MACK - MY WEDNESDAY OBSERVATIONS - MACK'S #10 PROSPECT: C YOVANNY RODRZIGUEZ - Justin Turner, Pete, George Stone, Diaz, Cody Bellinger, Jacob deGrom, Daniel Murphy, Anderson Severino, John Franco

 

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 _(maybe) 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 #10:

10.    C      Yovanny Rodriguez

2025:                DSL TEAMS – 168-PA, 39-K, 2-HR, 26-RBI, .331/.446/.493/.939

Yovanny Rodriguez is an 18-year-old catching prospect (born November 7, 2006, in Guarenas, Venezuela) in the New York Mets organization.

He stands 6'0" and weighs 175 pounds, batting and throwing right-handed.

Signed as an international free agent on January 15, 2024, for a franchise-record $2.85 million bonus, Rodriguez was ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 6 overall international prospect in the 2024 class and the top catcher available.

Scouts praised his advanced skills for his age, with early buzz comparing his arm strength to elite MLB catchers like J.T. Realmuto—pop times on throws to second base already at big-league levels.

 The Mets saw him as a potential two-way star: strong defensively with offensive upside. He drew interest from multiple teams but committed to New York, where officials were immediately impressed by his bat control, contact skills, and projectable power as he adds strength.

moved stateside to the Florida Complex League (FCL) for the "bridge league" (extended instructional play).

Hit: 55 – Advanced bat-to-ball skills, consistent contact, and plate discipline. 47.8% pull rate.

Power: 50 – Present gap power; projects for more as he matures physically.

Run: 55 – Above-average speed for a catcher, shown in 4 SB.

Field: 40 – Raw

Arm: 60 – Elite strength, 70-grade by some scouts

Overall, he's a high-floor catcher with All-Star potential on both sides of the ball, often compared to Francisco Alvarez in his early Mets days (advanced for age, power/arm combo).

ETA: 2028-2029.

        MACK –

IMO… this is your next Mets starter behind the plate. The key to his success is working on all factions of his defensive game. He has the arm strength. He just needs to find the target below right, going towards first, for his throws. Hitting? Don’t worry about the homes. Just get on base. If he does this, he can easily move Alvarez to a DH role.

Jon Morosi                @jonmorosi

Free agent Justin Turner plans to play in 2026, according to his agent, Greg Genske.

Turner, who turns 41, posted a .759 OPS against left-handed pitching for the Cubs this year.

 

What I’m hearing…

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And if Pete Alonso doesn’t return to the Mets?

Internal options exist. Some evaluators view first base as a position that players with experience at other spots can move to and generally figure things out. Similarly, some clubs choose to platoon at the position.

To those points, it wouldn’t be out of the question for the Mets to upgrade defensively at second base and ask Jeff McNeil, a left-handed batter, to play some first base (perhaps among other spots, given his versatility), people familiar with the club’s thinking suggested. It’s likely the club would also think about Mark Vientos (right-handed batter) and Brett Baty (a left-handed batter) as first-base options, too.

Mets trade for Felix Millan and George Stone

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This November trade was considered one of the more underrated trades the Mets made, and one that turned out great. On November 2, 1972, the club traded Danny Frisella and Gary Gentry to the Atlanta Braves for Felix Millan and George Stone. Millan spent five years at a Met, playing steady defense while also racking up 743 hits including 185 in 1973 and 191 in 1975. His slash line was .278/.326/.337. While never considered a star, Millan was still a key member of this team.

Stone, a once productive pitcher for the Braves, had a bad year in 1972 leading to his exit from Atlanta. Still just in his mid-20s, and despite being in the league for six years already, Stone had an incredible year for the 1973 Miracle Mets.

In a rotation that included some of the most popular Mets pitchers of all-time, Stone, wo started in the bull pen, later shifted into the rotation and finished with a 12-3 record and 2.80 ERA as the Mets won the division with a paltry total of just 82 wins. Without Stone, the Mets would have been watching the playoffs on television. He pitched six and two thirds innings in a playoff win against the Reds giving up just one run and threw three shutout innings against the Oakland A’s in the series. Stone never had the same success in 1974 and 1975 pitching to an ERA in excess of give, but he certainly shined having a career year in 1973.

 

NY Mets Monday Morning GM: 3 changes David Stearns will have a hard time selling fans

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2) Not re-signing Edwin Diaz, and getting too clever with his replacement, is trouble

Re-sign Edwin Diaz and all is good. You’ve sold the fans. At whatever price it takes, bringing Diaz back into the fold for 2026 and beyond wins with the fans.

We know this isn’t a given. Stearns’ reputation for taking chances on pitchers in particular could have them going down other rabbit holes. Robert Suarez is the next best thing available in free agency. Short term deals with Raisel Iglesias or Kenley Jansen are other moves he could make. What about something more off-the-wall?

Pushing Clay Holmes out of the rotation and into a closer’s role feels icky outside of it being necessary to bolster the rotation with two really good arms. A signing like Emilio Pagan wouldn’t feel like the solution. Although he effectively became a closer for the Cincinnati Reds last year, he should be viewed by the Mets as a setup man option and not the final boss.

