New York Mets 2014 Spring Training Profile: Brandon Nimmo

When the New York Mets drafted Brandon Nimmo with the 13th overall  pick of the 2011 draft, many fans were stunned. Nimmo an under-the-radar player for many people, and he was a very risky selection. While he was considered an extremely raw prospect at the time, he was also very talented. Now in his third season in the Mets organization, Nimmo is considered one of the Mets’ top prospects.

With above average power and speed, Nimmo has the potential to become a solid major league player. While Nimmo does not have one elite skill, he fares well in almost every area.  His strongest attribute is his patience at the plate, which resulted in an excellent .397 OBP in 2013. In addition to his tools offensively, he also plays strong outfield defense.

However, Nimmo also has many concerns. One of his biggest problems is strikeouts. He struck out an alarming 131 times in 110 games, so he will need to make more consistent contact in the future. Another concern is whether he can stick in center field. If he loses some speed and agility, he may have to move to a corner outfield spot. This factor is critical to his value since his offensive potential will be limited if he cannot stick in center field.

Even though Nimmo did not hit for much power last season, there were several factors that hindered his production. The most significant reason was a hand injury which forced him to miss a month of the season. Nimmo was also younger than the league average, and he played in one of the toughest stadiums to hit home runs in throughout the entire minor leagues. While these factors do not completely excuse a lack of production, they show that he should not be dismissed solely based on his numbers.

While Nimmo is an intriguing prospect, fans should not set their expectations too high. Since he is still in the low minors and is very inexperienced, he remains a huge risk. Nimmo does have a lot of promise, but he will eventually have to produce. Nimmo will likely start for St. Lucie this season, and his production there will be key to his value going forward.

Brian is a  Baltimore Orioles Writer for  www.Rantsports.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.