When Florida State League action kicks off on Friday, the youth will take over St. Lucie County as nine of manager Luis Rivera’s 12 St. Lucie Mets position players are under the age of 21 (five teenagers, four 20-year old’s). The roster will also feature eight of the Mets’ top 30 prospects, according to MLB.com. The roster also includes eight of MMO’s Top 30 Mets prospects.

St. Lucie begins their season on Friday, April 4 against the Jupiter Hammerheads. Matt Allan will pitch in his first professional game since 2019 on Sunday, April 6.

Matt Allan. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

CATCHERS

Daiverson Gutierrez – The 19-year-old from Caracas, Venezuela, is MMO’s No. 23 prospect in the organization. He split the 2024 season between the DSL Mets, FCL Mets, and ended the season in St. Lucie. Between the three levels he had 13 doubles and hit an overall .214/.350/.318, with a .668 OPS.

Vincent Perozo – This will be the 22-year-old’s third season with St. Lucie. In 2024, he hit .173/.280/.229, with a .509 OPS.

Yovanny Rodriguez – The 18-year-old starts the season on the 60-day injured list with a hamstring injury. MMO’s No. 24 prospect spent 2024 in the DSL league, where he drove in 25 RBIs hitting .219/.359/.356 with a .715 OPS.

INFIELDERS

Jesus Baez – MMO’s No. 5 prospect will hope to rebound from an injury-plagued second half of the 2024 season. The 20-year-old began 2024 with Single-A St. Lucie before being promoted to High-A Brooklyn in June. He was placed on the injured list in July and was activated just before the start of spring training. In 2024, between St. Lucie and Brooklyn, he had 11 home runs and 17 doubles, drove in 43 RBIs, and slashed .262/.335/.447, with a .782 OPS. Expectations are high for the young Baez.

A.J. Ewing – 20-year-old Ewing is MMO’s No. 28 prospect. He was the Mets’ fourth round compensatory draft pick in 2023 (Pick No. 134 overall). He split 2024 between the Florida Coast League and St. Lucie, driving out 10 home runs, with 13 doubles, 49 RBIs and 59 runs. He hit a total .233/.361/.390, with a .751 OPS.

Yonatan Henriquez – The 20-year-old shortstop started the 2024 season with the Florida Coast League before getting promoted to Single-A St. Lucie. Between the two teams, he hit .236/.378/.300, with a .678 OPS.

Colin Houck – The Mets’ 20-year-old first-round draft pick from 2023 is entering his second season with Single-A St. Lucie. In 2024, he hit .206/.304/.306, with a .610 OPS. He had 16 doubles, drove in 51 RBIs, and scored 40 runs. There’s not a lot of power in his game, so look for improvements there this season.

Jeremy Rodriguez – MMO’s No. 12 prospect, 18-year old Rodriguez is entering into his first season with St. Lucie on the big field. He was with the Florida Coast League Mets on the backfields in Port St. Lucie in 2024. He hit .282/.355/.400, with a .755 OPS with the FCL Mets.

Trey Snyder – Snyder is MMO’s No. 16 prospect. The Mets’ fifth round draft pick in 2024 appeared in six games for St. Lucie in 2024 and will begin the season there this year. Last season in those six games, the 19-year-old hit .182/.308/.182, with a .490 OPS.

Marco Vargas – Vargas sits right behind Snyder at No. 17 on MMO’s Top 30 Mets prospect list. The 19-year-old is entering his second season with St. Lucie. In 2024, he batted .208/.369/.238, with a .607 OPS.

Trace Willhoite – Willhoite was signed by the Mets as a free agent in March from the West Virginia Black Bears. This will mark the 24-year-old’s first season in the Mets’ organization.

Simón Juan. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

OUTFIELDER

Willy Fanas – Fanas, 21, split the 2024 season between the FCL and FSL. Between the two, he hit .213/.290/.311, with a .601 OPS.

Simon Juan—The 19-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Florida Coast League. In 2024, he hit .273/.337/.459, with a .796 OPS.

PITCHERS

Matt Allan – 23-year old Allan was drafted by the Mets in the third round of the 2019 MLB draft. Allan has been challenged since then with surgeries to repair his former, two to replace his ulnar collateral ligament, and one his hamstring. He will play in his first professional game since 2019 when the season starts.

