Drew Gilbert. Photo Credit: James Farrance

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (15-17) 8,  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (15-16) 2

BOX SCORE

• RF Rafael Ortega–  1-for-1, HR, 3 RBI (.716 OPS)
• CF Drew Gilbert – 2-for-2, HR (.851 OPS)
• SS Donovan Walton – 1-for-5, HR (.943 OPS)

Rafael Ortega, Drew Gilbert, and Donovan Walton all hit homers in an 8-2 win vs the Railriders. Gilberto Celestino and Jackson Reetz hit RBI singles to cap off a well-rounded offensive performance that powered the team to victory.

• RHP TJ Shook3.0 IP, 1 H, 4 K, 1 BB (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Cameron Foster 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K (6.43 ERA)

TJ Shook and Cameron Foster were brilliant, combining for six scoreless innings and seven strikeouts. Luis Moreno and Grant Hartwig closed out the game with a dominant display on the mound, combining for two scoreless innings to secure the win.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (14-10), Erie Seawolves (16-9) PPD

The Rumble Ponies’ match against the Seawolves was postponed due to inclement weather and will be made up via a doubleheader on Sunday.

Jonathan Santucci, Photo by Cape Cod Times

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (16-9) 5, Wilmington Blue Rocks (9-17) 8

BOX SCORE

• CF Eli Seranno– 1-for 4, HR, RBI (.863 OPS)
• 3B Jacob Reimer – 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI (1.018 OPS)
• LF Chris Suero– 1-for-3, RBI (.945 OPS)

Jacob Reimer and Eli Serrano both doubled in an effort to rally back, but it wasn’t enough as Brooklyn fell to Wilmington. Both Seranno and Reimer continued their excellent starts to the season. Reimer and his 1.018 OPS are making a strong case for a promotion in the near future.

• LHP Jonathan Santucci 4.1 IP, 2 ER,  4 H,  3 K, 2 BB (7.71 ERA)
• RHP Saul Garcia 1.1 IP, 1 H, 4 K, 2 BB (0.00 ERA)
• RHP JustinLawson  2,0 IP, 1 H, 2 K (1.35 ERA)

Jonathan Santucci showed signs of improvement, allowing two runs over 4 1/3 innings while striking out three and walking two. Saul Garcia struck out four over 1 1/3 innings pitched and is yet to allow a run this season.

Nate Dohm, photo via Mississippi State Athletics

Low-A

St Lucie Mets (15-11) 9, Jupiter Hammerheads (12-14) 2

BOX SCORE

• 3B Yonaton Henriquez 2-for-4, 2 HR , 2 RBI (.603 OPS)
• SS Colin Houck3-for-5 (.716 OPS)
• 1B Vincent Perozo– 2-for 4, RBI (.836 OPS)

Yonatan Hernriquez smacked his first two homers of the season, as the St Lucie Mets thrashed the Hammerheads. Colin Houck tallied three hits and is starting to pick up the pace in May, as he already has five hits.

• RHP Nate Dohm  5.1 IP, 4 H, 6 K, 2 BB (2.22 ERA)
• RHP Irving Cota2.2 IP,  1 K, 1 BB (0.50 ERA)

Irving Cota and the bullpen backed Dohm up, combining for 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Coda has only allowed one earned run to this point and could be in line for a promotion to Brooklyn soon enough.

Florida Complex League

FCL Cardinals (1-0) 9, FCL Mets (0-1) 2

BOX SCORE

• DH Julio Zayas 1-for-3 , 2B, RBI (1.167 OPS)
• SS Bohan Adderley 2-for-4 (1.000 OPS)

The FCL Mets fell to the FCL Cardinals to open their season. The offense failed to generate much momentum aside from a Julio Zayas double. Bohan Adderly started strong out of the gate, collecting two hits.

• RHP Jose Guevara  2.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 5 K, 1 BB (15.43 ERA)
• RHP Jonathan Jimenez 1.0 IP,  2 K (0.00 ERA)

Jose Guevara struggled in his season debut against the Cardinals, surrendering four earned runs over just 2 1/3 innings of work. Jonathan Jimenez impressed in his first relief appearance, striking out two batters in a clean inning of work.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Gilbert, Dohm Continue to Excel appeared first on Metsmerized.

