Triple-A outfield group has a few names to watch

New York Mets fans will get the season they’ve been craving all winter. The MLB lockout is over!

Unaffected by the lockout, the Syracuse Mets will provide us with some additional enjoyment.

The Syracuse club has yet to set their roster and won’t finalize things until closer to the start of their season. April 5th is the day when the Triple-A season begins. Hosting the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders on a Taco Tuesday, the Syracuse Mets will be the only kind of Mets playing games that count on that day in anticipation for the big league squad to start later that week.

A few outfielders to know vying for a spot on the Syracuse Mets in Triple-A

The Syracuse outfield is one area to watch. Excluding Khalil Lee and Nick Plummer from the 40-man roster, we have a few other candidates that can get the fans in Northern New York pumped up.

Carlos Cortes and Carlos Rincon are two 24-year-olds with more than a shared name. Each was eligible to be claimed in the Rule 5 Draft. However, now that it’s canceled, they could remain with the Mets without fear of getting plucked away.

Each has some upside. Cortes has moved to the outfield from second base and been more of a Jeff McNeil type. Rincon, who hit a combined 22 home runs with the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers Double-A teams in 2021, is a name to watch. Could it be that his struggles as a professional are over after last season’s success?

The team also has two veterans competing for a roster spot. Daniel Palka is a power-hitting outfielder/first baseman who signed with the club this winter. His previous success came as a member of the Chicago White Sox back in 2018 when he belted 27 home runs. More of a prototypical Four-A player, look for him to lead the Syracuse club in home runs.

There’s also one of the new additions, a familiar name, Johneshwy Fargas! Mets fans got to see him briefly last year. Gifted with speed, he was claimed by the Chicago Cubs off waivers. Look for him to provide the big league club with some outfield depth and maybe some big pinch-running moments. In Triple-A, he should have a bigger role.

Finally, there’s Jake Mangum. A fourth-round draft pick from 2019, he’s one of the truer prospects mentioned here. Now 26, the coming year is a huge one for him. Mangum played very well in High-A and Double-A last season, hitting a surprising 9 home runs. In college, he had only 5 in 1200 plate appearances. Also equipped with some speed (14 stolen bases last year) and an increasingly good average (.294 in Double-A), he’s a sleeper who could be on the 40-man roster sooner than later.

There are, of course, a few other notable players we could see open the season in Triple-A. The outfield group, however, seems to have the most potency and mix of youngsters and veterans with speed and power.