Kevin Parada. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

As promised, I will update my top 35 prospects list every month this year, starting with this first update in May. I talked to folks in the Mets organization and scouts from other organizations and dug into the data available for each player to make these updates. Francisco Álvarez and Brett Baty have graduated from prospect status.

Here is my list of the Mets top 35 prospects right now with previous ranking in parentheses:

  1. C Kevin Parada (3) – High-A Brooklyn Cyclones
  2. SS/2B Ronny Mauricio (4) – Triple-A Syracuse Mets
  3. SS/CF Jett Williams (5) – Low-A St. Lucie Mets
  4. CF Alex Ramírez (6) – High-A Brooklyn Cyclones
  5. 1B/3B Mark Vientos (8) – MLB Mets
  6. RHP Mike Vasil (9) – Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies
  7. RHP Blade Tidwell (7) – High-A Brooklyn Cyclones
  8. RHP Dominic Hamel (10) – Double-A Binghamton
  9. SS Jesus Báez (12) – Extended Spring
  10. RHP José Butto (11) – Triple-A Syracuse
  11. 3B/1B Jacob Reimer (14) – Low-A St. Lucie
  12. OF Stanley Consuegra (16) – High-A Brooklyn
  13. RHP Calvin Ziegler (13) – Injured List
  14. SS Dangelo Sarmiento (16) – Extended
  15. RHP Jawilme Ramirez (27) – Low-A St. Lucie
  16. RHRP Grant Hartwig (19) – Triple-A Syracuse
  17. RHP Layonel Ovalles (15) – Low-A St. Lucie
  18. RHP Joel Díaz (20) – Injured List
  19. INF William Lugo – High-A Brooklyn
  20. OF Willy Fañas (21) – Extended
  21. OF Matt Rudick (NR) – Double-A Binghamton
  22. OF Simón Juan (23) – Extended
  23. LHRP Nathan Lavender (NR) – Triple-A Syracuse
  24. RHP Tyler Stuart (NR) – High-A Brooklyn
  25. INF José Peroza (NR) – Double-A Binghamton
  26. RHP Dedniel Núñez (26) – Triple-A Syracuse
  27. C Daiverson Gutierrez (NR) – DSL
  28. RHP Christian Scott (NR) – High-A Brooklyn
  29. RHP Douglas Orellana (29) – Low-A St. Lucie
  30. OF Lorenzo Cedrola (NR) – Triple-A
  31. LHP Felipe De La Cruz (28) – Low-A St. Lucie
  32. INF Junior Tilien (31) – Low-A St. Lucie
  33. LHRP Josh Walker (NR) – Triple-A
  34. SS Cristopher Larez (NR) – DSL
  35. OF Wilfredo Lara (NR) – Low-A St. Lucie

Dropped Off The List

Outfield prospect Nick Morabito slips the most spots from my first list of the year, falling from 17th to out of the top 35. The second round comp pick from 2022 has yet to play in a game this season, but the reports from Mets camp have not been good. LHP Javier Atencio (24th), Eric Orze (26th), RHP Raimon Gómez (30th), RHP Junior Santos (32nd), 1B/OF JT Schwartz (33rd), C Vincent Perozo (34th), and OF Brandon McIlwain (35th) have also dropped out of the top 35 for me.

Right-hander Matt Allan remains off the list as he’s out for the 2023 season following another arm surgery. He hasn’t pitched in a pro game since 2019.

Matt Rudick, Photo by Rick Nelson

New to The List 

The highest-rated player in my new top 35 that went previously unranked is outfield Matt Rudick at No. 21. The 24-year-old has been one of the best hitters in the Double-A Eastern League with a .328/.468/.582 slash line. He has 10 doubles, seven home runs, 24 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. This season, the 5’6” left-handed hitter has more walks (28) than strikeouts (23).

Next up is lefty reliever Nathan Lavender at No. 23. After pitching well in major league camp this spring, Lavender has a 1.65 ERA and a whopping 27 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings this season. The 2021 14th-round pick has given up only seven hits this year despite using a fastball in the low-90s.

Right-handed starter Tyler Stuart (24th) and infielder José Peroza (25th) entered the top 35 with great starts to the 2023 season. The 23-year-old Stuart has a 1.13 ERA in seven starts for Brooklyn, and the 22-year-old Peroza has a .905 OPS in Double-A Binghamton.

Entering list is also C Daiverson Gutierrez (27th), RHP Christian Scott (28th), OF Lorenzo Cedrola (30thth), LHP Josh Walker (33rd), SS Cristopher Larez (34th), and OF Wilfredo Lara (35th).

Bullpen Arms to Watch

Starting pitching has not been a strong point in the Mets’ minor league (or major leagues) system to this point, but they’ve had multiple bullpen arms stand out to start the season. Left-hander Daniel Juarez has not allowed a run in 15 2/3 innings this season and hasn’t given up a run since June 22nd of last season. Opponents have struck out 24 times against the lefty and have only five hits this year.

  • RHP Brendan Hardy – Only 4 1/3 so far coming off injury, but nine strikeouts and had a 2.79 ERA last year.
  • RHP Trey McLoughlin – Striking out 37.9% of the batter’s he’s facing in Brooklyn.
  • RHP Paul Gervase – Second in Mets minor league with 0.52 ERA, currently pitching for Brooklyn.
  • RHP Manny Rodríguez & LHP Quinn Brodey – Both players are experiencing their first seasons as pitchers after converting from position players. Rodríguez has a 2.66 ERA and Brodey’s is 3.00, both for High-A Brooklyn.
  • RHP Wilkin Ramos – The 22-year-old has a 1.83 ERA for Brooklyn and second in Mets minor leagues with a 61.7 ground ball rate.

Quick Overview

Obviously, the farm system takes a hit when guys like Baty and Álvarez graduate from these lists, but both are playing key roles at the major league level right now. Unfortunately for the Mets, they’ve seen many of their younger players in the system struggle to start the 2023 season and have also seen a fair amount of injuries to arms with potential.

Along with Baty and Álvarez, Vientos and Mauricio have performed well at the top of the Mets system. On the pitching side, Vasil has become the Mets top pitching prospect in my opinion. He’s been great this season with a 3.29 ERA, striking out 30.8% of batters and walking only 3.8%. Those numbers were even better before his most recent start, in which he left with minor back pain that had his velocity down throughout the outing.

The Mets will hope their group of international free-agent signings from this year and other young players get off to strong starts when the Florida Complex League and the Dominican Summer League start on June 5.