New York Mets top 10 prospects heading into 2021

Now that the 2020 season is over and the offseason has officially begun, teams have started to prepare for 2021 and beyond. Who are the top ten New York Mets prospects ready to climb the ladder?

With the Steve Cohen era having officially started the New York Mets as a team and their fans, in general, can start to envision what kind of team will be on the field in 2021.

Since Cohen officially bought the team there has been a lot of talk about the Mets being big-game hunters both in free agency as well as in trades, most notable, Cleveland Indians Shortstop Francisco Lindor. If the Mets do pursue Lindor or any player for that matter in a trade, they will most likely need to dip into their prospect pool and send so young prospects to the team they are trading with.

In a perfect world, the Mets would be able to acquire whoever they want without giving up a top 10 prospect but unfortunately, this is not a perfect world and there is a chance that if the Mets acquire any player via a trade they may have to part with prospects in their top 10.

The top 10 prospects of a team are always coveted, and you want to make sure that if you give them up then you are receiving game-changing talent. You do not want a repeat of the Robinson Cano-Edwin Diaz trade from 2018.

With that being said it is good for a fan to know who the top 10 prospects for the New York Mets are in case they are traded.

10. Thomas Szapucki, LHP

Drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB draft Thomas Szapucki has had a very beleaguered path through the Mets minor leagues. He has dealt with a variety of injuries but when he is healthy, he is one of the best pitchers the Mets have in their system.

Szapucki boasts a plus fastball that sits at about 95mph to go along with a plus curveball with a high spin rate from the left side.

Szapucki made it back to the mound in 2019 pitching for three Mets minor league affiliates to an ERA of 2.63 over 61.2 innings.

Ironically, this was the most innings he had ever pitched in a season since being drafted and it was also his best statistical season in the Mets system.

Due to there being no 2020 minor league season Szapucki may see his debut delayed but when he gets to the big leagues, he probably best fits as a middle to back end of the rotation type pitcher.

ETA: 2021

9. Isiah Greene, OF

Isiah Greene was one of the last draft picks Brodie Van Wagenen made as General Manager of the Mets and was the compensation for losing Zack Wheeler.

From a tools perspective, Greene is quite impressive and should have the necessary speed to stick in center field long term.

In addition, Isiah Greene is a contact-oriented hitter that has a very level swing that profiles as a potential leadoff hitter. Couple that with his excellent speed and he could be very successful.

Greene has more work to do to improve his game but the nineteen-year-old plays up to his competition and should improve move through the system quickly.

ETA: 2024

8. Josh Wolf, RHP

Josh Wolf was drafted in the second round of the 2019 MLB draft and boasts an above-average fastball and curveball. Part of the Mets draft strategy the last few years was to draft high upside players in the first few rounds that will sign above slot and Wolf is a perfect example. Wolf signed for $2.15 million and if he reaches his potential he could be worth every penny.

His brief minor league stint in 2019 was very encouraging. Wolf pitched only eight innings but struck out twelve batters and recorded a whiff rate of 42%.

He needs to improve on his changeup if he wants to be a starter long term but he has a lot of time to grow and could one day develop into an above-average starting pitcher.

ETA: 2023

7. Mark Vientos, 3B

Drafted out of high school in 2017, Mark Vientos has been in the Mets system for some time and is one of the longer-tenured prospects on this list.

Vientos has incredible power and a cannon for an arm but there are some questions surrounding his ability to consistently hit. Vientos struck out over 100 times in just over 400 at-bats in 2019 which is not ideal.

There are also questions surrounding Vitenos’s ability at sticking at third base long term. He has below-average speed which makes him not have a vast range at the hot corner.

He is only 20 years old and has time to improve and having the power and arm he has is what will keep him afloat.

If Vientos can improve on his plate discipline he could be a really good offensive player but regardless his power will carry him through the minors.

ETA: 2023

6. J.T. Ginn, RHP

J.T. Ginn is a right-handed pitcher that was drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB draft. He was previously a first-round selection by the Dodgers out of high school in 2018 but chose to go to Mississippi State.

Ginn was a first-round talent in 2018 and he was a first-round talent in 2020. Why didn’t he go in the first round of the 2020 draft then? Because he had Tommy John surgery in March of 2020, otherwise he would have been a first-rounder.

A high upside pitcher that the Mets potentially got good value on throws in the mid to upper 90s with his fastball which has very good movement.

Ginn’s out pitch is his slider. A plus pitch for him that sits in the mid-80s and is overpowering at times. In addition, Ginn has a changeup that could develop into a plus pitch.

If J.T. Ginn can recover from Tommy John and become once again that first-round talent the Mets could have a top half of the rotation pitcher on their hands.

ETA: 2023

5. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF

Similar to J.T. Ginn, Pete Crow-Armstrong was drafted in the 2020 MLB draft but Crow-Armstrong was the Mets first-round selection.

After losing Jared Kelenic in the Robinson Cano trade the Mets desperately needed to replenish their top-shelf outfield depth and Crow-Armstrong just happen to be there at number 19 overall for the taking.

Crow-Armstrong has above-average speed and elite defense in centerfield and should have no problem sticking their long term.

He needs to develop at the plate especially in the power department, but the defense is what will carry the 18-year-old until he is able to develop that part of his game.

The Mets could have a gold glove centerfielder on their hands in a few years and if he develops he could be the next great leadoff hitter for this franchise.

ETA: 2023

4. Brett Baty, 3B

One of the oldest high school draft picks in 2018, Brett Baty was drafted 12th overall in the 2019 MLB draft. He is currently a third baseman with a cannon for an arm but there is some concern if he can stick at the hot corner long term.

Baty’s raw power is undeniable but he is still raw and needs some development. The absence of the minor league season definitely hurt him even though he was added to the alternate site late in the 2020 season.

Hopefully, he is pushed aggressively through the Mets system and he can hit the ground running in 2021.

ETA: 2023