Mets Minor Leagues: 1 player at every position to keep an eye on

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WEST PALM BEACH, FL – MARCH 07: A detailed view of the Wilson glove of J.D. Davis #28 of the New York Mets before the spring training game against the Washington Nationals at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on March 7, 2019 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Minor league baseball returns in 2021 after a layoff in the 2020 season. For New York Mets fans, this meant less chatter about what the team could look like in the future.

Minor league baseball was a big part of many of our lives growing up. It was a chance to see future stars up close. I’m happy it’s returning because it gives us a whole lot more to talk about. Notably, we can discuss how some of the organization’s top prospects are performing.

Not every important minor league player is actually a top prospect, though. Many are outside of any listing you might find but still play an important role. I tried to find a few lesser-talked-about yet still very important players on the Mets farm worth knowing this year. Are any of them the next Jeff McNeil, ready to rise up to the minor leagues without much warning? Or do we have a few guys we’ll never hear from again after this season on the list?

Mets minor league pitcher Junior Santos

Just outside of the top 10 Mets prospects on MLB.com’s list is a 19-year-old pitcher from the Dominican Republic named Junior Santos. Standing at 6’8 with a listed weight of 218 pounds, he’s a tall yet slender giant on the mound.

I know size doesn’t always translate into success, but combine this with his age and Santos definitely grabs my attention. Despite a poor season when he lasted pitched professionally in 2019, Santos is a guy we could see leap up the prospect rankings as soon as this year.

Mets minor league catcher Patrick Mazeika

Anyone who knows a thing about this franchise’s farm system is well aware of Francisco Alvarez. Potentially the best prospect they have at any position, he’s the future star we can wait around to see catch some games for the big league squad.

Until then, we’ll have to see what guys like Patrick Mazeika may be able to accomplish. Already on the 40-man roster and ready to turn 28 already this October, Mazeika isn’t what we should consider a prospect. However, catchers sometimes do bloom late. If his bat produces at the minor league level, the Mets may have to look at him as a possible backup option in the not too distant future.

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA – MARCH 03: A detailed view of the New Balance cleats worn by Amed Rosario #1 of the New York Mets during the spring training game against the Miami Marlins at Clover Park on March 03, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Mets minor league first baseman Jeremy Vasquez

It can’t be a good feeling to know you’re a first baseman in the Mets’ system. This could be why Jeremy Vasquez has seen some action in the corner outfield spots. Even if his future doesn’t lead him to Citi Field, it at least opens him up to a few more opportunities with another organization.

Vasquez has hit well at several different minor league levels. Short on power for a first baseman, I think his most likely destination is to another team in a future trade. This doesn’t mean we should completely ignore what he does on the farm this season.

Mets minor league second baseman Carlos Cortes

Top-level second basemen are hard to find in the minor leagues because many of the best in the majors move there from shortstop. I have a lot of respect for second basemen, though. Fortunately, the Mets have a pretty good one with their number 19 prospect, Carlos Cortes.

I wanted to put a lesser-known player at this position, but Cortes is far and away the best. Plus, he’s still on the rise. After hitting .392 in Australia this winter, it has become clear he is a guy to watch. Cortes has decent power for a middle infielder and strikes me as a player we could eventually see in the big leagues playing a variety of positions. Notably, he’s actually beginning the 2021 season as an outfielder so his spot on this list at second baseman may not last all too long.

Mets minor league third baseman Will Toffey

Acquired in the 2018 Jeurys Familia trade with the Oakland Athletics, third baseman Will Toffey is well ahead of players like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos in terms of distance from the major leagues. Even if his performance may suggest otherwise, Toffey is a player we could potentially see gets a few reps in the major leagues—as long as he can prove he’s able to hit.

Toffey isn’t going to suddenly find his swing and steal a job from anyone. Only because of the level he’s at in terms of development has he caught my eye. At the very least, I’m curious to see if the young man has yet to reach his potential or if we’ve already seen the best of him.

BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 15: A detail view of Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets Under Armour cleats in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 15, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Mets minor league shortstop Branden Fryman

The Mets have had a lot of luck finding some talented young shortstops in recent years. They were able to trade a pair away to acquire Francisco Lindor. Down on the farm, there are a lot of familiar names. One you may not know too well is Branden Fryman. Until today, I didn’t know it either.

Drafted in the 21st round, Fryman got off to an awesome start back in 2019. Although it was just 65 plate appearances, he hit a combined .356 in the Gulf Coast League and New York Penn League. Maybe I’m just caught up in his bloodline—he’s the son of Travis Fryman. Light on power yet big on speed and possibly capable of hitting for average, I’m ready to see what he can do in 2021.

Mets minor league outfielder Alexander Ramirez

The Mets have a shortage of outfielders near MLB-ready. Look a little deeper and you’ll find a couple of guys at the lower levels with potential. One is Alexander Ramirez.

MLB.com has him as the number nine prospect in the system. Only 18-years-old, we may need to wait patiently to see what he has in store for us. Will he be the next great young outfield superstar or is Ramirez going to get lost in the shuffle, passed by other players, and see the value of his first baseball card plummet? It would be pretty sweet to have a young outfielder we can root for and watch become a major league stud. If anyone does it, Ramirez might be the man.

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