Updated Post – Nov. 9 at 10:15 am ET
Mets young catcher Francisco Álvarez is currently in Venezuela training (took BP this week) with the Navegantes del Magallanes. Álvarez is hoping to play in the Venezuelan Winter League, but is waiting to get permission from the Mets.
“I would love to come to practice all these days to watch some games and be with the guys. We’re going to wait and see what happens,” Álvarez said.
The 21-year-old played in 123 games during his rookie season with the Mets, including 100 starts behind the plate. Álvarez finished the season with 25 home runs, 63 RBIs, and a .721 OPS.
The Mets recently gave Ronny Mauricio permission to play in the Dominican Winter League later in November. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns talked about players participating in offseason leagues from the GM Meetings on Wednesday, “For some of these younger players, reps matter. If you can play in a high-level winter ball league, that’s not a bad thing.”
Original Post – Nov. 8 at 11:08 am ET
Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio is expected to join Tigres del Licey on November 18 to participate in the Dominican Winter League this offseason. Last season, Mauricio was the LIDOM MVP with a .803 OPS and 10 stolen bases in 47 games. With Licey last season, Mauricio played 27 games at shortstop, 9 games at third base, and one game at second base during the regular season.
Overall, in the big leagues this season, Mauricio hit .248/.296/.347 with two home runs and seven stolen bases in 26 games.
Knowing that he may have a good chance of starting the season on the Mets Opening Day roster, it would be great to see Mauricio try and cut down on his strikeout rate, which was at 28.7% at the MLB level over 108 plate appearances. Any work towards his plate discipline could only help ensure his spot on the team.
In addition, with third base undecided between the likes of Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, or the Mets signing a free agent, second base occupied pending the recovery of Jeff McNeil from his partially torn UCL in his elbow, and shortstop occupied by Francisco Lindor pending his recovery from offseason elbow surgery – Mauricio may have a few spots to potentially earn playing time at if he can get the reps at those spots.
Mauricio played 21 games at second base, five at third base, and two at shortstop in his first taste of the big leagues. Playing time for the Mets at major league level moving forward is probably most likely at second base with McNeil’s ability to shift to the outfield.
The Tigres del Licey will be playing at Citi Field this weekend in a three-game series against Águilas Cibaeñas. The Cibaeñas roster currently features former Mets Juan Lagares, Jonathan Villar, Daniel Palka, and Francisco Pena. The Tigres del Licey roster has a few former Mets as well: Adonis Medina, Hansel Robles, and Nabil Crismatt.
