Recently released Mets minor leaguer signs with the Long Island Ducks

The New York Mets weren’t shy about bringing in experienced free agents this offseason even if the majority of their games played came as minor leaguers. Among all of the ones they did sign, the one that appeared to have some of the most promise was Taylor Kohlwey.

Minor league options available plus some really good seasons in Triple-A for the San Diego Padres, he looked like a sure thing to make his way to the major league roster as long as he did one thing: hit.

Unfortunately, Kohlwey failed to produce for the Syracuse Mets. Going 3 for 34 and slashing just .088/.162/.118 in his 11 games, the team cut bait with him recently. He’ll be staying local, though. Kohlwey signed up for a gig with the Long Island Ducks.

How about those other Mets minor league free agent signings?

The 22-15 Syracuse Mets have received some unusual results. Outfielder Ben Gamel has been their hottest hitter. He leads the team with a .327/.441/.591 slash line. He’s one of the few free agents the team brought in actually having a good year in the minors. Another who has excelled is infielder Jose Iglesias whose .278/.322/.472 slash line is about on-par with what anyone could have predicted. More surprising: he has 6 home runs.

Players closer to the middle of the pack include Rylan Bannon. The infield utility man has hit .245/.386/.480 with 6 home runs and 16 RBI. His ability to play multiple positions should put him in the mix for a call up if the team was to lose an infielder. He’ll compete alongside their newer addition, Mike Brosseau. Now batting .278/.395/.333 through his first 43 trips to the plate, he has started off strongly.

Then there are some struggling veterans. Spring training hero Trayce Thompson leads the team with 7 home runs but a .220/.308/.447 slash line continues to assure everyone he is a Four-A player at best. Yolmer Sanchez, the Gold Glove winning second baseman, has struggled at the plate. He carries a .172/.280/.269 slash line through 107 chances. Finally, Jiman Choi has struggled to make his mark. In only 60 plate appearances he has hit .192/.333/.340 with a pair of home runs.

The quick cord getting pulled on Kohlwey should have others wondering if they, too, could end up as a free agent. Sanchez and Choi, in particular, don’t really have much use. The team has plenty of second base options and equally as many choices in the DH spot where Choi would play.

For anyone curious, Kohlwey has already matched his hits total with Long Island that he had for Syracuse: 3.