guys.

A few weeks ago, Mack seemed to be encouraging Controversy... "Don't be afraid to go after each other"---something like that.

I hear CROW is Lean!

eraff said...

"I hear CROW is Lean!"

Confession... I generally find it to be Lean!

Tom Brennan said...

A crow casserole is something to crow about.

Reese Kaplan said...

Never let it be said I didn't at least try to help:

http://bertc.com/subfive/recipes/threecrows.htm

Unknown said...

LOL

Mazzoni has always shown the stuff - he just hasn't been getting the innings he needs to develop

He also gets weird injuries - which hopefully he can grow out of.

Positives:

1) While not being a baby, he has always been younger than the average of his league - he is only 25 now, so he is still young.

2) His K-rate (8.1 career - 8.5 in AAA last year) and K:BB (3.47) are excellent

3) While he gives up a lot of hits, he doesn't give up a lot of HRs (career 9.5 H/9 but 0.7 HR/9) - this likely means that he gives up more weak contact. Even in Vegas, his HR/9 was only 1.0.

I see the high hits, low HRs as a guy who is working on his off speed stuff

4) Pretty good control - career 2.3 BB/9 (2.1 in Vegas) is very good - for comparison our "pin point control" guy Montero walked 2.1/9 in his career and 3.8/9 in Vegas.

5) Plus fastball - his fastball hits 95 - put him in the bullpen and it likely goes up a tick or two.

I didn't realize this until looking at their 2014 stats, but Mazzoni's AAA stats are pretty comparable to Montero's

Montero is a year younger, which is a plus, but Mazzoni had a better WHIP, K:BB and a lower BB/9 than Montero - Monterro gave up fewer hits and HR (both important)

Montero had 80 IP to Mazzoni's 52, but they were close enough that I wouldn't say that Montero is light years better than Mazzoni.

So I would go back to Tom's statement that Mazzoni would be a pretty highly ranked pitching prospect in several systems and would get more acknowledgement if not for Thor and Matz

Anonymous said...

This just in.....

Robert Carson suspended 50 games for 2nd failed test for a "drug of abuse"

Mack Ade said...

That is very sad about Carson.

(I know... now that anonymous guy will slam me for saying something nice about someone that was busted for drugs)

I got to know Carson when he was in Savannah and I liked him a lot. I thought he was going to be a big star in this game.

Very sad.

Steve from Norfolk said...

I don't think the players who rack up 2 drug offenses before they reach the majors are really cut out for the Majors. Even if they have the talent, they have no faith in their natural ability. Plus, they have no more room for error. One more offense - banned for life.

eraff said...

Look no further than Bartolo--- I have NO DOUBT that Drugs and dis-allowed therapies were involved in his "recovery" from arm problems.

He pitched Less than 300 innings in 4 seasons between 2006 and 2009. He then disappeared for all of 2010.

At the age of 38(!!!!!!) after over 2000 MLB innings..... after 6 years of injury struggles---- He shows up and pitches 150-200 innings a year for the past 4 years!!!!!????????

BTW--- I don't blame the guy, but MLB and all sports need to face the reality that many of these drugs and therapies, used under good care, are Legitimate!!!

These guys are pros---this stuff should come out of the shadows so that it can be done safely...and APPROPRIATELY.




Unknown said...

A drug of abuse isn't a steroid/ performance drug - think Marijuana instead

This is a discipline issue

Unknown said...

A drug of abuse isn't a steroid/ performance drug - think Marijuana instead

This is a discipline issue

Tom Brennan said...

Guys got to realize howprecious and fleeting a baseball career is...before lighting a joint. We are a society that preaches "screw up, apologize sincerely, slap on wrist, good as new"

Guys,just don't do it

eraff said...


pro sport leagues need to stop giving a crap about Pot....total nonsense