Minor League Tracker: Brett Harper

Adam Rubin at Surfing the Mets, writes about Brett Harper and his 21 game hitting streak:

Brett Harper’s hitting streak, the longest in the Eastern League, ended at 21 games Thursday. Still the first baseman is on a roll at Double-A Binghamton after missing all but 19 games last season because of surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right throwing shoulder in May of 2006.

Harper’s hitting streak was the longest by a B-Met since Mike Jacobs had a 22-game hitting streak in 2005 en route to the Eastern League MVP Award. (Jacobs’ streak is still active, by the way, since he was promoted to the Mets and never returned to the minors.) The Binghamton record belongs to Jay Payton, with 25 in 1995.

“I’ve put some good swings on balls,” said the 25-year-old Harper, who had a .284 average, seven homers and 33 RBI through 176 at-bats. “But as far as being totally back and locked in, I haven’t quite got there yet, even though my numbers are pretty good. I know I’m even better than I’m showing right now.”

Minor League Tracker: Phillips Orta Signs

Jeremy Woznick at The Star Herald, writes about the Mets 10th round draft pick Phillips Orta signing with the Mets:

After being drafted by the Mets in June, Orta decided to return to WNCC for his sophomore season. As the ace of the pitching staff, he helped lead the Cougars to their first regional championship in school history last weekend. WNCC had its season ended just a few wins shy of the JUCO World Series on Thursday in the NJCAA Western District Baseball Tournament.

Chase, who is in his 17th year with the Mets and has signed a number of players to big-league contracts most notably A.J. Burnett currently of the Toronto Blue Jays, believes the sky is the limit for Orta.

"The more time he gets on the mound, the better he's going to get," Chase said. "I think you'll see him as one of our bright spots in the New York Mets organization in the next few years."

Profiling The B-Mets

Brian Moritz at Press Connects.com, profiles the B-Mets:

ThB-Mets have lost 14 of their last 15 series dating back to last season. After Thursday's doubleheader sweep by New Britain, the B-Mets have lost 11 of their last 14 games. The B-Mets had the worst team ERA in the Eastern League with a 5.42. As a team, the B-Mets are hitting just .243 through Thursday's games. The B-Mets played just six home games in April thanks to the weather, going 3-3.. Who's hot: Fernando Martinez went 9-for-18 in the New Britain series. Who's not: Jose Reyes is 3 for his last 18.e