Tom Brennan: Re-Run of My Top 5 Mets Prospects Article

Hey, the Mets have lots of older games on re-run status during COVID.  Why can't I re-run my prospect write ups?

Today, I re-run my Top 25 prospects series with prospects # 1 thru # 5, the true Top of the Heap.

1) IF Ronny Mauricio – making a big leap from rookie ball to a full season of Class A ball, the 6’3” SS had a solid hitting season, as one of Columbia’s leading hitters, putting up a .268/.307/.357 stat line in a league he is probably 4 years younger than at age 18.  His speed seems questionable (just 8 of 24 steals lifetime) and his D needs to improve, but everyone expects him to fill out from his listed 166 pounds and develop major-league-adequate power.

Keep in mind that this was a very long season for Ronny, and he faded to .210 in August and September, after hitting .283 through July 31, so as he progresses (most likely to St Lucie in 2020 as a 19 year old), he will have already experienced a full season marathon in 2019 and likely will not fade in 2020 in similar fashion.

He also needs to pick up his hitting against lefties, as he did much better against righties as a switch hitter.

I anticipate a spike in his performance in 2020, and a retention of his #1 prospect ranking at season’s end next year. And joining the Mets' starting line up by 2022.

(2) C Francisco Alvarez – this bonus baby has Mets fans who pay attention to minor league prospect stuff salivating.  Just 17 yearls old and playing mostly in Kingsport (and a bit in the GCL), Alvarez hit .312/.407/.510 – in other words, sensational for his age.  Just 4 errors, and a very decent 9 of 32 in 27 games behind the dish, but he did have a very high 15 passed balls.  The 5’11”, 220 chunk of granite does need to tighten up on his defensive skills, but what 17 year old doesn’t.  I was excited to hear that he is being proactive and plans to take a defensive driving class this off season.

Kidding aside, this sure looks like a guy we can get excited about – and a guy who could be playing with the Mets at age 20 (three seasons from now) or 21 (in 2023).

(3) RHSP Matt Allan – Brodie’s bit 2019 draft gamble, to draft very highly rated Matt Allan in the 3^rd round when no other team thought that strategy would result in a signing, was Brodie’s move of the year.  

And Allan (a 6’3”, 225, 18 year old righty) sure delivered…for instance, his last 2 post-promotion outings for Brooklyn resulted in 5 hitless, scoreless innings.  

It certainly seems like the sky is the limit for Allan.  He definitely should start out 2020 in Columbia, based on his 2019 results. 

And crack the Mets' starting rotation sometime in 2022.  Very aggressive.

(4) IF Andres Gimenez – many folks had Gimenez as their # 1 prospect over Pete Alonso in the winter prior to the 2019 season.  I did not.  

I’d imagine at this point that you have joined me and that you also now would characterize that as a HUGE mistake. 

Anyway, the # 1 prospect of many prognosticators, Gimenez,  was hitting a woeful .229 on June 29 for Binghamton, a bit more than half way into the season.  Ugh.  But he rallied from that point on and finished at an even .250. 

Over the last 58 games, in fact, he hit an improved .281 with 6 homers, in a distinctly low hitting league. 

Positives are that he is a strong defensive SS and pretty fleet afoot, stealing 28 of 44 in 2019.  On the negative side, he fanned 102 times in 117 games. But that rate declined as his average rose over the last 58 games. 

He won’t turn 22 until September 2020, so he was in against older guys this year.

He surely will be ticketed for AAA in 2020.  He has the all-around skills to be called up during 2020 to back up or fill in as needed, if his bat can pick up the pace.

(5) 3B Brett Baty – the Mets’ first rounder (6’3”. 210, lefty hitting 3B) with power apparently similar to Pete Alonso’s.  Who doesn't have light tower power?

The 19 year old briefly excelled in the GCL, but experienced hitter’s shock when promoted to Kingsport, as he went 0 for 14 with 11 Ks in his first 4 games there.  

In his last 38 games with Kingsport, though, he hit a decent .243, with 29 extra base hits, and a very solid on base % in the high 3’s.  Promoted to Brooklyn late in the season, he got to participate in their championship and was on base 9 out of 17 times.

He made 8 errors in 36 games in the field, not terrible for a 19 year old rookie.  He does have to bring his Ks down a lot, as he fanned 65 times in 51 games. 

I anticipate he will skip Brooklyn in 2020 and play a full season for Columbia in 2019 as a 20 year old the whole season. Hopefully, he can match or exceed the production there of the 19 year old who played 3B for Columbia in 2019, Mark Vientos, who is a month younger than Baty... Vientos hit .255/.300/.411.

Next up, I will re-run my prospects 6-10 in my Top 25.

Have popcorn handy - great with re-runs.

Let's Go Mets!