Carlos Gomez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Mets #3 prospect in 2008
  Gomez finished his fast-track trip to the major leagues in 2007 and was the National League's youngest player when he debuted in May. He broke the hamate bone in his left hand on a checked swing in July, however, and missed two months following surgery. A true five-tool athlete, Gomez has game-changing speed and a well above-average arm, tools that help make him a premium defender in center field. He also has excellent bat speed that leads to projections of at least average power, if not more. Scouts said Gomez brought needed energy to the Mets. Hitting will be the last tool to develop for Gomez. He's still searching for the balance between aggressiveness and plate discipline. While he showed increased patience in 2007, it came at the expense of his power production. Gomez likely will compete with Ryan Church for the right-field job in spring training. Gomez could use more offensive polish, so he could return to Triple-A at the season's outset.
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  Ranked New York Mets #3 prospect in 2007
  The Mets decided to let Gomez skip high Class A because they were so impressed with the way he responded to instruction and made adjustments during spring training. He started the season slow and spent some time in extended spring straining when a back injury sidelined him in May. Roving hitting instructor Lamar Johnson got him to relax the upper half in his swing, and Gomez batted .323 the rest of the way. Gomez' arm and speed both rate as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He's an above-average center fielder and he refined his basestealing technique to where he had 41 swipes in 50 attempts in 2006. His lightning-quick bat and natural swing path allow him to make consistent hard contact. His arm gives him yet another plus tool. Much of his game is still raw. Gomez is too aggressive at the plate and needs to improve his situational hitting. He has plus raw power that has yet to show up in game action. His flashy style has irked some his opponents, but the Mets don't see it as a problem and think it will diminish as he matures. With Carlos Beltran signed through 2011, Gomez' future with New York lies in right field. Ticketed for the Mets' new Triple-A New Orleans affiliate, he has a ceiling comparable with that of Fernando Martinez.
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  Ranked New York Mets #3 prospect in 2006
  Signed as a speedy but wiry 16-year-old, Gomez has grown into his body and some in the organization think his raw tools might be better than Milledge's. Eight months younger than Milledge, Gomez isn't nearly as polished. Gomez excites scouts with his raw power, speed and arm strength. He can put on a show in batting practice, ranked second in the minors with 64 steals in 2005 and has the best outfield arm in the system. Though he always has been young for his league, he has had no trouble making consistent contact. Still raw, Gomez hasn't shown much power in game situations because he doesn't control the strike zone, tends to let his hands drift to the ball and often overstrides. He's also unrefined on the bases, getting caught stealing 24 times in 2005. He can be erratic as a center and right fielder as well. Gomez flashed enough upside in low Class A that he should begin 2006 in the Florida State League, a pitcher-friendly environment. If everything comes together, he'll be New York's right fielder of the future.
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  Ranked New York Mets #16 prospect in 2005
  When the Mets signed Gomez at age 16, he was a rail-thin but speedy outfielder. Now he has grown two inches and started to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame while retaining much of his speed. He's still a long way from Shea Stadium, but Gomez' tools compare favorably with those of any outfielder in the system except Lastings Milledge. He deftly handled the transition from his native Dominican Republic to the United States last year. Gomez projects to have average or better tools across the board. He flashes plus speed and good bat speed while showing a plus arm and plus range in right field. Power is his least developed tool, but he already can drive balls to the gaps. With his bat speed, scouts expect home runs to come. He'll have to tone down his aggressive approach at higher levels. He'll probably move up just one level to Brooklyn this year and make his full-season debut in 2006.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #7 prospect in 2007
  Gomez opened the season with hits in his first 14 games and sped to an early PCL lead in stolen bases, with 17 at the time of his big league callup in mid-May. At 21, Gomez wasn't ready for prime time, but injuries to Moises Alou, Lastings Milledge and Ben Johnson forced the Mets' hand. Gomez missed two months after having surgery to remove the broken hamate bone in his left hand, returning to action in September. With plus speed and a cannon for an arm, Gomez was one of the league's rangiest center fielders and perhaps its most disruptive baserunner. His natural swing path and quick bat enable him to make consistent hard contact, but his in-game hitting and power are still raw. Because Gomez can get wild with his swing at times, he's susceptible to pitchers who can change speeds. A high-energy player, Gomez makes adjustments in time and has the kind of strength and athleticism to develop into a power-speed threat in center field.
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  Ranked Eastern League #8 prospect in 2006
  Gomez is the youngest position player on this list as well as the toolsiest. He skipped high Class A at age 20 and got better as the season wore on, coming back strong after missing three weeks with a back injury near midseason. Gomez has pop in his bat, plus speed, a well above-average arm and good defensive ability. His approach is too aggressive and he needs to improve his situational hitting, but he recognizes pitches well and drives the ball to all parts of the field. He already is an accomplished basestealer, swiping 41 bags in 50 tries. "He swings out of his ass. He really takes a hellacious cut," a scout said. "But he has a natural swing path and maybe the best bat speed in the league, well above and beyond Lind and Casto. This guy excites me."
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #18 prospect in 2004
  Gomez didn't tear up the GCL after being demoted from the Appy League, but his five-tool ability caught the eye of every Eastern Division manager. "He's the total package," DeFreites said. "He reminds me of a young Raul Mondesi. He's got a great arm, power, solid outfield skills and can run. Everything. To me, he's the number one prospect in the league." Gomez' power is the least advanced of all his tools but should improve as he learns the strike zone and fills out his 6-foot-2, 178-pound frame. More selectivity would help as well, because he drew just two walks in 74 plate appearances.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #52 prospect in 2008
• Ranked Baseball America's #60 prospect in 2007

• December, 2006 Scouting Report
  The Mets decided to let Gomez skip high Class A because they were so impressed with the way he responded to instruction and made adjustments during spring training. He started the season slow and spent some time in extended spring straining when a back injury sidelined him in May. Roving hitting instructor Lamar Johnson got him to relax the upper half in his swing, and Gomez batted .323 the rest of the way. Gomez' arm and speed both rate as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He's an above-average center fielder and he refined his basestealing technique to where he had 41 swipes in 50 attempts in 2006. His lightning-quick bat and natural swing path allow him to make consistent hard contact. His arm gives him yet another plus tool. Much of his game is still raw. Gomez is too aggressive at the plate and needs to improve his situational hitting. He has plus raw power that has yet to show up in game action. His flashy style has irked some his opponents, but the Mets don't see it as a problem and think it will diminish as he matures. With Carlos Beltran signed through 2011, Gomez' future with New York lies in right field. Ticketed for the Mets' new Triple-A New Orleans affiliate, he has a ceiling comparable with that of Fernando Martinez.