Mets Power Rankings: Prospects who have made a case to make the Opening Day roster

The New York Mets have a lot more time to decide on their Opening Day roster for the 2023 season. They could potentially carry with them zero prospects with a rookie status still intact. This will depend on the health of certain players and whether or not the team decides to eliminate certain veterans from the roster.

After two weeks of spring action, it’s these prospects who have begun to build a case for an Opening Day roster spot.

5) NY Mets Power Rankings: Josh Walker

Lefty pitcher Josh Walker has been a Mets prospect for several years. A switch from starter to reliever will only benefit him on his path toward the majors. He hasn’t pitched brilliantly in his 3 innings but with only one earned run allowed and a spot open for another lefty reliever in the bullpen, it’s hard to leave him off this list as a candidate.

4) NY Mets Power Rankings: Eric Orze/Grant Hartwig

Eric Orze and Grant Hartwig share the number four spot because neither has done enough to differentiate themselves from the other. They’re in kind of a similar spot. Neither has given up a run this spring. Both have looked good. We should expect to see both of them on the 40-man roster at some point this year earning their first sips of MLB coffee.

3) NY Mets Power Rankings: Bryce Montes de Oca

Already on the 40-man roster, we have to give an advantage to Bryce Montes de Oca over some of the other pitching prospects. He’s no sure bet to make it, though. With more experienced arms such as John Curtiss and Sam Coonrod pitching well, the Mets may feel a few more innings in Triple-A will benefit Montes de Oca in the long term.

2) NY Mets Power Rankings: Mark Vientos

Onto the hitters portion of the show, Mark Vientos has slashed .276/.300/.552 in his first 11 games this spring. Adding a pair of home runs and driving in 7, he continues to be a power threat who strikes out a lot. I’m not sure how much longer playing at the Triple-A level will help him improve. He’s going to be one of those guys who might smash 25 home runs in a year but do it with a .220 batting average. He seems about as ready to get big league playing time as anyone. Carrying him on the Opening Day roster over Darin Ruf would be a dream come true for most fans.

1) NY Mets Power Rankings: Brett Baty

Finally, there’s Brett Baty. Now slashing .409/.480/.591 in his 11 spring games, he is an even greater fit for the Mets than Vientos. Baty has some areas to work on. His defense is imperfect and we all can feel confident it will be the reason why the team eventually sends him to the minor leagues. Among all of the Mets prospects, he has made the biggest case to start the year in the majors.