Wellington Aracena – The 20-year-old split the 2024 season between the FCL and FSL. Through 17 appearances between the FCL and FSL, he was 2-8 with a 7.30 ERA. He pitched 40 2/3 innings. He struck out 56 and had a WHIP of 1.99.

Juan Arnaud – Arnaud, 21, enters into his second season with Single-A St. Lucie. In 2024, he was 3-1 with a 4.02 ERA over the course of 32 games and 40 1/3 innings. He struck out 49 and had a 1.49 WHIP.

Channing Austin – The 23-year-old appeared in just one game for St. Lucie in 2024, where he walked away with the hold for the game. He threw just 1 1/3 innings of relief and struck out one. The Mets signed him from the MLB Draft league.

Josh Blum – Blum, 21, enters into his first professional season after being signed by the Mets from the USC Trojans in 2024 in the 16th round of the 2024 MLB draft. He was teammates of Channing Austin.

Hoss Brewer – The 24-year-old appeared in just one game for St. Lucie in 2024 out of the bullpen. In two innings, he struck out one and walked away with the hold.

Irving Cota – Cota, 24-year split 2024 between the FCL and FSL. He was 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA over the course 17 games and 45 2/3 innings. He struck out 53 with a 1.16 WHIP.

Candido Cuevas – The 20-year-old starts the season on the 60-day injured list. He pitched just three games (one start) for St. Lucie in 2024. He was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA. In 7 1/3 innings, he struck out eight with a 2.18 WHIP.

Nate Dohm – MMO’s No. 18 prospect and the Mets’ third round draft pick in 2024 out of Mississippi State. This will be the 22-year-old’s first professional season.

Robert Dominguez—The 23-year-old has been challenged with injuries over the last three years. He has not thrown in a game since 2021.

Frank Elissalt—The 2024 19th-round draft pick out of Nova Southeastern threw in one game for the St. Lucie Mets in 2024. The 23-year-old pitched just 1/3 inning, striking out one.

Raimon Gomez – The 23-year-old didn’t pitch at all last season as he recovered from TJS, but he has reportedly been up to 103 mph with his fastball this spring.

Franklin Gomez- The young lefty will begin the season on the injured list.

Cristofer Gomez – 21-year-old Gomez split 2024 between the FCL and FSL. In 27 relief appearances ,he was 1-0 with four saves. He struck out 47 and had a 1.28 WHIP over the course of 43 2/3 innings.

Hunter Hodges – Hodges, 22, is entering his first full season with St. Lucie. He appeared in one game in 2024, where he struggled, giving up four earned runs in 2/3 innings. He will look to start 2025 strong out of the gate.

Wyatt Hudepohl – The 23-year-old will also begin the 2025 season on the injured list. He appeared in eight games for Single-A St. Lucie in 2024, where he was 1-3 with a 4.03 ERA. Over those eight games (seven starts), he struck out 31 and had a 1.69 WHIP. He also earned one hold.

Ethan Lanthier – Lanthier was drafted by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2024 MLB draft. The 21-year-old appeared in two games in 2024, where he struck out five over three innings and walked away with a 0.67 WHIP to begin his professional career.

Wilson Lopez – Lopez, 22, begins his second season with Single-A St. Lucie. In 2024, he was 2-0 with a 7.15 ERA over the course of 22 games in relief. In 22 innings, he struck out 19 with a 2.21 WHIP.

Chandler Marsh – The 22-year-old former Georgia Bulldog appeared in just one game in 2024 for St. Lucie. He threw 2/3 of an inning and struck out one.

Edgar Moreta – The 21-year-old threw 19 games in 2024 between the FCL and FSL. He was 3-6 with a 4.72 ERA over the course of 68 2/3 innings. He struck out 73 with a 1.35 ERA.

Jorge Rodriguez – Rodriguez, 23, begins the 2025 season on the injured list. He has not pitched since 2023.

Zebulon Vermillion – Vermillion (26) is the Mets’ 10th round draft pick from 2022. He begins the season on the injured list as well. He has not pitched since the one lone game he appeared in back in 2022.

Will Watson – Watson rounds out MMO’s top prospect list at No. 30. The 2024 7th round draft pick out of Southern California pitched in two games in 2024 for St. Lucie, both of which were starts. He earned one win and had a 3.38 ERA after that appearance. He struck out three in 2 2/3 innings. He had a 0.75 WHIP.