Photo by Allen Greene Photography
On Monday night, MLB Pipeline continued unveiling their top ten prospects at each position for 2021 with third basemen prospects.
There were a few surprises, and Mets prospect Brett Baty made the list at No.7, placing between the Red Sox’s Bobby Dalbec, and the Dodgers’ Kody Hoese.
MLB Pipeline previously ranked Mets prospect Francisco Alvarez No. 4 among catching prospects.
MLB is more optimistic (than Baseball America) on Baty’s glove and ability for contact, rating him as a player with average hitting, with plus game power, an average glove, fringe-average speed, and a plus arm.
Overall, his scouting grades varied from Baseball America, but the overall profile remained the same: Above-average OBP player with plus power who will stick at third for at least the duration of his first contract. Being ranked between Dalbec, who hit 9% of his plate appearances for home runs, and OPS’d .959 while striking out in 42.4% of his PA’s and Hoese, who had an impressive debut at Hi-A in 2019 speaks well for Baty, who hasn’t surpassed short season as of yet.
Baty, turned 21 in November, was the Mets first round pick in 2019 (12th overall) out of Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas.
The left-handed hitter slashed .234/.368/.452 with 16 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, and 33 RBIs in 51 games across three levels. He made his pro debut in the rookie level Gulf Coast League, played a majority of the season for the Kingsport Mets, and then finished off the final week of the season with the Brooklyn Cyclones in the middle of their tutle run.
Baty still has a long ways to go, and with a lost season due to the pandemic, and being older than an average senior when he was drafted, time is running out quicker than normal. He should start at Low-A St. Lucie for 2021.
