B/T: S/R      Age: 23 (04/04/01)
Ht: 6’3″        Weight: 166 lbs
Acquired: Signed by the Mets as an International Free Agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2017.
Debuted: 09/01/23       Previous Rank: 8
2023 MLB Stats: 26 G, .248/.296/.347/.643, 2 HR, 25 H, 9 RBIs, 7 SB
2023 Triple-A Stats: 116 G, .292/.346/.506/.852, 23 HR, 143 H, 71 RBIs, 24 SB

After crushing the ball in the minors in 2023, Ronny Mauricio earned a September call-up and made a quick impression on the Mets. His first hit, a double off Seattle’s Logan Gilbert, was the Mets’ hardest hit of the season, clocking in at 117.3 mph. Mauricio also showed off his defensive prowess, making diving, sliding and leaping plays all over the field.

117.3 mph!

Ronny Mauricio absolutely BLISTERED his first career hit. pic.twitter.com/JFNAgmVJB6

— MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2023

However, there are a few qualms regarding Mauricio and his place in the organization. First and foremost, he injured his knee in Winter Ball this past December, and he’ll likely miss the entire 2024 season. We’ve seen players like Ronald Acuña Jr. bounce back after a torn ACL, returning to play in less than a year. However, the Mets might err on the side of caution.

The next, albeit the most important besides his health, is where exactly Mauricio plays. A shortstop by trade, that position is taken for the foreseeable future by Francisco Lindor. The Mets had Mauricio take reps at second, third and even in the outfield to find a place for him. When the team called him up, he saw most of his time at second, where he looked quite comfortable.

It’s an issue the Mets have run into frequently in the past few years, with the likes of Mark Vientos and even Brett Baty at times. Without a clear pathway to consistent big-league play, Mauricio might suffer.

Mauricio, The Player

There’s plenty to love about Mauricio and there are good reasons why the Mets never pulled the plug and used him as a trade piece (although there were times they may have been tempted to). Many noted his slender frame wouldn’t produce much power, but in recent years, Mauricio’s packed on muscle. He’s always hit, but now he’s hitting for power. Combine that with his speed (he stole a career-high 24 bags with Syracuse in 2023) and he’s off to the races.

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Something to keep an eye on, however, is his strikeout rate. While his 2023 numbers in Syracuse were near career lows (18.2% K%), he got swing-happy in Queens. He amassed a 28.7% K% after being promoted over just 101 bats. To succeed, he’ll have to better his pitch selection.

Positive signs for the Mets came from Mauricio’s performance in LIDOM play. In 2022, he was named MVP after slashing .285/.335/.468 with five home runs and 31 RBI in 46 games. He started strong in 2023 as well, batting a whopping .441/.472/.706 with 15 hits, which included two triples and doubles to go with one home run. Of note, he only struck out three times in 34 at-bats. However, the injury bug came for him.

2024 Outlook:

The chances are next to nothing that Mauricio sees the field in 2024. After his ACL tear in December, he immediately had surgery, with a typical return-to-play timeline of around 8-12 months. If all goes right, Mauricio might return sometime in August, depending on where the Mets stand in the playoff race.

However, like Edwin Díaz, who felt confident he could return in 2023, the Mets will likely scrap any plans for a 2024 return for Mauricio. Instead, he’ll see Queens come 2025. What will be interesting to keep an eye on in 2024 is the progress of Baty and Vientos. Mauricio’s role on the roster, come next year, might depend on what happens for the other Baby Mets in 2024.

The post Mets Minors 2024 Prospects: No. 7 Ronny Mauricio appeared first on Metsmerized.

No. 5, Jett Williams, SS

B/T: R/R     Age: November 3, 2003 (19)
Ht: 5’8″       Wt: 175 lb.
ETA: 2026 Previous Rank: N/A
Acquired: Drafted in the first round (14th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft
2022 Stats (FCL regular season): 10 games, 41 PAs, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 4 BB, 6 K, .250/.366/.438/.803

The Mets’ 2022 draft haul was viewed across the board as a success by draft evaluators. So far, three picks have appeared on Metsmerized’s Top 30 prospects ahead of the 2023 season: Blade Tidwell (No. 7) and Nick Morabito (No. 24), Jacob Riemer (No. 25). In Jett Williams, there’s a fourth, and (not to spoil) there will be a fifth with Kevin Parada.

Williams was selected 14th overall with the team’s actual first-round pick. (Parada was picked with the compensatory pick they got from not signing Kumar Rocker the previous year.) Ahead of the draft, Williams was generally viewed as one of the top 10 high school bats available, noting his quick hands at the plate and speed as plus assets heading into the draft.

