NY Mets Friday Farming: Realistic ETAs for top prospects

The season is officially over and the Braves have won the World Series. This Atlanta team was the epitome of getting to the playoffs where anything can happen. It’s something I’ve talked about before: if the New York Mets won the NL East, who knows where they could go.

Injuries to top players, especially Jacob deGrom and Francisco Lindor, may have hampered their chances a bit. I don’t know if this team could win a World Series without deGrom in their current structure. The run support wavered and relying on strong pitching is a big ask.

Still, we’re looking ahead to the future. The Mets have several strong upcoming prospects and we may see some very soon. Brett Baty is a name that fans could see on SNY by the beginning of the season. If I’m the Mets, I absolutely invite him to Spring Training.

Baty is coming soon, but the Mets can also expect big names in the future

Francisco Alvarez is a big one. His big-league debut is likely at least a year away. My prediction is that he continues to develop at the higher ranks in the minor leagues in 2022. He could be here before Opening Day 2023. If there’s no MLB lockout next season, I would not hesitate to promote Alvarez to the Mets’ big-league roster during September roster expansion.

Pending a big season of course.

Alvarez was an international signee and he turns 20 this month. When we consider the big superstars in the game today and how young they are, he would fit right in.

In two years in the minors – 2019 and 2021 – Alvarez has an OPS of .933. He has 31 total minor league home runs in 484 at-bats, which equates to one home run per 15 at-bats. These are exciting numbers for the tenth-overall Major League Baseball prospect.

As we’ve discussed at length, Brett Baty has a chance to make the Mets’ Opening Day roster. I’m unsure if he will; there’s no rush and he’s young. But the 2019 No. 1 overall pick could be coming quickly.

In the Arizona Fall League, Baty has five extra base hits in only fifteen games. His batting average is .241 and has an OPS of .733. Realistically, the Mets may want to hold off on Baty until he’s truly ready to face MLB pitching. His cup of coffee could come earlier on, however.

Between him and fellow prospect Mark Vientos, the Mets may need a third baseman for the time being. Maybe a rental or putting Jeff McNeil at third for now would do the trick.

Currently in the Dominican Winter League, shortstop Ronny Mauricio ended the year with the Binghamton Double-A squad. In 108 minor league games this year, his batting average was .248.

According to MLB.com, Mauricio’s ETA is 2022. I don’t know if we’ll see him this year.

He’s good, but the Mets may be unsure of which position he could end up at. Mauricio was almost a trade piece at last year’s deadline. Ever since Francisco Lindor signed with the Mets for the next decade, questions have hung around Mauricio and whether the Mets should keep or sell him.

Considering the front-loaded farm system, it would be foolish to sell any top players. Investing in Mauricio will pan out for New York, but we likely won’t see it until 2023.

Perhaps one of the most unfortunate farm system news of the year surrounded Matt Allan. Back in May, it was announced that Allan would undergo Tommy John’s surgery. This means he would miss the rest of 2021, plus a big chunk of 2022.

Allan’s timetable was immediately pushed back. It was a bummer since he spent much of Spring Training paired with Jacob deGrom.

The RHP has a lot to like: a smooth delivery with a high-velocity fastball, good command that paints corners, big spin rate on his curveball, and an improving changeup. He only has stats from 2019 with High-A Brooklyn and the Gulf Coast Mets. It’s still so easy to get excited for his appearance.

Perhaps JT Ginn may be one of the most intruguing Mets prospect, simply because he was a 2020 mid-round draft pick. Yet he’s worked his way into the top five.

His ERA in the minors so far is 3.03. Yet that doesn’t tell the entire story.

Ginn is appealing because of the improvements he’s made. Out of high school, Ginn was drafted in the 30th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Instead of signing, he went onto Mississippi State, and ended up being signed by the Mets in the second round. He’s already underwent Tommy John surgery.

For the Mets, Ginn was so valuable that he signed for $2.9 million, what first-rounders sign for.

Ginn has a low-90s fastball, but it can reach 95, he commands his slider with ease, he’s getting a better feel for his changeup. Still with some development to go, Ginn could be an impressive addition for the Mets in 2023.

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It will be interesting to see who the Mets add to their farm system in 2022’s MLB Entry Draft, but hopefully it’s nothing like 2021 and they actually sign their first-round pick.