One of the top 3 International prospects signed by the Mets - The club announced Monday it has agreed to terms with 27 players, including catcher Daiverson Gutierrez, the No. 27-ranked prospect on the top 50 international list. They also agreed to deals with outfielder Anthony Baptist, who ranks No. 29, and No. 43 Cristopher Larez.
Gutierrez can hit, and his above-average power potential is noteworthy. Add that he plays a premium position, and it’s no surprise he was one of the most appealing prospects on the market. His power has drawn comparisons to Francisco Álvarez at the same age.
On defense, Gutierrez has a chance to have an above-average arm along with other emerging skills behind the plate. He has been praised for his plus makeup and his leadership skills. He is trained by Henderson Martinez, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program.
Mack - As I have said in the past, don’t bet the house on anyone playing baseball under the voting age. However, I do love any comp to Alvarez.
New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)
https://www.prospects1500.com/nl-east/mets/new-york-mets-top-50-prospects-2023/?s=03
6. Jett Williams, SS, 19, Rookie (FCL)
Another one of the Mets 1st round draft choices of 2022, Jett was drafted 14th overall from Rockwall-Heath High School in Texas. Jett stands at 5’8” and weighs 175 pounds, very Nick Madrigal esque. He is an extremely talented hitter that almost never swings and misses against any velocity. His plate approach is very strong with quick hands and consistent hard batted balls that result in clean line drives to all fields. The guess is that he is hoping to stay at shortstop but due to his size he can move to second if needed down the road. Potential to be a true mix of Madrigal and Steven Kwan.
Mack - I will be adding a number of these featured prospects on this ranked list through my February posts.
Williams got by me on draft day. I did have paper on him, but he wasn’t someone I was targeted on. That being said, I have caught up and I truly believe that he will takeover the second base duties in 2025, after Jeff McNeil’s commitment to the team ends.
SNY (@SNYtv) tweeted at 7:25 PM on Fri, Jan 20, 2023:
Brett Baty's reaction to the Carlos Correa deal before it fell through? "Okay, I'll play left field"
Anthony DiComo:
“Working out at the University of Texas’ baseball facility, Baty has put in countless hours fielding topspin ground balls, performing one-handed drills and also reaction-based training, such as the close-range “Ron Washington” drill named after the longtime Major League coach and manager.
New York Mets Top 50 Prospects (2023)
https://www.prospects1500.com/nl-east/mets/new-york-mets-top- 50-prospects-2023/?s=03
2. Brett Baty*, 3B/OF, 23, MLB
Another Mets top prospect that saw time in the majors this year in August after injuries to infielding depth. Baty had a great 2022, hitting above .300 in both minor league levels and showing power with 19 total homers. Baty hits well to all fields with decent speed and well capable to be an above average depth piece in the infield/outfield for the 2023 Mets. His major league run in August was unfortunately cut short due to thumb surgery, but projects to be back well before next season.
Mack - Tom wrote about this on Saturday, but I want to throw my 2 cents in here.
First, playing third. Nothing is harder to catch than a screaming topspin ball coming straight at you. Groundball or line drive. Equally hard.
I learned this first hand when ex-Yankee, Arturo Lopez, hit a topspin line drive right at me in a choose up game during practice. Seemed like a no-brainer to me. Well, the ball skidded out of my glove quicker than it went into it.
Second, Baty’s future roster position on opening day will be determined when he gets to play every day in Spring Traning. Eduardo Escobar, Mark Vientos, and Luis Guillorme will all be off playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
(Prospect Alert - look for a Jose Peroza sighting in ST)
One thing…
Regarding the future of the Mets top prospects, I truly believe that Baty and Alverez will be long term starters for the Mets. I just don’t think they will be for the first half of 2023. Luis Guillorme and Tomas Nido would be perfect trade candidates when the in-season trading begins. NIdo and and Alvarez both bat right. Omar Navaez bats left. Baty bats left. So does Luis while Escobar goes both ways. He also is a perfect mentor for Baty.
