Mets Minors: Pre-Spring Top 50

With the offseason moves complete, how do things lie

The Mets have bid farewell to an “Elite” prospect in Jett Williams and a “Very Good” prospect in Brandon Sproat as they brought in the “Ace” pitcher the team needed. With the prospects out the door and before we see who shows up ready to play on day one, I am publishing out a few thoughts on the Top 50 (or so) players still in the Mets system

Before I get into that…

Christian Scott is a curious player in that he’s both a prospect and not a prospect at the same time. He has exceeded 45 innings in the majors and has just barely graduated away from quite qualifying as a “Rookie”, but he still feels like a prospect because he had so little time before needing Tommy John surgery and still comes with some prospect expectations. I can tell you, if he qualified to be on my list, he’d rank 4th overall and as a “Very Good” prospect.

Concerning Ratings

Elite Prospects: Prospects who factor not only into the Mets Top 10 but also Baseball’s Top 100 showing a propensity to being “True Impact Players”

Very Good Prospects: Prospects who may factor into Baseball’s Top 100 but project as regulars rather than stars.

Good Prospects: Prospects who still bear a chance of seeing regular playing time at the major league level.

Fringe Prospects: Prospects who are not yet proven or who have only an outside chance at regular playing time.

Elite Prospects

1. Nolan McLean, RHSP (MLB) - The only prospect who is “likely” to start his year in the majors, McLean is likely going to serve as the #2 or #3 starter unless something goes badly wrong in Spring Training.

2. Carson Benge, OF (AAA) - With his limited experience in AAA it is hard to see the Mets starting him in the majors unless he crushes it this Spring. More likely, he’s sitting in AAA until whomever is playing left field flames out or he begins to show mastery of the level.

3. Jonah Tong, RHSP (AAA) - People might disagree with me on my rankings before the trade went through, but with Williams off the team, Tong ranks as the #3 prospect and the final “Elite” prospect of the Mets. He will be back in AAA to start the year barring an act of God.

Very Good Prospects

4. Elian Pena, SS (DSL/R) - I cannot say if Pena will be back in the DSL to begin 2026 but I think he showed enough in his first year to earn his way stateside. Should he continue to prove out stateside, he readily graduates to being an “Elite” prospect.

5. Jacob Reimer, 3B/1B (AA) - I think his power is the thing that keeps him a half step above Ewing. Reimer could be in AAA in short order this season but needs to hit very well at that level to sniff being “Elite”.

6. AJ Ewing, Util (AA) - Despite ranking lower than Reimer, Ewing has a better shot at being “Elite” thanks to his versatility. If he can hit at AA the way he did at lower levels he could be on the rise again.

7. Ryan Clifford, 1B/LF (AAA) - I don’t “know” Clifford will be in AAA to start the year but I don’t think he’s served by returning to AA. He doesn’t show consistency to be “Elite” and actually feels like the most likely name on this list to drop to “Good”.

8. Jonathan Santucci, LHSP (AA) - Other writers might not rank him as highly as I do but I kept getting upset when I saw his name added to trade speculation as “Filler”. Santucci feels like a David Peterson style lefty who will make it to the majors.

9. Daviel Hurtado, LHSP (A) - The player whom I am definitely higher on than most other writers, Hurtado has some international buzz and looked pretty good at times last year. I am hoping he breaks out this year.

Good Prospects

10. Christopher Suero, C/OF (AA) - Perhaps ranked too high at present. He looked like a very good offensive catcher who could hash it at other positions.

11. Edward Lantigua, OF (A) - Lantigua needs to perform a little better and longer in stateside ball to be listed at “Very Good” but I think he gets there soon.

12. Will Watson, RHSP (AA) - Watson ranks a bit below Santucci in my book because I didn’t get upset seeing him in trade proposals.

13. Mitch Voit, 2B (A) - Voit was not as good as advertised out of the gate and is ranked lower than most organizational first picks in their second tour of minor league service.

14. Yovanny Rodriguez, C (A) - I am hoping that we get a full season of Rodriguez in stateside ball and I’m hoping he charges up the rankings.

15. Wandy Asigen, SS (DSL) - If he succeeds as well as Elian did in the DSL, we should see him ranked accordingly next year.

16. Daiverson Gutierrez, C (A+) - Brooklyn is a hard level for offense and I’m concerned that it will get the better of Gutierrez.

17. Ryan Lambert, RHRP (AAA) - Highest ranked reliever in the system, I think he’s the second named called from AAA when reinforcements are needed.

18. Dylan Ross, RHRP (AAA) - I think Lambert is better, but I think Ross has the inside track to first promotion from AAA.

19. Eli Serrano III, OF (AA) - Serrano’s time as a “Good” prospect may be running out.

20. Zach Thornton, LHSP (AA) - Thornton’s 2025 season should be worth more but I have a harder time seeing him in the majors than Santucci.

21. Peter Kusow, RHSP (A) - If Kusow has pitched in 2025 things might be different. I’m hopeful he will prove to give our 2025 draft class some value.

Fringe Prospects

22. Kevin Parada, C (AAA) - Most people would rank him lower, but I think his 2025 gives a glimmer of hope.

23. Joel Diaz, RHSP (A+) - I think the time of “for his age” leniency is over.

24. Colin Houck, SS/3B (A+) - He may have mastered Low A, but I didn’t see success in Brooklyn.

25. Cleiner Ramirez, OF (DSL) - He’s in the DSL and needs a pretty big year to rank higher.

26. Boston Baro, IF (AA) - Still resting on past minor league success.

27. Randy Guzman, OF (A) - Good enough to rank as “Good” but I need more to rank him higher.

28. Douglas Orellana, RHRP (AAA) - I see him as a AAAA shuttle reliever.

29. Nick Morabito, OF/Util (AAA) - He’s a bench player at best.

30. Antonio Jimenez, SS (A) - A draft pick I did not like.

31. Jeremy Rodriguez, IF (A+) - He was bad last year and has fallen hard.

32. Roybert Hererra, 3B (R) - DSL success means so very little.

33. Julio Zayas, C (A) - He underwhelmed in 2025 and is now fighting for playing time with other catchers.

34. Marco Vargas, 2B (A+) - Nick Morabito but better in the infield.

35. Calvin Zeigler, RHSP (A+)* - Can he stay healthy?

36. Camden Lohman, RHSP (A) - Recent draftee that scouts like.

37. RJ Gordon, RHSP (AA) - Organizational filler.

38. Ronald Hernandez, C/OF/1B (A+) - The defensive half of the Suero platoon.

39. Jake Wenninger, RHSP (AAA) - Some writers will rank him much higher.

40. Yunior Amparo, SS (R) - Show me some stateside success.

41. Jose Chirinos, RHSP (A) - Too early to say.

42. Brendan Girton, RHSP (A+) - Feels like filler.

43. Saul Garcia, RHSP (A+) - Organizational filler.

44. Christofer Gomez RHSP (A+) - I think he shifts to relief.

45. Simon Juan, OF/1B (A) - Not in good shape and failed to impress after Spring Training.

46. Trey Snider, IF (A) - Too early to say.

47. Noah Hall, RHSP (A+) - Organizational filler.

48. Corey Collins, 1B (A+) - Had good scouting and never performed.

49. Yonatan Henriquez, IF (A+) - Organizational filler.

50. Ben Simon, RHRP (AA) - Don’t sleep on guys shifted into relief roles.