Jett Williams, the Mets selection at 14. pic.twitter.com/9Jk5tc3bRx

— ramsey (@jwr082OO2) July 18, 2022

At just 5-foot-8, he’s viewed as someone who could hit for an average level of power for someone his size. On top of that, Keith Law noted that Williams “almost never swung and missed last summer on the showcase circuit and didn’t show any trouble with velocity when he faced it.” A great eye plus a good swing and hard contact are great starting points for a prep player starting his career.

Baseball Prospectus (No. 75) and Baseball America (No. 98) both ranked Williams in their preseason lists this year. BP noted “if Williams was 6’2″, he’d have been one of the tops few picks in the 2022 draft,” mentioning his “surprising pop” and the fact he “projects as well as a natural hitter as you can without significant pro data.” Though Williams has played shortstop through high school and the start of his pro career, most analysts view he’ll profile more as a perfectly fine second baseman due to a lack of arm strength.

Williams’ speed was on full display in his short appearance in the Florida Complex League at the end of 2022. He swiped six bags in just 10 games in the regular season, then he capped the year off with a 3-for-3 performance with three walks and another stolen base in the team’s lone playoff game. He ended the season with 11 hits and seven walks in 46 plate appearances (.370 OBP) and six strikeouts.

Mets first round pick Jett Williams in the FCL playoff game on Thursday:

3-for-3, 2 BB, SB (7-for-7)

Video by @reillocity

pic.twitter.com/cGt9KnwtjO

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) August 26, 2022

The 19-year-old will likely spend most of 2023 at Low-A St. Lucie. (He might start the year in Rookie ball, but I’d bet he plays his way out of it quickly if he does.) He’s not projected to reach the big leagues until around 2026, so he’ll have multiple years of development ahead of him. The hope is his power grows as he does. But it’s hard to not get excited about all of Williams’ existing tools and what they can mature into.

Other 2023 prospect rankings:
30-26
25-21
20-16
15-12
11: Matt Allan
10: Calvin Ziegler
9: Mike Vasil
8: Mark Vientos
7: Blade Tidwell
6: Ronny Mauricio

The post MMO’s Top 30 Prospects: No. 5 Jett Williams appeared first on Metsmerized.

Cole Gordon, Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

No. 30 Willy Fañas, OF

Age: 18 (1/23/2004)
HT: 6’2, WT: 190
B/T: S/R
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent in 2022
ETA: 2026 Previous MMO Ranking: N/A
2021 Stats: NA

Fañas is one of the newest prospects in the Mets system having signed earlier this year in January. The switching-hitting outfielder got the second-largest signing bonus of the IFA class for the Mets at $1.5 million–only outfielder Simon Juan’s $1.9 million was higher.

Willy Fañas rips a HR in the DSL pic.twitter.com/M43zvh9qBw

— Doug (@FTLO_Baseball) January 16, 2022

Fañas is athletic and has above-average speed which could help him stay in center field long term. Offensively, he has quick hands, good bat speed from both sides of the plate, and has shown significant in-game power already from the left side.

He will get his pro career started at 18, a bit older than most top IFAs, so it will interesting to see how aggressive the Mets are with him in 2022. His advanced knowledge of the strike zone would help him at the dish if the Mets do decide to move him along a little quicker than normal IFAs.

No. 29 Cole Gordon, RHP

Age: 26 (10/2/1995)
HT: 6’5, WT: 226
B/T: L/R
Acquired: 32nd RD in 2019 Draft – Mississippi State University
ETA: 2022 Previous MMO Ranking: N/A
2021 Stats (Binghamton): 83 IP, 3.69 ERA, 4.75 FIP, .169 AVG, 1.01 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9, 9.2 K/9

The Mets’ 32nd round pick in 2019 made his pro debut that year with a 2.67 ERA in 30 innings between the Brooklyn Cyclones and St. Lucie Mets. He struck out 39 and allowed only 20 hits in that span as a reliever only but also walked 15 batters. The 2021 season was more of the same for Gordon, though it mostly came as a starter. The big righty posted a 3.69 ERA while limiting hitting to a .169 average and posting a fine 1.01 WHIP, but strikes were still an issue with a 3.8 BB/9 walk rate.

How the 2021 season played out for Gordon is bizarre when you look at his game logs of being a late-inning reliever to start the season, going to middle relief, and then picking up his only save of the season in his final appearance as a reliever.

The first eight starts were rough for Gordon. He posted a 6.31 ERA, gave up nine home runs, and opponents had an .813 OPS against him. The worst start of that group came in late July when he allowed eight runs in four innings. But, Gordon went on to finish the season with one of the best stretches from any Mets minor league pitcher in quite some time. The first start of his run was five-innings of no-hit ball following the eight-run outing. In the next two outings, he allowed no runs, only one hit, and struck out 10 in both.

