Reese Kaplan -- The Syracuse Mets Trio Possible for 2025

Earlier this month we pondered who might be around next season when the huge free agent expressway opens up and the Mets find themselves with a great many empty lockers to fill.  The flip side of this analysis is who rises from the farm system to stake a claim on the 2025 New York Mets.  Be forewarned, it’s a pretty short list.

First of all, you have the missing-in-2024 Ronny Mauricio.  He’s a very interesting player with great speed, defensive versatility (though sometimes inconsistent in that regard), home run power and energy.  These attributes often spell a potential star, but after having missed a season with a major injury the club needs to know how rusty he is and where in the field he might wind up playing.  Obviously Francisco Lindor is going nowhere, but it is possible that Mark Vientos becomes a DH or a first baseman if the Mets opt to part with Pete Alonso.  The same is possible at second base if Jeff McNeil is considered more of an outfielder or if they pay down his salary and trade him away.

For the record as an offensive player, Mauricio checks a lot of boxes.  In 2023 playing mostly for Syracuse he finished the season with a .292 batting average while hitting 23 HRs, driving in 73 and swiping 24 bases.  This output was not atypical and his 2022 spent in Binghamton yielded similar numbers with a .259 average, 26 HRs, 89 RBIs and 20 steals.  Each level his batting average has improved which is a good sign.  Having an infielder who can hit for decent average while being a long ball threat and a force on the bases is a very good thing indeed.

Next up on the injury list is Drew Gilbert.  Back in 2023 when he came over to the Mets during the housecleaning of star pitchers, his numbers got you excited.  Standing just 5’9” you didn’t think about home run power but his 3-team 2023 totals included a .289 average with 18 HRs and 59 RBIs accompanied by a dozen stolen bases.  As an outfielder he plays primarily center field. 

He has missed about 2/3s of the season this year due to injury.  The batting average dropped dramatically in Syracuse but in under 200 ABs he still has 8 HRs and 21 RBIs.  Those kinds of numbers suggest a similar output if extrapolated for the full year.  Given that he is 23 years old, it’s possible he may start 2025 in Syracuse to make up for lost time but he’ll be a quick callup to Queens when needed.  A lefty swinger, he could complement a right handed hitter in a platoon if he’s struggling early at the next level.

Dare we talk about Brett Baty?  Before his injury his Syracuse numbers were not great.  He did show decent power with 16 HRs and 43 RBIs in about a half season’s worth of ABs, but the batting average sunk to .259.  Many power hitters struggle with batting average as singles and doubles don’t get the same focus as do attempts to put the ball over the fence. 

Given the very strong season by Mark Vientos you have to wonder where Baty fits on the Mets.  If Vientos indeed moves off third base, that could open up a spot for Baty.  In the minors he has played 29 games in the outfield and with Brandon Nimmo guaranteed to start with Starling Marte likely returning for his final year it’s possible the Mets could see him in one of the two corner spots with Nimmo returning to center field.  Or he could be trade bait.

After the already seen (and injured) Christian Scott, there’s not a whole lot of pitching to consider in AAA.  Right now AA seems more where development is being done while Syracuse becomes a holding place for AAAA players and promotion-bound guys needing to sample the next highest level of competition.