25-year old righty swinging 3B Zach Lutz is ripping the ball in AAA for the Mets right now. Lutz has played in 12 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 14 of 41 (.341 avg, 1.010 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 7 RBIs. He has now played in 279 games in his first seven years in the minors and he is 287 of 996 (.288 avg, .872 OPS) with 147 runs scored, 46 homers, 170 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Lutz came into this season as the Mets’ #6 prospect according to Baseball America. If the need arises for a corner infielder this year for the Mets, they might give Lutz his first shot at the show.

The Mets have six rookies that could help them at some point in 2012. Here is a look at them:

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: 24-year old lefty swinging CF Kirk Niewenhuis comes into this season as the Mets’ #7 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 53 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 56 of 188 (.298 avg, .908 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 6 homers, 14 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He has now played in 382 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 421 of 1,501 (.280 avg, .819 OPS) with 257 runs scored, 44 homers, 193 RBIs and 46 stolen bases. If anything happens to starting CF Andres Torres, the Mets will likely give Niewenhuis his first shot at the show in 2012.

Jordany Valdespin: 24-year old lefty swinging 2B/SS Jordany Valdespin comes into this season as the Mets’ #11 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 134 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 150 of 511 (.294 avg, .801 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 17 homers, 60 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. Valdespin has now played in 371 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 403 of 1,424 (.283 avg, .758 OPS) with 203 runs scored, 31 homers, 167 RBIs and 84 stolen bases. If the Mets have a need in the middle infield in 2012, they could give Valdespin his first shot at the majors in 2012.

Zach Lutz: 25-year old righty swinging 3B/1B Zach Lutz comes into this year as the Mets’ #16 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 63 games in A+AAA-ball last year and he was 65 of 228 (.285 avg, .853 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 11 homers and 32 RBIs. Lutz has now played in 267 games in his first 5 years in the majors and he is 273 of 955 (.286 avg, .866 OPS) with 140 runs scored, 40 homers, 163 RBIs and 1 stolen base. If David Wright is gimpy again this year, Lutz could get his first shot at playing with the Mets.

Chris Schwinden: 25-year old righty starting pitcher Chris Schwinden comes into this season as the Mets’ #24 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 4 games (all starts) for the Mets last year and he was 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He also pitched in 28 games (26 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 8-8 with a 3.87 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Schwinden has now pitched in 89 games (69 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 29-22 with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Schwinden will be the first pitcher called up if the Mets need a starter in 2012.

Josh Satin: 27-year old righty swinging infielder Josh Satin comes into this season as the Mets’ #29 prospect. He can handle playing 1B, 2B or 3B defensively. Satin played in 15 games for the Mets last year and he was 5 for 25 (.200 avg, .499 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 0 homers and 2 RBIs. He also played in 132 games in AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 156 of 483 (.323 avg, .906 OPS) with 77 runs scored, 12 homers, 76 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Satin has now played in 449 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 490 of 1,595 (.307 avg, .864 OPS) with 245 runs scored, 37 homers, 230 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He could help the Mets at some point in 2012.

Jenrry Mejia: 22-year old righty starting pitcher Jenrry Mejia comes into this season as the Mets’ #6 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 5 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 1-2 with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He has now pitched in 61 games (54 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 14-13 with 1 save, a 2.66 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Mejia pitched in 33 games (3 starts) for the Mets back in 2010 and he was 0-4 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. Mejia could be ready to return to action in June as he is recovering from surgery.

The New York Mets will be without 28-year old switch-hitting IF/OF Corey Wimberly for the next 5 weeks due to a broken bone in his left hand. Wimberly played in 57 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 41 of 172 (.238 avg, .590 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 0 homers, 11 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Wimberly wasn’t going to make the Mets out of spring training anyway, so this isn’t going to hurt them too much. Wimberly will start the 2012 season in the minors when he finally gets healthy.

23-year old righty starting pitcher Scott Moviel of the Mets has been suspended for 50 games due to failing a drug test. Moviel pitched in 26 games (23 starts) in A-ball for the Mets last year and he was 5-10 with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. He has now pitched in 104 games (91 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 22-32 with 2 saves, a 4.60 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. This is a big blow to Moviel’s career because he just hasn’t pitched that well in the minors so far.

23-year old lefty starting pitcher Darin Gorski wasn’t a very highly thought of prospect in the Mets’ system coming into this season but that might be about to change. Gorski has pitched in 24 games (18 starts) in A-ball so far this year and he is 11-1 with a 2.27 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He has given up 99 hits in his first 122 2/3 innings so far this year while whiffing 125 batters and walking only 27. It seems like the light has finally went on for Gorski as he looks like a different pitcher now. Gorski has now pitched in 62 games (47 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 20-13 with 4 saves, a 3.70 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.