Minor League Baseball

Jeter helped Trenton set attendance record

July 18, 2011 , ι ASSOCIATED PRESS

TRENTON -- The Yankees' Double-A affiliate in Trenton has set a team attendance record in selling out its past six home games, including two in which shortstop Derek Jeter appeared in rehabilitation... Read on

TRENTON -- The Yankees' Double-A affiliate in Trenton has set a team attendance record in selling out its past six home games, including two in which shortstop Derek Jeter appeared in rehabilitation starts.
	 
The Trenton Thunder had 48,617 fans attend the six games at Mercer County Waterfront Park, an average of 8,103 people. The stadium’s seating capacity is 6,150 with standing room only tickets available once the game is sold out.
	 
Jeter’s two games drew a team-record 9,212 for his first start on July 3 against Altoona, and 9,002 the following night. The attendance figures were No. 1 and No. 3 on the all-time, single-game list in Thunder history.
	 
The six-game streak also included rehabilitation appearances by two Philadelphia Phillies — reliever Brad Lidge and outfielder Shane Victorino. Both came to town with the Reading Phillies.
	 
The prior time the Thunder sold out six consecutive games was in 2003 when they had a seven-game run, averaging 7,531.
	 
The Thunder have had 15 sellouts this season and have topped 7,000 fans nine times. They rank seventh in attendance out of the 90 Single-A, Single-A Advanced and Double-A minor league baseball teams.

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Yankees prospect Banuelos plagued by control problems

July 18, 2011 , ι By TIM BONTEMPS

Manny Banuelos entered 2011 as one of the brightest young prospects in baseball. He had a stellar 2010 season, pitching to a 2.51 ERA in 64 2/3 innings over 15 starts between the Gulf Coast League,... Read on

Manny Banuelos entered 2011 as one of the brightest young prospects in baseball. He had a stellar 2010 season, pitching to a 2.51 ERA in 64 2/3 innings over 15 starts between the Gulf Coast League, High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton, finishing with 85 strikeouts, 25 walks and a 1.22 WHIP.
	 
But, despite all of the hype surrounding the 20-year-old left-hander, Banuelos has had a strange year with Trenton. Banuelos is 3-4 with a 3.64 ERA in 18 starts for the Thunder, and has struck out 86 batters in 84 innings -- pretty good for a 20-year-old pitching in Double-A. But that's only half the story of his 2011 season. The other half? His control problems.
	 
Banuelos has walked 45 batters in those 84 innings (an average of just under five walks per nine innings) and has a 1.54 WHIP. In his start Sunday afternoon against the Reading Phillies at home in Trenton, Banuelos went 5-plus innings, giving up three runs on five hits and taking the loss in Reading's 4-3 win. He struck out six, but he also walked five batters. What's more, he threw 45 strikes in 91 pitches. In addition to struggling with his command, Banuelos has allowed 83 hits in 84 innings, and has a .262 batting average against.
	 
The left-hander is in the bottom 10 in the Eastern League in both walks and WHIP, places he simply shouldn't be, at least based on his latent.
	 
The Yankees came into the season with a plan to limit Banuelos' innings, but so far he's done a lot of the work for them by struggling to be efficient in his starts. In his 18 starts this season, Banuelos has failed to make it through five innings in nine of them.
	 
You can attribute some of that to early season pitch and innings limits after dealing with a blister on his pitching hand at the beginning of the year, but much of it has stemmed from the control problems.
	 
Compare his performance with that of the Yankees' other top pitching prospect in Double-A, right-hander Dellin Betances. He has allowed too many walks (40 in 75 2/3 innings across 15 starts) but unlike Banuelos, who is about 5-foot-11, Betances is 6-foot-8, and that extra size means it's that much harder for him to keep his delivery in check.
	 
Though Betances is also walking batters, they aren't doing much damage when he makes them put the bat on the ball. Opposing hitters have a .194 batting average against Betances this year, getting 54 hits off him in those 75 2/3 innings, allowing him to keep his WHIP down to 1.24 for the year.
	 
After his start Sunday, Banuelos expressed frustration
	 to the Trentonian about his on-going control problems.
	 
There is no question about Banuelos' talent level, and he proved that by striking out the side in his lone inning of work in last week's Eastern League All-Star Game. But he needs to start showing the complete package that made Mariano Rivera, of all people,
	 tell ESPN during spring trainingthat Banuelos is the "best pitching prospect I've ever seen."
	 
