Who's on First?

As I mentioned before, first-base has not been has not been an asset for the Mets ever since John Olerud left. Well, the next prospect in our list is hoping he gets the chance to change that.

4. Ian Bladergroen

Another product of the 2002 draft, Ian Bladergroen was signed as a "draft and follow" in 2003. Listed at 6-5 and 210 pounds, the left-handed hitting Bladergroen fits the profile of the typical slugging first-baseman

Age 20 285/354/416 21 XBHs 21/51 bb/so 274 ABs [R]
Age 21 342/397/595 29 XBHs 25/54 bb/so 269 ABs [A-]

After a decent start in the New York-Penn League, Bladergroen finally showed why he earned the nickname of "The Blade" during his time with the Capital City Bombers in 2004. Before going down with a wrist injury in July, the Lamar product was helping the Bombers post the highest winning percentage of any full-season team in the minor leagues this year. Hitting for power and average, Bladergroen did more than turn a few heads around the league. Here is what opposing manager Ken Joyce said about him:

"He was aggressive and would chase a bit like a young slugger," said Charleston (W.Va.) manager Ken Joyce, "but he had a real nice swing and legitimate big-time power. His swing path put the bat in the (strike) zone for a long time."

With more than 40 percent of his hits going for extra-bases, there is no denying that Bladergroen, has tremendous power potential. At age 21, he is neither young nor old for the Sally League but like Bowman before him, the only question is how his plate discipline will hold up at at the higher levels. Here is what John Sickels, ESPN's minor league expert, says about him in his Down the Farm mailbag section:

His plate discipline is only adequate (25 walks, 52 strikeouts in 261 at-bats), and there are some concerns about his ability to make contact and work the count effectively against more advanced pitching. He doesn't have a great glove, but if he hits they will find a spot for him. We need to see how he holds up against pitchers who know what they are doing, but so far his career is off to a fine start.

Among the leaders in most of the offensive categories and on pace to brake the Cyclones' RBI record, Bladergroen's season was cut short on July 1st after injuring his left wrist. To repair damaged cartilage and ligaments on it, he underwent surgery which according to team doctors would take eight weeks to heal and another eight to rehab. Scheduled to begin next season at the pitching friendly Florida State League, he'll get a chance to prove this "Blade" hasn't lost its edge.