Mets best prospects at each position down on the farm in 2021

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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 11: New York Mets batting helmets in their dugout before a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park at on March 11, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

While the New York Mets minors currently aren’t ranked yet among the league’s best, it won’t be too much longer before that narrative changes. The organization is currently in the middle of rebuilding a pipeline that had been depleted of talent by trades the last two seasons by former General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen.

The Mets farm system also contains many players who are so young and inexperienced that they just need a bit more minor league seasoning as many of the organization’s highly regarded prospects haven’t played above A-ball.

The future however is still certainly bright considering the projected upside of many of the Mets’ top six prospects in their system, despite their youth and inexperience to this point. The Mets also possess the tenth overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft in July, which could further push their farm system ranking a bit higher based on their selections this year.

The Mets have a talented lineup of prospects at each position that could make waves in 2021 with a full season of Minor League Baseball.

Recently MLB.com released their 2021 list of the Mets Top 30 Prospects, and I thought it would be fun to highlight the top prospect at every position in the organization’s minor league system heading into this season. With a full minor league season expected to commence this season, my thoughts on this list could certainly change by August. But as of right now, I believe the following players are the best at their respective positions currently.

First, let’s take a look at the best battery combination currently in the Mets system, which includes two high-upside players that the Mets were reluctant to include in any potential trade this offseason.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 05: A New York Mets hat on the dugout stairs during the home opener against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

1) Top Pitcher & Catcher in Mets Farm System:

Catcher: Francisco Alvarez
Starting Pitcher Matthew Allan

Both Francisco Alvarez and Matthew Allan could be considered the battery of the future for the Mets, with Allan, projected to become a frontline starting pitcher, while Alvarez is considered one of the most exciting catching prospects in the game. Both players saw action at the Mets alternate site in Brooklyn last season, and you could consider each player to be at least two seasons away from making their Major League debuts. With as much hype that surrounds both players, it’s important to remember they are both only 19 years old!

Alvarez is currently ranked as the number one overall top prospect in the Mets system according to MLB.com with Allan following respectively as the organization’s third overall prospect on the farm. On the surface, I firmly believe the Mets front office intends to build their future core around both of these players moving forward.

Yet despite both players not playing above rookie ball, the upside in each player is tantalizing enough that the Mets front office refused to include either player in a potential trade this offseason. There were many reports that the front office had scoffed at a trade for Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant in which the Cubs wanted Alvarez included in a potential deal this winter.

Alvarez has shown tremendous ability with his bat to this point in his very young career, which has allowed him to catapult up the rankings. However, Alvarez’s defense is the area that needs some work down on the farm before being considered MLB ready. It’s hard to ignore his skillset with the bat and he will certainly garner more national attention on the prospect circuit this year should he continue his ascent this season in full-season ball.

Allan, who has been shadowing current ace Jacob deGrom this spring, also has shown the type of stuff that has many believing he could be the heir to Jacob deGrom’s throne down the road. Allan’s arsenal contains a four-seam fastball, a curveball, and a changeup that already has the front office drooling. Showing consistency with throwing his arsenal will be key for Allan in full-season ball this year, and it’ll be interesting to see ultimately what affiliate he is placed at when the Minor League season begins.

PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 04: A detailed view of the Under Armour cleats and Stance socks worn by Todd Frazier #21 of the New York Mets during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 4, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

2) Top Shortstop & Third Base Prospect in Mets Farm System:

Shortstop: Ronny Mauricio
Third Base: Brett Baty

Ronny Mauricio is the most nationally well-known name on this list as he is ranked as the Mets number two overall prospect by MLB.com, and is the next highly regarded shortstop to come through the Mets pipeline following Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario. However, with Francisco Lindor potentially becoming the cornerstone at shortstop for the Mets, and Mauricio seemingly outgrowing shortstop due to his size, a position change may be in line for the talented 19-year-old.

Mauricio has been lauded for his defensive athleticism and his power potential at the plate. With Mauricio bulking up this past offseason those projections about his power being one of his strengths are going to continue to grow louder. Another full season of development is important for Mauricio who has yet to play above A-ball, but he has the potential to become a star in this league should his development continue as expected.

It was tough to choose between Mark Vientos and Brett Baty for the third base position, as both are highly regarded third base prospects in the Mets system, but I ultimately went with Baty, who is currently ranked as the fourth overall prospect in the Mets farm system by MLB.com. The 21-year-old Baty was the Mets first-round pick back in 2019 out of the Texas Prep ranks, and similar to many of the Mets’ current top prospects, Baty has yet to play above rookie ball.