*
	 
Jesus Montero returned to the starting lineup for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees on Friday, and played all three games over the weekend at Toledo.
	 
Montero had been missing since injuring his back during batting practice July 4, and sat out the better part of two weeks. In his first three games back in the lineup, Montero struggled, going 2-for-13 with an RBI and seven strikeouts.
	 
Montero, who entered the season as a consensus top-five prospect in baseball, has struggled in his second go-round with SWB. After a stellar year there last year as a 21-year-old, hitting .289 with 21 homers and 75 RBIs, Montero's average is still there, hitting .283, but his power is missing; he has seven homers, 34 RBIs and a .406 slugging percentage, after slugging .517 last year.
	 
That still hasn't done too much to lessen interest in acquiring Montero from around the sport, which is why his name has featured prominently in any discussions surrounding the Yankees pursuit of Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez.
	 
Sports Illustrated reported Sundaythat the Rockies wanted Montero, Banuelos, Betances and right-hander Ivan Nova for Jimenez; the Yankees weren't willing to include any of those three pitchers in a deal, let alone all of them.
	 
These clearly are the opening bargaining points for both teams, which is normal.
	 I stated my caseFriday why the Yankees should move two of those four players in a Jimenez deal, along with another lesser prospect or two. I still think if Jimenez is dealt by July 31, the only place it will be is to The Bronx. The Yankees have the combination of need and prospects to make a deal and I think it will eventually get done.
	 
This is a complete guess, but a deal of Montero plus either Betances or Nova and another lesser prospect or two (perhaps Triple-A right-handers Adam Warren and/or David Phelps) would be a middle ground that I could see happening if Jimenez is eventually dealt.
	 
*
	 
The Staten Island Yankees may have lost 8-2 on Sunday to the Tri-City ValleyCats, but second baseman Angelo Gumbs had a terrific game for the Baby Bombers.
	 
Gumbs went 3-for-4 with an RBI, finishing the game with a single, double and triple. The 18-year-old, whom the Yankees drafted in the second round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, is hitting .283 with two homers, 10 RBIs and seven stolen bases for Staten Island this season. He also has a .362 on-base percentage and .435 slugging percentage.
	 
tbontemps@nypost.com

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BUSHES: Prospects shouldn't stop Yankees from trading for Jimenez

July 15, 2011 , ι By TIM BONTEMPS

George A. King III reported on The Post's Yankees blog Friday afternoon that Yankees scout Jay Darnell was one of 17 at the Rockies-Tigers game Thursday night to watch right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez... Read on

George A. King III reported on The Post's Yankees blog Friday afternoon that Yankees scout Jay Darnell was one of 17 at the Rockies-Tigers game Thursday night to watch right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez pitch for Colorado.
	 
Jiminez, one of the game's top pitching talents, is 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA and 1.31 WHIP for the Rockies this year, striking out 99 and walking 43 in 110 1/3 innings. But those numbers include a disastrous April, when he had a 6.75 ERA in three starts, and May, when he had a 5.45 ERA in six starts. Since June 1, the right-hander is 5-3 with a 2.56 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in nine starts, and has struck out 54 and walked 13 in 59 2/3 innings.
	 
Those numbers look a lot like Jimenez's brilliant 2010 season, when he went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.15 WHIP and finished third in the National League's Cy Young Award voting.
	 
In addition, Jimenez is durable, and has a very favorable contract. He has made at least 33 starts and pitched at least 198 innings each of the past three years, and is on his way to doing both again in 2011. Add in his appealing contract status, with him making $2.8 million this year and $4.2 million next plus affordable options the following two years, and Jiminez is as attractive a trade target as any in baseball.
	 
That is why the Rockies reportedly have interest in the three top prospects in the Yankees system: catcher Jesus Montero, right-hander Dellin Betances and left-hander Manny Banuelos. It's also why the Yankees shouldn't let parting with one or even two of those three players stand in the way of making a deal for Jimenez.
	 
The Yankees have made it a point of saying, year after year, that the only goal at season's end is to win a championship. As they learned the hard way last season as the Cliff Lee saga played out, sometimes the trades you don't make matter as much as the ones you do.
	 