The start of the Major League Baseball regular season is just around the corner, which means the New York Mets will be starting their long trek toward the playoffs once again. With various new additions, highlighted by superstar Juan Soto, the National League East member will look to get back to the NL Championship Series, and possibly beyond it.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

For that to happen, New York’s middle infield needs to be very productive in 2025. Outside of superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor, the Mets will need contributions from a variety of players at second base and in the utility infield spots. That could mean significant playing time for Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña, or even one of the top players in their farm system.

What should we expect in the coming year of New York Mets baseball at second base and shortstop? And who are set to be the main contributors? Follow along as we continue the positional outlook series for the 2025 season

Big-League Starters

Francisco Lindor

Age: 31

Contract: 10 yr, $341M (free agent after 2031)

Roster status: 40-man roster

2025 Preview: When it comes to shortstop Francisco Lindor, the first words that come to mind are superstar and face of the franchise.

Lindor does it all for the Mets in every facet of the game. In 2024, he racked up 33 home runs, an OPS of .844, a wRC+ of 137, and a 7.8 WAR. He stole 29 bases, had 169 hits, increased his hard-hit percentage to 47.4%, and had 16 OAA(outs above average.) Lindor was also in the top 20 of some Statcast bat speed metrics, registering 156 blasts (swings with a high bat speed that are squared up) and 1,116 competitive swings.

Finishing second in the NL MVP vote to the LA Unicorn that is Shohei Ohtani, it may be hard for Lindor to fully replicate what was arguably the best season of an already special career. But with Juan Soto in the mix, Pete Alonzo back on the roster, and the continued development of Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos, Lindor will have plenty of protection. As a result, the superstar should be in store for another great 2025 season.

Jeff McNeil

Age: 32

Contract: 4 yr, $50M w/club option (free agent after 2026 or 2027)

Roster status: TBD, Injury

2025 Preview: Things looked semi-clear at second base, but now are very foggy heading into the season.

On March 13th, New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced that second baseman Jeff McNeil is dealing with a low-grade oblique starina and would be out 3-to-4 weeks. McNeil was the presumed starter at the position, despite young players like Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña knocking on the doorstep of the starting role.

However, McNeil’s spot was for good reason. Despite his lackluster start to the year, the veteran infielder turned it on late as the Mets stormed toward the postseason. He hit just under .290 in the second half of the year while also producing a wRC+ of 156.

Once healthy, McNeil has the potential to provide steady hitting and solid fielding to New York’s infield. He has utility potential, but until one of the team’s young players breaks out, the Flying Squirrel is the safest option at second base.

Brett Baty

Age: 25

Contract: Pre-arbitration(1.088 years of service time)

Roster status: 40-man roster

2025 Preview: Well, this one is very interesting, to say the least.

In the wake of Jeff McNeil’s injury, there are two likely options for the Mets’ opening day starter at second base: Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña. Both players were two of the better prospects in the team’s minor league system; however, Baty was seen as a potential cornerstone player for the Mets at the next level. Acuña was seen more as a high-floor fielder/baserunner with room to grow as a hitter.

You could easily flip a coin on who should get the first shot between the two players, but the winds seem to be pointing toward Baty winning the initial job. The former first-round pick has played there in the minor leagues and has consistently gotten reps at the position this spring. He has also been scorching the ball at the plate, whether you want to point to the .655 slugging percentage or the .379 batting average.

However, Baty has shown fundamental flaws as a hitter at the major league level. In his short time at the next level, he has accumulated a 26.4 strikeout percentage, a .325 slugging percentage, and a measly 72 wRC+. This stems from an approach where he rarely puts the ball in the air and cannot make hard contact, usually hitting grounders or the occasional fly ball when he is not striking out.

For Baty to reverse his course and solidify his spot on the roster, he must show plenty of improvement with his approach and swing. Baty has the potential to be a very good hitter, and to hold off a large amount of young talent behind him, the former top prospect needs to rediscover that form.

