Brandon Nimmo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #5 prospect in 2017
  The first and only high school first-rounder from the state of Wyoming, Nimmo made incremental gains through his first five pro seasons before enjoying a career year at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2016. He led the Pacific Coast League with a .423 on-base percentage, finished second with a .352 average and third with a .964 OPS. He made his big league debut in June 2016 and received three separate callups. With the best strike-zone judgment in the Mets system, Nimmo has built a career .389 OBP in the minors, and in 2016 he established career-best marks for strikeout rate (16.4 percent), home runs (11) and isolated slugging percentage (.189). He works deep counts, takes walks and hits the ball where it's pitched, making him a solid-average hitter with average power. With a muscular 6-foot-3 frame, Nimmo shows plus raw power in batting practice and probably could hit more home runs if he hunts fastballs early in counts. An average runner, he is no better than average defensively in center field and probably will settle on an outfield corner with his near-average arm. He won't be a stolen-base threat, though he runs the bases intelligently. Scouts love his makeup, and his infectious personality is evident by his wide smile. While Nimmo possesses all-around ability, he projects more as a table-setting corner outfielder than a masher. He is ready for a larger big league role in 2017.
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  Ranked New York Mets #5 prospect in 2016
  The 13th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Nimmo is the first--and still only-- high school first-rounder from the state of Wyoming. He reached Triple-A for the first time in late July and appeared in 32 games for Las Vegas, but he might have spent more time in the Pacific Coast League had a sprained ACL at Double-A Binghamton not cost him a month beginning in mid-May. On-base ability always has been the bedrock of Nimmo's game, for he excels at working counts and lining the ball to left field if pitchers work him away. He shows pull-side power in batting practice but prefers to work the entire field in games with a handsy, lefthanded swing geared more for line drives than home runs. Nimmo tracks the ball well in center field and grades as at least an average defender with ordinary running speed. He's graceful and reliable in the outfield, though his average arm would be stretched in right field, if he has to move. Nimmo hasn't attempted many stolen bases as a pro, and that probably won't change. The Mets added Nimmo, the first first-rounder of general manager Sandy Alderson's administration, to the 40-man roster this offseason to shield him from the Rule 5 draft. Scouts question how much impact he will provide without more power, but his overall skills could make him well-suited for a table-setter role. A return engagement to Las Vegas seems most likely in 2016.
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  Ranked New York Mets #3 prospect in 2015
  The first-ever first-rounder from Wyoming, a state that does not offer high school baseball, Nimmo hasn't let a lack of amateur experience hold him back in pro ball. He ranked third in the low Class A South Atlantic League in on-base percentage (.397) in 2013, then led the high Class A Florida State League with a .448 OBP at the time of his mid-June promotion to Double-A Binghamton in 2014, when he ranked eighth in the minors overall with 86 walks. Nimmo has added muscle since signing, steadily increasing his power output with experience. While he is more of a gap hitter now, scouts project him to develop above-average power because of his advanced hitting approach and strong lefthanded swing. He will hit for average with his all-fields approach, frequency of hard contact and willingness to attack first-pitch fastballs. An above-average runner, Nimmo has maintained his speed and fluidity even as he has bulked up, and scouts view him as a future center fielder with average range but plus instincts and reliability. He has improved his arm strength and accuracy to at least fringe-average. Few players outwork Nimmo, which combined with his average to above-average raw tools across the board should make him a quality regular. Juan Lagares has a lock on center field in New York right now, but Nimmo could begin 2015 at Triple-A Las Vegas and receive a second-half look on a corner before possibly shifting to center down the road.