This year, the Yankees may need a pitcher even more than they did a year ago, when the Rangers managed to get Lee. Yes, the Yankees have CC Sabathia, but after that they have a series of question marks. Is Bartolo Colon on the verge of breaking down, and will the rotation's other veteran reclamation project, Freddy Garcia, suffer the same fate? Can A.J. Burnett be trusted to be the No. 2 starter? Will Phil Hughes be able to return to his form from the first half of last season?
	 
The Yankees may have Ivan Nova, Adam Warren and David Phelps to summon from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to fill some of those holes as they arise, but the major-league team would be unquestionably better, both this year and going forward, with a 1-2 punch of CC Sabathia and 27-year-old Jimenez. It would also grant the Yankees a bit of leverage of Sabathia does choose to opt out of his contract at season's end because they'd have a pitcher worthy of being a true ace for them.
	 
Montero has what clearly looks like an All-Star caliber bat. But he's most likely not going to be able to catch in the big leagues, and if he can't, where would he fit in the Yankees lineup? He isn't displacing Mark Teixeira at first base, and the Yankees have a number of veteran players – including Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter – who will need at-bats as the designated hitter in the coming years that will make it hard to justify using a young player as the team's full-time DH.
	 
Banuelos and Betances have the chance to be top pitchers, as well, but could either be expected to be significantly better than Jimenez? The Yankees would certainly be thrilled if either reached that level in pinstripes, let alone both of them.
	 
If the Rockies came to the Yankees and asked for, say, Montero, Betances and Warren, could the Yankees really say no to that deal? That remains to be seen. But if Jimenez goes to one of their American League rivals – like the Tigers, who also saw Jimenez first-hand Thursday night – then it could be, as Yankees legend Yogi Berra famously said, "like deja vu all over again" for the Yankees come October.
	 
tbontemps@nypost.com

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BUSHES: Mets won't get much in return for K-Rod

July 13, 2011 , ι By TIM BONTEMPS

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson may have successfully gotten rid of Francisco Rodriguez and his millstone 2012 option of $17.5 million dollars, but Mets fans shouldn't get excited about the two... Read on

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson may have successfully gotten rid of Francisco Rodriguez and his millstone 2012 option of $17.5 million dollars, but Mets fans shouldn't get excited about the two players to be named later coming to the Mets.
	 
By rule, the Brewers will have to name the two players the Mets will receive in the deal six months from now – by either January 12 or 13 of 2012. But Milwaukee, thanks to trading away five of their best prospects in offseason deals for pitchers Zack Grienke and Shawn Marcum, currently has little to offer in terms of prospects.
	 
Brewers GM Doug Melvin
	 hinted in a Sirius XM Radio interviewthat Mets wouldn't get the franchise's top prospects.
	 
“ We’ll find out about the players. I believe any player that puts a Minor League uniform on has a chance to play in the big leagues," Melvin said. "The level they play at is determined by the players. As far as our top top guys, it’s not going to happen but they’re players that could play in the big leagues.”
	 
The Brewers also aren't allowed to trade any of this year's draft picks, so no one should be expecting the Mets to land either of Milwaukee's first-round picks (right-hander Taylor Jungmann from Texas and left-hander Jed Bradley from Georgia Tech).
	 
Here are the top 10 prospects from before the season in Milwaukee's farm system, according to Baseball America:
	 
1. Mark Rogers, RHP
	 
2. Cody Scarpetta, RHP
	 
3. Wily Peralta, RHP
	 
4. Scooter Gennett, 2B/SS
	 
5. Kentrall Davis, OF
	 
6. Tyler Thornburg, RHP
	 
7. Eric Farris, 2B
	 
8. Jimmy Nelson, RHP
	 
9. Kyle Heckathorn, RHP
	 
10. Amaury Rivas, RHP
	 
If the Mets get even one of those players in this deal – and that is unquestionably the weakest top 10 prospects in a system in baseball –  they would have to be happy. Clearly, Alderson made this trade in order to ensure the Mets didn't have to worry about picking up that massive 2012 option, which almost certainly would have ruled them out of having a chance to re-sign Jose Reyes.
	 
With a little more than two weeks until the July 31 trade deadline, the question now will be to see if Alderson also is willing to trade Carlos Beltran – and, if so, what he's able to get in return. Beltran is back to playing a high level, including offering good defense in right field. He's likely going to be one of the more sought-after hitters on the market over the next couple of weeks. That should mean that the Mets should get at least one significant prospect in return for him, if not more.
	 
tbontemps@nypost.com

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Yankees prospect Romine stars in Futures Game

July 11, 2011 , ι By TIM BONTEMPS

Yankees catching prospect Austin Romine was looking forward to getting a chance to play in front of his family and friends at Sunday's MLB Futures Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, the event that kicks... Read on

Yankees catching prospect Austin Romine was looking forward to getting a chance to play in front of his family and friends at Sunday's MLB Futures Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, the event that kicks off All-Star Week.
	 