Big-League Depth

Luisangel Acuña

Age: 23

Contract: Pre-arbitration(0.016 years of service time)

Roster status: 40-man roster

2025 Preview: If Brett Baty falters, Acuña is next in line for the starting second base role.

The younger brother of Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr., Luisangel is a great asset for the Mets, even if he is not an immediate starter. With upper-level fielding ability and enough speed to make an impact on games, it is a borderline certainty that New York will be deploying the second baseman as a “spark plug” of sorts.

Acuña has also shown some development as a hitter; in winter league action, he registered a .914 OPS with three home runs, five doubles, and a triple. He also stole 17 bases in 30 games.

There are plenty of outcomes that the dynamic second basemen could have in 2025, but he is certain to be impacting the Mets’ season regardless of whether he breaks out or plays to his floor.

Upper-Level Depth

Donovan Walton

Age: 30

Contract: Minor league

Roster status: Not on the 40-man roster

2025 Preview: Walton was signed by the Mets on November 15, 2024. He has not had too much success at the major league level, with a career-best 71 wRC+ coming back in 2021 in 24 games.

However, Walton posted a 303/.377/.438 over 99 games in the minors in 2024. He also posted a .821 OPS and hit seven home runs across this stretch of time.

With adequate fielding and possibly some hitting potential, Walton could be one of the first reserves to come off the bench for the Mets at the start of the 2025 season.

Wyatt Young

Age: 25

Contract: Minor league

Roster status: Not on the 40-man roster

2025 Preview: Young has not been discussed too much this spring, but he could be one of the first middle infielders called upon as a depth piece in 2025.

Across 118 games in AA and AAA last season, Young posted a +wRC of 120. He also had a batting average of .287,  12 doubles, four home runs, and 17 stolen bases.

Young does not have great size or weight to have much of a power profile at the next level. However, he possesses good speed, a nice bat-to-ball skill, and relatively average fielding. In a pinch in 2025, New York could call on Young as a defender or base runner to get something going for their team.

Future! (Coming Soon?)

Jett Williams

Age: 21

Contract: Minor league

Roster status: Not on the 40-man roster

2025 Preview: One of the top prospects in the entire Mets’ farm system has a big 2025 season ahead of him.

After a wrist injury derailed most of  2024, Williams will now get a chance to pick up where he left off at the end of last season. The dynamic infielder/outfielder will likely start at AAA, where he posted a .364 average and .545 slugging percentage in six games. The hitter-friendly league should allow him to show off his power potential, speed, and overall athleticism as a player.

Whether it is due to service time, the presence of Baty/Acuña, or both, I do not see Williams arriving until the summer if he remains in the infield. But with how talented he is and the potential impact he could bring to the roster, New York could be getting a much earlier arrival from one of its best young prospects, even if it is not as an infielder.

Ronny Mauricio

Age: 23

Contract: Pre-arbitration

Roster status: On 40-man roster

2025 Preview: In a much different way than Williams, the 2025 season is very important for Mauricio.

The shortstop prospect has excellent fielding, power, speed, and overall hitting potential. However, there are flaws to his game that take away from the impact he can make.

Mauricio, in his 101 MLB at-bats in 2023, struck out 31 times. He did have two home runs and four doubles, but the toolsy infielder still had an OBP below .300.

To truly impact the Mets this season, Mauricio will first need to show that he is progressing in recovering from his knee injury. Once he does that, he must improve his base of amazing tools. Can he limit the strikeouts and raise the walk rate? Can he get more balls in the air to fully utilize his power potential? Can he refine his approach to not be susceptible to chasing pitches and learn to hunt the ones he can do damage with?

In terms of raw potential, Mauricio has some of the biggest in the entire farm system. But for him to capitalize on it in the best way possible, he needs to take some major steps forward in 2025.

The post Mets 2025 Positional Outlook: Middle Infield appeared first on Metsmerized.

In his absence, the Mets appear likely to choose from a host of internal options at the position while McNeil is on the mend.

Brett Baty

Brett Baty has regularly been in the conversation for an everyday job over the past couple of years, and once again, he’s proving he deserves a look at the very least. He’s hitting .379/.455/1.110 this spring, and he had a solid (as always) .252/.349/.504 line with Triple-A Syracuse last year. He’s making better contact and getting the ball in the air, something we haven’t seen much of in the past. With a beautiful left-handed swing, his increased lift is a promising sign for his development.

