This is the next post in a series intended to bring awareness to some of the lesser-known prospects in the Mets' organization This series will post a different prospect each weekday at 11:00am EST for the benefit of our fans.
Boston Baro is a 19-year old 6-1/175 LHH 3B/SS that was ranked the 143rd player going into the 2023 draft.
The Mets drafted Baro in the 8th round, as the 182nd player chosen, straight out of Capistrano HS (CA). Slot value was $192,900...the Mets gave Baro $700,000.
Slender. Lots of room to get stronger
Clean fundamentals in the field. Funnels ball well. Sound balance and footwork. Good arm strength. Throws accurately.
Hit - open stance. High back elbow start. Smooth swing. Some extension and lift. More power to follow.
Speed - 6.71 60-yd
2023 - limited time with FCL Mets: 19-AB. 5-BB.
.316/.458/.421/.879
Mack spin -
somewhat of a steal in the draft. Huge high school numbers in senior year:
.463 BA VS. .249 AVE.
.519 OBP VS. .385 AVE.
44-H VS. 8 AVE
The Mets are pretty clogged up at third and short in the lower levels.
Red prospect Colin Houck will compete with blue prospects Jesus Baez and D'Angelo Saramiento at short in St. Lucie and red prospect Nolan McLean will probably play third there.
Baro may find himself left back at the FCL level to get his at-bats in.
Does everything well but needs power to develop. He is one of many hi-speed infield prospects in the system right now.
Any chance they draft NO shortstops this year? It seems the Mets have a lifetime supply of them.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised the Red Sox passed on Baro.
Mack, I would prefer the Mets take an approach like the Cardinals, where players are rotated in other positions but kept at the level they need to be at. Baro being kept back for other guys that really haven’t proven anything either is bad organizational planning and I hope they don’t do that.
ReplyDeleteThis was a nice writeup!
Plus, did y’all hear early on that he gained 20 pounds of muscle this winter?
ReplyDeleteGus, any guy who added that much muscle in the off season gets kudos from me. He has instantly made me a fan.
ReplyDeleteAt some point in the process the Mets will stop hoarding prospects and use a few to trade for some final pieces in their strategic build. This is where highly rated SSs come in handy. For now, let them compete for innings - that always brings out the best!
ReplyDeletePaul, could not agree more. Clearly, not a very good prospect will find room on the Mets. The Mets need to get the new top 30 ready, in several cases, to be traded, perhaps at the deadline or next off season.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason why we need to play both Baty and Vientos every day, to see if they're keepers or more valuable as trade bait.
ReplyDeleteBill, the Yankees did that with Volpe last year playing him a lot and he is off to a hot spring (.353/.450 OBP).
ReplyDeleteBaty and Mark are 4 for 32 this spring. Just 2 walks between them.
Start printing the World Series tickets - for the Bronx.
Slo Mo Vogelbach has a double, HR, and 3 walks in 12 PAs.
As you said, Volpe played a lot last year, even when he struggled, and convinced his team that he'd be a keeper. This Spring, he's more relaxed, sans the pressure.
DeleteThat's why I want Baty and Vientos to follow that path.
Correction - Vientos and Baty are 6 for 36 + 2 walks combined. JD Davis or JD Martinez, anyone?
ReplyDelete