Outfield -
Wouldn’t you know that the one position the Mets need the most help in
is also the one position with the least amount of current talent. I say current
because the outer grasses of these teams are littered with big names with so
far limited results.
There currently
are only six for three positions at four levels. Well, 5 ½ if you consider one
will probably remain an infielder. Pitiful.
Here are your
first three:
Drew Gilbert –
AAA
24/years old LHH
5-9 (!) 195 1St
round (1.28) Astros, out of Tennessee
Acquired in 2023
from Houston in exchange for pitcher Justin Verlander
Known for
athleticism and competitive edge
2024
– Rk/A/AAA: 229-AB, 10-HR, 33-RBI,
.205/.313/.371/.685
Hamstring injury limited him to 62 games
Injury sapped strength – hit only .171
against lefties
2025 – St.
Lucie: 24-AB, 2-HR, 6-RBI, .375/.444/.708/1.153
2025 thru Thur AM – Syracuse: 75-AB, 2-HR, 15-BB, 7-RBI, .240/.379/.373/.752
Lingering hamstring issues kept him out of ST
games – rehabbed in A-ball
Injuries and poor
stat lines has caused him to drop out of Top 100 Prospect lists
Scouting Report –
praised for high floor due to lack of glaring weaknesses. Quick hands,
excellent hand-eye coordination, and contact orientate approach. Exit velo
exceeds 110. Pulls ball effectively. Generally controls the strike zone well.
Projects as an above-average hitter with 15-20 home run potential.
Defensively, a
capable center fielder. Above average speed with strong arm up to 95. Not elite
but above average. Hair on fire approach. Bryce Harper like approach to the
game. Speed and instincts make him a steal threat.
Primary concern
is durability. Elbow (2022) and hamstring (2022-2024) have limited his play
time. Aggressive style isn’t helping here. Needs to translate raw game into
in-game production. Definitely needs to reduce his swing and miss numbers.
Me? I’m not
feelin’ it here yet. I was very excited when this deal was done because I
thought the Mets would wind up here with a starting to star long term
outfielder for years to come. So far, not much to write home about. This year,
he is putting up only average numbers in Syracuse with only one home run. On my
team, this is not good enough to get a phone call.
Gilberto Celestino –
AAA
22/years old RHH
6-0 170 2015-IFA Houston
Primarily a
centerfielder but can play both corners
2015 – signed by
Houston when he was 16
2018 – traded to
Twins as part of deal for Ryan Pressly
Had developed
reputation as strong defensive outfielder with speed/good arm
Offensive
production has been inconsistent
MLB career - 0.2-WAR,
370-AB, .222
2025 thru Thur AM – AAA: 110-AB, 3-HR, 11-RBI, 26-K, .264/.331/.373/.703
Contact-orientated
hitter with .260 career minor league BA
No home run
threat
Out of options
I don’t see him
having any chance of starting someday in Queens, but he does offer the Mets a
utility alternative in the future, especially if he can consistently hit above
.250.
Jett Williams –
AA
21/years old SS/CF
5-7 175 1st round (1.14) 2022 Rockwall-Heath
HS
2024 – A/AA/AAA: 121-AB, 0-HR, 22-BB, 35-K, .215
Known for speed, plate
discipline, and versatility
MLB Pipeline
ranks him as 58th top prospect in baseball
2022 – signed for
$3.9mil bonus 10 games for FCL Mets: 1-HR, 6-SB
2023 – A/A+/AA: .263/.425/.451, 13-HR, 45-SB, 104-BB (2nd
in minors)
Named Mets Minor League Player of the Year
2024 – limited to
only 33 games due to wrist injury. Surgery in June
Returned late… six AAA games: .364/.533/.545
2025 – fully healthy
So far this season thru Thur AM. - AA-Binghamton:
100-AB, 3-HR, 13-RBI, 15-BB, 7-SB, 26-K, .280/.374/.490/.864
+ runner with 6.5
60yd speed 56 steals in first 164 minor
league games
17.98% career elite
walk rate
Instinct and
speed suits center, but organization continues to play him at short, a position
where he is blocked until the next decade.
No injury history
other than the wrist in 2024.
We listed him
also in the shortstop portion of this series, but I will continue to do
everything under my power to get the Mets brass to stop playing their top
prospects in blocked positions. The weakest link in the Mets chain is here in
the outfield. You can’t plan for someone to become your centerfielder. If that
was the plan, Alex Ramirez would be in Queens hitting .100. No, you play
multiple prospects at positions that need to be filled down the road.
The Mets need a
full-time centerfielder that can both field and hit.
So far, Williams
has done this.
Move him to
center NOW and develop him more at this position.
Brett Baty
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6354887/2025/05/14/mets-brett-baty-homers-hot-streak/
So, what
has changed with Baty? It was just last month when he looked like he belonged
anywhere but on a major-league roster. Carlos Mendoza pointed
to confidence. Baty, Mendoza said, believes he belongs in the major leagues. He
is no longer constantly down 0-2 or 1-2 in counts. He is no longer swinging
defensively, mustering just weak grounders. He is no longer caught in between
pitches. If he is getting a fastball, he’s staying short with his swing, using
the whole field. If he is getting a breaking ball, he keeps his hands back,
stays in a position to do damage. He is not overthinking it. He is having fun.
“I’ve
always thought I’m capable of doing whatever I want to accomplish in this
game,” Baty said. “I’m just having some success right now, and it’s nice.”
