Reilly
02-06-2005, 06:33 AM
Scouting Mets' Prospect # 1: Lastings Milledge
By Patrick Teale (javascript:location.href='http://search.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=4&c=1&search=1&sskey=%22' + escape('Patrick Teale') + '%22&sssiteid=228';)
Date: Feb 3, 2005
The New York Mets drafted Lastings Milledge in the first round of the 2003 draft out of Lakewood Ranch High School. Blessed with plus tools across the board, Milledge is a true five-tool talent with superstar potential. It is this reason he ranks #1 among our Top 50 Mets' prospects.
Vital Statistics:
Name: Lastings Milledge (http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=8&c=1&nid=1315899)
Position: Center Field
DOB: April 5, 1985
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 190
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
All you need to know to understand exactly why the Mets – and Inside Pitch – are so high on Lastings Milledge, the team's No. 1 draft selection in 2003, can be summed up in one sentence by teammate Jamar Hill (http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=8&c=1&nid=1251623).
"Lastings Milledge has the highest ceiling of anyone I've ever played with or against," says Hill, an outfielder who played with Milledge last year at Single-A Capital City.
"He can do whatever he wants to do on a baseball field. He makes a lot of stuff happen on the basepaths and has unbelievable power. He kind of reminds me of Barry Bonds (http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=8&c=1&nid=1167574) when he was younger, although right-handed. Lastings has a better arm than Barry and a lot of bat speed."
Speaking with scouts and players who watched Milledge burst onto the Mets scene over the last two years, one thing remains abundantly clear: his will be a talent to watch. Milledge flexed his first professional muscle last season, batting .337 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI at Capital City, swiping 23 bases before finishing up the season in high-A St. Lucie.
Those efforts landed him the organization's Sterling Award for Rookie of the Year. Just 20 years old by Opening Day, Milledge is a safe bet to make it all the way up to Binghamton by the end of 2005, a major accomplishment that goes right in line with one American League scout's thinking that Milledge "is a future All-Star."
"It went well and the stats were great," Milledge said, "but I felt I could have done a lot better in certain areas like cutting down on the strikeouts and having a better batting average. Those things could have been better, but I am working more towards learning how to be a leadoff hitter."
A Florida native, Milledge is the son of a retired Florida highway patrolman, and now that his professional career is hitting its strides, parents Tony and Linda have invested in a Ford camper so they can follow the budding star around the bus leagues.
There's no doubt that his is a baseball family, as Milledge's father and two older brothers all compiled some minor league experience. He remembers picking up a bat for the first time at age 5, and it's been hard to get the kid to put it down since.
But Milledge's professional career hit a snag before it even began, as the Mets pulled briefly out of negotiations with the athletic young outfielder while allegations of sexual misconduct from his high school career were investigated. Satisfied with the conclusion of the investigation, the Mets signed Milledge to a contract shortly thereafter, although that didn't necessarily quiet whispers and media reports.
"I really don't care what people say or write," Milledge told us. "I know all my close friends, and the people who have been around me for a while know me for who I am.
"That stuff really does not bother me, I am a pretty strong person, and I don't let the negative press get to me, because I realize it is part of being a professional. … I am always going to be on top of stuff, and fight my way through all that. It is sort of the old saying of stick and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me."
Words may not have impacted Milledge's career that much, but a fastball during spring training last season wasn't so forgiving. The start of Milledge's first full professional season was delayed for weeks as he roamed Port St. Lucie with a large cast on his right hand, the end result of a missed bunt.
Oddly enough, Milledge doesn't look back with any regret on the shattered fourth metacarpal that sidelined him until May 20.
"Actually, I was glad something like that happened," Milledge said. "It made me work even harder to get into better shape. Because of the injury, I had limited use of my body and I was not able to get any field work in. All I could do was pretty much hit the gym and lift [and] I took the opportunity to get stronger and faster."
Despite tremendous bat speed and good home run power, the Mets approached Milledge and told him that they saw him best helping the organization as a leadoff hitter due to his speed on the bases.
Indeed, for a player who grew up idolizing Rickey Henderson, the comparisons seem to fit, as Milledge is one player who can consistently wreak havoc on the bases.
"Forget about his hitting, the kid can flat out run," said one pro scout. "He's one of the fastest players I've scouted in a long time."
"I'd be taking away some of my weapons if I was to hit third in the lineup," Milledge admits. "You know, I wouldn't get to use my speed as much. I had 12 bunt base hits this past year and you're not really going to do that if you're hitting third. You can get some positives going from bunting and it gets you going if you are slumping."
