Ronny Mauricio. Photo via Ed Delany, MMO

Even though the New York Mets lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida, on Monday, their minor leaguers ended up providing power in the top of the ninth inning against Cardinals right-hander Tommy Parsons.

It began when William Lugo hit a deep solo home run to center for his first homer of the spring. It was a tape measure shot that ended up going 437 feet and had an exit velocity of 102.5 miles per hour.

Lugo may not be a star prospect in the Mets system, but the 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic is coming off of a solid 2022 season. In 112 games with Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn, Lugo had a slash line of .263/.347/.432 with 25 doubles, 14 home runs, 63 RBIs, and a .779 OPS. It ended up leading to him being named a Florida State League All-Star by MILB.com.

Last year, Lugo earned a promotion to Brooklyn on August 8 and hit four home runs in 28 games. His highlight game came on August 26 against Jersey Shore when he went 4-for-6 with a home run and he drove in four runs in an 18-1 blowout win.

In the early stages of his career, Lugo has shown the ability to play at the corner infield positions in addition to shortstop. Defensive versatility always helps a young player in his progression.

After Baty hit a single to left in the following at-bat, Ronny Mauricio hit his second home run in as many days with a two-run home run to right-center on a changeup. It was another laser that had an exit velocity of 108.6 miles per hour and went an estimated 413 feet.

Yes, it is only five at-bats this spring, but Mauricio is continuing his momentum from the winter when he was named the MVP of the Dominican Winter League. Power has become a key tool for Mauricio, as evidence by the 46 combined home runs he has hit over the last two years.

For now, manager Buck Showalter told the media after Monday’s game that he has been more impressed with the improvements Mauricio has shown with the glove:

“It’s about defense with young players for me. He did well over there. He’s a better defender now than he was last year when he was here. His work habits, the pace to his game. There is a certain fluidity that he is gaining. He’s got a chance to be a good one.”

Mauricio after the game also told the New York Post he wants “to be on the big leagues on this team.”

Through four spring training games, the Mets have five home runs and four of them have come from players in their farm system. That is never a bad problem to have especially when you look at three of the four Mets’ major affiliates a year ago finished ninth or worst in their respective leagues in home runs (St. Lucie led the FSL with 132).

All in all, even in a spring training loss, Mauricio and Lugo gave Mets fans something to watch in the present and have made themselves maybe players to watch at the higher levels of the system in 2023.