The unfortunate thing for the 25-year-old is that his minor league success has yet to translate into major league production. He hasn’t performed well enough to secure a place on a 26-man roster, let alone a starting job. He was in Queens from the start of 2024 (and up by mid-April in 2023), but in both seasons, he lost his spot after underwhelming performances. Altogether, Baty owns a .215/.282/.325 line in his career. Over his career, he’s also posted -0.7 bWAR.

One thing to look out for with Baty is how his positional flexibility could potentially factor into his game given that he’s been playing second base a lot in spring. While it’s still early, this flexibility could factor into his role, providing more options for the team depending on the squad’s needs or matchups. Unfortunately, Baty has already committed two errors at second, which doesn’t help his case for earning more reps at the position.

Even with some significant struggles at the major league level, Baty is still a former top prospect. He’s been working hard in spring training, and it’s evident in his performance – he’s looked great at the plate.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Luisangel Acuña

The Mets acquired Luisangel Acuña from the Texas Rangers in a trade for Max Scherzer at the 2023 deadline.

Acuña saw some playing time late in 2024 when Francisco Lindor fell victim to a back injury. He made the most of his opportunity, hitting .308 with three home runs in 40 plate appearances. He then made the team’s postseason roster, where he served as a late-game substitution for Mark Vientos.

Whereas Baty has excelled in the minors but struggled in the majors, Acuña has been the opposite. In Triple-A Syracuse, he hit .258/.299/.355 despite playing in a hitter-friendly environment. His approach at the plate was a concern, as he struggled with plate discipline and frequently chased pitches outside the strike zone. Acuña’s exit velocity numbers in Syracuse were also average at best.

Acuña does possesses a strong glove and elite speed, however. His sprint speed ranked in the 95th percentile last year, and he can play both second base and shortstop at an above-average level, which is key for handling a full nine innings at a position – something that may not be as feasible for someone like Baty at second. Acuña also is a reliable backup option for Lindor whenever the superstar needs a break, which is a rarity.

We have not seen enough of Acuña in the majors to say for sure that he can hold a regular role, but a .966 OPS in the major leagues is not purely luck. He made a lot of quality contact – something that was lacking in the minors. His offensive profile leans toward average power with strong bat-to-ball skills. The key moving forward is whether he can cut down on the chasing issues he had in Triple-A while maintaining the hard contact he showed in the majors.

Donovan Walton

Donovan Walton was originally drafted by the Mets in 2012 but didn’t sign. After being selected by the Mariners out of college in 2016, he developed into a solid minor leaguer but never found sustained success in the majors. He earned a brief stint with the Giants last year after posting a strong .306/.380/.441 slash line in Triple-A.

In the minors, the 30-year-old is considered a disciplined hitter with good contact skills. He can play both middle infield positions and is reliable defensively as well.

Notably, Walton is out of minor league options, meaning the Mets can’t send him down to Triple-A without first exposing him to waivers.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Luis De Los Santos

In addition to Walton, the Mets have Luis De Los Santos, a 26-year-old infielder. De Los Santos struggled in limited major league action last year, hitting .172/.226/.241 in 31 plate appearances with the Toronto Blue Jays before being placed on waivers. After spending nine years in Toronto’s system, the Mets claimed and immediately out-righted him, meaning he is not currently on the 40-man roster.

De Los Santos was a productive bat in the minors last year, slashing .260/.375/.441 in Triple-A Buffalo. He offers versatility, as he’s capable of playing first base, second base, shortstop and left field.

If he doesn’t crack the Opening Day roster, he’ll start in the minors and try to turn his strong play into an eventual spot in the big leagues.

Final Verdict

Two of Baty, Acuña, Walton and De Los Santos will make the Opening Day roster, and one of them will have their name in the starting lineup.

Given Baty’s shortcomings at second, it seems unlikely he’ll win the starting role at the position, but his offensive upside makes him the best option as the bench guy.

