The next 3 Mets prospects making a case for a promotion

Mar 20, 2023; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA;  New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos (27) doubles
Mar 20, 2023; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos (27) doubles / Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
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The New York Mets acted quickly this year to promote several players to the MLB roster. Francisco Alvarez arrived out of need for a catcher. Brett Baty was called up to assist an offense that had trouble buffering.

The Mets aren’t done yet. They should be in need of a little more help throughout the season. Right now they could use a minor leaguer or two to help try to fix some weaknesses.

It’s these three players the Mets need to start thinking about calling up even for a short period of time to see what they can offer.

1) NY Mets prospect Mark Vientos is begging for a promotion

Nobody on the farm is more ready for regular MLB action than Mark Vientos. The slugging Mets prospect has continued to tear up the farm. There’s just one issue: where does he even play?

Rawlings apparently doesn’t make gloves capable of fitting Vientos’ hand. A former third baseman who gave left field a try who is now more of a first baseman is blocked at getting any regular MLB at-bats on this Mets team. It would take an injury or a major roster shift in order for the Mets to clear a spot for him.

The best place for Vientos would be to become the right-handed DH. The problems with this are obvious. You can’t have a roster with a left-handed DH and a right-handed one. Rosters are small enough. Wasting a pair on limited players is problematic.

In 107 plate appearances this year in Triple-A, Vientos is batting .367/.449/.733 with 9 doubles, 8 home runs, and 23 RBI. The monster start to the year is exactly what he needed to do to build a case for a big league promotion. There is little doubt he’ll be ready to swing a big stick whenever he does get the call.

2) NY Mets prospect Grant Hartwig can help the bullpen

The Mets bullpen is like a lot of bullpens. At times it’s good. In other instances there are too many guys who belong in the minor leagues. Grant Hartwig is becoming one of those Mets pitching prospects performing well enough for the big league club to start considering him as a viable option.

So far this season with Syracuse, Hartwig is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA. He has tossed 12 innings and walked 7 while striking out 14. Those numbers aren’t much of a surprise. Since he began his professional career in 2021, Hartwig has averaged 3.9 walks per 9 and 12.2 strikeouts per 9. He’s a tad high with the walks and low with the strikeouts this year. It’s early. We shouldn’t worry.

For those who followed Hartwig’s career, the strong start isn’t much of a surprise. He was fantastic on the farm last year. In his 56.2 innings of work at multiple levels, Hartwig was 6-2 with a 1.75 ERA. Undrafted and signed as an amateur free agent, he has the makings of being the next underdog story Mets fans latch onto and enjoy watching develop.

One thing holding Hartwig back could be the abundance of right-handed options the Mets already have. He’ll need to improve before moving ahead on the chart over some of the other arms. Similar sentiments could be true for this other player except he has the benefit of being a lefty.

3) NY Mets prospect Josh Walker continues to succeed as a reliever on the farm

Josh Walker is in a much different spot than Grant Hartwig. Once a legitimate starting pitching prospect with some promise, Walker is off the radar these days but with a catch. Someone decided to make Walker a reliever. They must’ve realized after some struggles as a starter on the farm the best thing to do for this left-handed thrower was to ask him to pitch in relief.

The Mets had an opportunity to promote Walker on Monday but chose to go with Zach Muckenhirn instead. It’s understandable. Muckenhirn is off to the better start. The loss of Brooks Raley to the IL put the Mets in a position where they didn’t have any lefty relievers at all. Walker and veteran T.J. McFarland would be the next two in line.

Walker’s season numbers include a 1.04 ERA in 8.2 innings of work. He does have a couple of unearned runs against him. His 0.92 WHIP does look favorable. So does his 13.5 strikeouts per 9 so far this season.

Because the Mets did just add Muckenhirn to the 40-man roster while moving Stephen Ridings to the 60-day IL, it may take another huge injury or a complete collapse by Muckenhirn on the mound in the majors in order for Walker to get his chance.

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