All in all, here’s Gordon’s stat line from his final five starts of the season:

31 IP, 8 H, 0 ER, 6 BB, 38 K, .082/.159/.092

Gordon is a big, strong dude who loves to work quickly on the mound. His mechanics are simple and clean–very impressive considering he switched to pitching full-time only in 2017. Gordon is mostly a four-seam fastball and sweeping curveball guy who will mix in cutter as well. His fastball is mostly 91-93 mph, and he showed great command of this pitch late in the season. The curveball is 76-78 m.p.h. that he again showed above-average command with the ability to use it for called and swinging strikes. He throws the cutter (some might say slider, but I didn’t see enough movement to classify as such) in the mid-80s, though it’s clearly his third pitch.

The thing that impressed me when I watched Gordon in 2021 was his ability to consistently elevate his fastball for swings and misses and bounce his curve after having it start at the bottom of the strike zone.

No. 28 Wilmer Reyes, UT

Age: 24 (12/22/1997)
HT: 6’0, WT: 160
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent in 2016
ETA: 2023 Previous MMO Ranking: 28
2021 Stats (FCL Mets/Brooklyn): 16 G, .345/.409/.483, 2 2B, 2 HR, 141 wRC+

I’ve been on the Wilmer Reyes train for a couple years now because I’m a sucker for dudes who can play a good shortstop, which the 24-year-old still does after missing most of the 2021 season following knee surgery. Reyes also got time at first base, second base, third base, right field, and center field as well. Reyes is a good athlete with a quick step that allows him to play multiple defensive positions at a high level.

Reyes was fantastic for the Cyclones with a 1.050 OPS in nine games. One key to note is that he had six walks in 16 games after only having eight total walks in 61 games back in 2019. Reyes did struggle to a .652 OPS in the Arizona Fall League, but he did walk 10 times in those 19 games. Right now he looks like a line drive hitter that could continue to get on base at a high clip, but he didn’t show much power in 2021.

Look for Reyes to continue playing all over the field in 2022, when he will likely see significant time in Double-A Binghamton. His above-average speed, defensive skill-set, and newfound ability to get on-base could make him an important bench piece in the big leagues.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

No. 27 Travis Blankenhorn, UT

Age: 25 (8/3/1996)
HT: 6’2, WT: 235
B/T: L/R
Acquired: Claimed off Waivers in 2021
ETA: Already Debuted Previous MMO Ranking: 18
2021 Stats (Two Levels/3 Organizations): 58 G, .246/.354/.456, 11 2B, 10 HR, 58 RBI

The Mets scooped up the burly Blankenhorn off waivers from the Mariners back in June of last year. The former third-round pick of the Twins made his big league debut with Minnesota in 2020 when he went 1-for-3 with a double in his only game. He played in one more game for the Twins before hitting the waiver wire. He was claimed by the Dodgers first, then the Mariners, and finally the Mets.

The left-handed hitter went 4-for-23 with two doubles and a home run in his short big-league stint with the Mets. Oddly, he has five big-league hits with only one of them being a single. Power is the best tool for Blankenhorn, and he had 19 extra-base hits in just 48 games in Triple-A for the Mets. Blankenhorn also showed good on-base skills in Triple-A last season when he walked 15% of the time for the Mets and Twins. He did strike out at a 27.5 percent clip in the minors for the Mets, and his hit tool is below average.

Blankenhorn is a thick dude. Combine that with a weak arm and you have someone that’s really destined for left, second, and first base. He was drafted as a third baseman, but the combo of a weak arm and slow actions have pushed him away from that spot. He’s run okay for a guy of his size, making him passable in left field.

The former Twin will likely start the season in Triple-A as he waits for a bench bat spot to open up. His power could make him a useful pinch hitter for the Mets.

No. 26 Mike Vasil, RHP

Age: 22 (2/19/2000)
HT: 6’5, WT: 225
B/T: L/R
Acquired: 8th RD of 2021 Draft – University of Virginia
ETA: 2024 Previous MMO Ranking: N/A
2021 Stats (FCL Mets): 3 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K

Mike Vasil was one of the top prep pitchers in the country coming out of Boston College High School in 2018, but he decided he would turn down big money and head to the University of Virginia instead. Unfortunately for Vasil, he struggled at Virginia with a 4.74 ERA and only 136 strikeouts in 161 innings over three seasons. He also allowed a whopping 190 hits during that span, but late in the season, some scouts started seeing improved stuff from Vasil and there was the belief he could get drafted by the third round.

Vasil dropped until the eighth round when the Mets were happy to scoop him up. The very early results have the Mets looking like geniuses for taking the 6’5”, 225-pound right-hander from Boston. He was pretty much unhittable in three starts to begin his pro career in the Florida Complex League.