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  Ranked New York Mets #8 prospect in 2014
  Wyoming high schools don't field baseball teams, so when Nimmo entered pro ball as the first-ever first-rounder from the Cowboy State, he had much less game experience than many in his draft class. Yet Nimmo's game is surprisingly refined, and he ranked third in the low Class A South Atlantic League with 71 walks and fourth with a .397 on-base percentage in 2013 while making his full-season debut. Nimmo does a little bit of everything well but may lack a carrying tool that would make him an unquestioned first-division regular. He played center field at Savannah, though scouts envision him settling in at a corner because he's an average runner. They like his strong lefthanded stroke, and given his plate discipline, expect him to hit for a solid average even though he struck out more than a quarter of the time in 2013. His current approach is geared more toward rifling balls to the gaps, but his physicality and patience give him home run potential. He went deep just twice for the Sand Gnats, however, thanks to a bruised left hand that bothered him for much of the first half and a spacious home park in Savannah, where Sand Gnats lefty hitters combined to hit three home runs all year. Some scouts see Nimmo as a left fielder who will reach base, rack up doubles and pop 15 or so homers a year. He's probably three full years away from New York and will likely begin 2014 at high Class A St. Lucie.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #3 prospect in 2013
  The first Wyoming high school player ever selected in the first round, Nimmo signed for $2.1 million as the 13th pick in the 2011 draft. He showed promise in the short-season New York-Penn League last summer, ranking second with 46 walks and third with 28 extra-base hits, but also ample rawness, finishing second with 78 strikeouts. Scouts who saw Nimmo at the very beginning or end of the NY-P season might have come away unimpressed, but he hit .309/.402/.494 over a 41-game midseason stretch while showcasing premium bat speed and a discerning approach. In fact, he may let too many hittable pitches pass at this stage. Though he swings and misses too much--especially versus lefties--his command of the strike zone gives him a chance to hit for solid average and at least plus power. Despite leading NY-P outfielders with 152 putouts, Nimmo showed fringy speed down the line, stole only one base and didn't make great reads off the bat in center field. He throws OK and could handle right field if his instincts don't improve with experience. The Mets rave about Nimmo's preparation and mental toughness, and they envision him as a center-field regular with average to plus tools across the board. He's ready for a full-season assignment in low Class A.
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  Ranked New York Mets #3 prospect in 2012
  The 13th overall pick in June, Nimmo made history as the only first-round pick ever from the state of Wyoming, which has no high school baseball. He signed for $2.1 million at the Aug. 15 deadline and logged 10 games in Rookie ball, connecting for his first two pro home runs in late August. Nimmo starred in football and also was an accomplished sprinter in high school, but his baseball skills aren't as raw as his background suggests. He has an advanced feel for the strike zone and the quick, compact lefthanded swing to become a plus hitter. The Mets believe he'll add strength to his physical frame and grow into at least solid power, but they're content to let that develop naturally. His swing doesn't have natural loft or pull, and they won't change him. Nimmo tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing football, but he's still a plus runner. His long strides enable him to cover lots of ground in center field, where he's an average defender with a decent arm. New York believes Nimmo's outstanding makeup will allow him to maximize his raw tools. It could also mean he's ready for an assignment to low Class A Savannah to begin 2012.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #19 prospect in 2016
  Nimmo became the first player in the history of Wyoming--a state without high school baseball--selected in the first round back in 2011. He made his Triple-A debut with 32 games in 2015 before excelling in the PCL this season. He earned five separate callups to the Mets this summer and even started 15 games. Nimmo ranked second in the PCL with a .352 average and .964 OPS. While he lacks a carrying tool, he has shown consistent on-base skills in the minors with a career .389 on-base percentage. He excels at working counts and lining the ball the other way. He has the ability to pull the ball over the fence, but his swing is geared for line drives, though he did record a career-high 11 home runs and .189 isolated slugging percentage in 2016. Defensively, Nimmo is an average defender in center field, though he's just an average runner. He is a reliable defender with a near-average arm who probably fits best in left field. He has refined his baserunning skills but will likely never become a stolen-base threat. Nimmo profiles as a table-setting corner outfielder or possible platoon bat.
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  Ranked Eastern League #19 prospect in 2015
  As was the case when he was drafted as the first-ever first-rounder in Wyoming high school history, Nimmo stands out for his grace and athleticism in the outfield. Because of that, he has a good chance to stick as a center fielder in the long term. He doesn't stand out for his range, but Nimmo is an above-average defender with a strong arm. On the off chance he doesn't stick in center field, however, he must develop home run power to keep his prospect status. Nimmo currently has a more doubles-based, gap-to-gap approach, but evaluators can see some of those doubles turning into homers as he continues to gain strength. A more refined approach at the plate, which he made strides toward improving this year, should also help unlock his power.
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  Ranked Florida State League #17 prospect in 2014
  Nimmo continues to develop into a potential answer for the Mets' outfield troubles, but it's still not clear if he will be a center fielder or fit on a corner. He played mostly center at St. Lucie before a promotion to Double-A, where he helped Binghamton win the Eastern League title. Nimmo was Double-A-ready thanks to a patient batting eye and ability to attack pitchers who tried to take advantage of that by sneaking in a first-pitch fastball. He has the power to handle those, and now that he's added 20 pounds of strength since signing, he has the power to punish those mistakes, rather than just serving them to the gaps. Scouts still are projecting, though, to get Nimmo to above-average power. Nimmo's has improved his jumps in center field, working on his first-step quickness and taking his pre-game shagging routine seriously, which scouts noticed. He has fringy arm strength but has added greater accuracy with more coaching. His bat likely would fit better in center field if he can handle the defensive assignment.
