Mets Futures – Outfield (Part 2 of 2)
And now for the last of this series...
the remaining four RED PROSPECT outfielders. Two are, red meat, another is just
popping onto the scene, and the last is someone that I might be the last critic
on this planet that still believes in.
They are:
Carson Benge/Brooklyn –
22/year old 6-1
195 LHH Citizen of Cherokee Nation
1st round (19th
overall) 2024 draft, out of Oklahoma State
$3,997,500 bonus (slot: $4,200,000)
2023/OSU: .345/.468/.538, 7-HR, 42-BB, 32-K, 59-G
2024/OSU: .335/.444/.665, 18-HR, 64-RBI, 10-SB, 61-G
METS: .273/.420/.436, 2-HR, 15-G
2025/Brooklyn (thru 6/4): .339/.459/.661/1.120, 6-SB, 17-RBI, 16-G
Has added 25 pounds of muscle since
joining the Mets
Wide stance, leg kick, hand movement…
can be noisy
82% contact rate in college
++ oppo hitting but struggles with
inside pitches (who doesn’t?)
Platoon splits against LH pitchers
Defensively, versatile, experience in
right and center
+ 60 grade arm… average to above-average
speed
Projects to right field, though that
won’t work for the Mets, so they will probably develop him more in center
MACK - I’m a big fan of
Benge and I see him and Nick Morabito as future starting
outfielders, with Juan Soto in right.
AJ Ewing/Brooklyn –
20/year old 5-11
175 LHH RHT OF/2B
Drafted 4th round (134th
overall) 2023 draft, out of Springboro HS (OH)
$675,000 bonus – ($483,000 slot) –
passed on Alabama commitment
Described as a ”freak athlete”, noted
for his explosiveness
Fluid footwork… elite speed
On pace in 2025 for 119-SB over a
162-game season
Swing has big kick
Currently leading all 20-or-younger players
in MiLB in 180 wRC+
Defensively, originally a shortstop –
Transitioned to second and center in
2024
Projects better at second and in outfield than short
MACK –
Ewing has literally
become the most exciting prospect in the chain. He has far exceeded his Jeff McNeil utility player comp and
is currently hotly rumored in a future trade, especially the Marlins. Though
only 20, he could easily end this season playing AA ball, putting him in line
for an ETA of opening day 2027. The unanswered question is whether he will still
be a Met by then. My guess, no.
Eli Serrano/Brooklyn –
22/year old 6-5
200 LHH RHT
4th round 2024, out of NC
State $697,500 (slot: $656,400)
Batting – smooth swing, slight leg-life,
consistent line-drive contact
Above-average power potential,
especially from pull side
Low flyball rates limit results
Transitioned from 1B in 2023 – good instincts
in OF
Above-average arm. Decent speed.
Long-term fit in corners
Grades:
Hit: 50 Power: 45 Run: 50
Arm: 50 Field: 50 Overall: 40
MACK –
Like
Ewing, burst onto the prospect scene this season. In Brooklyn this season, through
6-6, Serrano has a stat line of: 136-AB, 5-HR, 27-RBI, 4-SB, 24-BB, 31-K,
.243/.366/.441/.807. Obviously, it is his current OPS that has got him noticed
so far. I wouldn’t rush this kid and allow him to finish this season at this
level before deciding if he should move on to AA ball. Ewing is way ahead of
him in projected ETA or whether or not he has major league potential.
Simon Juan/St. Lucie –
19/year old 6-0
195 RHH RHT
2022 IFA - $1,900,900 bonus – 4th
highest in Mets history
5-tool talent. + speed
strong arm raw power + bat speed
Sounds like a can’t miss guy, right?
2022/DSL - .219/.310/.323/.633, 2-HR
2023/FCL – .220/.293/.303/.596, 2-HR
2024/FCL – .273/.337/.459/.796, 7-HR
So far through 6-6:
2025/St.L - .215/.278/.340/.619, 4-HR
MACK -
I was starting to get
excited about Juan’s progress last season, but he seems to have regressed in
2025. The only two rays of sunshine here is his current double-digit pace for home
runs and the fact that he is still only 19. Right now, I’m not sure if this was
money spent wisely, but the 5-tool rating keeps him as a RED prospect for now.