Vasil has also looked good in minor league spring camp as he continues to show better and more consistent fastball velocity. Vasil was more of a low-90s and occasionally hitting the mid-90s type, but with the Mets he’s been mostly mid-90s and has maxed out at 98 m.p.h.. Part of that result came from the Mets working with the strong right-hander to become more athletic in his delivery, which will also help him in terms of durability long-term.

Vasil’s best secondary right now is a tight slider that has been 87-88 m.p.h. in camp. That pitch has reportedly leap-frogged an above-average changeup in the low-80s that has shown good tumble.

If Vasil can continue with the velocity of his fastball and slider, stay consistent with the command of those two pitches, and be a strike-thrower like he was in 2021, he’s going to shoot up this list.

I would expect Vasil to begin the 2022 season in the Low-A St. Lucie Mets rotation.

Previous Rankings: 50-46

Previous Rankings: 45-41

Previous Rankings: 40-36

Previous Rankings: 35-31

The post Mayer’s Top 50 Mets Prospects: 30-26 Features Two RH Starters appeared first on Metsmerized.

Photo: Corey Sipkin, NY Post

Mets fans, episode 21 is here!

SNY’s Jacob Resnick joins the show once again to discuss the latest from the MLB lockout as well as Jacob’s newest top 75 Prospect rankings.

When asked about why he has Mark Vientos ranked just about Ronny Mauricio, Jacob said:

“If we look at where they both are right now, and they continue on their trajectories that they have set themselves on (returning from the Covid canceled season), where are they most likely to end up? For Mark Vientos, it may not be an above-average third baseman, but he’s definitely a major leaguer.”

Listen, like, and subscribe on Apple here.

The post ‘Get Metsmerized’ Podcast Episode 21: Prospect Rankings Feat. Jacob Resnick appeared first on Metsmerized.

Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

One of the very first things new GM Brodie Van Wagenen said was “We will win now, and we will win in the future.” Using a roster filled with talented arms and bats, then supplemented by making a flurry of moves, headlined by the acquisitions of Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, and Wilson Ramos, among many others, is very clearly part of the plan to win now. One of the very special and talented pieces of the future? 17-year-old Ronny Mauricio.

Think about what you were doing at 17-years-old. At that age, my biggest concern was getting to school early enough to find a decent parking spot, or trying to get someone to go to prom with me, you know, normal problems for a 17-year-old. Then there are kids like Ronny Mauricio, who is playing games with the big league club.

Seen as the #3 International Prospect, and top SS prospect in the 2017 International class by Baseball America, Mauricio signed with the Mets for a $2.1 million signing bonus. A new organizational record, surpassing fellow Dominican SS, and fellow Met, Amed Rosario. And ever since inking that deal as a 16-year-old, the switch-hitting SS has done nothing but impress.

Mauricio stands at 6’3” and 165 pounds, he still has to grow into his body and frame, and with that will likely come some extra pop to go with it. He has some pop as it is, but could very much fill into his body and have some 20 home run potential.

Quite frankly, he is someone who I can see be categorized as a five-tool player. He already has the ability to hit for average, has plus speed, and a plus arm. With development to improve his power and fielding. We could be witnessing the makings of a blue-chip prospect.

We’ve had the pleasure to see glimpses of this over the past couple days and weeks in Spring Training while has been with the big league camp, sure it was just a small sample size, just nine plate appearances, however, we saw a lot in those chances. Showing his steady and smooth swing that cuts through the zone, and has a swing that shows more power and pop from the right side of the batter’s box.

In terms of future projections, there are two current shortstops that I think Mauricio has the potential of matching up with, Carlos Correa of the Astros, and Didi Gregorius of the Yankees.

Both developed more as a hitter through the minors and now both prove to be  20+HR/10+SB caliber players and two of the top players in the game at their positions. With some seasoning and more development, I fully expect Ronny Mauricio to be in this caliber of player when he is a staple in our lineup.

The best showcase we’ve gotten to see of Mauricio’s talent was a game against the Cardinals, where he reached base three times, got two hits, drew a walk, drove in two runs, and even stole a base. A type of stat line that I’m hoping we get used to seeing when he’s in the bigs in a few years.

Mauricio currently comes in as the Mets sixth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline and 98th overall by Baseball America, but if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he could very easily push Andres Gimenez out of the top prospect position in the organization, and may even push the top 50 overall in the MLB. This kid is special, and we haven’t even seen him scratch the surface of his potential. Mets fans, the future is in good hands with Ronny Mauricio.

The infielder will report to Low-A Columbia to begin the 2019 season.

The post Mauricio Is A Rare Talent With Room To Grow appeared first on Metsmerized.

