Ranking the Mets’ Catcher Prospects

The New York Mets enter the 2024 season with a brand new top-catching prospect for the first time since the 2017 season: the last season before they signed Francisco Álvarez. The Mets’ catching crop of prospects is headlined by recent international free agent signing Yovanny Rodriguez and 2021 first-round selection Kevin Parada.

In The Bigs

Francisco Álvarez, Omar Narvaéz

At the major league level, the Mets head into 2024 with their likely long-term catcher and a player who could be on the move. Francisco Álvarez will be the Mets starter for 2024 and beyond, and Omar Narváez. Narvaéz and Álvarez did the bulk of the catching for the 2023 Mets and figure to do so again in 2024.

While Narvaéz has come up in some trade rumors, first reported by Mike Puma of the New York Post, Narvaéz remains on the Mets roster, with pitchers and catchers reporting to Port St. Lucie, Florida, in just a handful of weeks. Álvarez figures to be the Mets starter next year and receive a strong share of the load while being backed up by Narvaéz.

Prospects On The Farm

No. 1 Yovanny Rodriguez

Age: 17
Height/Weight: 6’0″, 175 lbs
Acquired: 2024 International Free Agent Signing
2024 MMO Prospect Rank: N/A

Yovanny Rodriguez enters the Mets system as their most prized international free agent signing since Álvarez. Rodriguez received a franchise record $2.85 million bonus from the Mets.

Rodriguez, who hails from Venezuela, turned 17 last November, but has a chance to make an impact quickly for the Mets. Rodriguez is a strong defender behind the plate, with scouts applauding “his framing and footwork are advanced for his age and he shows plus arm-strength potential and great hands”, as said by MLB Pipeline.

Baseball America, when scouting Rodriguez, notes that the catcher possesses “soft hands and stellar quickness with a plus arm and an efficient release. That allows him to register pop times under 1.9 seconds in games on his best this with sharp accuracy.”

Rodriguez also possesses a strong bat that is contact-oriented and has tons of room for power growth. Baseball America noted that “his hitting ability stands out with a high contact rate from the right side of the plate and he flashes good power”, giving a glimpse into his offensive profile. Rodriguez has a smooth right-handed swing, one that generates strong lift on the ball.

His 175-pound frame might not generate a ton of power on the ball at this current moment, but Rodriguez should have no issue growing into a powerful frame. His potential to be a two-way catching sensation for the Mets makes Yovanny Rodriguez the best catching prospect in the Mets system.

Rodriguez could skip the Dominican Summer League, much like Álvarez did to begin his pro career and start in the Florida Complex League.

No. 2 Kevin Parada

Age: 22
Height/Weight: 5’11”, 197 lbs
Acquired: 2022 MLB Amateur Draft, 11th overall selection
2024 MMN Prospect Rank: 8th

Kevin Parada enters his second full season in the Mets system in 2024, but is coming off somewhat of a disappointing season. Parada spent considerable time on the injured list this year with an ankle sprain, posted under an OPS of .800 during his time in High-A Brooklyn, and then struggled mightily in his short stint with Double-A Binghamton, posting just a .611 OPS.

Parada, still a catcher with the Mets, might be nearing the end of his time behind the dish. The former Georgia Tech standout was roughed up by base runners in the 2023 season, allowing an astonishing 137 stolen bases between his time in Brooklyn, Binghamton, and his rehab stint in Low-A St. Lucie. Luckily for Parada, his athletic profile gives hope that he could smoothly transition to first base, or one of the corner outfields.

Parada’s offensive game struggled in 2023 as well. Overall, he posted a .248/.324/.428 (.752 OPS) slash line with 14 homers and 54 RBI. Parada had a small sample size in 2022 between the Florida Complex League and St. Lucie, but the first-year pro posted a .455 OBP. The only one of Parada’s offensive numbers that increased was his slugging percentage, which marginally raised from a mark of .425 to .428. Parada still has some question marks surrounding his swing, and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that until Parada’s swing holds the keys to his future.

Parada saw limited action in Double-A last year and should start the 2024 season back in Binghamton before potentially finishing in Triple-A Syracuse.

