Editor’s note: Six Mets Minors writers/editors compiled this list after they submitted their personal top 35 prospects in the Mets farm system. This list is different from the previously released Top 75 Mets prospects by MMO Editor-in-Chief Mike Mayer.
You can view No. 35-31 here.
Paul Gervase. Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies
No. 30 Paul Gervase, RHP
B/T: R/R, Age: 23 (5/23/2000)
Height: 6’10, Weight: 230 lbs
Acquired: 12th round of 2022 Draft from LSU
Previous Rank: NR
2023 Stats (A+ Brooklyn/AA Binghamton): 2.05 ERA, 38 G, 17 GF, 57 IP, 96 Ks, 1.246 WHIP, 6.6 BB/9, 15.2 SO/9
Paul Gervase quite literally towers over the competition at 6’10″, and he has the stuff to match. He recorded an extremely impressive 15.2 SO/9, he allowed just 29 hits across 57 innings on the mound last season, and he surrendered just one home run. However, he does struggle quite a bit with his command, as he did walk 42 batters in those 57 innings.
Gervase will be entering his age-24 season, and he is among the organization’s highest-touted reliever prospects. If he can curtail the walks without sacrificing the strikeout potential that makes him so feared on the mound, he could have every chance of finding a spot in the major league bullpen sooner rather than later.
Matt Rudick, Photo by Rick Nelson
No. 29 Matt Rudick, OF
B/T: L/L, Age: 25 (7/2/1998)
Height: 5’6, Weight: 170 lbs
Acquired: 13th round of 2021 Draft from San Diego State University
Previous Rank: 26
2023 Stats (FCL Mets/AA Binghamton): 67 G, .268 BA, .849 OPS, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 12 SB
In stark contrast to Gervase, Matt Rudick is one of the shorter prospects on this list at 5’6. He more than makes up for that with his dynamic play on the diamond, where he posted an .849 OPS and more than tripled his career home run total during the 2023 season. He also drew more walks than the number of strikeouts he had at the plate, an excellent sign of patience and bat-to-ball skills.
The biggest knock against Rudick is his age. He is entering his age-25 season and has just five career Triple-A games under his belt, all of which came during the 2022 season. He has also struggled to stay healthy throughout this professional career, playing in just 67 games last year. He will likely start the 2024 season in Triple-A and serve as outfield depth for an organization that has struggled to find that sort of depth in recent years.
Nick Morabito, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
No. 28 Nick Morabito, OF/2B
B/T: R/R, Age: 20 (5/7/2003)
Height: 5’11, Weight: 185 lbs
Acquired: 2nd round of 2022 Draft from Gonzaga College HS
Previous Rank: 27
2023 Stats (FCL Mets/A St. Lucie): 57 G, .306 BA, .828 OPS, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 21 SB
Nick Morabito impressed in his first full professional season this past year, hitting .306 and posting an .828 OPS in 57 games across rookie ball and Low-A St. Lucie. He is not a very prolific power hitter, but he possesses a strong mix of hitting skills and speed on the base paths that could continue to carry him far in the organization.
Entering his age-21 season, Morabito will look to add more pop to his approach at the plate while also solidifying his primary defensive position. He bounced around the diamond in rookie ball but played exclusively as a center fielder with St. Lucie. He has the speed and range to find a home at any of the three outfield positions.
No. 27 Justin Jarvis, RHP
B/T: R/R, Age: 24 (2/20/2000)
Height: 6’2, Weight: 183 lbs
Acquired: Via trade during 2023 season
Previous Rank: 16
2023 Stats (AA Biloxi/AAA Nashville/AAA Syracuse): 5.31 ERA, 26 G, 118.2 IP, 138 Ks, 1.593 WHIP, 4.6 BB/9, 10.5 SO/9
Justin Jarvis was acquired by the Mets in the Trade Deadline deal that sent Mark Canha to the Milwaukee Brewers this past season. Jarvis is a former fifth round pick during the 2018 Draft, and although he started the season very strong with the Brewers’ Double-A affiliate, he struggled immensely in Triple-A action for both organizations.
Jarvis has seen his strikeout rate rise just about every year he has played professionally, but he gives up a ton of contact and has surrendered 40 home runs over the last two seasons. He figures to be a mainstay in the Syracuse rotation, and it is hard to see a path to major league playing time in what will be his age-24 season.
Jeremiah Jackson, Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies
No. 26 Jeremiah Jackson, INF
B/T: R/R, Age: 23 (3/26/2000)
Height: 6’0, Weight: 165 lbs
Acquired: Via trade during 2023 season
Previous Rank: 29
2023 Stats (AA Rocket City/AA Binghamton): 119 G, .252 BA, .778 OPS, 22 HR, 80 RBI, 27 SB
Jeremiah Jackson was acquired by the Mets in the Trade Deadline deal that sent Dominic Leone to the Los Angeles Angels this past season. Jackson was a second-round pick in the 2018 Draft and had a career year in 2023. He posted strong numbers with the Angels’ Double-A affiliate and stepped up his game after joining Binghamton. He had an impressive 20 HR-20 SB campaign and has hit 76 homers across five professional seasons.
Jackson does strike out a ton, punching out 144 times in 119 games this past season. However, that is slightly easier to overlook given just how much he provides to his team on a game-by-game basis. Jackson is a super utility defensive player in addition to his power at the plate and speed on the base paths. His age-24 season could be the year that he gets his first chance at major league playing time if the Mets find themselves in need of a player who could fill in at multiple different positions.