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  Ranked New York-Penn League #11 prospect in 2012
  Nimmo is still raw, as might be expected for the first player ever drafted in the first round out of Wyoming (which has no high school baseball). He struggled mightily at the beginning and end of the NY-P season, but in between he flashed the potential that earned him a $2.1 million bonus. "His character is plus-plus-plus-plus. I've never seen a kid like him, and I never will," Brooklyn manager Rich Donnelly said. "He keeps a notebook in the dugout after every at-bat. You can't get him down, you can't discourage him. Mentally he's the strongest kid I've ever seen--ever." While Nimmo sees a lot of pitches, making him a good fit in the leadoff spot, the Mets would like him to be a little more aggressive and take fewer strikes. He hit .279 against righthanders but just .191 against lefties, though he made progress against southpaws during the season. His bat speed is special, giving him big-time power potential, though he's still learning to unlock it. Considered a plus runner as an amateur, Nimmo showed below-average to fringy speed this summer and needs a lot of work on his basestealing. His center-field defense is also raw, as he tends to break back on balls before coming in. He has an average arm.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #45 prospect in 2015

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The first and only high school first-rounder from the state of Wyoming, Nimmo made incremental gains through his first five pro seasons before enjoying a career year at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2016. He led the Pacific Coast League with a .423 on-base percentage, finished second with a .352 average and third with a .964 OPS. He made his big league debut in June 2016 and received three separate callups. Scouting Report: With the best strike-zone judgment in the Mets system, Nimmo has built a career .389 on-base percentage in the minors, and in 2016 established career-best marks for strikeout rate (16.4 percent), home runs (11) and isolated slugging percentage (.189). He works deep counts, takes walks and hits the ball where it's pitched, making him a solid-average hitter with average power. With a muscular 6-foot-3 frame, Nimmo shows plus raw power in batting practice and probably could hit more home runs if he hunted fastballs early in counts. An average runner, he is no better than average defensively in center field and probably will settle on an outfield corner with his near-average arm. He won't be a stolen-base threat, though he runs the bases intelligently. Scouts love his makeup, and his infectious personality is evident by his wide smile.
  
  The Future: Nimmo possesses all-around ability and projects as a table-setting corner outfielder. He is ready for a larger big league role in 2017.
• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The first Wyoming high school player ever selected in the first round, Nimmo signed for $2.1 million as the 13th pick in the 2011 draft. He showed promise in the short-season New York-Penn League last summer, ranking second with 46 walks and third with 28 extra-base hits, but also ample rawness, finishing second with 78 strikeouts. Scouting Report: Scouts who saw Nimmo at the very beginning or end of the NY-P season might have come away unimpressed, but he hit .309/.402/.494 over a 41-game midseason stretch while showcasing premium bat speed and a discerning approach. In fact, he may let too many hittable pitches pass at this stage. Though he swings and misses too much--especially versus lefties--his command of the strike zone gives him a chance to hit for solid average and at least plus power. Despite leading NY-P outfielders with 152 putouts, Nimmo showed fringy speed down the line, stole only one base and didn't make great reads off the bat in center field. He throws OK and could handle right field if his instincts don't improve with experience. The Future: The Mets rave about Nimmo's preparation and mental toughness, and they envision him as a center-field regular with average to plus tools across the board. He's ready for a full-season assignment in low Class A.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The 13th overall pick in June, Nimmo made history as the only first-round pick ever from the state of Wyoming, which has no high school baseball. He signed for $2.1 million at the Aug. 15 deadline and logged 10 games in Rookie ball, connecting for his first two pro home runs in late August. Scouting Report: Nimmo starred in football and also was an accomplished sprinter in high school, but his baseball skills aren't as raw as his background suggests. He has an advanced feel for the strike zone and the quick, compact lefthanded swing to become a plus hitter. The Mets believe he'll add strength to his physical frame and grow into at least solid power, but they're content to let that develop naturally. His swing doesn't have natural loft or pull, and they won't change him. Nimmo tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing football, but he's still a plus runner. His long strides enable him to cover lots of ground in center field, where he's an average defender with a decent arm. The Future: New York believes Nimmo's outstanding makeup will allow him to maximize his raw tools. It could also mean he's ready for an assignment to low Class A Savannah to begin 2012.