#19 SS Gregory Guerrero

Ht: 6’1”  Wt: 180  Level: DSL Mets – Dominican Summer League

B/T: R/R Age: 1/20/1999 (18) Age Dif: -1.2

Acquired: Signed as an IFA in 2015 for $1.5 million bonus

Last Year: #31

2016 Statistics:  64 G, 287 AB, 32 R, 61 H, 10 2B, 30 RBI, 28 BB, 51 K, 10 SB, .247/.324/.287

If the calendar read 2010 instead of 2017, Gregory Guerrero would probably rank among the top 10 Mets prospects for most publications. A testament to where the system is now in comparison to what it was then. The profile of a high dollar middle infielder with MLB bloodlines and the baseball IQ to match would be exciting fans to no end.

Gregory is the nephew of former Major League great Vladimir Guerrero and is the cousin of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whom is the Toronto Blue Jays #1 prospect. Gregory trained in the Dominican Republic at the Guerrero Academy that is run by his uncle and former big leaguer Wilton Guerrero.

That he didn’t excel as much as his fellow shortstop and teammate Andres Gimenez in his initial exposure to professional baseball shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s a tantalizing prospect in his own right. Through no fault of his own, he has become the other shortstop, the other 2015 IFA signing, secondary to Gimenez in almost every sense.

The high hipped youngster has all the tools that made him a sought after international free agent in 2015, with Baseball America’s Ben Badler ranking him #6 coming into the signing period. A year and a half later the offensive profile remains the same. He’s shown a knack for barreling balls, and with very good bat speed there is enough projection there for a forecast of above average power output.

His straight line speed hasn’t been a calling card, unlike that if his childhood idol, Jose Reyes. Overall though, his foot speed has demonstrated to be better than originally forecasted by pundits, and with improved coaching he could be a double digit stealing base-runner. Though he won’t be confused with Champ Stuart anytime soon.

The defense is more than adequate to stick at short, with reports out of the DSL saying the glove has been better than expected. The lateral movement and reflexes, combined with (what is becoming a Mets developmental trend) the plus baseball IQ, he should stick at the six spot for the foreseeable future.

That still isn’t enough to change the long stated consensus of a narrative of his eventuality though. That with him growing into his larger frame and him featuring the plus arm he could/should find himself at third or possibly even corner outfield. Especially when considering how deep the position is stacked throughout the Mets organization, where there truly appears to be more qualified bodies at shortstop than minor league assignments.

The contact ability will be the question, as with most players at his age and level. Unfortunately most of the video I could find on him is a little old and from his time on the showcase circuit. Where prospects tend to get home run happy, trying to impress upon advanced scouts, and as a result open up a bit more than what is ideal. Something I’m sure is being coached out.

Mike M adds…

Gregory has an absolute cannon of an arm, but I wonder if, as he gets older and stronger he will move to third base (where the Mets are fairly weak prospect wise). I do believe he could stay at shortstop long-term as an offensive minded player if not for the abundance of Mets prospects at the position.

The young powerful Guerrero is a good example of why you should scout the raw skills and not the stat line. Kid has plus raw power, a quick bat and a pretty good knowledge of the strike zone already (9.9% walk rate).

2017 Outlook –

Having just turned 18, Gregory did come stateside this past fall for some extra tutelage in the Florida Instructional League, and did an interview with MMN’s own Ernest Dove. His off-season regimen has been to continue to train at the Guerrero Academy. A spring return to Florida and an assignment in the GCL appears to be his immediate future with the organization. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Kingsport could be in play, IF, and it’s a big if, Gimenez heads to Brooklyn. He’s my personal prediction for the player who takes a leap forward in 2017.

2017 MMO TOP 30 PROSPECTS

1. Amed Rosario, SS

2. Dominic Smith, 1B

3. Robert Gsellman, RHP

4. Thomas Szapucki, LHP

5. Desmond Lindsay, OF

6. Justin Dunn, RHP

7. Gavin Cecchini, INF

8. Brandon Nimmo, OF

9. Andres Gimenez, SS

10. Tomas Nido, C

11. Wuilmer Becerra, OF

12. Peter Alonso, 1B

13. Marcos Molina, RHP

14. Ali Sanchez, C

15. T.J. Rivera, INF

16. Luis Carpio, INF

17. Merandy Gonzalez, RHP

18. Gabriel Ynoa, RHP

The post 2017 Top 30 Mets Prospects: #19 Gregory Guerrero, SS appeared first on Metsmerized.

