Mets Top Prospect Andres Gimenez: What’s he up to in 2019?

Andres Gimenez is currently the top prospect in the New York Mets farm system and a guy many hope will be in Flushing sooner than later. What has he been up to in 2019 and how close is he to the big leagues?

Through the first month and a half of the 2019 season, the New York Mets have had their share of highs and lows.

Unfortunately, the lows have been ongoing to this point, as many of the team’s key players have underperformed their expectations, either due to poor play or injury, and if the team hopes to make a postseason run this year, they need to address these issues sooner rather than later.

When looking for help at the major league level, one of the first places that teams look to is their minor league system, to see if any younger players are playing well enough to warrant a call-up. One of the young prospects that Mets fans have their eyes on for a potential call up is shortstop Andres Gimenez.

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For those who are unfamiliar, Gimenez is a 20-year-old, left-handed shortstop who came into the 2019 season ranked as New York’s top prospect. Gimenez originally signed with the Mets at the age of 17 and has steadily been working his way up the minor league system over the past few seasons.

Prior to the 2018 season, he had not played above Single-A ball, however, he was promoted to Double-A Binghamton following the All-Star break, where he represented the Mets in the Futures Games. Between playing for Single-A and Double-A, Gimenez played in 122 games in 2018, where he batted .281 with a .347 OBP, with 6 home runs, 46 RBI and 38 stolen bases.

While he put up good offensive numbers, Gimenez is also known as a very proficient fielder, with quick reactions, good instincts, and a powerful arm to make throws to first base. In addition to playing shortstop, he also has experience playing at second base.

With Amed Rosario currently struggling defensively at shortstop for the Mets, many fans are speculating that Gimenez could be brought up to take over at short, while Rosario is moved to another position such as third base or the outfield in order to keep his bat in the lineup.

The only question is if it is too soon to call Gimenez up to the major leagues.

While Gimenez is currently still in Double-A, it is not unheard of for a player to be called up to the major leagues before spending time with the Triple-A team, as the Mets did this with Michael Conforto back in 2015.

However, Gimenez has failed to produce offensively with Binghamton so far this season, so it is highly unlikely that he would improve his offense if he was suddenly called up to the majors.

Through 28 games this season, he has only hit .232 with a .293 OBP with 2 home runs, 12 RBI and only 3 steals, so he clearly is struggling to hit as effectively as he did back in 2018.

Prematurely calling Gimenez up would likely stifle his development, so if the Mets are looking for help offensively, they need to turn to other players in their minor league system or via trade, because Gimenez clearly would not be ready.

This in no way means that he is not a valuable prospect, nor does it rule out a call up for him in September when the rosters expand, but as things stand right now, the Mets top prospect does not appear to be ready to make his debut in the majors.

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