Maybe Luisangel Acuna can play a role with the NY Mets next year after all

The New York Mets acquired Luisangel Acuna at the 2023 trade deadline from the Texas Rangers for veteran ace Max Scherzer. While he was once seen as one of the Mets’ best prospects, entering 2024 as a top-100 prospect by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball Prospectus, his prospect notoriety has since worn off. The last two seasons have not been very kind to Acuna, leaving his role with the Mets going into next year in limbo.

However, Acuna may still find a role with the Mets as an option to see more time in center field. As things stand right now, the Mets’ answer to center field would be a mix of Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil, the latter of whom saw his first extended look in center this season. Taylor is a slick fielder, but they should not feel confident with him as their primary CF option. McNeil may not have been horrible defensively, but he is better suited for an outfield corner/second base utility role, that is if he isn’t moved this offseason and replaced with another player. They do have Carson Benge, one of baseball’s best outfield prospects, in the minor leagues. However, he still needs more time in the oven after struggling badly in his first taste of action at Triple-A Syracuse. That means they could use more depth up the middle to bridge the gap until Benge is ready.

Even though Acuna is primarily a middle infielder, it’s not entirely unreasonable to put Acuna in center. He spent 31 games at the position in 2024, logging over 250 innings. Acuna tacked on three more innings in center field in the Major Leagues this year. He would unquestionably have some of the best range among all center fielders in the game. He was in the 97th percentile of sprint speed this year at 29.6 feet per second. That would be among the likes of Pete Crow-Armstrong (29.5 feet/second), Denzel Clarke (29.5 feet/second), and Julio Rodriguez (29.2 feet/second). Acuna has already shown off that range, posting +3 outs above average in the Major Leagues between second base and shortstop. 

Luisangel Acuna could carve out a different role with the Mets in 2026 by playing more center field.

Acuna also has the arm strength to play center field. Coming up through the minor leagues, he was known to have a strong arm. Even as late as 2024, Baseball America projected his arm to be a plus tool, with a 60-grade. MLB Pipeline was also bullish on his arm strength, giving it a 55-grade. For what it’s worth, he made four assists in the 31 games he saw at center during 2024 at Syracuse.

It’s not as if Acuna moving to center field is a new development. Many saw Acuna eventually spending more time in the outfield. MLB Pipeline, as early as 2022, stated that he could play anywhere on the diamond, but with “second base and center field his most obvious destinations.” Even Baseball America said in their 2020 write-up that centerfield was a possibility in Acuna’s future. 

The Mets also need to figure out a way to get more out of Acuna. He had a sub-.600 OPS with a 65 wRC+ in the Major Leagues this year, and it was his second consecutive season putting up a below 100 wRC+ at Triple-A. Making him more of a super utility man, who can give the Mets above-average or better defense at multiple positions, including center field, would make him useful, even if he does not hit very well.