#11 OF Wuilmer Becerra

Ht: 6’3”  Wt: 225  Level: High-A St. Lucie Mets

B/T: R/R Age: 10/01/1994 (22) Age Dif: -1.7

Acquired: Part of seven player trade from the Toronto Blue Jays

Last Year: #6

2016 Statistics: 65 G, 247 AB, 27 R, 77 H, 17 2B, HR, 34 RBI, 9 BB/52 K, 7 SB, .319/.341/.393

Wuilmer Becerra has often mentioned as the afterthought, a throw-in flyer prospect in the R.A. Dickey trade that also brought Noah Syndergaard and Travis d’Arnaud. But his profile and signing bonus have  always contradicted that line of thought. His scouting reports from that time all indicated much of what we have heard since:

Ben Badler at Baseball America, who had him ranked 5th at the time of his signing:

 “He has worked out for teams at shortstop and the outfield, but his future is in the outfield. He’s a good athlete with size and speed, having been clocked as fast as 6.6 seconds in the 60-yard dash. His game speed is slower, though, with below-average times going from home to first. Scouts are mixed on Becerra’s bat. He has good size and strength, and some scouts consider him one of the best righthanded hitters available with good plate coverage and projectable power.”

After hitting nine home runs in 2015 for the Savannah Sand Gnats who play in the spacious Grayson Stadium, it appeared Becerra was living up those original scouting reports.

I got to see him in person during that 2015 Low-A season and at the time noted he appeared a man among boys. Not just true prototypical right field size, but the talent was obvious as well. From batting practice, which was professional in approach and highlighted with home runs peppered throughout the park. To the way the defense respected and played him, not a full on shift, but heavily shading towards left, shortstop backing up a few steps, etc. to the degree that you typically don’t see at the low-A level.

Fast forward one season to the present day, questions have arisen about the power and if it will play in games. (From what I has previously seen, it will) By July the whispers that the young outfielder was playing through a shoulder injury turned out to be accurate. There was a change in approach that resulted in a career high .312 batting average, but only resulted in 18 extra base hits. The question remains if the change of approach was due to injury, a coaching focus for moving his growth forward, or a combination of both. (Which is my personal line of thought).

Becerra had season-ending surgery on a torn labrum in his right shoulder in July. He originally hurt the shoulder during spring training and decided to try to play through it. He received cortisone shots during the season to help with pain, but still only played 13 games in right field and had to to be the designated hitter in 52 games.

The 22-year old Venezuelan is the prototypical right fielder with an above average arm (pre-surgery) that also moves well given his size. Despite the lack of extra base hits this past season he still has plus power potential and showed he can hit line drives to all fields in 2016.

2017 Outlook:

That the organization felt the need to add him to the 40-man roster and protect him from the Rule 5 draft is a positive sign in my view. He will be in major league camp, at least to start, and depending on how his rehab (very quiet thus far) is going we should get to see him on SNY this March. I wouldn’t be shocked if he starts in St. Lucie to get some positive plate appearances before moving up to Binghamton after the spring thaw. I remain hopeful on his progress this year expecting that breakout.

2017 MMO TOP 30 PROSPECTS

1. Amed Rosario, SS

2. Dominic Smith, 1B

3. Robert Gsellman, RHP

4. Thomas Szapucki, LHP

5. Desmond Lindsay, OF

6. Justin Dunn, RHP

7. Gavin Cecchini, INF

8. Brandon Nimmo, OF

9. Andres Gimenez, SS

10. Tomas Nido, C

The post 2017 Top Mets 30 Prospects: No. 11 Wuilmer Becerra, OF appeared first on Metsmerized.

Ht: 6’0”  Wt: 165  Level: DSL Mets  – Dominican Summer League

B/T: L/R Age: 9/04/1998 (17) Age Dif: -1.7

Acquired: Signed as an IFA in 2015 for $1.2 MM bonus

Last Year: #28

2016 Statistics:  62 G, 214 AB, 52 R, 75 H, 20 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 46 BB, 22 K, 13 SB, .350/.469/.523

In 2015, the Mets continued their organizational philosophy of prioritization of up the middle positional players for International free agents. Signing not one but two consensus top ten prospects available, (both shortstop) including Andres Gimenez who, at the time, was ranked #2 overall by Baseball America, though signed for a relative bargain $1.2 million due to hailing from Venezuela. Here is a video courtesy of MLB.com from prior to the signing period in 2015.

A more than slightly abridged personal history; I have been among the contributing writers for the site here for just about a year now. While I was a voracious consumer of this website and others who provided Mets and prospect related news, I have since become more selective in my consumerism and whose opinions I value with regard to players I have yet to lay eyes on personally.

I say this because typically I am reserved when jumping onto a prospect bandwagon. I would rather be pleasantly surprised than disappointed in the eventual outcome of a player. With modern day information and knowledge it’s much easier to fall in love with prospect hype than in yesteryear when the only information was your BA subscription that came in the mail or your local periodical distributor.

When it comes to Gimenez though, I find myself needing to slow my roll. With a stat line that includes a better than 2 to 1 BB/K ratio and 27 extra base hits it’s easy to get excited. For a player to begin his professional career with such an advanced approach at the plate and add it with solid bat to ball skills at a premium position; it equates to a player that everyone will covet. As such rumors swirled around the trade deadline he was one of the pieces most often asked about by rival executives.

