1990 New York Mets minor leaguers

Features on each player in the 1990 New York Mets farm system

Complete:

• AAA - Tidewater Tides (30)
• AA - Jackson Mets (28)
• High-A - St. Lucie Mets (44)
• Single-A - Columbia Mets (40)
• Short-Season - Pittsfield Mets (39)
• Rookie - Kingsport Mets (36)
• Rookie - Gulf Coast League Mets (32)

1990 Tidewater Tides (30)
1 - Shawn Barton, Lifelong Dream
Shawn Barton finally made the majors. He later made it his mission to stay.
2 - Tim Bogar, Never Noticed
Tim Bogar saw himself as the guy who was never noticed, but was still needed.
3 - Kevin D. Brown, Good Poise
Kevin Brown seemed to have good poise. He used it in parts of three major league seasons.
4 - Rocky Childress, Back to Bend
Rocky Childress wanted another shot at the majors for 1992, after four previous seasons in bigs.
5 - John Cumberland, Comfortable Night
John Cumberland was comfortable pitching in six major league seasons. He later had a long career as a coach.
6 - Mike DeButch, Didn't Complain
Mike DeButch didn't complain with an extended AAA stay. He just didn't make the bigs.
7 - Alex Diaz, Type of Game
Carlos Diaz was itching to start after college. He made the majors for nine games.
8 - Jeff Gardner, Every Day
Jeff Gardner's major league debut was as good as they said it would be. He played in major league seasons.
9 - Brian Givens, Talked About
Brian Givens eventually made the majors - in his 12th season of pro ball.
10 - Denny Gonzalez, Didn't Expect
Denny Gonzalez got intentionally walked in his major league debut. He played in five seasons.
11 - Manny Hernandez, Few Minutes: Manny Hernandez was happy to be in the majors. He'd waited a while to get there.
12 - Keith Hughes, Some Enthusiasm
Keith Hughes got his first major league hit in 1987, it led to a Phillies win. He played in four major league seasons.

13 - Jeff Innis, Regular Basis
Jeff Innis played seven major league seasons, all with the Mets. He tried to get an eighth with a knuckleball, but it didn't work.
14 - Chris Jelic, All Worthwhile
Chris Jelic made the Mets in 1990. He got his first league hit, a home run. It also turned out to be his last major league hit.
15 - Scott Lawrenson, Saved a Life
Scott Lawrenson worked his way up from rookie ball to the majors, as a trainer.
16 - Dave Liddell, Well Above
Dave Liddell singled in his first major league at bat and in his last. They were the same hit.
17 - Cesar Mejia, Wasn't Nervous
Cesar Mejia got a no-hitter at AA in 1988, but he never got chance to play in the majors.
18 - Orlando Mercado, Grand Slam
Orlando Mercado's first major league hit was a home run - a grand slam.
19 - Rich Miller, Ins and Outs
Rich Miller knows what it's like being in the minors. He's been there for three decades.
20 - Scott Nielsen, Can Pitch
Scott Nielsen proved he could pitch. He did so in the majors in four seasons.
21 - Dale Plummer, Close Calls
Dale Plummer had a close call with the majors, and scary close call with cancer.
22 - Darren Reed, Resulting Injury
Darren Reed to make the majors after his 1991 spring trade to the Expos. He was soon out for the year with an injury.
23 - Roger Samuels, Getting an Opportunity
Roger Samuels knew it was a matter of getting opportunities. He got major league ones in two seasons.
24 - Zoilo Sanchez, Two Homers
Zoilo Sanchez hit 15 home runs one year. He made it to AAA, but never made the majors.
25 - Ray Soff, Long Wait
Ray Soff waited since he was 7 for his first major league win. He got it in 1986.
26 - Steve Swisher, Work and Success
Steve Swisher knew players had to work to be successful. He taught that to players, and his son.
27 - Lou Thornton, Stuck Around
Lou Thornton played parts of five major league seasons. He then came back to try for one more.
28 - Kelvin Torve, Sure Situations: Kelvin Torve's first major league at bat came with a chance to win the game against a Hall of Famer. He struck out.
29 - Dave Trautwein, Brick Wall
When Dave Trautwein had no one to throw to, he threw at a brick wall. He played six seasons, never made the majors.
30 - Julio Valera, Dastardly Dip
Julio Valera was nervous in his Angels debut. He came from the Mets and later played for the Royals.

