3 NY Mets prospects about to have their breakthrough season in 2025

When a prospect breaks out, it gives teams another potential long-term piece they can build around in the near future. Last year, the New York Mets' biggest prospect breakout was Brandon Sproat, who is now a consensus top 100 prospect. He now looks like a potential front-of-the-rotation hurler for the Mets that's on the doorstep of the Major Leagues. But the Mets have plenty more young players in their system who could be the next Sproat and have a great season, climbing prospect boards and becoming a name to watch. 

1) Marco Vargas

The Mets originally acquired Marco Vargas from the Miami Marlins when they traded veteran reliever David Robertson to the Fish at the 2023 trade deadline. After impressing in the lower levels of the minor leagues, 2024 was supposed to be Vargas' first extended look against pro pitching, as he'd play the season at A-Ball St. Lucie. However, Vargas would miss most of the season due to injuries, and his bottom line wasn't all that good either.

Vargas hit just .208/.369/.239 in 168 plate appearances. Vargas had just four extra-base hits, all of which were doubles. He batted just above the Mendoza line as well. Overall, he had a sub-par .608 OPS, .321 wOBA, and 94 wRC+. But while his results weren't good, there were still a lot of positives, especially from his under-the-hood metrics.

Vargas walked in a whopping 20.2% of his plate appearances. He showed he has the potential to hit for more power as well with an 88.1 MPH exit velo when the league average exit velo at A-Ball is 86.7 MPH. The young infielder rarely swung and missed as well, with a 16.8% whiff rate. Vargas also carried a significantly better .345 xwOBA.

Vargas projects to have a plus hit tool, which isn't surprising given his low whiff rate. He has some strength and projectability in his six-foot, 170-pound frame and had a solid exit velocity in his small sample size in 2024. But he only had a 2.6% barrel percentage. Vargas is a fringy runner but has a decent arm and glove that can play up the middle.

Vargas is still very young, as he won't turn 20 until mid-May. He may be the biggest breakout position player candidate in the Mets' system right now. If he stays healthy during next season, he may shoot up prospect boards. Vargas showed off some decent talent in his small sample size of playing time last year and could definitely build off of that in 2025.