The 22-year-old catcher didn't disappoint, going 2-for-2 at the plate, including the game-winning RBI single, to help Team USA earn a 6-4 victory over Team World.
	 
Romine, who replaced Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco in the sixth inning, strode to the plate with Rays shortstop Tim Beckham on second with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and the score tied, 4-4, against Royals right-hander Kelvin Herrera. Romine proceeded to line the first pitch he saw – a 77 mile per hour curveball – to left field for a base hit, and advanced to second on the throw home by Team World's Chih-Hsien Chiang, a Red Sox prospect.
	 
Romine also caught Mets right-hander Matt Harvey, who came in to get the final out of the game. After throwing two fastballs – one at 95 and one at 97 – for balls, he forced Padres prospect Reymond Fuentes (who is Carlos Beltran's cousin) to ground out to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, a Diamondbacks prospect, to end the game.
	 
The other local player in the game, Mets third baseman Jefry Marte, struck out in the top of the eighth against right-hander Jarred Cosart, a Phillies prospect.

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Mets prospect Harvey torched in third Double-A start

July 07, 2011 , ι By TIM BONTEMPS

After cruising through the Florida State League, Mets pitching prospect Matt Harvey is finding things to be a little tougher with Double-A Binghamton.Harvey was knocked around for the second time in... Read on

After cruising through the Florida State League, Mets pitching prospect Matt Harvey is finding things to be a little tougher with Double-A Binghamton.
	 
Harvey was knocked around for the second time in three starts for Binghamton Wednesday night, giving up seven runs on six hits – including two home runs to Reynaldo Rodriguez – in three innings in Binghamton's 7-0 home loss to the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox’ Double-A affiliate).
	 
The 22-year-old right-hander immediately got into trouble in the top of the first inning. After Jeremy Hazelbecker singled and stole second base, Harvey plunked right-hander Alex Hassan before giving up an RBI double to Chih-Hsien Chiang for Portland's first run.
	 
It looked like Harvey would make it out of the inning with relatively little damage after striking out Will Middlebrooks and forcing Tim Fedorowicz to ground out to third. But then Rodriguez hit a three-run blast to right field to give Portland a 4-0 lead.
	 
After Harvey set the side down in order in the top of the second, he ran into more trouble in the third inning. Chiang another double to lead off the inning, and Middlebrooks followed with a single to move him to third. Fedorowicz then hit a sacrifice fly to score Chiang, and then Rodriguez followed with a two-run shot to left-center to push the lead to 7-0, before Harvey recorded the final two outs on strikeouts.
	 
Harvey was pulled at that point in favor of right-hander John Lujan. Harvey's final line: Three innings pitched, seven runs (all earned) on six hits, five strikeouts, one walk and one hit batter.
	 
For anyone thinking/hoping to see Harvey pitching at Citi Field in September for a brief cameo appearance, or even hoping to see him get a second promotion this year to Triple-A Buffalo, this should show that Harvey has plenty of work to do before he's ready for either to happen.
	 
*****
	 
Outfielder Cory Vaughn continued his hot hitting since being promoted to High-A St. Lucie Wednesday night, going 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored in a 3-2 loss to Fort Myers Wednesday night. In 11 games with St. Lucie, Vaughn is hitting .343 with two homers, five RBIs, three doubles and eight runs scored.
	 
Vaughn spent the first half of the season playing for Low-A Savannah, where he was named to the South Atlantic League's All-Star Game. Vaughn hit .286 for the Sand Gnats with four homers, 30 RBIs, 14 doubles, two triples and 33 runs scored in 68 games.

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Yankees prospect Laird rebounding after rough April

July 07, 2011 , ι By TIM BONTEMPS

Brandon Laird turned a lot of heads last season when he was named the Double-A Eastern League's Player of the Year after hitting .291 with 23 homers and 90 RBIs in 107 games with the Trenton Thunder... Read on

Brandon Laird turned a lot of heads last season when he was named the Double-A Eastern League's Player of the Year after hitting .291 with 23 homers and 90 RBIs in 107 games with the Trenton Thunder.
	 