Jackson Mets (28)

1.  Bob Apodaca, Same Message, 8/9/19
2.  Kevin Baez, Showed Guts, 6/26/19
3.  Terry Bross, His Mark, 7/24/19
4.  Chuck Carr, Free Spirit, 6/21/19
5.  Doug Cinnella, No-Hitters, 9/27/19
6.  Steve Davis, Never Came, 7/16/19
7.  Joe Dellicarri, Other Side, 7/1/19
8.  Chris Donnels, His Shot, 9/16/19
9.  Rocky Elli, Too Much, 9/15/19
10.  Howie Freiling, Appreciated That, 6/6/19
11.  Ron Gideon, Another Job, 8/23/19
12.  Javier Gonzalez, Big Day, 6/26/19
13.  Rudy Hernandez, About Baseball, 6/7/19
14.  Fred Hina, Well Organized, 9/20/19
15.  Todd Hundley, Home Runs, 6/8/19
16.  Clint Hurdle, Much Time, 9/28/19
17.  Alex Jimenez, Hit Streak, 6/18/19
18.  Doug Kline, Everyone There, 6/5/19
19.  Crucito Lara, Enough Success, 6/6/19
20.  Steve Larose, Enough For, 8/20/19
21.  Terry McDaniel, Front Office, 8/29/19
22.  Mike Miller, Possible Promotion, 9/18/19
23.  Toby Nivens, Biggest Thing, 8/21/19
24.  Dave Proctor, Power Potential, 8/22/19
25.  Jaime Roseboro, Position Choice, 6/19/19
26.  Aguedo Vasquez, His Start, 8/19/19
27.  Joe Whipps, Showed It, 6/27/19
28.  Anthony Young, Better Pitcher, 9/24/19

St. Lucie Mets (44)

1. Tim Blackwell relayed ML experiences as minors manager
2. Mike Brady got traded, had early success, saw 4 pro seasons
3. Don Brown showed maturity, leadership, saw 6 pro seasons
4. Kevin Brown showed poise, made 3 major league seasons
5. Jeromy Burnitz drew Maris comparisons, saw 14 bigs seasons
6. Chris Butterfield believed he'd make bigs, missed in 9 years
7. Kevin Carroll had baseball background, played 5 seasons
8. Alberto Castillo worked hard, saw 12 majors seasons
9. Archie Corbin had much fun over 3 major league seasons
10. Brian Davis had good night at high-A, saw 5 seasons
11. Joe Dellicarri proved gutsy over 7 pro seasons, made AAA
12. D.J. Dozier played both football, baseball, saw NFL, MLB
13. Dan Furmanik played over four pro seasons, made high-A
14. Marc Goldberg won sportscasting awards, got baseball card
15. Kenny Graves had high hopes, arm problems, saw 2 seasons
16. Greg Hansell saw 15 pro seasons, bigs in four, also Japan
17. Denny Harriger made majors after decade-plus in minors
18. Reid Hartmann made pros over 3 seasons, AA for 8 games
19. Derek Henderson loved to play, saw 15 seasons, made AAA
20. Chris Hill liked starting games, saw nine seasons, AAA
21. Eric Hillman visualized, made three Mets seasons, Japan
22. Joel Horlen pitched in majors, later coached in minors
23. Steve Jacobucci served as minors trainer, then college
24. Paul Johnson turned pitcher, saw two pro seasons, high-A
25. John Johnstone took ability to adapt 8 majors seasons
26. Jimy Kelly played 6 pro seasons, had rule named for him
27. Steve Larose saw 7 seasons with Mets, Astros, made AA
28. Juan Marina showed promise, saw 5 pro seasons, single-A
29. Lee May Jr. coached after 8-season pro career, made AAA
30. Loy McBride saw ball well, played 4 pro seasons, made AA
31. Cesar Mejia threw no-hitter at AA, made AAA, Taiwan
32. Jim Morrisette returned from injury, saw 6 seasons, AA
33. Steve Newton had success as starter, saw six pro seasons
34. Bob Olah learned from mistakes, saw 5 seasons, high-A
35. Vladimir Perez followed brothers, saw decade-plus, AA
36. Ed Perozo wanted the chance, made high-A, independents
37. Andy Reich showed command enough to see 6 seasons, AA
38. Nikco Riesgo played 7 seasons, spring 1995, wrote book
39. Bryan Rogers did his job over decade as pro, made AAA
40. Doug Saunders made 28 majors games over single season
41. Pete Schourek saw 11 ML seasons with Reds, Mets, others
42. Dave Telgheder threw no-hitter at AAA, made 6 ML seasons
43. Derrick Young played consistent, saw 5 seasons, high-A
44. Alan Zinter made majors in 14th season, later coached

Columbia Mets (40)

1 - Jay Brazeau served as a minor league general manager

2 - Tim Buhe went from high school title to Northwestern, pros
3- Bob Burton started as trainer, then moved to sports medicine