Tim Boyle of Rising Apple posted three additional 2024 free agent starters the Mets should take a look at if they fail to obtain Shohei Ohtani:
Shohei Ohtani -
28-yrs. old 6-4 210 RHP
2022 stats: 9.6-WAR
Hitting: 586-AB, .273, 34-HR
Pitching: 28-ST 15-9 2.33 166-IP, 219-K
2.40-FIP 1.01-WHIP 172-ERA+
Yu Darvish -
36-yrs old 6-5 220 RHP
2022 stats: 4.4-WAR
30-ST 16-8 3.10 194.2-IP 197-K
3.31-FIP 0.95-WHIP 3.49-xERA
Aaron Nola -
29 yrs old 6-2 200 RHP
2022 stats: 6.0-WAR
32-ST 11-13 3.25 205-IP 235-K
2.58-FIP 0.96-WHIP 125-ERA+
Julio Urias -
26 yrs old 6-0 225 LHP
2022 stats: 4.9-WAR
31-ST 17-7 2.16 175-IP 166-K
3.71-FIP 0.96-WHIP 194-ERA+
Nola and Urias would be fine alternates, if the services of Shohei are not secured.
ReplyDeleteIt seems Peroza is an emerging hitter, but to be more than a fringe major leaguer is quite a challenge. If I was Jose, and had a strong arm, I would consider switching to catcher, or at least learning to play the position.
We all hope Jett is the next Greg Jeffries or better, but McNeil is ranked # 2 MLB second baseman. They better be sure before they part ways, should they choose to do so.
I read recently that, after a bad at bat, or a loss, McNeil would sit by his locker far past the exit of the other players, still in uniform, steaming over what might have been.
ReplyDeleteToo intense? Too much drama?
Not what you would call a clubhouse leader.
Can you get me more of these players? I’d like to win a World Series with them. I don’t think those guys that will “get them tomorrow” ever really reach their full potential.
DeleteI love when the WBC is played. We get to see many players like Peroza in ST that we probably never would have seen.
ReplyDeleteTroubling comment in your line on Jett and the follow-up comments. No doubt McNeil is an intense competitor, and that drives him to be one of the best. I hope it does not get in the way of his continued career as a Met.
ReplyDeleteI dont know how Jett will pan out but I hope we get another 4-5 solid seasons from McNeil. Possibly one of the most underrated Mets of all time. If you believe in this WAR metric at all he is outproducing Alonso. His WAR per rate game from his debut in 2018 until now is the same as Lindor in that same time period. Even if Jett is amazing he can still slot into a corner OF spot.
ReplyDeleteThis year, without the shift should m tell us a lot about McNeil's ability to get on base.
DeleteLeader or not, as long as he produces on the field and is not a Cancer in the Clubhouse, he's fine. And I still expect him to be extended, unless he has another '21-like season.
ReplyDeleteLove McNeil and hope he stays a Met forever. I see Jett as a more versatile McNeil who can play all infield positions as well as OF.
ReplyDeleteThere is room in 2025 for Jeff and Jett.
ReplyDeleteI said this before...teams started shifting him significantly less later in the year...this is when he actually had his best months of the year... so I think he will be fine regardless of shifting rules.
ReplyDeleteOutside of 2021 when the analytics junkies got into his head all he has done is be one of the best players in baseball.
By the way...
ReplyDeleteI never have said I didn't didn't like McNeil or didn't want him to be a future Met.
My history around the game and this team, plus their inaction so far of renewing him leads me to believe his future is elsewhere.
Mack,
ReplyDeleteDidn't Jeff Kent have the same reputation as being too intense and not being a team player. As I remember his trade turned out to be a bad one for the Mets and he went on to have a very good career. Are we making the same mistake with McNeil?
Definitely
DeleteSame as Turner but in his case he was too loosey goosy
If the Mets truly don't have him in their long-term plans, wouldn't it enhance his trade value to keep him signed for 4 years?
ReplyDeleteIf another team wants him in '25, knowing his contract requirements should make him more desirable.
Imagine what his value would be come the all-star break
DeleteI'd rather look at his value to US, until we feel we need to make room for a replacement.
DeleteToo bad that superstar Shohei Ohtani cannot play the catcher position. If he possibly could learn it, then Shohei could pitch it to himself and quickly run out to the outfield to catch his own hard line drive.
ReplyDeleteThis would probably make the ESPN highlight reel.
So would you
DeleteBaty is going to get a ton of at-bats in ST
ReplyDeleteSo there!
ReplyDeleteJeff got the exact deal that Jim Duquette suggested last night on Baseball Night in NY.
ReplyDeleteNow Keith is the guy who must be re-signed.
Yay, Jeff!
ReplyDelete