Reese Havens

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #9 prospect in 2012
  Taken four picks after Ike Davis in the first round of the 2008 draft, Havens has yet to play a full season since signing for $1.41 million. He missed all but 32 games in 2010 because a protruding rib irritated his oblique area. He had surgery to shave the rib following that season, but the procedure kept him out until late May. He also dealt with back trouble and played in just 61 games in 2011. Havens has performed whenever healthy, batting .301/.379/.505 with 12 homers in 279 Double-A at-bats the last two seasons. He swings through pitches at times but makes enough line-drive contact to hit .280 in the big leagues. He drives balls to the middle of the field, which may cap his home runs at 15 annually but ought to produce plenty of doubles. Havens played shortstop until 2010 before shifting seamlessly to second base, where his average range and arm make him a steady defender. He's a below-average runner. Scratched from an Arizona Fall League assignment, Havens returned home to begin his conditioning program. The Mets figured he would have played his way on to their 40-man roster by now, but they added him anyway after the season. They have no long-term second baseman standing in his way--Ruben Tejada profiles best at shortstop and Justin Turner as a utility player--so a full season in Triple-A ought to earn Havens a look in Queens.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #6 prospect in 2011
  While Ike Davis rocketed to Queens less than two years after being drafted, fellow 2008 first-rounder Havens has shifted from shortstop to second base and seen his progress stalled by a string of elbow, groin, quadriceps, hand, oblique and back injuries. He has played in 152 pro games and hit .261/.363/.467 with 26 homers and 80 walks, hinting at the type of player he could be if healthy. Havens tinkered with his swing last season, moving his hands to a higher starting position to better handle high fastballs. His quiet hitting approach and strong pitch recognition mark him as a future average hitter who will work deep counts and compile both walks and strikeouts. He's quick to the ball and can turn on the inside pitch, enough to project as a 15-20 homer threat. He'll have to make hay with the bat to profile as a big league regular, because he has a thick frame and below-average speed. His actions and hands are modest, as are his range and arm strength. He began playing second base only last season, moving from shortstop. While he won't win any Gold Gloves, Havens profiles as an offensive-oriented second baseman with power and patience. He'll begin his fourth pro season in Double-A, and could move quickly if he stays healthy.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #7 prospect in 2010
  Havens passed on seven-figure signing offers out of high school, attended South Carolina, then went 22nd overall in 2008 and signed for $1.419 million. He has had nagging health issues since. Elbow trouble and a groin pull limited him to 85 at-bats in his pro debut, and he missed nearly four weeks in 2009 after pulling a quadriceps muscle in late May. He returned on June 23 but was hit in the right hand with a pitch a week later. He sustained a deep bone bruise and missed an additional three weeks Havens has good power for a middle infielder and slugged 14 homers in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. He also has an advanced idea of the strike zone and recognizes pitches well, though he has batted just .247 in each of his two seasons. Defensively, he's a sound fielder with good hands and arm strength. Havens has slightly below-average speed and lacks the range for shortstop. He trimmed down during the 2009 season in an attempt to improve, but it probably won't stave off a position switch. He worked out at second base in the Arizona Fall League, where some scouts wonder if he has the footwork to stick. Havens will open 2010 in Double-A. The best-case scenario is that he becomes an offensive-minded second baseman. If that doesn't work out, third base is blocked in New York by David Wright, so Havens might have to become a corner outfielder.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #8 prospect in 2009
  Drafted out of high school by the Rockies, Havens passed on seven-figure offers from teams that wanted him in the first round. After two disappointing years at South Carolina, he took off after shortening his swing while hitting .315 in the Cape Cod League. Havens batted.359/.486/.645 as a junior, went 22nd overall last June and signed for $1.419 million. An offensive-minded grinder, Havens has a good idea of the strike zone, gets into hitter's counts and consistently drives balls to the gaps. He has average power and strong offensive instincts. He's a savvy defender with good hands and arm strength, tools that had some clubs dreaming of him as a catcher. Some scouts wonder how Havens' new stance--he lowered his hands in the Cape--will translate to wood bats. He works a lot of deep counts and needs a better two-strike approach to cut down on his strikeouts. Elbow trouble and a groin pull limited him to DH duties in his pro debut, and the Mets need to find out where he fits defensively. He's a fringe-average runner and his range doesn't stand out at shortstop. Havens declined the chance to play in Hawaii Winter Baseball, preferring to rehab at home. He'll stick at shortstop for now, but projects as an offensive second baseman once he reaches the majors. He should begin 2009 at high Class A St. Lucie.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #11 prospect in 2008
  After two disappointing seasons at South Carolina, Havens adjusted his setup in the Cape Cod League last summer, moving his hands to an unusually low position in front of his belly. He responded with a fine summer and an All-America spring, batting .359 with 18 homers for the Gamecocks. He also improved defensively and convinced scouts he had adequate range, instincts and arm strength to stick at shortstop, so the Mets drafted him 22nd overall in June. An elbow injury hampered the start of Havens' pro career, limiting him to DH for all but two games in the NY-P. He also missed time with a pulled groin, and his overall numbers were lackluster at best. But scouts caught a glimpse of his easy power to all fields in batting practice. He has a mature offensive approach and the ability to wear out the gaps.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Taken four picks after Ike Davis in the first round of the 2008 draft, Havens has yet to play a full season since signing for $1.419 million. He missed all but 32 games in 2010 because a protruding rib irritated his oblique area. He had surgery to shave the rib last offseason, but that procedure kept him out until late May. He also dealt with back trouble and played in just 61 games in 2011. Scouting Report: Havens has performed whenever healthy, batting .301/.379/.505 with 12 homers in 279 Double-A at-bats the last two seasons. He swings through pitches at times but makes enough line-drive contact to hit .280 in the big leagues. He drives balls to the middle of the field, which may cap his home runs at 15 annually but ought to produce plenty of doubles. Havens played shortstop until 2010 before shifting seamlessly to second base, where his average range and arm make him a steady defender. He's a below-average runner. The Future: Scratched from an Arizona Fall League assignment, Havens returned home to begin his conditioning program. The Mets have no long-term second baseman standing in his way--Ruben Tejada profiles best at shortstop and Justin Turner as a utility player--so a full season in Triple-A ought to earn Havens a look in Queens.