Walton has hit just .174 and De Los Santos .172 in the majors. If the Mets see untapped potential in either, perhaps they could make the active roster. But neither has shown they’re anywhere near major league-caliber players in the past – though, of course, the past isn’t always reflective of the present.

Acuña may not be a perfect fit either and could use additional time in the minors, though at least he offers high upside. It does seem as if Acuña is the best overall player among the remaining candidates. That’s really not ideal, but duty calls.

Ultimately, Baty and Acuña will be the ones making the roster, though that feels more like a temporary fix than a perfect fit.

Bonus: Ronny Mauricio

Ronny Mauricio is still rehabbing from a torn ACL and isn’t healthy enough to break camp with the Mets – the hope is that he’s somewhat close to being featured in competitive games. However, he has the raw skills to steal a spot from one of these guys later this season. Watch out for him if he’s healthy.

The post Mets’ Top Second Base Options After McNeil’s Injury appeared first on Metsmerized.

The 29-year-old right-hander looked sharp in his second spring outing, catching Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez looking for strikeouts and shutting down the Astros for four innings Tuesday in a 7-4 loss in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Donovan Walton hit a grand slam for New York (7-9-2) to break a scoreless tie in the seventh. The Astros countered with five runs in the bottom of the inning, pummeling Jose Urena, who gave up an RBI single to Luis Guillorme and two-run doubles to Altuve and Brendan Rodgers. Urena recorded just one out.

Megill, Canning (3.2 scoreless Monday, five Ks) and Paul Blackburn are competing for the last two spots in the rotation, should the Mets open the year with a five-man rotation. Megill gave up two hits, walked one, rung up five strikeouts and talked to SNY after the game.

“Consistency, that’s always been my downfall,”  he told the network, “and being able to string together continual good starts after good starts.”

“I’ll have stints of good starts and then I’ll been in the ruts where I have three, four bad starts and then come back, throw few good starts. As long as I can stay consistent I think the outcome’s going to be very very good.”

Max Kranick continued his dominant spring, striking out two in a scoreless inning. He has thrown eight scoreless innings in Grapefuit League play with 10 strikeouts and no walks. Sean Reid-Foley gave up two runs on three hits in one inning.

Luisangel Acuña (2-for-3, run) doubled into the right field corner to lead off the game, but was doubled off third base when Tyrone Taylor lined out to short with the infield in. Brett Baty was 1-for-3 with a run and a stolen base and is hitting .370/.433/.667. Alexander Canario was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored and made a sliding catch in right field.

Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters before the game that Brandon Nimmo (sore right knee) will go through baseball activities today and Wednesday and Starling Marte (bone bruise, right knee) will hopefully be in the lineup at DH on Wednesday.

Player of the Game

Megill did everything he could to impress Mendoza. It will be interesting to see who makes the rotation and the roster and MMO’s Patrick Glynn took a stab at that today.

On Deck

The Mets play the Cardinals Wednesday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., at 1:05 p.m. ET. Miles Mikolas (0-0, 4.15 ERA, 4 Ks) starts for St. Louis. The Mets starter is TBD.

The post Tylor Megill Fires Four Scoreless in 7-4 Loss to Astros appeared first on Metsmerized.

In November, the Mets brought in Donovan Walton to fill that vacancy. The Mets drafted Walton in 2012, but he did not sign with the team. Instead, he enrolled at Oklahoma and was drafted in 2015 by the Brewers, but still did not sign. In 2016, the Mariners won the Walton sweepstakes, drafting him in the fifth round.

Donovan Walton. Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Walton was never a highly touted prospect, generally landing around number 23 or 24 on the Mariners prospect lists on MLB Pipeline after being drafted (a good 10+ spots behind Daniel Vogelbach, who was also kicking around on the Mariners list then). His write-up then noted how his “instinct and consistency” made up for “his lack of tools“. In 2017, they expected his debut to happen in 2020 (he debuted in 2019) and that he would become a utility player.

Walton had a few cups of coffee with the Mariners and Giants between 2019 and 2024, totaling 70 games. He hit .174/.227/.305 with a 49 OPS+ in that span. He’s coming off a successful 2024 minor league campaign where he hit .306/.380/.441 (.821 OPS) over 99 games played.

