3 Mets prospects in contention to take on the expected Ronny Mauricio role midseason

Ronny Mauricio was supposed to compete alongside Brett Baty for third base starts while also serving as somewhat of a utility man. The young New York Mets infielder was cursed with a knee injury that will limit how much we get to see him at all in 2024.

Compared to the other Baby Mets already at the major league level, there was belief in Mauricio having enough of an ability to be athletic enough to play more than one position. Fortunately, the Mets don’t need to look far.

Down on the farm, where the prospects grow, up to the majors they dare to go. By midseason, one of these three could take on the type of role we expected Mauricio to have as a member of the Mets.

1) Luisangel Acuna

This is an easy one. Luisangel Acuna is going to see big league action at some point in 2024. His exact role could have him roving around the infield plenty in the mind of role Mauricio seemed destined to have. Although maybe not quite as versatile on an everyday basis as Joey Wendle will be, we can expect Acuna to play any of the three infield positions aside from first base. He has already seen action at shortstop and second base. A small sample in center field could even happen again.

Blocked by Francisco Lindor at shortstop and less so by Jeff McNeil at second base who has his own defensive range, using Acuna early in his career at more than one position is one way to get him major league at-bats. Already present on the 40-man roster for the second straight season, the only way he doesn’t get to the big leagues is if he completely falls out of relevancy. Even then, a September promotion as a speedy guy off the bench to sip from the MLB coffee mug is in order.

Acuna has yet to play third base professionally. A position the Mets are still trying to figure out, giving him a look there is something to try.

2) Jeremiah Jackson

A low-key great trade deadline additions by the Mets last summer, Jeremiah Jackson is an infield prospect we can see a lot from in 2024. Able to play all over the infield, his power bat is what makes him most intriguing.

Jackson has shifted away from being an everyday shortstop where he has logged the most innings in his professional career. A weak defender there, he has had much better results as a second baseman and third baseman. This is perfectly fine for the Mets situation.

Jackson is well on his way to becoming a utility player from the start. While Acuna is viewed as the top prospect in the system and a future everyday player, the verdict on Jackson has yet to arrive. Developing into the team’s next Jeff McNeil isn’t a bad place to start.

It remains perplexing why the Los Angeles Angels got rid of him in exchange for a low-level pitcher like Dominic Leone. Although he hit only .215 in 2022 down in Double-A and has taken a while to develop, Jackson has intriguing tools. Lost in his 22 home run season are the 27 stolen bases he added. Although a massive strikeout threat with 144 in 119 games last season, we can’t demand everything from a guy who can sprinkle in help in so many other places.