Jake Mangum, Photo by Ed Delnay of MMO
No. 15 Jake Mangum, OF
Age: 26 (38/1996)
HT: 6’1, WT: 179
B/T: B/L
Acquired: Drafted in 4th RD of 2019 Draft – Mississippi State
ETA: 2022 Previous MMO Ranking: 16
2021 Stats (Brooklyn/Binghamton): 84 G, 22 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 14 SB, .285/.337/.454, 114 wRC+
Mangum struggled to a .633 OPS in his pro debut in 2019 with the Brooklyn Cyclones and then got off to a rough start in 2021 with Brooklyn. So, the outfielder decided to make a change in his hitting philosophy (as he noted with us in a podcast), and it has worked out to this point. The switch hitter knew that despite having the fourth-most hits in NCAA history that he needed to make a change to his ultra-aggressive approach. Mangum started taking more pitches and started looking for more balls to drive.
The 26-year-old hit .294/.342/.459 with 32 extra base hits in 75 games to close out the 2021 season in Double-A with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. While showing significantly more power, Mangum had also lowered his strikeout rate from 39% in Brooklyn to start the season to 17% in Binghamton. But, he had also seen his walk rate drop from 7.9% to 4.8%, not good for a player who was already not walking much.
Mangum went 3-for-9 with no extra base hits or walks and two strikeouts when he was in major league camp this spring. He’s off to a slow start in the 2022 regular season with a .587 OPS for Binghamton.
Being in big league camp gave Mangum a chance for folks to see his best tool, his defensive capabilities in the outfield. He made numerous great catches that caught the attention of Mets manager Buck Showalter and fans alike. His defense in all three outfield spots is plus and it will absolutely get him to the big leagues at some point. His good speed gives him another major league caliber tool.
The defense and speed combo will get Mangum to the big leagues — potentially in 2022 — but how his bat continues to develop will certainly decided what is long-term role will be there. Without power, his game plays very similar to current Mets outfielder Travis Jankowski.
Photo by Ed Delany of MMO
No. 14 Nick Plummer, OF
Age: 25 (7/31/1996)
HT: 5’10, WT: 200
B/T: L/L
Acquired: Signed as free agent in 2021
ETA: 2022 Previous MMO Ranking: N/A
2021 Stats (A/AA): 117 G, 20 2B, 6 3B, 15 HR, .280/.415/.479, 144 wRC+
The Cardinals inexplicably allowed Plummer to become a minor league free agent after a season in which he posted a 144 wRC+ and finished the year in Triple-A. It was good news for the Mets, who made Plummer a priority signing, giving him a major league deal despite him not having any big league experience. Plummer got his Mets career started in big league camp going 1-for-7 with a home run and impressed manager Buck Showalter with his defense as well.
The very muscular Plummer entered the 2021 having never produced an OPS above .730 and that was way back in 2015 in rookie level ball. His .280/.415/.479 slash line in 2021 was a huge breakout for the left-handed hitter. One very impressive note is he had more walks (20) than strikeouts (18) in 27 games a Triple-A. He got rid of big leg kick that improved his timing at the plate that finally allowed some of his raw power and helped him cut down on his strikeouts as well.
Defensively, Plummer has 202 games of experience in center, 175 games in left field and 46 games in right field. Above average speed and solid jumps keep Plummer playable in center field, but his best fit is probably in left field long-term given his below average arm.
The former first round pick didn’t have platoon splits in 2021, with a .908 OPS against lefties and .890 OPS against righties. He made his major league debut earlier this week, and he went 2-for-4 with a home run in his only game at the Triple-A level this season. Plummer figures to function as one of the Mets top depth outfield options throughout the season.
No. 13 Adam Oller, RHP
Age: 27 (10/17/1994)
HT: 6’4 WT: 225
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Minor League Rule 5
ETA: 2022 Previous MMO Ranking: N/A
Adam Oller was part of the trade for right-handed starter Chris Bassitt after I made my top 50 prospects. Congrats to Oller on making his major league debut with the A’s on April 12.
Good job by the Mets to get Oller in the minor league Rule 5 draft and then to be able to use him (along with J.T. Ginn) to get a pitcher of Bassitt’s caliber.
No. 12 Joel Diaz, RHP
Age: 18 (2/26/2004)
HT: 6’0, WT: 208
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent in 2021
ETA: 2027 Previous MMO Ranking: N/A
2021 Stats (DSL Mets): 15 G, 50.1 IP, 0.54 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 5.2 H/9, 1.6 BB/9, 11.3 K/9
Diaz started the 2021 season as a mostly unknown player after signing earlier in the year and finished as one the top pitching prospects in the Mets farm system. Looking at the just the numbers — 0.54 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 7.00 K/BB — you can see why Diaz has opened eyes, but the stuff is why he’s so high on my (and others) list. The 0.54 ERA from Diaz was far and away the best among 283 qualified minor leaguers last season, the second best ERA was 1.17. His 7.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked seventh.
Diaz produced those incredible numbers with a fastball in the low-90’s that has touched 96 mph. The 18-year-old also gets impressive ride on his four-seamer and has shown the ability to use it up in the zone. Diaz also has two secondary pitches that are more polished than normal for a pitcher so young. His changeup is already above average with good fade. His curveball in the high-70s has good vertical break. Diaz has already shown solid command of both pitchers, but he was also clearly above the talent level of the Dominican Summer League.
As you can see in the video, Diaz has a good pitchers frame and an athletic delivery. He also uses a quick arm action from over-the-top. Diaz will likely begin the season in the Florida Complex League.
Jose Butto, Photo: Ed Delany
No. 11 José Buttó, RHP
Age: 24 (3/19/1998)
HT: 6’1, WT: 202
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent in 2017
ETA: 2022 Previous MMO Ranking: 11
2021 Stats (Brooklyn/Binghamton): 20 G, 98.2 IP, 3.83 ERA, 4.62 FIP, 10.03 K/9, 2.19 BB/9, 1.09 WHIP
It’s all about the changeup and command for José Buttó, the Mets top pitching prospect above A-Ball. The right-hander began the 2021 season Brooklyn Cyclones and finished in Double-A Binghamton. The 24-year-old posted a 4.32 ERA in Brooklyn over 12 starts before his promotion. Buttó was much better in his eight starts for Binghamton with a 3.12 ERA and 50 strikeouts (only 9 walks) in 40 1/3 innings.
The Mets added Buttó to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft that didn’t end up happening. It’s important to note his inclusion on the 40-man though because that means later in the season when/if there’s a starter injury Buttó would have an edge on some of the other options.
Buttó has a four-seamer that sits mostly in the 91-94 range and has topped out at 96 mph. He mirrors that with the best changeup in the Mets farm system in the 78-83 mph range that gets significant late movement. His third pitch, a curveball, is what has held him back to this point and why some question is long-term ceiling. The curve is inconsistent in both command and movement. The lack of a strong third pitch was made him susceptible to home runs, he allowed 17 of them last season.
Buttó is a strong and athletic on the mound with an easily repeatable delivery. As you can see by his career 2.4 BB/9, he has above average control and his command is just as good.
I’m a sucker for three things when it comes to scouting pitchers: great changeup, fantastic command and pitchability. Buttó has all three of them, but his curveball will need to be better to get outs consistently as a starter in the big leagues. Buttó has gotten off to a fantastic start in Double-A this season with only one earned run allowed and an impressive 20 strikeout to two walk ratio in 13 2/3 innings.
I believe that we will see Buttó pitch in the big leagues at some point this season as a starter.
