Photo by Ed Delany, MMO
Keith Law of ESPN updated his Top 50 Major League Prospects on Thursday with Mets 18-year-old shortstop Ronny Mauricio coming in at No. 48.
The switch-hitting Mauricio is slashing .276/.314/.373 with 16 doubles, three triples, three homers, and 22 RBI as one of the youngest players in the South Atlantic League. He’s spent most of the season as the Columbia Fireflies leadoff man despite being three and half years younger than the league average.
Mauricio was given a $2.1 signing bonus from the Mets (franchise record at time) back on July 2 of 2017. The Mets decided he would skip the Dominican Summer League and jump right to the Gulf Coast League. After 49 games there to start his pro career last season, he finished out 2018 with eight games for the Kingsport Mets.
The Mets again decided to be aggressive with the talented youngster to begin 2019, having him skip the New York Penn-League.
“Very good plate coverage and controls the barrel much better than you’d expect from his age and gangly appearance. He’s a true shortstop with a chance to be an elite defender there, and we’re probably three years from seeing his power potential come out.”
Mauricio is up to 6’3” and he has a frame that is likely to continue to filling out. One of the negatives I’ve seen from him this year is the tendency to drop down on throws to first base which results in throwing errors and/or unnecessarily tough picks for the first baseman.
Mauricio also has better speed than his four steals compared to five times caught stealing would indicate. Something that will be a work in progress for him as he continues to grow.
Law put Mets left-handed pitcher prospect Anthony Kay in his honorable mentions note.
One of the biggest surprises on the list is former Mets outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic being ranked No. 8 overall. Law also had right-handed pitching prospect Justin Dunn in his honorable mention. Both prospects were sent by the Mets to the Mariners in exchange for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz in the offseason.
