Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

MLB Pipeline has released their rankings of their top third base prospects in the game, and Brett Baty was ranked No. 2. This marks the second straight year Baty was rated in the top 10.

In fact, Baty was the highest-rated player from last year’s rankings. If not for Baltimore Orioles prospect Gunnar Henderson switching positions from shortstop to third base, Baty would actually be the top third base prospect in the game.

For a time, it seemed Baty was himself destined for a position change, but the Carlos Correa deal fell through after his medicals complicated the contract. As a result, Baty seems destined to remain at third for the foreseeable future and may soon find himself in the mix for the New York Mets third base job during the 2023 season.

In fact, as previously discussed on MMN, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline asserted the Mets should make Baty their third baseman at some point during the 2023 season. In that, Callis noted Baty’s much-improved defense. Callis put that on par with at least Eduardo Escobar with Baty having more promise at the plate.

If not for a UCL tear in his right thumb, Baty might’ve actually entered the 2023 season as the incumbent third baseman. As of this moment, the Mets have not made any pronouncements as to whether they will give Baty an opportunity to win the job out of spring training. On the note of spring training, the Mets do hope Baty can work out with David Wright to improve defensively.

Overall, with Baty being named the second-best third base prospect, he is now the third Mets prospect to be named to an MLB Pipeline top 10 prospect at their position. Previously, Francisco Álvarez and Kevin Parada were named the first- and third-best catching prospects in baseball.