New outfield prospect Ryan Clifford is a young talent Mets fans will get to know soon
The Mets shipped Justin Verlander back to Houston yesterday, reuniting him with his former team. The major piece of the deal in return was outfielder Drew Gilbert, but the second prospect sent over might be even better.
Ryan Clifford was the 4th best prospect in the Astros system, compared to Gilbert as the 1st. However, Clifford's rapid ascent through the minors and up the rankings is hard to ignore. The Astros 11th round pick last season, Clifford has already made his way to High A, hitting .291 on the season with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs. His strikeout count is a bit high, but being such a young player he will continue to grow in that department. The consensus from analysts on Twitter is that the Mets got a great return on Verlander, and Clifford is a crucial reason why.
Clifford is an ascending talent, and having just turned 20 years old just a few weeks ago. Both Clifford and Gilbert figure to be long term replacements for the Mets current outfield and can continue to develop and grow in the farm system. If developed properly, the Mets could potentially have the power hitting lefty they've been looking for in no time.