Top 10 Prospects: 3. Carlos Gomez

I will be posting on the Mets top 10 prospects through the course of the the next couple of days, so look for them. Over at Baseball America, they take a look at the Mets top 10 prospects:

3.Carlos Gomez, of Born: Dec. 4, 1985; B-T: R-R; Ht: 6-2; Wt: 175
Signed: Dominican Republic, 2002; Signed by: Eddy Toledo

Background: 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.

Strengths: 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.

Weaknesses: 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.

The Future: 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.