But after moving up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre at the end of last season he hit .246 in 31 games. And Laird looked awful there at the beginning of 2011, hitting .184 (14-for-76) with a homer and five RBIs in April. Since then Laird has gotten things back on track. His power numbers were still down after hitting one home run again in May (though he hit .307 in 26 games), but after hitting .270 with four homers in June, Laird has already hit three long balls in seven games in July.
	 
Last night, the 23-year-old third baseman went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in SWB's 7-5 loss to the Buffalo Bisons (the Mets' Triple-A affiliate) at PNC Park in Moosic, Pa., and is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak. One quirky stat for Laird; he's hitting .346 (9-for-26) this month, but has a .333 on-base percentage.
	 
*****
	 
Some strange numbers for the Yankees' top 2011 draft pick, Dante Bichette, Jr., in his first couple weeks as a pro. In 13 games with the Gulf Coast League Yankees, Bichette is hitting .159 (7-for-44) with two doubles, a triple and seven RBIs. But Bichette also has walked 15 times and struck out nine, showing an excellent batting eye. If Bichette can continue to show a similar level of plate discipline, the other aspects of his hitting will likely come around, in time.
	 
Meanwhile, second baseman David Adams continued to tear through the Gulf Coast League, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs in Wednesday afternoon's 9-8 win over the Nationals affiliate. In nine rehab games in the GCL, Adams is hitting .517 (15-for-29) with six doubles, five RBIs, six runs scored and two stolen bases in two attempts. One would expect Adams to be activated from the rehab assignment any day now.
	 
*****
	 
The Yankees signed another one of their 2011 draft picks, outfielder Justin James, over the weekend. The Yankees assigned James to their Gulf Coast League affiliate.
	 
James, a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder from Sacramento City College, was selected in the 13th round of last month's First-Year Player Draft by the Yankees. The son of former Yankee outfielder Dion James, the 20-year-old went 1-for-2 with a stolen base, two walks and two runs scored Tuesday for the GCL Yankees in his professional debut, hitting ninth.
	 
In 43 games for Sacramento City College this year, James hit .309 with no homers, 20 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 24 attempts. He also had nine doubles, two triples and 42 runs scored in 142 at-bats, and walked more times (32) than he struck out (27).
	 
tbontemps@nypost.com

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Yankees prospect Montero on disabled list with back injury

July 06, 2011 , ι By TIM BONTEMPS

MOOSIC, Pa. -- The Yankees' top prospect, catcher Jesus Montero, was put on the disabled list Wednesday afternoon with back stiffness.Montero, playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, felt some... Read on

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Mets, Yankees dip into international market

July 06, 2011 , ι By TIM BONTEMPS

Since the international free agency period opened July 2, both the Mets and Yankees have dipped into the Latin American talent pool to sign a young prospect. The Mets agreed to terms with Venezuelan... Read on

Since the international free agency period opened July 2, both the Mets and Yankees have dipped into the Latin American talent pool to sign a young prospect. The Mets agreed to terms with Venezuelan catcher Jose Garcia for an undisclosed fee, while the Yankees snapped up Miguel Andujar, a third baseman from the Dominican Republic, for $750,000.
	 
Both signings were reported by Baseball America.
	 
Garcia is considered to be one of the better catching prospects in this year's crop of Latin American players. He is a switch hitter who is very good defensively, according to BA's scouting report. Andujar has the potential to hit for average and power, and is capable of sticking at third defensively. Andujar trains with the same group that produced on of the Yankees' top prospects, catcher Gary Sanchez, as well as one of their signings from last summer, shortstop Christopher Tamarez.
	 
Below are the full scouting reports from Baseball America, first Garcia's and then Andujar's.
	 
Jose Garcia; catcher; 5-foot-11, 180 pounds; hits both, throws right.
	 
After Jose Ruiz and Marck Malave, Garcia is expected to be the next in line among Venezuelan catchers. Garcia, who is from San Felipe, has skills on both sides of the ball with an athletic, lively frame. He's good mechanically behind the plate, with good hands and a solid arm that plays up because of his quick release. He gets high marks for the catching intangibles that scouts and managers like to see. His hands are also an asset in the batter's box. He has a level, line-drive swing and makes good contact. His power is below-average now. Some scouts think it will stay there, while others think he might have a tick more in him. He's a switch-hitter, but his righthanded swing is more advanced. The Mets have been tied to Garcia.
	 
