Ronny Mauricio. Photo by James Farrance
One of the biggest questions over the past couple of seasons has surrounded the plethora top prospects the New York Mets have and when they would get their time to shine. So far, both Francisco Álvarez and Brett Baty have had their moments during the year and Mark Vientos is always lingering in the back of people’s minds. The next burgeoning top prospect, Ronny Mauricio, has been a hot topic ever since he transformed from a scrawny 166-pound prospect to a 222-pound home run hitting machine.
Through 79 games, he’s slashing .303/.348/.518 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. He is also enduring another scorching stretch as he has back-to-back games with a home run. Given this, it doesn’t appear he will be stopping anytime soon.
As his counterparts got their promotions, the constant question now is just when Mauricio will get his crack at the big-league lineup. There’s a slew of scenarios where his call up is imminent and others where it is far, far away. The question in baseball is about finding the perfect time, so, let’s find the perfect time when Mauricio might get the call of a lifetime.
Post-Deadline Fire Sale
Our first scenario is in the event the Mets can’t climb their way up the Wild Card ladder and find themselves as sellers on August 1. With guys like Tommy Pham, David Robertson, Mark Canha and even Max Scherzer along with a slew of other names on the chopping block, a fire sale is possible.
In the event of this, positions open and Buck Showalter can rearrange his infield and outfield, potentially slotting Jeff McNeil in left field and Mauricio at second base. While a fire sale isn’t the ideal scenario, it creates a ton of playing time for young Mauricio with lower stakes. Also, with a set defense and minimal shuffling, players can grow more comfortable in their roles, something that can benefit Mauricio, a natural shortstop.
A September Call-Up
MLB rosters expand on September 1, and just like Álvarez and Vientos last year, Mauricio can be promoted during this time as well. Whether the Mets are still in it or not, many teams historically have called up top prospects during this time to give them a shot. If they are still in it, Mauricio could be that extra spark needed in the lineup to set the Mets over the edge, regardless of what they do during the trade deadline.
While this option seems less likely, primarily because Mets’ top brass have noted they prefer to have an open spot for Mauricio where he can play every day, it’s still a possibility. The goal is to see what Mauricio can contribute to this team and if they call him up in September, they will find ways of getting him into the lineup.
There’s Always Next Year
Many fans won’t like the sound of this one, but there’s also the chance Mauricio doesn’t see Citi Field until 2024. A main issue with the Mets’ roster construction this year has been that players have been batting in a variety of spots and playing all over the field. Perhaps after the season is over, and owner Steve Cohen can round out his front office, only then can he take stock of everything he’s working with both on and off the field. He can see how certain players factor into the future moving forward, which might benefit Mauricio in the long run as consistent playing time is the key in the majors to success.
Regardless of when Mauricio finally makes his big-league debut in Queens, he is bound to make an impact on both the Mets and the fans.