From an
adjustment standpoint, Baty has switched up his pregame routine with hitting
coach Jeremy Barnes. He sees more high-velocity
and offspeed pitches from the machine, without knowing what’s coming. The
pregame setup mirrors some of the work he did in the offseason.
FSSPlus - MLB Draft: Mock Draft 1.0
https://futurestarsseries.com/mlb-mock-draft-2025-holliday/?s=03
38. New
York Mets (Pick falls 10 spots for exceeding luxury tax by $40m+)
Just Baseball:
HT/WT:
6’1/205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Indiana | Age: 21.8
There’s
no bigger riser in this class currently than Indiana’s Korbyn Dickerson. After
seldom seeing the field during his Louisville tenure, Dickerson transferred to
Indiana, where they overhauled his swing.
Dickerson’s
hand load has become noticeably quieter and it has led to great results, as
he’s done a better job of keeping whiffs in check and hammering the baseball.
There’s
solid bat speed with a smooth swing plane on film and he’s shown significant
pop to the big part of the field, leaping the 110 MPH barrier repeatedly and
hitting one at 117 MPH. He can get a bit jumpy on spin, but it’s nothing
egregious.
He can
play a premium center field with good route-running and range, making
spectacular plays look easy. He should stick there long-term, though a corner
spot won’t be ruled out. All in all, this kind of breakout with how toolsy he
is has been exactly what the doctor ordered.
He’s
playing himself into the top two rounds of this draft.
19 comments:
With Siri ready to return in perhaps a few weeks, Gilbert has not hit enough to overtake him yet. Siri is making $2.4 million. So I guess he stays - but if so, who in Queens gets sent down? Siri was 1 for 20 when he got hurt. Do they really want him back? It won’t be Ronny Mauricio, who continues to not play the outfield at all and is 4 for 32 with 12 Ks.
I can only see that Williams is being left at shortstop for now so that he gets to the point where, error, wise, he is major league caliber. I could see a move to the outfield. I just don’t think he’s in the Mets near term plans.
They all better watch out though. Carson Benge is gaining on them rapidly.
Vital win yesterday. Baty hopefully will learn on running bases. When he was cut down at the plate, it was after hesitation near 2B on Taylor’s double and then not getting his foot down on the plate. Fortunately it did not cost them the game. Canning and Diaz were great. Good to see Edwin hit 100 and also fan Judge on high heat to end the game. 99 to 99 was too much for 99 to handle.
I just don't think Gilbrrt will be ready.
They signed Alexa to play D next to Soto. IMO, that's the 2025 plan Stan
Still shaking my head why Jett doesn't play at least half his games in crnter
As for Benge, remember the song...
"If tomorrow never comes..." 🎶 🎵
Unbelievable stupidity by Baty. Should be sat for at least three games
Striking out Judge
Knicks winning game 6
Me home in Ozone Park
BIG weekend
Coming home late today
My thoughts on my trip at Wednesday 11am
Assuming Benge is in part two of Mack's analysis. Could Benge be the reason Williams is still in the infield and the Robert rumors? Although he is still in Brooklyn.
Mack,
Dickerson would look good as the Mets first round pick; outfield is certainly an area of need.
Steve
Yes. Benge to come.
I do feel he will be, at latest, the starting CFer in Citi on OD 2028
Before that will be determined on what others do or if Benge can get up to speed earlier.
But this guy does look like the Mets future centerfielder
He would
Outfield will remain a concern throughout this decade
Remember...
Soto is destined to DH someday
Nimmo seems fading
McNeil just a stopgap
And they continue to search in center
Maybe we are taking something from your future post. If Benge is your projected CFer, why play Williams in CF more than he is? Can Benge be promoted to Binghamton this year? Play Syracuse next year with a possible year end call up? Making him ready OD 2027? (as I type this, that song is playing). Could Williams be maximized by concentrating him on the infield?
That said, you started the post stating the OF is the biggest area needing help. Long term it has been written that Soto may eventually have to move out of the OF and Nimmo maybe as well for health reasons. And if I remember correctly, didn't Tom write recently, the minors are lacking in bats in the upper minors?
Glad I am just a commenter!
Steve
You develop Jett additionally as an outfielder because Benge and all other possible centerfielders could run head first into a wall and be permanently removed from the game
I'd say you develop Jett in the OF because if Benge is better in CF, there are always 2 other OF spots.
You are right.
You let your perspective stars play at least half their time at their natural position.
Then you develop their game at least one secondary position.
Sure they have Lindor for, like forever, but he could run head to head into Acuña and they would instantly need two middle infielders
Gilbert, Benge, Williams, Ewing and Serrano are in the pipeline. My future OFers look pretty good .
Vito here. Plenty of time for him let him relax and hit his way up the ladder.
We’ll see about Benge, I do have high hopes, but I think our 2027 starting CF may be the guy hitting .339/.967 in Brooklyn with 12 SB (.372/.1050 25 SB with 24BB/21K across 2 levels), A.J. Ewing. Unlike any of the other OF of the list, he’s played nothing but CF this season, and is already tearing up A+ at 20 yrs old. If he keeps this up, he could be starting CF in Binghamton before he turns 21 in August.
On Baty getting thrown out, there’s no way he should have been sent in that situation. Why take a chance when it would have been 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and Lindor/Soto coming up? I put this on the 3B coach.
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