New York Mets Minor League Report: Wandy Asigen Wraps Up Debut Week

[Tom Gatto]

The New York Mets had to wait, but their 16-year-old shortstop phenom is now on the field. The Wandy Asigen clock has officially started.

Asigen, you’ll recall, was the biggest story of last January’s international signing period. He was the No. 2 ranked player in the class and on his way to the New York Yankees when he flipped and signed with the Mets for $3.9 million. In April, he made Grand Central Mets’ list of top 20 prospects, landing at No. 14. He’s No. 12 in the newly released July rankings.

He was assigned to the Dominican Summer League to start his pro career, but a hamstring injury delayed his debut by about a month. He finally got into his first game on June 29 for DSL Orange, and he ended up playing in four games total in his first week. On Monday, he collected his first pro hit and RBIs with a two-run single against the DSL Rockies. For the four games, Asigen went 1-for-6 with six walks (to three strikeouts) in 12 plate appearances.

The org handled him delicately as it sought to protect the hamstring. Asigen did not attempt a stolen base, he only played five innings per game, and he did not play on back-to-back days. Of course, there are good reasons why he was slow-played: he’s very young, and he has top-end potential. He has both 60-grade power and 60-grade speed (on the 20-to-80 scale), according to MLB.com's scouting report. Even before he signed, he drew raves for his bat speed (exit velocities in the 110s), his ability to lift the ball, and his ability to barrel up pitches. He was seen as perhaps the most advanced hitter in his class.

Fielding? That’ll come. He made three errors in the four games.

The complex-league clubs were the only Mets affiliates in action Monday. A rundown:

The Florida Complex League Mets completed their suspended July 3 game, losing to the FCL Marlins, 9-8. The teams combined for 15 runs in the fifth and sixth innings, with the Marlins gaining an 8-7 edge. Vladi Gomez collected two hits and stole his 26th base of the season. The teams’ regularly scheduled game was suspended because of lightning in the middle of the fourth with the Mets leading, 7-0. The game will resume on July 15. Roybert Herrera and Yeider Mindiola each drove in two runs and Dillon Stiltner pitched three scoreless innings.

DSL Mets Blue routed the DSL NYY Bombers, 9-1. Royner Bravo went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Michalle Mercedes drove in a pair. Gensil Rosario (four innings) and Jhoangel Marquez (three innings) combined for 12 strikeouts as they held the Bombers to five hits. DSL Mets Orange had 13 hits and 12 walks in their four-hour, 36-minute, 13-8 loss. They stranded 14 runners.

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