It was tough to see a path for Walton to make the big league team entering spring. The Mets had Nick Madrigal as their super utility player. Behind him was Brett Baty (.438 BA, seven hits, two homers this spring) and Luisangel Acuña (.200 BA, two hits, two stolen bases this spring). However, Madrigal’s season-ending injury moves everyone up the depth chart, including Donovan Walton.

Walton is 2-for-11 over four spring training games with a double and one strikeout. If he can hit closer to what he did with the Giants Triple-A squad, then we’ll probably see him with the major league team at some point this season.

The post 2025 NRI Preview: Donovan Walton, INF appeared first on Metsmerized.

However, the biggest roster competition intrigue has centered around the final utility spot.

Nick Madrigal now requires surgery and is expected to miss the entire 2025 season. Therefore, that has opened up the field for a number of different names. The in-house competition for that final and all-so important utility role is now really starting to intensify.

To that end, let’s attempt to breakdown each contender.

Brett Baty. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Brett Baty

Although still very early, it sure seems like the utility job is Brett Baty‘s to lose at this point. The infielder has come out swinging to start spring training. Through four games, Baty is hitting .538/.571/1.077 with two home runs, one double, and three RBIs to go along with a 1.648 OPS.

It has been encouraging to see Baty play with so much fire in his belly after a tough couple of years in the majors. The third baseman got off to a sluggish start in 2024, eventually losing his job at the hot corner to Mark Vientos. After being sent down to the minor leagues, Baty never returned and his status seemed uncertain heading into camp this year.

However, if he can build on this hot start and continue to rake, then a more productive year in The Show could be on the horizon. Also helping Baty’s case is the fact that he has taken reps at third and second base, as well as at shortstop so far in camp. That versatility could give him a deciding edge in the fight for that final roster spot.

Luisangel Acuña. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Luisangel Acuña

The younger brother of Braves star Ronald, Luisangel Acuña was a September call-up that paid rich dividends for the Mets. The prospect with a high ceiling produced a .966 OPS with three homers and six RBIs in 14 games. Those exploits helped the Mets make a remarkable late surge for a playoff spot. Acuña has built on that with some encouraging moments so far in camp. He also made a first appearance at third base earlier this week.

Acuña certainly has the versatility, range, talent and pop needed to stick around and win the backup infield job. However, there is also a compelling argument to be made that the 22-year-old would be better off starting the year at Triple-A. After all, he wasn’t great offensively for Triple-A Syracuse last year. He posted a .654 OPS in 131 games. Plus, you could also argue that not playing every day could stunt Acuña’s development. Therefore, allowing him to further hone his craft in the minor leagues to at least start 2025 could be the better option.

Donovan Walton. Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Donovan Walton

Appearing on MLB Network, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza singled out three players to watch in the battle for the utility infield job. Baty and Acuña were two of the names. Donovan Walton was the third. The 30-year-old would probably be more suited for a backup job because he’s not likely going to develop any further.

Walton also ticks a number of other boxes. He has more major league experience than most of his competitors for the job. And he’s comfortable at second base and at shortstop. That’s crucial because a backup utility player who can play shortstop would mean Francisco Lindor could get some rest here and there. Furthermore, Walton is a lefty bat and the Mets do need a left-handed hitter option on the bench.

Jared Young

Another name to watch in this battle could be Jared Young. Granted, the 29-year-old isn’t a great fit for the role given that he’s more of a corner outfielder and doesn’t play shortstop. However, with that said, Young is a lefty bat who is incredibly versatile. He’s logged a lot of work at second and third base. And he’s most comfortable at first and in one of the corner outfield spots.

Young is probably on the outside looking in as it pertains to this particular race. However, his ability to play a number of positions could give him a fighting chance the deeper we get into spring.

Ronny Mauricio, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Ronny Mauricio

The talented infielder won’t take part in a Grapefruit League game until near the end of the month. Therefore, he probably wouldn’t be ready for Opening Day. However, if Ronny Mauricio can get fully healthy, there’s no doubt he could be a factor later on in the year.

