Carlos Guzman, a 22-year-old right fielder from Brooklyn, has jumped from the Mets’ farm club in the Gulf Coast League from 2007 to the Savannah Sand Gnats this season, and his play is really starting to heat up things in the South Atlantic League.
A native Brooklynite, Guzman lived in East New York and played for John Adams HS in Queens. He lived in Brooklyn through most of his high school years, and is a veteran of several Brooklyn baseball programs, including playing for the Bonnies, the legendary program at the Parade Grounds. He now lives in Manhattan.
After high school, he lived in New Jersey.
An outfielder as well as a hard-throwing closer, the 6-foot-3, 195 pound free agent signed with the Mets in fall, 2006.
He had a disappointing start to his pro career, hitting only .215 with five homers and 24 RBI last year for the Mets’ farm team in the Gulf Coast League.
This year, he was promoted two levels — skipping Brooklyn — to the South Atlantic League, and he got off to another slow start, hitting only .250 in May and .225 But he’s started to pick it up: in July, he hit .329 and in August, he hit .349 to raise his season average to .288.
He also has eight homers and 28 RBI.
“When he first got to us, he wasn’t playing every day, but once he got a taste of playing regularly, he really responded to it,” said Donovan, the Savannah manager.
Guzman also went back to hitting as a switch hitter, something he had done earlier in his pro career, but now he’s swinging right-handed as well as batting as a natural left-handed batter.
“Now he’s more comfortable swinging from both sides of the plate,” said Mitchell.
Guzman has been sparkling in the field.
“He’s been outstanding in running balls down in the gaps” said Mitchell after the August 11-14 series at Lakewood, New Jersey.
“The other day, he threw a runner out at first. Then in another game, he threw a runner out at second as the runner was trying to stretch a single. And then another time he threw a behind a runner and nailed him rounding second. That’s three outfield assists just in this series – pretty unusual”
Before signing with the Mets, Guzman has made a few trips to Keyspan Park to see the Cyclones play.
“When I was home from college, I went and saw the Cyclones a few times. But I was too antsy to watch too many games. I couldn’t sit down and watch, because I wanted to be out there playing.”
Guzman has missed out so far — on a chance to play for Brooklyn.
“In a way, I wanted to play there [Brooklyn], because who wouldn’t want to play in their hometown?” said Guzman, “But I skipped a level, and that’s bigger.”
