With preseason warm-ups a few days away, it’s going to be interesting to see what players from last season come back to Keyspan.

Here are a few of my picks, based solely on what I’ve heard from fellow writers, the stats and my own feelings.

Brandon Kawal- Got a tip on Friday that Kawal isn’t producing as much as the organization would like him to at Savannah. He’s also only gotten into three games this season there and I have no idea why. I haven’t heard anything about an injury, but my source was pretty confident we’d be seeing some more of him at Keyspan Park this season. Hitting over .300 and making an appearance in the NYPL All-Star game last year, Kawal would definitely bolster the Brooklyn outfield if he came back.

Jefferies Tatford- He just didn’t get enough playing time last season and I think because of that, he should get a chance to start more this season. However, if Kingsport standout Cesar Cordido gets another shot in Brooklyn this season after a cup of coffee last year, Tatford may again find himself as the backup.

Michael Parker- He got some playing time in Kingsport before sitting on the bench in Brooklyn during the playoff run; a logical choice to see this at Keyspan this season.

Joseph Leaper- He looked great before getting injured last year, so I think we’ll definitely see him get a few starts in Brooklyn before they move him up the organizational ladder.

Dan McDonald- This one may be a bit of wild card, but after Eddie Kunz and Brant Rustich arrived on the scene, I feel McDonald didn’t get the playing time he should have. Considering that, he might start the season in Brooklyn.

Lastly, I thought this was pretty interesting. Brooklyn’s second baseman from last season, Micah Schilling, is currently listed on the Cyclones roster on milb.com with a few other players. I’ve already discussed in previous entries how well he played last season and how his time is running out. Why not give him a shot at a higher level and see how he does?

On another note:

On Friday, a bunch of the beat writers played the Cyclones administrative staff in a friendly game of hardball at Keyspan Park for charity. While they were stuck playing baseball for 24 hours, we got away with playing one and we couldn’t even take them down. Despite that, we raised $1,000 for charity while the event in total rose close to $15,000.

Lastly, this beat writer has yet to be retired in a charity game, going 1-1 with a double and a walk. Last season, I was 2-2 for two doubles and a walk. So when you guys come to this blog throughout the season, remember that I am not only your source for Cyclones info, I am the best damn ballplayer in the press box, well as far as the writers are concerned ha-ha.

Photos by Daniel Wos and Ron Hatcher 

Rather than reminisce this blog, I thought I’d go around the Mets organization and show you guys how some of Keyspan’s brightest stars of yesteryear are burning. Just for fun, we’ll check up on them every month and see who’s looking to get to the show.

Savannah Sand Gnats

I remember a reporter telling me last season that Jake Eigsti’s wife told him jokingly that if he got sent to Savannah again she’d leave him. Well, he’s back. But there’s good news, if he doesn’t pull his average up soon, he may wind up in Brooklyn for a tune up once the regular season starts. Hitting .167 through 24 at bats, Savannah’s shortstop duo of Eigsti and Matt Bouchard sure can play defense, but they aren’t hitting. Watching them last season, I just think they’re slow starters though. They should eventually pick it up.

St. Lucie Mets

Lucas Duda seems to be thriving at first base, hitting .341 with two homers and 17 RBI. However, of his 30 hits, only six of them have been of the extra base variety. If this guy can start to hit for more power, we will definitely see him in Double-A before the season is over.

Aside from Duda, Jason Jacobs is hitting a solid .286 in 21 at bats behind the plate, sharing time with other former Cyclones Ezequiel Carrera and Sean McCraw. On the mound however, the success isn’t coming easy. Dylan Owen and Eric Niesen are middling right now, but other former Cyclones Dillon Gee, Tim Stronach, Steven Cheney and Nick Carr are really struggling. If they keep it up, we may see one or two of them back in Brooklyn.

Binghamton Mets

The bad news is former ‘Clones Jon Malo, Ambiorix Concepcion, Emmanuel Garcia, Eric Brown, Robert Parnell, Jake Ruckle and Eddie Kunz aren’t having much luck up there. The good news is Dan Murphy, Josh Peterson and Nick Evans are absolutely hitting the cover off the ball. All four are currently hitting over .330 and have a combined 45 RBI.

New Orleans Zephyrs

OF- Caleb Stewart- One homer, eight RBI, .221 BA.

I started covering the ‘Clones in 2006, so I missed the year of the “Big Stew” in 2005, when he led the Cyclones in every power category. Nonetheless, the word from the scribes around Keyspan is that he’s a pretty dangerous power hitter, but nothing much else. We’ll keep an eye on him as the season progresses.

Photos by Daniel Wos