4 - Chris Butler played what he always wanted, pro baseball

5 - Stanton Cameron hit home runs in minors, missed bigs

6 - Kevin Carroll had baseball background, played 5 seasons

7 - Alberto Castillo worked hard, saw 12 majors seasons

8 - Brian Davis had good night at high-A, saw 5 seasons

9 - Nick Davis opened pro career with big hit, saw 4 seasons

10 - Alberto Diaz made perfect sacrifice in 1991, saw 5 seasons

11 - Chris Dorn delivered at high-A, played six seasons

12 - Art Emm pitched well in rookie ball, saw 3 pro seasons

13 - Jack Fisher gave up historic home runs, later coached
14 - Brook Fordyce gained confidence, made bigs over decade

15 - Mike Freitas took baseball seriously, saw 9 seasons, AAA

16 - Dan Furmanik played over four pro seasons, made high-A

17 - Steve Gasser started well, had control problems, saw AAA
18 - James Harris got base hits over 10 seasons, made high-A
19 - Reid Hartmann made pros over 3 seasons, AA for 8 games

20 - Jamie Hoffner stayed ready over 7 pro seasons, made AA
21 - Tim Howard made AAA, then went to Taiwan, saw 13 seasons
22 - Pat Howell played 18 pro seasons, 31 major league games

23 - Paul Johnson turned pitcher, saw two pro seasons, high-A
24 - Gregg Langbehn pitched relaxed, saw 8 seasons, AAA, more
25 - Tim Marting helped teams find success in varying roles
26 - Joe McCann played five pro seasons, made high-A in three
27 - Tim McClinton played 2 sports in high school, saw 5 seasons

28 - Tito Navarro made 12 major league games, got one ML hit
29 - Jarrod Parker saw 4 pro seasons, then became minister

30 - Curtis Pride, good major league ballplayer, who was deaf

31 - Andy Reich showed command enough to see 6 seasons, AA
32 - Ryan Richmond saw four pro seasons with Mets, single-A
33 - Deron Sample hit in college, pitched in 7 pro seasons

34 - Philip Scott got embarrassed by Morganna, made single-A
35 - Bill Stein knew role in 14 ML seasons, as minors manager
36 - Dave Telgheder threw no-hitter at AAA, made 6 ML seasons
37 - Mark Thomas toughed it out first year to play 5 seasons

38 - Tony Valle saw 2 pro seasons, single-A  with Braves, Mets

39 - Julian Vasquez put up good enough numbers for AAA, Taiwan
40 - Joe Vitko saw six pro seasons, three major league games

Pittsfield Mets (39)

1. Tom Allison saw playing time as basis for career as scout
2. Joe Arrendondo had good at bats, saw two pro seasons
3. Bill Bird helped Pittsfield Mets, played baseball, hockey
4. Tim Buhe went from high school title to Northwestern, pros
5. Jeromy Burnitz drew Maris comparisons, saw 14 bigs seasons
6. Alberto Castillo worked hard, saw 12 majors seasons
7. Juan Castillo made bigs for two games over nine seasons
8. Ken Coffee took work ethic from college to 6 pro outings, 1/31/26
9. Nick Davis opened pro career with big hit, saw 4 seasons
10. Todd Douma went to new college, saw 4 pro seasons, AAA
11. Brian Dunn worked to hit over 3 pro seasons, made high-A
12. Jim Eschen played, then worked to help as minors manager
13. Andy Fidler impressed in high school, saw four pro seasons
14. Mike Freitas took baseball seriously, saw 9 seasons, AAA
15. Billy Gardner Jr. followed father into coaching, managing
16. Robbi Guzik moved to pro pitching, saw four seasons, AA
17. Joe Hawkins served as trainer in minors, high school
18. Jason King anchored college infield, saw 4 seasons, AAA
19. Travis Kinyoun saw 3 seasons, 3 organizations, high-A, 1/27/26
20. Michael Landsman got minors ump job, soon burned out
21. A.J. Lostaglio used judgment as minors, college umpire
22. Two New York-Penn League umpires on card identified
23. Tim McClinton played 2 sports in high school, saw 5 seasons
24. Wallace Minnifield went pro in summer ball, saw 3 seasons
25. Randy Niemann made bigs as player, then made it as coach
26. Jarrod Parker saw 4 pro seasons, then became minister
27. Ed Perozo wanted the chance, made high-A, independents
28. Jim Scheffler turned pro as pitcher, saw 3 pro seasons
29. Mike Sciortino tried pitching and hitting, saw 2 seasons
30. Philip Scott got embarrassed by Morganna, made single-A
31. Dave Tarjick wanted to be baseball player, became a dad
32. Mike Thomas went from small college to one majors game
33. Steve Thomas played 3 seasons, returned to independents
34. Eric Thornton improved in college, made two pro seasons
35. Ed Vazquez expressed nerves, saw 3 pro seasons, high-A
36. Wahconah Park offered pure baseball for over a century
37. Pete Walker got hitters out in bigs as player, coached
38. Kyle Washington played 11 seasons, saw AA, independents
39. Tom Wilson threw well in high school, saw 2 pro seasons

