Mets of the Future: Meet Alexander Ramirez, the potential future CF in Flushing

Alexander Ramirez is one of the top international free agents in baseball and a possible future center fielder for the New York Mets

Baseball is an international sport and the New York Mets have bolstered their minor league system with some additions in this market. In the coming years, they’ll reap those rewards.

Back in 2017, their current number one prospect, infielder Ronny Mauricio, was on MLB.com’s list of the top international prospects. In 2018, they had two players on the list: catcher Francisco Alvarez and outfielder Freddy Valdez. Alvarez is now ranked number five in their entire system with Valdez taking a spot at number 18.

Right behind Valdez is Alexander Ramirez at 19. There’s a good chance you may not have heard of him. He has only been with the organization since July of 2019 after signing a $2.1 million deal with the Mets. He has yet to play a professional game for the organization, but he’s certainly someone the team could view as a future star much like Juan Soto down in Washington.

Per MLB.com’s scouting report, Ramirez is what they classify as a “true center fielder.” This is great news for the Mets who have had some trouble finding a long-term solution at the position. The 2010s were all about waiting on Juan Lagares. Before him, they had to buy Carlos Beltran in free agency.

At only 16-years-old, Ramirez is hardly near his MLB debut. However, MLB.com does project his major league arrival for the 2024 season. That year, he’ll play as a 21-year-old.

The Mets are no strangers to finding talent through the international market. Current shortstop Amed Rosario signed with the team this way. Before him, guys like Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada came to the organization as amateur free agents.

While we’re still waiting for the best from Rosario and neither Flores nor Tejada ever developed into stars, it’s an area all teams should attempt to master. With Ramirez, the Mets are hopeful they may have the next superstar in the outfield coming up through the system.

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Baseball has gone more international in recent seasons especially with prospects. Many of the game’s best young players have come via amateur free agent signings. We should expect this number to grow in the coming seasons. Ramirez may even be a member of the next great crop of young players.