Kiley McDaniel of ESPN updated his Top 50 MLB Prospect list on Wednesday, and two New York Mets players are on the list, though the two names might surprise folks. Center fielder/shortstop prospect Jett Williams is the first Mets player on the list at No. 45, and center fielder Drew Gilbert is right behind him at No. 46. McDaniel also said that infielder Ronny Mauricio and shortstop Luisangel Acuña were among the other players of note.
Jett Williams. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Williams, 19, is off to a great start in his Brooklyn Cyclones career with a .279/.456/.442 line with 13 walks in 13 games since being promoted from Low-A St. Lucie. Williams also has five stolen bases in that span, giving him 37 for the season. The right-handed hitter has a .427 OBP overall this season between St. Lucie and Brooklyn, which ranks 21st among 755 hitters with at least 300 plate appearances. Williams has played 68 games at shortstop and 16 games in center field this year.
Williams has been typically ranked behind Gilbert and Acuña on Mets prospects list, and I believe this is the only publication that has him as the top prospect in the organization right now.
Gilbert, 22, was recently acquired by the Mets alongside Ryan Clifford in exchange for veteran ace Justin Verlander. The left-handed hitter is hitting .290/.357/.421 since the trade, including his first home run in the Mets organization on Tuesday.
The 2022 first-round pick has a .276/.363/.454 slash line over 91 games this season. Gilbert has 19 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in that time. Gilbert has played all three outfield spots this year with 35 games in center, 21 games in right, and eight games in left field.