Miguel Andujar; third baseman; 6-foot-1, 180 pounds; hits right, throws right.
	 
Andujar has plenty of game experience, and it's evident in the way he plays. A 16-year-old from San Cristobal, Andujar plays in the Dominican Prospect League and has represented his country during international tournaments, including one in April in Venezuela. Andujar hit well there and has hit well most places he's gone. He doesn't have one knockout tool, but he has a good swing, good bat speed and advanced feel for hitting for his age. He has quick hands and a good swing path, with the potential to hit for average and power. Andujar is solid in the field as well, with the ability to handle third base and a strong arm. Andujar trains with Basilio Vizcaino (known as Cachasa), who also worked with Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez ($3 million in 2009) and Yankees shortstop Christopher Tamarez ($650,000 in 2010). The Yankees appear to have made Andujar one of their top targets this summer.

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Mets prospect Familia finally gets first Double-A win

July 05, 2011 , ι By TIM BONTEMPS

Mets pitching prospect Jeurys Familia made his first Double-A start May 10. The right-hander picked up his first win for the Double-A Binghamton Mets on Monday night, nine starts and almost two... Read on

Mets pitching prospect Jeurys Familia made his first Double-A start May 10. The right-hander picked up his first win for the Double-A Binghamton Mets on Monday night, nine starts and almost two months later.
	 
Familia, 21, threw five shutout innings Monday night, scattering three hits, striking out six and walking three in a 7-6 win over the Portland Sea Dogs. For the season, Familia is now 1-2 with a 3.02 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with Binghamton, striking out 57 and walking 23 in 50 2/3 innings. In his past two starts – both against Trenton, the Yankees' Double-A affiliate – Familia had double-digit strikeouts each night. He struck out 11 and walked one in 6 2/3 innings June 12, then struck out 10 and walked three in six innings June 18.
	 
There are long-term questions about whether Familia will be able to make it as a starter, or if he'll eventually become a late-inning reliever. But after entering the season as the No. 13 overall prospect in the Mets' system, according to Baseball America, Familia has unquestionably moved into the Top 10, probably the top five. He's easily among the top three pitching prospects in the system now, along with right-handers Matt Harvey and Jenrry Mejia.
	 
*
	 
Another pitcher who likely will follow the same path that first Familia then Harvey took from High-A St. Lucie to Binghamton is left-hander Darin Gorski. The 23-year-old is unquestionably old for the level, but his success there is undeniable, as well. Gorski has gone 7-0 with a 1.54 ERA, striking out 92 and walking 18 in 80 2/3 innings. Gorski was the Mets' seventh-round pick in 2009 from Kutztown (Pa.) University.
	 
The thing that makes Gorski's brilliant 2011 season stand out even more is the fact that in his first two professionals seasons he did little of note. He went 3-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 13 games (11 starts) for Short-A Brooklyn after he was drafted in 2009, then followed that by going 6-8 with a 4.51 ERA in 25 games (18 starts) for Low-A Savannah last year. In both years, he also struck out less batters than innings pitched, unlike this season.
	 
Gorski will likely get a chance to prove his worth in Double-A at some point this season. But with the B-Mets rotation currently full (with Familia, Harvey, Brandon Moore, Robert Carson and Tobi Stoner), not including starter Brad Holt who's been moved to the bullpen after a brutal beginning to the season, Gorski may have some time left to wait.
	 
*
	 
The Mets have seen already seen the debut of their 2011 second-round pick, with left-hander Cory Mazzoni making his first appearance in pro ball with the Brooklyn Cyclones on Sunday night. Mazzoni threw a scoreless seventh inning in Brooklyn's 3-2 loss to the Staten Island Yankees. Mazzoni gave up one hit, struck out two and walked one.
	 
Mazzoni struck out the best prospect on Staten Island's roster, outfielder Mason Williams, to lead off the inning. He navigated around a walk to the Yankees' 2010 first-round pick, shortstop Cito Culver, and a single by Reymond Nunez to get out of the inning.
	 
Because Mazzoni threw over 100 innings for N.C. State this season before the Mets drafted him, whether the Mets think he's going to be a starter or a reliever long-term, expect Mazzoni to stick in the bullpen at least until the end of the year, in order to keep his innings down.
	 
tbontemps@nypost.com