MLB Pipeline released their preseason top-100 prospect list on Jan. 26, which included four Mets prospects. Jett Williams headlined the group, finishing the highest among the bunch, while a certain Mets pitcher missed the mark on the list altogether.

Meanwhile, Kevin Parada also missed the mark on the 2024 top-100 prospect list. The catcher from Georgia Tech was previously ranked No. 36 overall by MLB Pipeline last season.

Just Missing Out

Missing out on the top prospect list was Christian Scott. The Cocunut-Creek, Florida, native was a name that some thought would make the list. In 2023 he worked his way from Low-A St. Lucie to High-A Binghamton.

In 2023, Scott worked his way from Low-A St. Lucie to Double-A Binghamton. He finished the season with an accumulated 2.57 ERA and was 5-4 in 19 games started. Scott was also a strikeout machine in 2024. In 87 2/3 innings pitched, he struck out 107 and had a WHIP of 0.86.

Despite the impressive numbers, the right-handed pitcher from the University of Florida missed out on being named a Top 100 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Steven Wojtowicz-MMO

Ryan Clifford, OF/1B (No. 97)

The first Met to appear on the top-100 prospects list for the Mets was Ryan Clifford.

Clifford was drafted by the Astros in 2022 in the eleventh round out of Pro5 Academy in Apex, North Carolina. The lefty started the 2023 season between Low-A Fayetville (Astros) and High-A Asheville (Astros), and then finished the season in High-A Brooklyn (Mets) after he was traded to the Mets in August with Drew Gilbert for Justin Verlander.

Between the three levels, Clifford batted .262/.374/.480, with a .854 OPS. He hit 20 doubles, 24 home runs, drove in 81 RBIs, and had 70 runs scored. He walked 64 times and had five stolen bases. His 24 home runs tied for second-most among minor league teenagers. He has strong power at the plate and an ability to hit the ball to the opposite field.

It’s worth noting that Clifford struggled after being acquired by the Mets. He slashed .188/.307/.376 with six homers in 117 at-bats. This, however, was most likely attributed to the tough batter eye in Brooklyn that primarily affects left-handed batters.

Luisangel Acuña, SS (No. 66)

Luisangel Acuña, like Gilbert and Clifford, was ranked on the top-100 prospect list after being acquired by the Mets last trade deadline. He was the prize return for Max Scherzer, who won the 2023 World Series with the Rangers. Acuña is also the brother of Ronald Acuña Jr.

The Rangers signed the 21-year-old shortstop in 2018 where he spent the next four years before being traded to the Mets on July 30 in the Scherzer trade. He finished out his 2023 season with Double-A Binghamton and is another name that has been mentioned as possibly benefitting and helping out the big-league club this season if he continues to progress as planned.

Between AA Frisco and AA Binghamton, Acuña batted .294/.359/.410, with a .769 OPS. He hit for 28 doubles two triples, nine home runs, and drove in 63 RBIs. Acuña also had 93 runs scored, walked 52 times, and stole an impressive 57 bases this season as well.

While Acuña’s stance from the right side looks similar to that of his brother, he does not exhibit the same power. [Luisangel] has good bat-to-ball skills and plate coverage, rarely striking out despite a tendency to expand the strike zone.

One category Acuña shares with his brother is his base stealing abilities. He stole at least 40 bases in three straight minor league seasons, reaching the 57 mark this previous season.

While Acuña is an exciting player, he currently doesn’t have a set position. With Francisco Lindor at shortstop, Acuña is projected to play either second base or the outfield.

Drew Gilbert, OF (No. 53)

Gilbert was the headlining piece of the Verlander trade last deadline for the Mets. He was a first-round draft pick by the Houston Astros in 2022 out of the University of Tennessee.

The St. Paul, Minnesota native started his season with Low-A Asheville before being promoted to Double-A Corpus Christie in May. In August he was traded to the Mets as part of the trade that sent right-handed pitcher Verlander back to the Astros for Gilbert and Clifford. Upon being traded he was assigned to Double-A Binghamton where he finished the season.

Between the three levels, Gilbert batted .289/.381/.487, with a .868 OPS. He hit for 26 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs, had 58 walks, drove in 59 RBIs, and stole 12 stolen bases. Gilbert is known for being able to put the ball in play and for his above-average speed on the basepaths.  His aggressiveness and strong arm also make him a strong right-fielder, which is a position the Mets could use him in.

The 23-year-old also impressed the Mets with his leadership qualities. He was a sparkplug for his teammates in Binghamton and helped the team reach the Eastern League Championship Series, where they lost to the Erie Seawolves.

Jett Williams, SS (No. 45)

Williams ranked the highest of all Mets prospects on MLB Pipeline’s Top-100 Prospects list.

Since being drafted, Williams has made a strong impression on Mets’ ownership. The 20-year-old split his first full professional season in 2023 between Low-A St. Lucie, and High-A Brooklyn, and ended his season with Double-A Binghamton in a breakout year for the young shortstop. Williams has moved fast through the Mets organization after being drafted in 2022 out of Rockwall-Heath High School in Texas.

Williams was impressive over three minor league levels. He slashed .263/.425/.451, with a .876 OPS, 22 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs, and 55 RBIs. Williams also walked 104 times, had 45 steals, and 81 runs scored. His 104 walks were the most in the Mets’ organization and ranked second among all minor leaguers.

Williams, who David Stearns has stated could make an impact at the big-league level in 2024, was named to the All-MiLB Prospect Second team in 2023 and was named the Mets’ 2023 MiLB.com organization all-star.