Brett Baty, Photo by Ed Delany of MMO
MLB Pipeline released their top third base prospect list with Mets minor leaguer Brett Baty at the very top and fellow Mets minor leaguer Mark Vientos coming in at No. 9.
The Mets are the only team with two players on the list. MLB Pipeline has already listed their top 10 right-handed pitchers, left-handed pitchers, and first basemen, but the Mets didn’t have a prospect on any of those lists.
Here’s the full list, note that Spencer Torkelson and Nolan Gorman have moved off of third base:
- Brett Baty – Mets
- Josh Jung – Rangers
- Jordan Walker – Cardinals
- Elly De La Cruz – Reds
- Miguel Vargas – Dodgers
- Jose Miranda – Twins
- Curtis Mead – Rays
- Nolan Jones – Guardians
- Mark Vientos – Mets
- Elehuris Montero – Rockies
The 22-year-old Baty has been ranked as high as the No. 13 overall prospect by Baseball Prospectus. The left-handed hitter slashed .292/.382/.473 with 22 doubles, 12 home runs, and 56 RBIs in 91 games combined between High-A Brooklyn Cyclones and the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies.
In addition to his regular position at third base, the Mets had Baty play 18 games in left field to improve his versatility. Though, a big key in Baty’s jump in multiple rankings –particularly BP– is his noted improvements on his defense at third base that very likely keeps him there long-term.
The Mets first rounder from the 2019 draft could start the 2022 season in Double-A where he played 40 games to end the 2021 season.
Mark Vientos, Photo by Ed Delany of MMO
The 22-year-old Vientos had a monster offensive season in 2021 when the led the Mets minor leagues with 25 home runs and hit .281.,352/.581 overall. Vientos played in 72 games for Binghamton and then finished the season with 11 games for the Triple-Syracuse Mets.
Vientos, like Baty, played left field for the first time in his career as well, 13 games overall. He also played 11 games at first base.
MLB Pipeline had the ETA listed as 2022 for both Baty and Vientos, but that feels far more realistic for Vientos given his experience at the Triple-A level and the fact that he’s a more polished hitter at this point.