The former top prospect possesses a lot of pop and he can destroy the hell out of a baseball. He’s also athletic and could make an impact in a number of different ways. There is no doubt that Mauricio still has a high ceiling, and his skillset is incredibly unique.

If whoever ends up winning the backup infielder job begins to struggle, that could open the door for a Mauricio call-up later in the summer. It is certainly a development worth keeping an eye on.

Final Thoughts

There is still a lot of spring training baseball to be played, and a lot can change in just a few days this time of year. However, if Baty continues on his current trajectory, he should win the final utility roster spot. He has a lot of upside, he’s a solid defender and he can rake. If his strong start in camp can be stretched out, I would hedge my bets with Baty.

If Baty cools off and starts to struggle, though, Walton would arguably make the most sense for the backup infield job. He can play a number of positions, including shortstop, and he would give the Mets a lefty bat off the bench.

As much as I like Acuña’s skillset and upside, I feel he would be better served playing everyday in Triple-A to at least start the year. I wouldn’t want to take away reps and risk hurting his development. Young could be a call-up if injuries strike, while Mauricio probably needs a decent stretch in the minors to get himself right.

Again, a lot can change between now and Opening Day. But, as of right now, Baty seems to be in the driver’s seat as far as the backup infielder role with Walton acting as an insurance policy.

The post Breaking Down The Mets’ In-House Options For The Utility Role appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets’ busy Monday continues with their third signing of the day. The team announced they signed RHP Justin Hagenman to a split one-year Major League deal.

The right-hander pitcher spent the 2024 campaign in the Red Sox Minor League system. He pitched for the Triple-A Worcester team, appearing in 28 games, and starting 15 of those. He finished the season with a 4-6 record and 4.91 ERA through 91 2/3 innings pitched, a career-high. He struck out 98 pitchers and walked 31. Of the 90 hits he allowed, 21 were home runs.

However, he seemed to be turning a corner in his final five starts last season. He struck out 26 batters and walked only five batters in 26 innings, pitching to a 3.46 ERA.

Just dealin'.

Justin Hagenman fired six shutout innings for the @WooSox earning his fourth win of the season. pic.twitter.com/N5ECKwTidm

— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) August 26, 2024

Hageman has never seen major league action and has pitched 409 innings across the Red Sox and Dodgers organizations. He owns a career 3.87 ERA in the minors. He throws in the low to mid-90s and his pitch mix consists of a sinker, cutter, changeup and slider.

With Hagenman’s signing, the Mets’ 40-man roster stands at 34 entering Monday evening. On Tuesday at 6 pm ET, they must add which every Rule 5 eligible prospects they want protected to the 40-man roster as well. Pitchers Mike Vasil and Dom Hamel are likely bets to be added.

Original Post: November 18 @ 12:37 pm

The Mets have stayed busy with the offseason in full swing, this time adding a pair of depth signings to their roster.

On Sunday, the Mets signed infielder Donovan Walton to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. On Monday, the Mets announced they signed left fielder Rafael Ortega to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

Walton was initially selected by the Mets in the 36th round of the 2012 MLB Draft but elected to instead play three seasons at Oklahoma State before being selected in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, where he spent the next six seasons, primarily at the minor league level.

The 30-year-old has appeared in just 70 major league games since 2016. During those games, Walton hit .174/.227/.305, with a .532 OPS. He has 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs, and 22 RBIs.

Walton spent the 2024 season with the San Francisco Giants organization. He played in just nine Major League games last season, spending most of the season in Triple-A, where he had a successful season. He batted .306/.380/.441, with a .821 OPS. He had 17 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, and 51 RBIs. He also had a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings. 

Ortega is no stranger to the Mets. In 2023, the 33-year-old played in 47 games for the Mets. He batted .219/.341/.272, with a .613 OPS during those 47 games. That included three doubles and a home run. He saw time in all three outfield positions.

Ortega has bounced around organizations for the majority of his career. He has spent time with the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, the Mets, and now back with the Mets.

He has a career slash line of .245/.322/.349, with a .671 OPS. He has 45 doubles, four triples, 22 home runs, and 110 RBIs.

Ortega was with the Chicago White Sox organization in 2024, spending most of that season with Triple-A.

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