Batting and Power. Milledge has incredible bat speed and is able to get good wood on the ball. He has tremendous power to all fields. Despite not being one of the bigger guys in the Mets' system, Milledge possesses some of the best raw power in all of minor league baseball because of his bat speed. Milledge, at just 19 years old, hit 15 homeruns in his first season and projects to be a 25+ guy down the road. He could hit for more power if he was to hit lower in the order at the #3 spot. He makes very good contact and can hit almost anything thrown his way. With just one professional season under his belt, Milledge is going to have to learn to take a few more pitches and work deeper into the counts, especially as a leadoff man. Once he learns some more patience at the plate, Milledge projects to hit for a very high average.
Base Running and Speed. If hitting for power and average were not enough, Milledge is already one of the fastest players in the Mets' farm system and uses his great base running instincts to cause havoc on the base paths. It's his God-given speed that has he, and the Mets, trying his hand at batting leadoff. Milledge stole 26 bases in 2004 and projects to be a 40+ stolen base threat as he matures and learns the pitchers' moves more.
Defense. Milledge's speed gives him tremendous range in center field as he is able to run down just about anything. He takes good angles on balls hit in his vicinity and has a good arm in the outfield. His arm is good, but not great. Milledge is an above average defender in the outfielder and can change a game defensively.
Projection. The bottom line is Milledge is one of the best Mets' prospects in some time based on just raw baseball ability. He has five-tool talent and can do whatever he wants to do on a baseball field. He could excel as a leadoff hitter where his speed is best utilized or bat third in the lineup to better make use of his raw power. Either way, Milledge is a special player that can do it all. Many of his teammates and scouts compare Milledge to young, right-handed version of Barry Bonds when Bonds broke in with the Pirates. Like the early version of Bonds, Milledge projects to hit 25+ homeruns and steal 40+ bases as a Major Leaguer while playing All-Star caliber defense. If Milledge can improve his patience at the plate like Bonds (Bonds didn't walk more than strike out until after his third season in the Majors), the sky is the limit for this young budding superstar.
ETA. 2007. It is hard not to get excited about the arrival of Lastings Milledge to Shea Stadium, but he is still very young and has some refining of his all around game left to go. He wound up in high-A ball in 2004 and it is more than likely that Milledge will reach AA-Binghamton at some point in 2005. Milledge should reach AAA-Norfolk no later than 2006 (barring injury) at the tender age of 21, but with his unbelievable talent, all bets are off!
By Patrick Teale (javascript:location.href='http://search.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=4&c=1&search=1&sskey=%22' + escape('Patrick Teale') + '%22&sssiteid=228';)
Date: Feb 3, 2005
The New York Mets drafted Lastings Milledge in the first round of the 2003 draft out of Lakewood Ranch High School. Blessed with plus tools across the board, Milledge is a true five-tool talent with superstar potential. It is this reason he ranks #1 among our Top 50 Mets' prospects.
Vital Statistics:
Name: Lastings Milledge (http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=8&c=1&nid=1315899)
Position: Center Field
DOB: April 5, 1985
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 190
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
All you need to know to understand exactly why the Mets – and Inside Pitch – are so high on Lastings Milledge, the team's No. 1 draft selection in 2003, can be summed up in one sentence by teammate Jamar Hill (http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=8&c=1&nid=1251623).
"Lastings Milledge has the highest ceiling of anyone I've ever played with or against," says Hill, an outfielder who played with Milledge last year at Single-A Capital City.
"He can do whatever he wants to do on a baseball field. He makes a lot of stuff happen on the basepaths and has unbelievable power. He kind of reminds me of Barry Bonds (http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=8&c=1&nid=1167574) when he was younger, although right-handed. Lastings has a better arm than Barry and a lot of bat speed."
Speaking with scouts and players who watched Milledge burst onto the Mets scene over the last two years, one thing remains abundantly clear: his will be a talent to watch. Milledge flexed his first professional muscle last season, batting .337 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI at Capital City, swiping 23 bases before finishing up the season in high-A St. Lucie.
Those efforts landed him the organization's Sterling Award for Rookie of the Year. Just 20 years old by Opening Day, Milledge is a safe bet to make it all the way up to Binghamton by the end of 2005, a major accomplishment that goes right in line with one American League scout's thinking that Milledge "is a future All-Star."
"It went well and the stats were great," Milledge said, "but I felt I could have done a lot better in certain areas like cutting down on the strikeouts and having a better batting average. Those things could have been better, but I am working more towards learning how to be a leadoff hitter."
A Florida native, Milledge is the son of a retired Florida highway patrolman, and now that his professional career is hitting its strides, parents Tony and Linda have invested in a Ford camper so they can follow the budding star around the bus leagues.
