Tom Brennan - Rookies in Mets Spring Training

Which rookie hitters impressed this spring?

I wrote yesterday about Mark Vientos, who was sent down to the minors despite hitting 2 more HRs than anyone else in camp.  

He actually hit 5 in 56 at bats, a HR every 11 ABs, while everyone else in 908 at bats hit 22, a HR every 41 ABs. 

But today's story is about all the rookies in camp who have not yet made their MLB debut.

I counted 35 such players who came to the plate. 

Their overall stats?

164 at bats, 35 hits (.213), 7 doubles, 2 HRs, 19 RBIs, 13 walks, 62 Ks.

Not very good, by MLB standards, but in fairness: 

1) they are not yet MLB caliber, and 

2) quite a few were very young, lower minors guys, although they compiled a relatively small portion of those 164 at bats.

Best hitters in the bunch?

Nick LoRusso was 2 for 2, with a 2 run double that barely missed going out, and 2 RBIs.

JT Schwartz, who was 4 for 8 and an RBI.  (I hope to see JT, who added muscle this year, 1) play more games, 2) walk less and hence more official ABs, 3) build up his hitting stats, especially XBHs.  Go, JT).

Carlos Cortes was 3 for 6, with 2 walks and 1 K.

Joe Suozzi was 2 for 7, both hits for doubles, 4 RBIs, 2 walks and a K.

L.A. Acuna was 3 for 8 with an RBI, and 2 walks vs. 3 Ks. (Sharp as a tack in the field, too).

Jett Williams was 2 for 6 and a walk, with 3 Ks and an RBI, along with a very familiar .429 OBP.

William Lugo was 2 for 5, including a HR and RBI, with a walk and 2 Ks.

Omar De Los Santos was 2 for 5, including a double and RBI, and 2 Ks.

Yohairo Cuevas was 2 for 8 with a double and 3 Ks.

Simon Juan was 3 for 6 with 2 RBIs and 2 Ks.

After that, it was slim pickings.  

Drew Gilbert was 1 for 13 with a walk and 2 RBIs, but just 2 Ks, and he drove one to the track that was stopped by the wind and caught.  

Kevin Parada was 1 for 5, with 3 Ks.  

Ryan Clifford was 0 for 5 with 2 Ks. 

Hayden Senger hit a HR, but was just 2 for 13 with no walks and 4 Ks.  

Stanley Consuegra was 1 for 5, with 2 Ks, but his one hit was a screaming 117 MPH double; Stanley has big time power. 

Rhylan Thomas was 1 for 6 with a walk and 2 Ks.

Other teams had some rookies who hit like the big boys, though.

Just as one example, a soon-coming headache to the Mets, 6'6", 21 year old Nationals outfileder James Woods, was .364/.509/.705 in 22 spring games.  But I will stop there with comparisons to other team's prospects.

My concern, looking at the Mets' rookie stats above, was the complete absence of HR power that was exhibited.  Hopefully, we see a lot more pop in 2024 from this cohort, and not just a reliance on speed.