2 Mets prospects we're convinced will be a star, 1 on the verge of joining them
Maybe the one shared opinion everyone seems to have about the New York Mets farm system is how good it is at the top and the major fall-off after. Their best prospects are really good ones. Unfortunately, they just aren’t very deep.
No matter. If the players we’re convinced become stars live up to the hype, the team is in great shape. And wouldn’t you know, another guy is on the verge of joining them in that inner circle of “no doubt about it, he’s going to be something special.”
1) NY Mets prospect Francisco Alvarez is going to be a star
I’m a star. I’m a star. I’m a star. I’m a star. I’m a big, bright shining star. It’s what we’re convinced Francisco Alvarez will say when he looks at himself in the mirror before a big game sometime in the future. While he has been slow to adjust to major league pitching, we know better than to dismiss him as one of the brightest members of this organization.
Depending on where you look, Alvarez might be the best prospect in all of Major League Baseball. The often arbitrary listing of young athletes does tend to have some major misses. Tell a Mets fan Alvarez is just another Kevin Plawecki and you’ll start a fight.
Exactly what type of player Alvarez becomes remains the big unknown. He has been consistent at reaching base throughout his professional career. While the batting average has dipped, the OBP and slugging percentage have been very good throughout his rise in the system. We’re all eager to see it happen at Citi Field.
One bittersweet outcome for Alvarez could be that he is less of a catcher and more of a DH by the time he gets regular playing time. This isn’t the worst case scenario considering the team has Kevin Parada in the system. Alvarez as the everyday DH and occasional backstop actually sounds a lot better than the current way the Mets are handling the role with part-time first baseman Daniel Vogelbach. We’ll have to wait a few more years to learn whether or not Alvarez is all bat, no glove or capable enough behind the plate to have the yeoman's share of the work.
2) NY Mets prospect Brett Baty is going to be a star
If you weren’t pummeled enough by Mets fans after saying you didn’t think Alvarez is a future star, try dissing Brett Baty. Already a fan favorite and mashing baseballs in Triple-A this season, it’s only a matter of time before he is back on the big league club.
Baty was a little slower to start raking as a professional. It wasn’t even until the 2022 campaign when his numbers fully took off. Last year in Double-A and Triple-A he combined to slash .315/.410/.533 with 19 home runs and 60 RBI. Based on the early returns in 2023, he’ll obliterate those numbers if he stays on the farm all season.
Similar questions with Baty exist as they do with Alvarez. Can he play defense well enough? It’s not as if the Mets haven’t had bad defenders at third base before. What’s more, they have an opening in left field for Baty to possibly master.
Baty is another guy we’re all depending on to help the offense soon enough. We do accept that there will be some growing pains along the way. Third base has been a bit of a black hole since David Wright left the picture. Recent memories of Wright at the position don’t so much add pressure on Baty as much as it makes us all hopeful he’s anything close to the Captain.
3) NY Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio is making his case to become a star
Ronny Mauricio had been sliding down the prospect rankings for this team. Every draft has put at least one guy in front of him. Well-regarded for several years already, his numbers never really stood out. He began to hit for good power in 2021 but with a .248 batting average and .296 OBP, flaws were obvious.
Mauricio is still not quite there when compared to Alvarez and Baty in the eyes of many. His 2022 performance was impressive. He spent all year in Double-A batting .259/.296/.472 while ripping 26 doubles and just as many home runs.
For Mauricio, the question over the last few years has been where the Mets would even play him. He was previously viewed as a future shortstop candidate. Francisco Lindor is blocking him from ever doing that. Where does he fit in now?
One possibility, if he is an everyday player, is for Mauricio to become a third baseman. This would move Baty into the outfield. The Mets haven’t tried Mauricio out at other positions. It was only in the Winter League this past offseason when he saw some action at third base.
We can look at Mauricio as a potential budding star or someone whose poor plate discipline will hold him back. He has spent a lot of his professional career with an Amed Rosario-like ability to barely draw a walk. Our perception of him can change in a wild way in 2023. It all depends on how he does one level away from the majors.