Mets Prospect Profile: OF Brandon McIlwain

We asked our readers about which prospects get little attention on our site. Jett Williams? He receives non-stop Mack's Mets writers' attention, and for good reasons.  Future star.

Others are good, but get far less attention in print. The readers offered up 10 such names they would like to hear more about.  So we obliged in a 10 article series that starts today.  The articles were individually written by 4 of our writers (Mack, Reese, Paul, and me).

One of those 10 players, who missed my “Productive Top 35 Prospects” list from October, was Brandon McIlwain. In that Top 35, I wrote up some honorable mentions. Guys who almost made it on the list.

I wrote this about McIlwain in October:

“Had I not added several DSL guys to the top 35, the list could have included a guy like Brandon McIlwain (.247/.356/.393, 20 steals), but while the 25 year old had a decent offensive season in AA and AAA, "decent" does not get you to the big leagues.  He needs to get a lot better, and do it fast, given his age.  But, despite being 5 years older, he had a whole lot better year than Alex Ramirez.”

Back in mid-2022, I also wrote this:

Brandon is having a very solid year, but turned 24 in July.  Between A and AA, Brandon is a very solid .279/.364/.446 this year.

He turns 26 on Memorial Day weekend this year. He was a 26th rounder in 2019 with the Marlins, but didn’t sign. He was too busy playing football and baseball in college, and that undoubtedly slowed his baseball college development. He played in some college age and indy leagues and also played in college, where he only hit about .235 in 117 games. But he was athletic. Foosball players usually are.

He signed as a free agent in the Mets in 2020.

In 2020, it is obvious that he didn’t play due to COVID.  Dang.

THAT is how you get to be turning 26 this season on May 31 and still be in the minors.

He has stolen a very solid 43 of 60 as a pro. I look at his .243/.356./393 in 551 plate appearances in 2023, with just 119 Ks, though, and think, nah, not gonna make it. 

But he missed a year plus. And played just 172 games in 2021 and 2022, due to injuries and whatnot.

Had he played that year plus, and not then missed roughly 75 more games in 2021 and 2022, how much better would his 2023 have been? I’m guessing .300/.400/.500.  

He’s only played 300 games in the minors, and his theme song must be the Beatles’ “Getting Better All the Time.”

In 2023, he hit a frosty .206 in a Binghamton in frosty April there. When it warmed up in May, he hit .275 from May 1 into early August, and then got promoted. In AAA, he hit just .219, but with a fine .382 OBP in 43 games, and stole 11 of 12. 

FIELDING:

"I know he can core an apple", Ralph Kramden told me. "But can he field?", I asked. "Oh, he can field that apple", Ralph replied. 

In point of fact: ten assists and just 4 errors playing all 3 outfield positions in 2023 is impressive. The righty hitting, righty throwing Brandon is a superior athlete.

CONCLUSION:

Hard to read McIlwain, in terms of his eventually being a future major leaguer, but he seems to be coming “subtly fast.” I think he gets there, due to his speed, fielding prowess, and excellent ability to get on base.

I speculate he won’t be called up in 2024, unless it breaks just right for him, but by the end of 2024, we might find ourselves saying: 

“Hey, McIlwain could well be a 4th or 5th outfielder in 2025.” 

After all, he fields well, is athletic at 6’0” 205, and gets on base a LOT. 

Brandon's 2023 stats were very similar to Brandon Nimmo’s in 2015, and Brandon Nimmo has improved so much since then. Why not the other Brandon, McIlwain, too?

Great article on McIlwain - clear from it that he is strong and a fine athlete.

https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2022/10/20/new-york-mets-brandon-mcllwain-fall-league/