NY Mets prospects acquired in 2023 trade didn't hit much, but did do one thing well

Buy or sell? It was a question asked by everyone in the middle of the 2023 New York Mets season. The team was built to win a championship and yet the results on the field weren’t justifying trade deadline additions. With limited days left to decide, the team underwent their first trade deadline sell-off since 2018 with the David Robertson deal to the Miami Marlins signaling to everyone they’d be raising the white flag.

By trading Robertson, the Mets opened up a floodgate for more trades in the following days. His deal was, initially, met with skepticism. Two teenage prospects came to the Mets. Quickly, as fans learned about each of them and saw promising results, it became a much more welcomed trade even if it meant a lost 2023 campaign.

Ronald Hernandez and Marco Vargas were the pair of players acquired by the Mets in the trade. Each found their way onto the club’s top 30 prospects list at one point, but have struggled to dazzle this season in Brooklyn with one exception: both are stealing a ton of bases.

Mets prospects Ronald Hernandez and Marco Vargas didn't hit much, but became big on the base paths

It’s mostly surprising to see Hernandez put on a display of speed considering he’s a catcher/first baseman. Just 8 stolen bases all of last season, he swiped 23 in 28 attempts. Batting .224/.318/.335 with 6 home runs, it was an unsatisfying follow-up with the bat.

Vargas’ speed isn’t as much of a shock to the system. However, the total is far greater than he had delivered in the past. Vargas stole 38 bases in 45 tries.

Stealing bases was a weapon for the Mets in the major leagues this year both in quantity and effectiveness. The Brooklyn Cyclones roster wasn’t quite as successful, possibly taking a few more risks than a major league club would ever allow. Nevertheless, we find five players this year on their roster who stole 20+. Chris Suero, who also does some catching like Hernandez, is one of those guys.

When we think of the Mets farm system, it’s pitching focused. There isn’t a ton of power down there outside of Ryan Clifford. Not even Carson Benge has found his power stroke just yet. Stolen bases are easy to overlook as a whole for any club because in today’s game it’s not what seems to highlight wins. The three-run home run pays the mortgage, not singles and stolen bases.

Hernandez and Vargas are kind of stuck right now. Vargas had a disappointing season at the plate, too. Batting .239/.328/.296 with 9 doubles and a single home run for Brooklyn, it can’t all be blamed on a ballpark notorious for destroying left-handed hitters. Vargas has yet to develop any sort of power in his bat. His 6 home runs in over 1,100 plate appearances is far too low. It’s not unusual for a prospect to develop power later on in their careers. Ronny Mauricio had just 4 in 2019 in his 504 plate appearances. He exploded with 20 the following year, including 19 for Brooklyn.