MACK - MY SUNDAY OBSERVATIONS - MACK'S #20 PROSPECT 1B/3B/CF YUNIOR AMPARO - Freddy Peralta, Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso, Kazuma Okamoto

 

I promised all of you that, as soon as the season ended, I would breakout and post my current Top 30 prospects.

This is performance based, not players that came to the Mets full of promise but have only produced butterscotch pudding. A perfect example of a player that didn’t make this list is catcher Ronald Hernandez. I still like the guy, but based on what he did in 2025, I don’t like him “top 30 guy”.

Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong are not on this list. They have graduated.

I will post them in each of my weekly Observations and In Focus posts… one player at a time… beginning with #30.

Today, we move to #20:

1.       1B/3B/CF               Yunior Amparo 

2025:     DSL B/O:              1

73-PA, 4-HR, 17-RBI, 26-BB, 24-K .312/.426/.475/.903 

Will play 2026 as a 19/year old 

Yunior Amparo is an 18-year-old prospect in the New York Mets organization.

Born on September 18, 2006, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he stands at 6'0" and weighs 170 pounds, batting and throwing right-handed.

Signed by the Mets in August 2024, 2025 was his first professional season, and he’s already making waves.

Amparo has shown impressive offensive and defensive skills. In 2025, he has demonstrated strong plate discipline and power potential for his age. His compact, athletic frame and quick-twitch ability shine in the field, where he displays versatility, plus arm strength, and the ability to make plays to both sides.

Scouts have noted his competitive at-bats and loud contact, marking him as a standout prospect.

Highlighted by Baseball America as potentially outshining even the Mets’ top international signee, Elian Peña, Amparo is considered a promising talent with a bright future. He’s been praised for his speed and defensive prowess, with some suggesting he could climb prospect rankings quickly if he continues developing.

MACK –

Amparo has produced a wonderful debut season. His versatility alone should push him to the FCL camp this spring. I have him listed as an outfielder, but he could easily wind up on first base. Love this kid!                         

Mets Trade – Freddy Peralta

LINK

Peralta is with the Milwaukee Brewers and had an incredible season in 2025, posting a 2.70 ERA, the best of his career. He also pitched in a career high 176.2 innings, as well as striking out 204 hitters. He was one of the best starters in the National League, earning an All-Star nod.

When searching for a potential deal, FanSided’s Tim Boyle pitched the idea of moving on from three prospects for the right-handed.

Brewers get: Brandon Sproat, Ryan Clifford, or A.J. Ewing, and Hunter Hodges

Mets get: Freddy Peralta

“Enough? Too much?

 

Edwin Díaz

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6741799/2025/10/23/mets-free-agent-edwin-diaz-market/

What should be the Mets’ level of interest?

High. Minter’s injury mars the only potential in-house candidate to replace Díaz, and the market lacks anything close to the relative reliability Díaz has provided the Mets this decade. That Williams and Helsley struggled so much in New York this past season accentuates Díaz’s familiarity here, as well.

 

Insider reveals why Pete Alonso returning to Mets is unlikely

LINK

New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman got brutally honest about what Alonso's defensive woes might mean in regards to him returning to Queens next season during an October 22 live stream with Bleacher Report.

"Mets want to improve the defense, I think they made that clear. So I am not feeling right now that Alonso is that likely to come back," Heyman said.

This will surely be jarring for Mets fans to hear, if only because they've gotten so used to Alonso playing first base for their team.

However, given that Alonso and Juan Soto (who plays right behind Alonso in right field) were two of the worst defenders at their respective positions in 2025, along with the fact that Soto isn't going anywhere anytime soon, this might mean that Alonso is the casualty that comes with improving New York's defensive outlook.

 

NY Mets Get Unexpected Slugger Option to Replace Pete Alonso This Winter

https://sportsnaut.com/mlb/mets-kazuma-okamoto-replacement-alonso

There is a good chance the Mets will need to replace the homegrown star this offseason, and an intriguing option officially just became available. On Wednesday, Yomiuri Giants star Kazuma Okamoto announced that he will be posted by his team and wants to take his talents to MLB this offseason.

Stats: 77 G, .322 AVG, .411 OBP, .581 SLG, .992 OPS, 15 HR, 51 RBI, 39 R

How much could Okamoto cost the New York Mets?

Okamoto will be unfamiliar to the majority of MLB fans and will likely be confused with another Japanese star expected to be posted this offseason, Munetaka Murakami. However, the 11-year Nippon Professional Baseball league veteran is one fans should get used to hearing because he is one of the nation’s best players.

The Japanese star has played most of his time on the corner infield spots, but also has a bit of experience in the outfield. His versatility and above-average defense will certainly appeal to the Mets as they look to replace Alonso and improve the infield defense this winter. However, he can be a real impact talent at the plate.