Where Mets’ Top 30 Prospects Will Start 2024 Season

The 2024 Mets minor league season is about to begin across all levels, and the top 30 prospects will begin their seasons here. All four full-season Mets affiliates will be in action on Friday, and you can watch them on MiLB TV.

1 Jett Williams(SS/CF) – 2023 wRC+:143 2024 Start: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A)

Jett Williams played the 2023 season across three levels, finishing up with the Double-A Rumble Ponies. He posted a .425 OBP and stole 42 bases last season.

2. Drew Gilbert (CF) – 2023 wRC+: 135 2024 Start: Syracuse Mets (Triple-A)

Drew Gilbert split his time between two organizations and two levels, beginning with the Astros in High-A and ending with the Mets in Double-A after the Justin Verlander trade. Gilbert will be opening the season with the Syracuse Mets, looking to build off a strong stat line since he came to the Mets organization.

3. Luisangel Acuña (SS/CF) – 2023 wRC+: 107  2024 Start: Syracuse Mets (Triple-A)

Luisangel Acuña split his time between two organizations, coming to the Mets in the Max Scherzer trade, but both at the Double-A level. Acuña will start his year off in Syracuse, looking to further his utility value, playing at second base, shortstop, and, as expected, some outfield.

4. Ryan Clifford (1B/OF) – 2023 wRC+: 134 2024 Start: Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A)

Ryan Clifford went through two levels last year with two teams, starting in the Astros system in Low-A, then High-A, and after his trade to the Mets for Justin Verlander, he resumed play at High-A in Brooklyn. Clifford will be repeating at High-A since his results with the Mets in High-A were not particularly strong.

5. Christian Scott (RHSP) – 2023 ERA: 2.57 2024 Start: Syracuse Mets (Triple-A)

Christian Scott built off a strong 2023 campaign that saw him go from Low-A to Double-A by season’s end. Scott went from an unheralded prospect to the Mets’ top pitching prospect in the span of a year, and his time in Syracuse will be the deciding factor on whether he can potentially help for the 2024 season at the major league level.

6. Marco Vargas (2B/SS/3B) – 2023 wRC+: 128 2024 Start: St. Lucie Mets (Low-A)

Marco Vargas came over to the Mets in the David Robertson trade and started the year in rookie ball and ended with a small 31 plate appearance sample for the St. Lucie Mets. Vargas calling card will be his ability to hit and his strong plate discipline, and will be starting the season at 18 years old.

7. Ronny Mauricio (2B/SS/3B) – 2023 wRC+: 80 (W/ NYM) 2024 Start: New York Mets (60 Day IL)

Ronny Mauricio had potentially his best chance to seize a role with the Mets with third base up in the air. Unfortunately, Mauricio tore his ACL in winter ball and is expected to miss most, if not the entire 2024 season. This injury hurts a player who, despite his power/speed combination, had plate discipline issues that only more at-bats could help remedy.

8. Kevin Parada (C) – 2023 wRC+: 105 2024 Start: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A)

Kevin Parada had a strong 2022 season, but his 2023 season was not as strong. Parada played across three levels, but primarily in High-A with St. Lucie. Parada struggled to a .248 overall batting line, seeing his strikeouts skyrocket while his defense remained a question. In terms of prospect value and ultimate position, 2024 will be the real deciding season for Parada.

9. Jeremy Rodriguez (SS) – 2023 wRC+: 134 2024 Start: Extended Spring

Jeremy Rodriguez, the player who the Mets received in the Tommy Pham trade came here as a pedigree as a top signing. Upon his arrival, he just continued to hit, showing strong plate discipline and an ability to play a strong shortstop.

10. Mike Vasil (RHSP) – 2023 ERA: 4.65   2024 Start: Syracuse Mets (Triple-A)

Vasil started the year in Double-A with Binghamton, but spent the majority of his season pitching in Syracuse. Vasil will look to continue his growth, as he was not as effective in Triple-A, which is possibly due to the automatic ball/strike system. Based on experience at the level, Vasil could be the first prospect to get the call to the big leagues.

11. Colin Houck (SS) – 2023 wRC+: 100 2024 Start: St. Lucie Mets (Low-A)

Houck was the Mets’ first round pick (32nd) in the 2023 draft and took 36 plate appearances for the FCL Mets. His 2024 assignment will be to St. Lucie, where he will be part of a prospect-filled infield, including Marco Vargas and Jesus Baez. Due to this placement, Houck will most likely get the lion’s share of chances at his expected MLB position of third base.

12. Blade Tidwell (RHSP) 2023 ERA: 3.57 2024 Start: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A)

Tidwell started the 2023 season with the Brooklyn Cyclones, but proved he was too much for the level, finishing the year in Double-A. His biggest concern from last year was 63 walks, though he also had 153 strikeouts in 116 innings.

13. Yovanny Rodriguez (C) 2024 Start: Not Assigned Yet

Yovanny Rodriguez was the Mets’ top signing in the 2024 IFA window, signing him for 2.85 million dollars. He was the #6 ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, who also felt he could potentially be the best player out of the signing class. Look for the Mets to start the 17-year-old catcher slow in the Dominican Summer League.

14. Dominic Hamel (RHSP) 2023 ERA: 3.85 2024 Start: Syracuse Mets (Triple-A)

Hamel spent his entire 2023 season with the Rumble Ponies, and continued to show signs that he could be an option at the major league level. Hamel has a good pitch mix, and is one of the top three Mets pitchers who have a chance to pitch for the Mets in 2024.