Kingsport Mets (36)
1 - Mike Anaya didn't think he'd turn pro, then he did with Mets

2 - Kingsport Mets Bat Boys, 3 in 1990, another gets ring

3 - Nate Benson helped HS as pitcher, hitter, saw 3 pro seasons

4 - Rich Bristow went from HS to 5 pro seasons, passed in 2010

5 - Rob Carpentier played four seasons, coached Little League

6 - Hector Carrasco hoped to close, then made 12 ML seasons

7 - Darwin Davis had high hopes with Mets, 3 minors seasons

8 - Jay Davis missed bigs in 2 decades, became star in Korea

9 - Dottie Elsea became Kingsport team president, then GM

10 - Tom Engle saw 7 seasons, AAA, later made ESPN GameDay

11 - Micah Franklin made bigs, saw 17 ML games, Japan, Korea
12 - Dave Fricke helped teams as trainer in pros, high school
13 - Edwards Fully bunted well, saw 8 pro seasons, made AA
14 - Omar Garcia focused over 18 seasons, AAA, Mexico, Taiwan

15 - Butch Huskey saw 7 ML seasons, wore No. 42 for Jackie
16 - Marcel Johnson followed uncle to pros, saw three seasons

17 - Travis Kinyoun saw 3 seasons, 3 organizations, high-A

18 - Aaron Ledesma came through in majors over five seasons

19 - Mike Lehnerz won title, got drafted, saw 4 pro seasons

20 - Darian Lindsay went from Australia to four pro seasons
21 - Reynaldo Martinez started well, saw 2 seasons, single-A

22 - Wayne Mathis played two pro seasons, later turned scout

23 - Bernie Millan helped Stockton, saw six pro seasons, AA

24 - Tony Moore saw four pro seasons, then taught youth game

25 - Dan Norman made majors as player, then managed, coached
26 - Nicholas Polanco played 3 rookie ball seasons with Mets
27 - Rob Rees faced good competition, saw 5 seasons, high-A
28 - Gil Rondon made majors with Astros, White Sox, coached

29 - Mason Rudolph hit, played at catcher over 8 pro seasons

30 - Tim Sandy hit well in Legion ball, saw 4 seasons, AAA

31 - Steve Steele helped at catcher in 3 rookie ball seasons
32 - Jim Thrift had majors goals as both player and manager
33 - Cap Van Rynbach went from Netherlands to 2 pro seasons

34 - Quilvio Veras chose baseball over accounting, made bigs
35 - Tom Wegmann pitched well over eight seasons, made AAA
36 - Charlie Williams played in single pro season, 29 games

1990 Gulf Coast League Mets (32)

1. Tom Allison saw playing time as basis for career as scout
2. Pedro Belmonte saw 3 minors seasons, more in Venezuela
3. Raul Casanova played hard, saw majors over nine seasons
4. Eric Corbell got stronger, saw two seasons, rookie ball
5. Brian Daubach relaxed, made majors with Red Sox, others
6. Darwin Davis had high hopes with Mets, 3 minors seasons
7. Hermes Hernandez played two pro seasons in rookie ball
8. Rafael Hernandez played where needed, saw 4 pro seasons
9. Rich Langan took pro shot, saw two seasons, rookie ball
10. Mike Lehnerz won title, got drafted, saw 4 pro seasons
11. Darian Lindsay went from Australia to four pro seasons
12. Suliban Luciano hit big GCL Mets homer, saw 2 seasons
13. Jim Manfred played six minors seasons with Mets, Saints
14. Jose Martinez stayed in game, pitched in 4 majors games
15. Paul Meyer helped teammate, saw 3 seasons, rookie ball
16. Danilo Mompres started strong, saw 5 seasons, single-A
17. Juan Moreno tried switch-hitting, pitching, saw single-A
18. Mike Patrizi saw 4 seasons, high-A, became firefighter
19. Ty Quillin tried hitting, pitching, saw 6 seasons, high-A
20. Hector Ramirez saw minors for decade, then made majors
21. Brad Schorr signed out of high school, saw 6 seasons, AA
22. Steve Seymour had fun before injuries, saw 3 pro seasons
23. Demond Smith ran to career that spanned 19 minors seasons
24. Ottis Smith played pro baseball over 7 seasons, made AAA
25. Steve Steele helped at catcher in 3 rookie ball seasons
26. John Tamargo enjoyed the heck out playing and managing
27. Jerome Tolliver opened up, saw 6 pro seasons, single-A
28. Quilvio Veras chose baseball over accounting, made bigs
29. Tom Wegmann pitched well over eight seasons, made AAA
30. Charlie Williams played in single pro season, 29 games
31. Scotty Williams played HS football, then pro baseball
32. Terrell Williams went from Chicago to 3 minors seasons