We probably will revisit that rating at the end of the season. ETA: the next decade, if ever.
Top 100
MLB Prospects for 2025
https://www.justbaseball.com/prospects/top-100-mlb-prospects/
43. Jett Williams – SS – New York Mets
Height/Weight:
5’8″, 180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round
(14) –
2022 (NYM) | ETA: 2025
HIT Plate Disc. GAME POWER RUN FIELD FV
45/50 60/70 40/45 60/60 45/50 50+
Compact
but explosive, Williams is a great athlete with more impact than his frame
would suggest. His polish at the plate helped him fly through the minor
leagues, reaching Double-A in his age-19 season in 2023, before having most of
his 2024 wiped out by wrist surgery.
Offense
A
relaxed, narrow setup, Williams uses a decent-sized leg kick to gather into his
back hip, but controls his lower half well. Despite his smaller frame, Williams
is strong with a powerful lower-half, using the ground well to create power.
Between
his lower half control and minimal movement with his hand load, Williams is
consistently on time and leverages his small strike zone well. One of the more
patient hitters in Minor League Baseball, Williams has chased less than 15% of
pitches as a pro, walking at an 18% clip.
Producing
average exit velocities, Williams consistently drives the ball in the air
consistently with good carry to the pull side, giving him a chance to hit for
close to average game power.
The
contact rates may be closer to average, but his hit tool is bolstered by what
could be double plus plate discipline. Even if the home run total is closer to
10, he Williams’ ability to hit the ball decently hard in the air to all fields
paired with his speed should make him a candidate to accumulate plenty of extra
base hits.
Defense/Speed
Williams
has slowed down some since being drafted, putting on some weight ahead of the
2024 season. It more effected is ability to get to his top speed than footwork
at shortstop, which actually looked improved.
He works
low to the ball with good hands and an above average arm that is capable of
making throws from different angles. While he can make the tough throws, he has
the tendency to sail a few too many relatively routine throws, especially when
he sits back on the ball.
With the
improved footwork and actions, Williams looks like he can be an average
shortstop.
With how
quickly Williams has climbed through the minors and the presence of Francisco
Lindor at the highest level, the Mets have mixed in center field reps where he
relies on his natural athleticism to get by, but has the closing speed and arm
to be solid out there and has flashed the ability to track the ball well.
Williams
has the fallback of second base where he should be an above-average defender as
well. Aggressive on the bases, Williams swiped 45 bags on 52 tries in the 2023
season.
Outlook
While the
2024 season was mostly a lost one for Williams, he is still ahead of schedule
as he gets set for his age-21 season. With Williams’ added weight in 2024 not
necessarily being completely useful gains, he could benefit from getting closer
to his 2023 game shape given how important speed is to his game.
Elite on
base skills amplify an offensive profile that will likely feature average hit
and average-at-best power. Williams and Termarr Johnson became the first
teenagers since 2005 to walk 100 times in a Minor League season in 2023.
The
defensive side of things will be important to monitor in 2025 as Williams is
clearly capable of providing versatility, but if he can take a step forward
with more consistent reps in center field, he becomes significantly more
valuable. Williams has the floor of a quality utility piece but has the
offensive upside and speed to be an above-average regular.
Early MLB
All-Star team picks
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6401037/2025/06/04/mlb-all-star-team-predictions-2025/
Edwin Díaz, Mets — Díaz has converted 13 of 14 save opportunities,
posting a 2.49 ERA and 0.99 WHIP and striking out 39 batters in 25 1/3 innings.
Griffin Canning
Canning said the Mets utilize technology differently. For
example, he said he utilizes a KinaTrax machine, which allows him to see his
skeletal movements and subsequently improve them. Canning said the reliance on
technology with the Mets is more than he was used to with the Angels.
Mack
– this is baby steps for any information on the Mets pitching lab. We know it’s
out there, we know it’s working, but we see little written about it. This is
like getting Israel to admit they have the bomb. Still, Canning gives us a peek
in here.
Bad defense
Mets’ defense continues to cost them
Just one run decided the outcome in three of the four
games. The Mets have proved this season that they can hang with the Dodgers.
But they need to clean up their defense to take things to the next level.
