Baseball America recently released their list of the Top 20 MLB prospects in the Eastern League for 2018. In what was a rather successful 2018 season for the Mets minor leagues, the organization led all teams with four players cracking the Top 20 list.
Amongst the teams representatives were slugging first baseman Peter Alonso, young top prospect INF Andres Gimenez, break out 2B Jeff McNeil, and 2016 first round pick RHP Justin Dunn.
Alonso was ranked to highest of the Mets prospects, coming in at #8 on the list. He “cemented his reputation as one of the game’s premier power hitters,” by leading the minors with 36 home runs and 119 RBI’s.
Although scouts do note that “Alonso is still a work in progress at first base. And the Mets acknowledge Alonso won’t ever be mistaken for Keith Hernandez, and he still has to put in work to be just adequate.”
One of the younger prospects in baseball, 19-year old Andres Gimenez follows Alonso at #10 on the list. Though he was a bit young to be promoted to Double-A, Gimenez continued his success this season as he hit .277 with a .702 OPS. Baseball America says “proved he can impact the ball at the plate and stick at shortstop.”
Justin Dunn recently received some high praises from Mickey Callaway after a breakout 2018 season. He went 6-5 with a 4.22 ERA and 105 strikeouts, which helped land him a spot at #12 on the list.
With Binghamton, Dunn “showed evaluators much-improved stuff to match the statistical uptick.. with further development, he has the upside of a mid-rotation starter.”
Lastly, Mets starting second baseman Jeff McNeil fills the 20th, and final spot on the Eastern League Top 20 Prospect list. McNeil has been a star in all levels this year, and has carried that over to the majors where he is tearing the cover off the ball.
McNeil is a great addition to the top of the Mets lineup, as he “makes a ton of a contact without racking up big strikeout numbers.” Defensively he “has the chops to handle either second or third base at a passable level.”
The Mets minor league system certainly made some very positive breakthroughs during the 2018 season.