Not so much out of the box as much as it would be risky, the Mets might find themselves landing Devin Williams at a perceived bargain. It’s fine, but as a closer, it’s a step downward
. The same would go if the Mets signed Luke Weaver, Kyle Finnegan, or any other pitcher who experienced troubles in the closer role.

It’s fine to have the desire to fix a broken pitcher. Just don’t let him be the end-all, be-all expected to get you your final 3 outs.

6 things the NY Mets need to do this offseason if run prevention is the focus

https://risingapple.com/ny-mets-6-things-offseason-if-run-prevention-focus?utm_source=bleacherreport&utm_medium=referral&_branch_match_id=1518889812982494898&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXTyrSSywo0MvJzMvW93b0Cilw8czIiUyyrytKTUstKsrMS49PKsovL04tsnVNSU8FAL4clXg3AAAA

2) Sign Cody Bellinger to be a defensive stalwart at multiple positions

Is Cody Bellinger overrated as a defender? It probably depends who you ask. Without a doubt he’d be a better player in both corner outfield positions. He wouldn’t completely take away playing time from Brandon Nimmo or Juan Soto. In fact, he probably wouldn’t see as much time in the corner outfield spots as he would the two other dreamy positions Mets fans would like him at: center field and first base.

Two holes in the lineup at the moment that’ll be solved in some fashion this offseason, Bellinger’s versatility makes him a unique option for the Mets. He’d be the biggest free agent position player they’d sign, likely signaling an end to Pete Alonso’s reign in Queens.

Run prevention is something Bellinger can bring to the Mets even if it’s primarily robbing doubles late in games.

 

Jacob deGrom

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1. New York Mets

The most obvious landing spot would be the New York Mets, with whom deGrom spent the first nine years of his illustrious career, carving out a special place in Queens history. He is absolutely beloved there and he would surely welcome the opportunity to return. This is more than a sentimental fit, however. The Mets badly need an experienced ace to headline the rotation as Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea become increasingly unreliable. deGrom can deliver immediate results as the Mets attempt to get back into the postseason mix and serve as a valuable mentor for New York's next generation of pitchers, such as Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong.

 

Ryan Hearn

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Like Bellinger, O'Hearn was cut loose by his previous club, the Kansas City Royals, after the 2022 season, but he rose from the ashes in Baltimore and reinvented himself, earning an All-Star selection in 2025.

Over two and a half seasons with the Orioles, O'Hearn slashed .277/.342/.454 with 42 homers over 1223 plate appearances. Traded to the San Diego Padres this July, O'Hearn batted .276 with a .350 OBP in San Diego, though he saw his SLG dip to .387. The Padres' Petco Park ranks as one of the toughest places to hit homers as a lefty, however, which should explain some of the drop off.

Like Bellinger, O'Hearn is versatile. While he can't play center and he isn't a superb glove in the outfield, he can competently man either corner outfield spot. Where he really shines is at first base, posting four defensive runs saved and six outs above average in just 541.1 innings at first in 2025. Sticking him at first definitely would follow David Stearns' run prevention mandate.

 

Codify                         @CodifyBaseball

Slowest MLB free agents (400+ PAs this year):

Josh Naylor, 24.4 ft/s (30 stolen bases!)

Wilmer Flores, 24.5 ft/s (1 SB)

Ty France, 25.1 ft/s (1 SB)

Josh Bell, 25.2 ft/s (0 SB)

Marcell Ozuna, 25.3 ft/s (0 SB)

Pete Alonso, 25.3 ft/s (1 SB)

 

Codify                         @CodifyBaseball

FEWEST STOLEN BASES ALLOWED THIS YEAR:

47 KC

78 MIL

80 CHC NYM

82 DET

92 SF

pc - Mack back in the day

The Mets have signed LHRP Anderson Severino to a minor league deal.

Just turned 31    5-10    190    DR   

IFA – signed by NYY (2013) – known for hi-velocity fastball

MLB Career:       -0.1-WAR,  0-0,  6.14

2025:  Monclova (MEX) & Licey (DOWL) –

           53-appearances, 3-1, 2.32, 1.21, 42.2-IP, 52-K, 21-BB

Mack – there always seems to be a Yankee connection with this team. I wonder why. Severino was know as a Yankee prospect with a 100+ fastball. I have no idea what that ticks up to now. Slot him into AAA-Syracuse until ST is over. 

 

ella franco     (John Franco’s daughter)          @ellafranco_

Wouldn’t usually post something like this because I like to be objective but gonna make a HOF case for my dad:

- 424 saves, 7th all time on the saves list (2nd all time at the time of retirement)

- 1st all time saves leader amongst lefties

- Career ERA: 2.89 (across 21 seasons, 1245 IP)

- 23.5 WAR

- 8 seasons with 30+ saves

- 3 time NL saves leader

- 4 time All-Star

- NL record for most pitching appearances

- 1.88 ERA in the postseason, 10 strikeouts, 1 save, and 2-0 record (only 15 appearances)

Feel free to disagree if you wish, just putting it out there

MACK – Well… since you put it this way….