No. 3 Ronald Hernandez

Age: 20
Height/Weight: 5’11”, 155 lbs
Acquired: Trade in 2023 via Marlins (David Robertson)
2024 MMN Prospect Rank: 20th

Hernandez came to the Mets last year on July 28 that signaled they were ready to sell. Hernandez came from the Marlins with infielder Marco Vargas (No. 6 on MMO’s overall prospect list) in exchange for veteran reliever David Robertson.

The switch-hitting Hernandez was having a fantastic season (.915 OPS) with the Marlins Florida Complex League affiliate when he was traded, and he kept that going after joining the Mets organization. Hernandez hit .289/.509/.486 with four doubles, one home run, 11 RBIs, and more walks (15) than strikeouts (11) in 14 games with the FCL Mets.

Hernandez received a late-season promotion to the Low-A St. Lucie Mets, where he struggled a bit to the tune of a .575 OPS in eight games.

Overall, in 2023, Hernandez hit .274/.452/.423 with 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 44 RBIs, and had more walks (53) than strikeouts (50) in 53 games. Hernandez also got his first pro experience at first base, playing five games at the position between the Mets and Marlins farm systems.

Hernandez was originally signed as an international free agent by the Marlins when they gave him a $850K bonus. He’s a solid defender behind the plate who blocks, receives, and throws above average. Offensively, his clear strength is his knowledge of the strike zone, which has led to a career .390 on-base percentage.

Hernandez is likely to begin the 2024 season as the Opening Day catcher for the St. Lucie Mets.

No. 4 Daiverson Gutierrez

Age: 18
Height/Weight: 5′ 11″, 206 lbs
Acquired: 2023 International Free Agent
2024 MMN Prospect Rank: 61

Gutierrez had the highest signing bonus of any 2023 Mets international free agent signing at just south of $2 million, yet struggled to start his professional career. Gutierrez posted just a .565 OPS through 172 at-bats, and the 5’11”, 206 lb backstop hit just two homers.

Gutierrez will be 18 for the entire 2024 season, and still has plenty of time ahead of him to improve in-game, and if he can play to what the Mets believe he is capable of, Gutierrez will be in the conversation for the best catching prospect the Mets have.

Gutierrez figures to start the 2024 season in the Dominican Summer League again, but a hot start could push him through to the Florida State League before year’s end.

No. 5 Julio Zayas

Age: 17
Height/Weight: 5′ 11″, 190 lbs
Acquired: 2023 international free agent signing
2024 MMN Prospect Rank: N/A

Zayas, a 2023 international free agent signing, posted a .885 OPS in his first season as a professional. Zayas spent all of 2023 in the Dominican Summer League, posting a .885 OPS with seven homers. Zayas, 17, had arguably the most productive campaign of any 2023 Mets international free agent signing, including the top 2023 IFA bonus listed above. Zayas, who weighs in at 190 pounds, put up good power numbers considering his age and size. Zayas churned out 22 extra-base hits, seven of which were his aforementioned homers.

Zayas has faired well behind the dish and projects to have a chance to be able to stay at catcher long-term, which is always a boost to a prospect in a premier defensive position. His defensive abilities do not stop at catching, though. Zayas also logged 84 2/3 innings at third base and 39 at first base.

Zayas should start the year with the Florida State League after his strong campaign in the Dominican Summer League. Zayas, if he produces similar results, could see his way to Port St. Lucie to receive some run with the Low-A squad.

Honorable Mention: Christopher Suero

Age: 19
Height/Weight: 5′ 10″/205
Acquired: 2022 International Free Agent
2024 MMN Prospect Rank: NR

Suero, a Bronx, New York native, turned in a strong 2023 campaign after struggling in his first year as a professional in 2022. Suero only appeared in 22 games, but posted a line of .281/.422/.469, which came out to an OPS of .891 with three homers. Suero put up a .692 OPS in 2022, so a stronger 2023 boosted his stock enough to wind up on the back end of this list.

Suero could make a push to start with the Low-A St. Lucie Mets with a strong spring camp. He played 22 games in Port St. Lucie with the Florida Complex League last year.