Juan Lagares is a member of the Mets’ large group of young, far away prospects. Lagares has been in the Mets system since 2006 when he was only 17 years old (played in the Mets Dominican Team). Since then he has worked up the Mets system, reaching AA last season. In terms of his progression since playing in America (2007), his batting average and power (doubles, homers, SLG) have improved every season (with the exception of 2009, where his power dipped a bit).
Statistically speaking, last season was by far his best as he destroyed A+ ball, and then did even better at the AA level:
St. Lucie: 308 AB, 51 R, 104 H, 15 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR, .338 BA, .380 OBP, .494 SLG
B-Mets: 162 AB, 21 R, 60 H, 11 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, .371 BA, .391 OBP, .512 SLG
In his last season, his hitting pace really increased as did his slugging. There has been a lot of buzz that Juan is knocking down the door to be named a top 10 prospect in the Mets system, and it will probably happen if he has another year in AA like he did last season. In 2012 he’ll be 23 and with a positive year, depending on how positive and the health of the Mets, he could be looking at a late season call up, to competing for a spot on the 2013 roster (and entering starting talk in 2014).
Experts are crediting his jump in numbers to his plate discipline. He tabled his free swinging nature, and if he can consistently do that, he could turn himself into an interesting player for the Mets. Mainly by 2014, the Mets OF picture could look very different than it does today, and with the crop of players he is coming up with, his stock could land him as a trade candidate.
I’m not too familiar with his play but his statistics on Baseball Reference looked pretty legit. He’s a guy we could see this coming September.