The tools; while I would not grade him an 80 on any individual aspect of his game, (at least without seeing him in person first) the sum of parts has the look and feel of an above average regular/borderline All-Star at a premium position. With a swing geared for line drives and enough bat speed to drive the ball, he appears more geared for doubles than homers. Though there is more in the frame to suggest some power growth could be expected in the future.

The foot speed and athleticism is good enough to keep him in the middle infield and slot him in the upper portion of the lineup, though one should not expect prototypical burner speed. The glove and arm are said to be good enough to stick at shortstop;  and while in the Mets world that is a fairly low bar, it is worth noting outside the organization that is the consensus thus far.

Mike M adds:

I was excited for Gimenez even before he played a game and even more so after showing an advanced approach in his pro debut. Before he signed, some scouts compared his value to Gleyber Torres who is now regarded as one of the best prospects in baseball.

I believe the Mets made a mistake by not having Gimenez play stateside at all during his debut so they should be aggressive with him this year. He will certainty skip the GCL Mets (Rookie Level), and could probably even hold his own if he skipped the Kingsport Mets (Rookie Level) to go right to the Brooklyn Cyclones.

2017 Outlook:

Much like fellow countryman and 2013 IFA Luis Carpio, it’s been said Gimenez has a tremendous baseball IQ and displays the maturity of a player much older than a high school senior his age reflects. As he comes stateside this season I anticipate that the organization will challenge him as they did Carpio with an assignment to Kingsport Mets to begin his stateside career. It will present a greater challenge for him and allow the organization to keep both Gimenez and fellow 2015 IFA Gregory Guerrero at short.

It will be the approach and his ability to make contact that forces his way up the organizational ladder. While the risk factor is real for a player who has yet to make a stateside debut, there is more than enough to be excited about Gimenez’ future.

2017 MMO TOP 30 PROSPECTS

1. Amed Rosario, SS

2. Dominic Smith, 1B

3. Robert Gsellman, RHP

4. Thomas Szapucki, LHP

5. Desmond Lindsay, OF

6. Justin Dunn, RHP

7. Gavin Cecchini, INF

8. Brandon Nimmo, OF

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4. Dominic Smith, 1B

Height: 6’0”
Weight: 185 lbs.
Age: 18
Bats/Throws: Left/Left

The Mets drafted a 17 year old Dominic Smith with the 11th overall pick of last year’s draft and he didn’t waste any time showing off his skills. In 173 AB’s across the Gulf Coast League and Appalachian League, Smith slashed .301/.398/.439 with 3 HR’s, 26 BB’s, and 37 K’s. He has quite the advanced approach for an 18 year old and could zoom through the system because of it. He’s a pretty patient hitter with good bat speed and a sweet left handed swing. One of the noticeable flaws in his approach is that his hips tend to drift forward on breaking pitches, causing him to make contact on his front foot. This results in weak ground balls to the pull side on pitches he should be driving the other way. However, anyone who considers this a concern at this point in his career would be nitpicking. It is a pretty common occurrence in young hitters and usually a very easy fix.

Dominic’s hit tool should develop into at least above average at the major league level with the ability to hit in the vicinity of .300. His ability to draw walks will also allow him to get on base at a healthy clip. Smith’s power should develop to the point where he’ll be able to hit at least 20 homers per season, which is okay for a first basemen but considering Smith’s other talents, I’d be happy with that. When he was drafted, there was talk that he may be able to play right field because of his solid arm but, although quick footed, he’s a below average runner, limiting him to first base. He has a strong arm, soft hands, and very good footwork so the good news is that his defensive skills there are very impressive already with the potential to be plus as he develops.

Outlook: Smith’s ultimate value as a first base prospect will all depend on how much power he produces. There are some pointing to his height (6’0”) as a factor that could hinder his power. Well, I have a two word answer for those people. Prince Fielder (5’11”), who hit 50 HR’s in 2007. That and the fact there’s a chance Smith could add a few inches as he ages should put any concerns about his height to rest. Smith will also add bulk as he ages and I have confidence that his strong, quick hands should allow him to hit at least 25-30 home runs per season. That packaged with a potential plus hit tool and premium defense makes for a very, very nice prospect. I don’t want to make this comparison but I’m going to anyway. If all goes according to plan his athleticism could allow him to become the second coming of Keith Hernandez. Maybe not as slick on defense, but with more power potential. Because of his success last season, there’s a possibility that the Mets start Dominic in full season Savannah, which might halt the development of his power but I think he’s an advanced enough player to handle the challenge. With his advanced approach and promising tools, Smith could find himself on the fast track to the majors considering the current situation at first base for the Mets. I’ve read some scouting reports that project him to debut in late 2016 but that might be a little optimistic. A 2017 debut is more likely. Whenever he does show his face at Citi, however, he’ll have the chance to be a true impact player.