Their defense, particularly in the infield, is dicey when
there’s traffic on the bases against a tough team with the score tight. It cost
them a couple of weeks ago at Yankee Stadium. It hurt them again in L.A.
With one out in the eighth inning and catcher Will Smith
the runner on third base, Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages hit a dribbler to Brett Baty. Baty said Smith did not get a great
jump. Still, Smith broke for home plate. Upon fielding the ball, Baty did not
immediately throw home. Instead, Baty double-clutched as if trying to fake out
Smith. Then Baty made a bad, low throw home that catcher Francisco Alvarez
couldn’t reel in. The ball got by Alvarez. Pitcher Reed
Garrett backed the play up and recovered the ball, but Alvarez was too
close in front of him trying to locate the ball himself. Pages scored to tie
the score at 5.
“Just didn’t make a routine play there,” Mendoza said.
Baty said he thought Smith may have tried to return to
third base on the play and get in a rundown. Either way, though, Smith was
already far enough down the line. Mendoza said the play calls for Baty to give
the ball up and throw home. Baty called it a “terrible play.”
“It’s just a very, very dumb mistake,” Baty said. “It
can’t happen in that situation.”
A few weeks ago, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns pointed to the club’s inconsistent
defense as a surprise so far this season. On Tuesday, left fielder Brandon Nimmo failed to make a catch on a tough
ball with some funky spin off Freddie Freeman’s bat on the last play of the
game. It was a tough play. Thursday’s blunder was not as excusable.
House v. NCAA settlement gets final approval, allowing
schools to pay college athletes
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6367741/2025/06/06/house-ncaa-settlement-approved-revenue-sharing/
A federal judge Friday granted final approval of the
House v. NCAA settlement, a watershed agreement in college sports that permits
schools to directly pay college athletes for the first time.
The settlement, which resolves a trio of antitrust cases against the NCAA and its most powerful conferences, establishes a new 10-year revenue sharing model in college sports, with athletic departments able to distribute roughly $20.5 million in name, image and likeness (NIL) revenue to athletes over the 2025-26 season.
Previously, athletes could earn NIL
compensation only with outside parties, including school-affiliated donor
collectives that have become instrumental in teams’ recruiting.
Mack –
I’m sorry. You know how old school I am.
I hate this shit.
13 comments:
So college athletes will now be professional athletes. They are destroying college athletics
Benge, a lefty in bad-for-lefties Brooklyn, I believe has 17 doubles through 60 games. Very impressive.
Ewing? If you are great, and he may well be, you will someday be in the Mets starting line up.
It is absolutely destroyed
High school kids used to visit teams I follow with their parents and asking questions about education majors, training facilities, and where they would fit in
Now some are showing up with either their lawyer or agent
Both Benge and Ewing are top 8 Mets prospects on my current list
Mack,
Do you see the Mets taking a "best player available" choice in the 2025 draft or do they focus on hitting. Pitching seems to be a strength in the minors, with hitting not as strong. Thoughts?
Mack Why would you say RF is Locked ? Shouldn't Soto Be moved to LF in a world where Both Benge and Morabito are playing with Soto?
Ewing Described as a ”freak athlete” (why would we trade someone like this?
Morabito is not describes like this or seems to have the ceiling... Now if we are trading for a Bobby Witt when they are finally going to trade him or a G. Henderson type player (personally I would say Churios) But only for Elite talent should Ewing be traded.
To me Morabito seems to be Lagares (and never heard his defense to that good) He was a slap hitter and you cant steal 1st base. So currently based on the prospects we have Benge Ewing and Elias are the only untouchable position prospects unless super talent is involves like Skenes, Churios, Witt as examples
They ALWAYS take the highest player still available on THEIR board, regardless of positional needs
Today's positional needs are not solved with players 4-5 years away
Is locked until around 2030
Benge and Ewing are keepers
The rest should be bait
Potentially dealing Ewing is giving me Pete Crow Armstrong vibes. Just say no!
I wouldn’t trade Alvarez either.
What pitching? We haven’t developed a top of the rotation pitcher in over 10 years. Our staff is full of over 30 reclamation projects. Hamel, Tidwell, Sproat and Vasil haven’t succeeded after AA. Christian Scott won’t return until next year when he’ll be 27 and still hasn’t pitched over 90 innings. You can never have enough pitching.
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