However, Baty may have the biggest power bat in the Mets system currently and could project as a middle-of-the-order hitter for the Mets in two to three years. Defensively Baty still needs work at the hot corner, as well as becoming more consistent with the bat, but should he display those improvements in full-season ball, he could become one of the elite third-base prospects in the game.

JUPITER, FL – MARCH 12: New Era caps and Wilson gloves of the New York Mets sit on the dugout steps during a spring training baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium on March 12, 2019 in Jupiter, Florida. The Marlins defeated the Mets 8-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

3) Top First Base & Second Base Prospect in Mets Farm System:

First Base: Jeremy Vasquez
Second Base: Carlos Cortes

When looking at the two players listed above, many Mets fans may be unfamiliar with the names. However, each player still contains the potential to be a contributor for the Mets down the line despite not having the surrounding hype than the previous players that have been mentioned.

Starting with first baseman Jeremy Vasquez, the 24-year old may be a relative unknown to many fans as he does not appear on many top prospects lists for the Mets. With the Mets graduating both of their top first-base prospects in Dominic Smith and Pete Alonso to the Major Leagues, there isn’t a blue-chip prospect at that position currently in the system, yet Vasquez could make a name for himself in 2021 on the minor-league circuit.

Vasquez was a 28th round draft pick back in the 2017 MLB Draft and had made the climb up to Double-A in 2019. While Vasquez isn’t a power threat (only 23 career home runs) he walks a ton, and he gets on base at a phenomenal .364 clip for his career. You could almost equate Vasquez as the first base version of Brandon Nimmo. Moving forward Vasquez could turn himself into a valuable bench piece for the Mets in another year or two, should his approach at the plate continue, as well with no other current first base prospects threatening his path to Queens.

Carlos Cortes is one of the prospects that made a name for himself in the Australian Baseball League this winter. Cortes is currently ranked as the 19th best prospect in the Mets system by MLB.com, but he could further climb the ranking should his offensive performance in Australia translate to the Minor Leagues this summer.

In Cortes’ 14 games played in Australia this winter, he produced a ridiculous .392/.429/.706 slash line with three home runs and 16 RBI’s. In 2019, which was Cortes’ last full season of baseball, he had finished second in the Florida State League with 182 base hits, which went along with 11 home runs and 68 RBI’s in 127 games played. The offensive ceiling for Cortes seems to be limitless and he could play himself into a bench role next season, or possibly set himself up as a legitimate second base option for the Mets depending on how his defense improves over the next year or two.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 03: A New York Mets glove on the field during batting practice of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

4) Top Outfielder in the Mets Farm System:

Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong

The Mets’ most recent first-round draft pick in Pete Crow-Armstrong takes the crown as the Mets’ top outfield prospect currently down on the farm. The 18-year-old outfielder was regarded as the best defensive player in the 2020 MLB Draft, and he is currently listed as the fifth-best prospect in the Mets system by MLB.com.

While the defense is likely to be Crow-Armstrong’s calling card at the big league level, it will be important to monitor his development with the bat throughout his journey throughout the Minors, to see if he can establish himself into that everyday role many project him to be. With his defense and speed combination, Crow-Armstrong has the potential to be an exciting top-of-the-order player at the next level, provided his bat develops as expected.

While Crow-Armstrong has yet to appear in an official Minor League game, he was invited to big league camp this spring and has gotten some valuable at-bats, as well as time in the outfield during Spring Training. I believe it was invaluable for him to rub elbows with many of the Major League players while also receiving the live game reps that he was unable to receive last season due to the pandemic.

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Out of all of the current prospects that I’ve currently listed, Crow-Armstrong will most likely the last out of the group to make his MLB debut due to his age and experience to this point. But make no mistake about it, he is firmly entrenched as the center fielder of the future for the Mets moving into the 2021 season.

Home / New York Mets prospects

The Mets have a talented lineup of prospects at each position that could make waves in 2021 with a full season of Minor League Baseball.

1) Top Pitcher & Catcher in Mets Farm System:

Catcher: Francisco Alvarez

Starting Pitcher Matthew Allan

2) Top Shortstop & Third Base Prospect in Mets Farm System:

Shortstop: Ronny Mauricio

Third Base: Brett Baty

3) Top First Base & Second Base Prospect in Mets Farm System:

First Base: Jeremy Vasquez

Second Base: Carlos Cortes

4) Top Outfielder in the Mets Farm System:

Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong

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