(Photo credit: Bryan Green)

25. Wilfredo Tovar, SS

24. Juan Centeno, C

23. Cory Mazzoni, RHP

22. Jeff Walters, RHP

21. Jack Leathersich, LHP

20. Luis Mateo, RHP

19. Jayce Boyd, 1B

18. Domingo Tapia, RHP

17. Gabriel Ynoa, RHP

16. Vic Black, RHP

15. Michael Fulmer, RHP

14. Jeurys Familia, RHP

13. Dilson Herrera, 2B

12. Jake deGrom, RHP

11. Gavin Cecchini, SS

10. Steven Matz, LHP

9. Brandon Nimmo, CF

8. Amed Rosario, SS

7. Cesar Puello, OF

6. Wilmer Flores, 2B

5. Kevin Plawecki, C

4. Dominic Smith, 1B

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The post 2014 Mets Top Prospects: No. 4 Dominic Smith, 1B appeared first on Metsmerized.

No. 6 Wilmer Flores

Height: 6’3”
Weight: 190 lbs.
Age: 22
Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Wilmer Flores is a bit of a mystery. He was signed as a free agent out of Venezuela in 2007 and we’ve been hearing about him ever since. Earlier in his career, he drew comparisons to Miguel Cabrera, but those have since came back down to earth. He is similar to Cabrera in that his below average speed and slow footwork will limit his ability to play most of the positions on the field, likely making a corner infield spot his future home. Unfortunately, his power will severely limit his value as a first baseman, whereas Cabrera’s won’t. He has the frame to hit for above average power but at the moment, his swing seems to be geared more towards contact. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though as his ability to cover all parts of the plate with his swing gives him the potential to hit around .300 in the big leagues. There have been efforts to improve his footwork and speed to see if he can stick at second base but there’s two problems with that motive. One is that he’ll likely add more bulk as he ages and adds more strength, which will probably make him even slower. Second is that as long as Daniel Murphy is on the team, he should be playing second base. I know some have been advocates of moving Daniel Murphy to first and slotting Flores at second but I’m not going to get into why I think that is a bad idea right now.

Anyway, after slashing .321/.357/.531 in the hitter’s paradise that is AAA Las Vegas, Flores was called up to the Show on his birthday, a game I was fortunate enough to attend. In 27 games (95 AB’s) in the majors, Flores slashed .211/.248/.295 with 1 HR and 13 RBI’s. Before judging those numbers, it is worth noting he played the majority of this time on two gimpy ankles. His impatience is really the only flaw in his offensive game as he has a nice swing, tends to make a lot of contact and hits plenty of line drives. However, he’ll probably never have a high on base percentage, it’s just not part of his game. The only question, and it’s a big one, is where he’ll play.

Outlook: I think the best defensive home for Flores on a National League team is third base, where his strong arm will make up for his slow footwork. Plus he looked pretty comfortable playing there last season. Unfortunately, there’s this guy named David Wright and that position seems to be his for the foreseeable future, maybe you’ve heard of him. That really only gives Flores the opportunity to crack the opening day roster as a first basemen but the fact that the Mets have Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, and Josh Satin in front of him makes that scenario unlikely. He’ll probably start the season in AAA again and if he hits there like he did last season, it will be very hard for the Mets not to find a spot for him to play, especially if first base gets the same atrocious production as it did last season. Flores is probably better off on another team as a third basemen or DH but he hasn’t proved he can hit at the major league level yet so it’s not smart for the Mets to just give him away in a trade. It would make more sense to get him some at bats first to see what they’ve got. Maybe he will hit for enough power to stick at first. Maybe someone will go down with an injury and Flores will get another opportunity. Maybe he’ll be a good utility player off the bench that can play any position in the infield besides shortstop. We’ll just have to wait and see how it plays out. One thing is for sure though, this kid can hit.

25. Wilfredo Tovar, SS

24. Juan Centeno, C

23. Cory Mazzoni, RHP

22. Jeff Walters, RHP

21. Jack Leathersich, LHP

20. Luis Mateo, RHP

19. Jayce Boyd, 1B

18. Domingo Tapia, RHP

17. Gabriel Ynoa, RHP

16. Vic Black, RHP

15. Michael Fulmer, RHP

14. Jeurys Familia, RHP

13. Dilson Herrera, 2B

12. Jake deGrom, RHP

11. Gavin Cecchini, SS

10. Steven Matz, LHP

9. Brandon Nimmo, CF

8. Amed Rosario, SS

7. Cesar Puello, OF

6. Wilmer Flores, 2B

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