15. Brandon Sproat (RHSP) 2024 Start: Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A)

Sproat was drafted twice by the Mets, in the third round in 2022 (he did not sign) and then again in the second round of 2023, where he signed. Sproat has a big fastball and control issues, but based on his college pedigree and his upside, an aggressive first assignment to Brooklyn may be a quick stop.

16. Jacob Reimer (3B) 2023 wRC+: 121 2024 Start: Injured List

Reimer had a promising 2023 campaign, starting in Low-A and ending in High-A. Currently, Reimer doesn’t have much in terms of power, but his plate discipline is advanced, as shown by him running a .399 OBP as a 19-year-old.

17. Jesus Baez (SS) 2023 wRC+: 71 2024 Start: St. Lucie Mets (Low-A)

Baez played the entire season at 18 years old for the FCL Mets in the Rookie League, and 2024 will show him taking his talents to St. Lucie, where he will share an infield with Marco Vargas and Colin Houck.

18. Boston Baro (SS) 2023 wRC+: 143 2024 Start: Injured List

Baro was the Mets eighth round pick in 2023, and notched 24 plate appearances with the FCL Mets. Unfortunately, Baro’s 2024 season will start on a low note as he is sidelined with a hamate fracture.

19. Ronald Hernandez (C/1B) 2023 wRC+: 142 2024 Start: St. Lucie Mets (Low-A)

Ronald Hernandez came to the Mets organization in the 2023 trade for David Robertson, who also netted the Mets Marco Vargas. Hernandez has a strong batting eye and has some promise behind the plate, and he started the year in the FCL and finished with St. Lucie.

20. Alex Ramirez (OF) 2023 wRC+: 78 2024 Start: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A)

Ramirez had a down year in 2023, repeating the year with the Brooklyn Cyclones, and is still exhibiting some poor swing decisions. The Mets felt strongly enough about losing him that he is on their 40-man roster and will look to show his combination of power and speed for the Rumble Ponies.

21. Tyler Stuart (RHSP) 2023 ERA: 2.20  2024 Start: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A)

Stuart, along with Christian Scott, were the two Mets pitchers with the most helium in the 2023 season. Stuart dominated in Brooklyn, then slowed down when he went to Double-A, but still posted strong peripherals. The Rumble Ponies look to have quite a rotation with Stuart, Blake Tidwell, and Joander Suarez.

22. Calvin Ziegler (RHSP) 2023 ERA: 0.00 2024 Start: Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A)

Ziegler missed almost all of 2023 with injuries, minus a one-inning outing at the end of the season where he struck out three batters. Ziegler offers tons of upside, but he will play the majority of the season at 21 years old with only 47 professional innings under his belt.

23. Nolan McLean (RHP/3B/OF) 2023 ERA: 2.70 2024 Start: Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A)

McLean will get his chance in 2024 to play both ways, but his best route to the majors is probably on the mound. Drafted in the third round of the 2023 draft, McLean only registered 24 plate appearances across two levels and three and one-third innings on the mound.

24. A.J. Ewing (2B/OF) 2023 wRC+: 161 2024 Start: Extended Spring

Ewing was the Mets’ fourth round draft pick in 2023 and got 21 plate appearances with the FCL Mets. Ewing appears to have a strong batting eye and, based on positional versatility, should be playing both the outfield and second base.

25. Jose Butto (RHSP) 2023 ERA: 5.93 2024 Start: Syracuse Mets (Triple-A)

Jose Buttó is the only member of this list to have already appeared in the majors and as shown yesterday, more than likely the first name the Mets will be calling on when they need a sixth starter. Butto had a poor season in Triple-A last year, but did much better with the Mets despite some control troubles.

26. Jeremiah Jackson (SS/OF) 2023 wRC+: 107 2024 Start: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A)

Jeremiah Jackson came to the Mets in the Dominic Leone trade in 2023. Jackson has huge versatility, having played every position but catcher and first base in 2023. Jackson spent all of the 2023 season in Double-A and will be repeating the level, looking to cut back on his strikeouts, but his 22 home runs and 27 stolen bases in the 2023 season are exciting.

27. Justin Jarvis (RHSP) 2023 ERA: 5.31 2024 Start: Injured List

Jarvis came over to the Mets in the Mark Canha trade in 2023. Jarvis has some good strikeout numbers, but allowed 20 home runs and walked 60 batters over 118 2/3 innings in the 2023 season. With the amount of quality depth in front of him, Jarvis may not see the 2024 New York Mets.

28. Nick Morabito (2B/OF) 2023 wRC+: 130 2024 Start: St. Lucie Mets (Low-A)

Morabito has great speed, defensive versatility, and a good eye at the plate, as shown by his .421 OBP across two levels (Rookie League and St. Lucie). 2024 will be Morabito’s first season starting in full-season ball.

29. Matt Rudick (OF) – 2023 wRC+: 139 2024 Start: Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Rudick had an abbreviated 2023 season, battling injuries but having a solid showing in Binghamton, where he ended the season. Rudick has excellent plate discipline and some speed, so he could provide outfield depth for the 2024 Mets if needed.

30. Paul Gervase – (RHP) 2023 ERA: 2.05 2024 Start: Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Gervase dominated in Brooklyn in 2023, earning himself a call-up to Binghamton to finish the year. Gervase has great strikeout stuff, as shown by his 96 strikeouts, and does not give up home runs (one allowed over 57 innings in 2023) but also had 42 walks. Gervase profiles as a strikeout reliever, and if he can refine his control and continue limiting hits, he is a strong bullpen option.