There's no doubt that his is a baseball family, as Milledge's father and two older brothers all compiled some minor league experience. He remembers picking up a bat for the first time at age 5, and it's been hard to get the kid to put it down since.
But Milledge's professional career hit a snag before it even began, as the Mets pulled briefly out of negotiations with the athletic young outfielder while allegations of sexual misconduct from his high school career were investigated. Satisfied with the conclusion of the investigation, the Mets signed Milledge to a contract shortly thereafter, although that didn't necessarily quiet whispers and media reports.
"I really don't care what people say or write," Milledge told us. "I know all my close friends, and the people who have been around me for a while know me for who I am.
"That stuff really does not bother me, I am a pretty strong person, and I don't let the negative press get to me, because I realize it is part of being a professional. … I am always going to be on top of stuff, and fight my way through all that. It is sort of the old saying of stick and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me."
Words may not have impacted Milledge's career that much, but a fastball during spring training last season wasn't so forgiving. The start of Milledge's first full professional season was delayed for weeks as he roamed Port St. Lucie with a large cast on his right hand, the end result of a missed bunt.
Oddly enough, Milledge doesn't look back with any regret on the shattered fourth metacarpal that sidelined him until May 20.
"Actually, I was glad something like that happened," Milledge said. "It made me work even harder to get into better shape. Because of the injury, I had limited use of my body and I was not able to get any field work in. All I could do was pretty much hit the gym and lift [and] I took the opportunity to get stronger and faster."
Despite tremendous bat speed and good home run power, the Mets approached Milledge and told him that they saw him best helping the organization as a leadoff hitter due to his speed on the bases.
Indeed, for a player who grew up idolizing Rickey Henderson, the comparisons seem to fit, as Milledge is one player who can consistently wreak havoc on the bases.
"Forget about his hitting, the kid can flat out run," said one pro scout. "He's one of the fastest players I've scouted in a long time."
"I'd be taking away some of my weapons if I was to hit third in the lineup," Milledge admits. "You know, I wouldn't get to use my speed as much. I had 12 bunt base hits this past year and you're not really going to do that if you're hitting third. You can get some positives going from bunting and it gets you going if you are slumping."
Batting and Power. Milledge has incredible bat speed and is able to get good wood on the ball. He has tremendous power to all fields. Despite not being one of the bigger guys in the Mets' system, Milledge possesses some of the best raw power in all of minor league baseball because of his bat speed. Milledge, at just 19 years old, hit 15 homeruns in his first season and projects to be a 25+ guy down the road. He could hit for more power if he was to hit lower in the order at the #3 spot. He makes very good contact and can hit almost anything thrown his way. With just one professional season under his belt, Milledge is going to have to learn to take a few more pitches and work deeper into the counts, especially as a leadoff man. Once he learns some more patience at the plate, Milledge projects to hit for a very high average.
Base Running and Speed. If hitting for power and average were not enough, Milledge is already one of the fastest players in the Mets' farm system and uses his great base running instincts to cause havoc on the base paths. It's his God-given speed that has he, and the Mets, trying his hand at batting leadoff. Milledge stole 26 bases in 2004 and projects to be a 40+ stolen base threat as he matures and learns the pitchers' moves more.
Defense. Milledge's speed gives him tremendous range in center field as he is able to run down just about anything. He takes good angles on balls hit in his vicinity and has a good arm in the outfield. His arm is good, but not great. Milledge is an above average defender in the outfielder and can change a game defensively.
Projection. The bottom line is Milledge is one of the best Mets' prospects in some time based on just raw baseball ability. He has five-tool talent and can do whatever he wants to do on a baseball field. He could excel as a leadoff hitter where his speed is best utilized or bat third in the lineup to better make use of his raw power. Either way, Milledge is a special player that can do it all. Many of his teammates and scouts compare Milledge to young, right-handed version of Barry Bonds when Bonds broke in with the Pirates. Like the early version of Bonds, Milledge projects to hit 25+ homeruns and steal 40+ bases as a Major Leaguer while playing All-Star caliber defense. If Milledge can improve his patience at the plate like Bonds (Bonds didn't walk more than strike out until after his third season in the Majors), the sky is the limit for this young budding superstar.
ETA. 2007. It is hard not to get excited about the arrival of Lastings Milledge to Shea Stadium, but he is still very young and has some refining of his all around game left to go. He wound up in high-A ball in 2004 and it is more than likely that Milledge will reach AA-Binghamton at some point in 2005. Milledge should reach AAA-Norfolk no later than 2006 (barring injury) at the tender age of 21, but with his unbelievable talent, all bets are off!