Mets Minors: Predicting the future

Good problems on the horizon

The Mets recently brought Francisco Alvarez and Jeff McNeil back from rehab assignments and sent down Hayden Senger and Brett Baty. Some people were not happy with the Mets opting to demote Baty who had shown some signs of life at the majors, but the move made sense. Luisangel Acuna outplayed Baty in the quest to be the backup infielder and with McNeil and Acuna on the roster his playing time would disappear. Ultimately, it wasn’t a very big deal.

Soon enough the Mets will have a pair of larger decisions to make with major league implications. Namely the eventual return of Ronny Mauricio and the emergence of Jett Williams. Two players who have impact bats and no obvious place to play them.

Ronny Mauricio was a shortstop for most of his time in the minors but has poor defense so that he can be no more than an emergency option there. He’s played a little bit of second base with mixed results and some time at third (which appears to be his best position). The Mets have only idly toyed with the idea of him switching into the outfield and it seems a little late in the day to try to make that switch leaving the Mets with the decision of how to get Mauricio back into the lineup when he’s ready (in 1.5 to 2 months). Now, things with injuries might work themselves out but ultimately the Mets could have Jeff McNeil revert to a full “Super Sub” role or they’d need to play with Mark Vientos, Jesse Winker and Starling Marte’s playing time.

Jett Williams would seem like an easier issue as the Mets have already toyed with him in center field and Tyrone Taylor can always be a 4th outfielder. With Williams hitting well, this all seems like a no-brainer but the Binghamton Rumble Ponies have played Williams at shortstop, second base and DH without having him play a single game (so far) in the outfield. While shortstop is his natural position and he plays it well, you’d think the Mets would be preparing their Top Prospect for a position he can actually conceivably play this year.

A lot can happen before promotions are an issue and the Mets could always send Williams through a round in AAA before the majors but it feels like someone should tell the Mets to think ahead.

AAA Syracuse Mets

You know who can hit in AAA? Brett Baty. Only 1 game back at the minor league level and Baty put on a show, hitting two doubles and nabbing a walk. Baty has always hit in the minors and typically played well in Spring Training but has failed to do the same in the majors. He was better in this last major league stint but he may be out of chances with this organization and that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.

Notes:

• Drew Gilbert, OF (24) - Gilbert is back in AAA and has hit okay (considering the dearth of talent there) but he doesn’t look ready to ascend. He would be a logical platoon-mate for Tyrone Taylor if he starts to come around.

• Dom Hamel, RHP (26) - His 2025 is better, so far, than his 2024 but I no longer put much stock here.

• Brandon Sproat, RHP (24) - It’s been bad and what might be worse is the fact he has only 2 Ks in his last two starts.

• Blade Tidwell, RHP (23) - There are positives in his last two outings and even though he’s given up a few too many hits the walks are down and the Ks are up.

AA Binghamton Rumble Ponies

One of my personal favorite prospects is Jonah Tong and when he started the season a little poorly I wasn’t concerned as much as I was sad. I really want Tong to succeed and thought he would, if given time. That time seems to have come and his most recent start was an absolute gem. He only tossed four innings but he only gave up a single hit and struck out a season high 10. 10 batters in four innings is pretty crazy.

Notes:

• Nolan McLean, RHP (23) - For all the things I love about McLean, I cannot love the number of walks he gives up.

• Jack Wenninger, RHP (23) - He’s been the best pitcher on a team with prospect pitchers ranked far higher.

• Joander Suarez, RHP (25) - Not sure the term prospect should still apply fully but he’s pitching well this season.

• Kevin Parada, C (23) - The ship is sinking fast.

• Ryan Clifford, 1B (21) - He’s not a perfect player but he’s still showing us all the things we’ve liked.

• Nick Morabito, OF (21) - He’s coming around a bit and it seems he’s making an effort to add power to his compliment of tools (which has lowered his batting average).

A+ Brooklyn Cyclones

Last year someone asked me if the Mets had anyone in the organization with power beyond Ryan Clifford and I told them Jacob Reimer but, unfortunately, he was injured. Back in the lineup, Reimer is really having a great start to his year with 13 extra base hits and an OPS now over .900 for the season. I’ll even add in that the Mets have returned to playing him at third having previously shifted him to first.

Notes:

• Joel Diaz, RHP (21) - Diaz has always been talked about in the organization but seeing the results is nice. He seems like he’s going to be firmly in the Top 20.

• Ryan Lambert, RHP (22) - Should see promotion mid-season if not sooner.

• Jonathan Santucci, LHP (22) - The rails are elsewhere and Santucci’s last outing was abysmal.

• Carson Benge, OF (22) - He may have lost that brief status as Top Prospect but he remains Top 3 and looking poised for promotability.

• Chris Suero, C (21) - We expected a cool-off and we are getting one now.

• Eli Serrano III, OF (21) - One of our surprise players from last report has stayed strong into this one. He’s rocketed up the rankings.

A Port St. Lucie Mets

One of the best minor league stories from April has been A.J. Ewing. He has been a dynamite player for the Mets as he transitions from the infield to center field with seeming ease. Nobody thought of Ewing as a power hitter but thanks to 8 extra base hits and 15 walks he is sitting on an OPS of 1.121 for the early going. It seems likely that he will find himself in Brooklyn sooner than later.

Notes:

• Nate Dohm, RHP (22) - He’s pitching well for the level but needs to keep those walks down, especially at higher levels.

• Cristofer Gomez, RHP (21) - The strikeout numbers are a little bananas right now.

• Matt Allan, RHP (24) - Things have not been perfect for Allan who really needs everything to go right for him. It’s still good to see him healthy.

• Colin Houck, SS (20) - There is power but is there enough power for his prodigious K numbers?

• Jeremy Rodriguez, SS (18) - He needs to show a little more something as he’s not got the power other players here do.

• Marco Vargas, SS (19) - Splitting time between second at shortstop he’s been hitting pretty spectacularly. Things are crowded in the infield at the lower level so he may find promotion hard to come by.

• Simon Juan, OF (19) - He had a rough start to the season, but we are holding onto hope he’ll come around.