Position
Analysis – SS… or Past-Lindor
The title says it all. Francisco Lindor is contracted to play shortstop for the Mets
through the 2031 season and he shows no signs of breaking down. Oh, he will.
They all do. The Mets have a killer of a prospect down the chain that looks
like he could be even better here, but for the sake of creating an article, and
wordage, we need to first discuss a bunch of other minor league Mets shortstops.
So… sit back. It’s going to take a while to get to that stud I mentioned…
Wyatt Young – Young played the entire 2025 season for AA-Binghamton: 333-PA,
66-K, 55-BB, 1-HR, a measly 24-RBI, .244. Fully establishing himself as a
future AAAA Met. Also plays short and third which could get him a spring
promotion to be the AAA-Syracuse to play short until Jett flies away. IMO, no
potential major league future here.
Boston Baro – the 21/yr old arrived with a limited amount of fanfare. 8th
rounder in 2023 straight out of HS. Hasn’t taken off yet… 2025: 393-AB, .224,with
a slugging% of only .321. Only an average runner, but, overall, plays good D in
the infield. He will move on the AA-Binghamton next season to compete with the
next guy on my list.
William Lugo – Lugo is a DR guy that started stateside for the GCL Mets in 2019
(.158). The last three assignments were 2023 Cyclones (.237), 2024 Cyclones (.186), and 2025 Rumble Ponies
(.216). Do you see where I’m going here? Had 296-AB last season for
AA-Binghamton and there is nothing in the charts that say he deserves a
promotion to AAA-Syracuse this spring.
Colin Houck – big time HS
1st rounder (1.32) in 2023. Plays short, third, and second. Frankly,
been a disappointment from the get-go, until last season for Rk-St. Lucie,
where he began to turn it around: 268-PA, 8-HR, .252, ,812-OPS. Still, I have
moved him down from a RED prospect to BLUE, though I still believe the Mets
will bump him to A+ Brooklyn in the spring. 2026 should be a big year for
someone that would just be entering his senior year in college.
Jeremy Rodriguez – turns 20 in July. Also plays second and third. Came
to the Mets, at the August 2023 deadline, from the Diamondbacks, in exchange
for OF Tommy Pham. Thought it
was the steal of the trading deadline, especially after ending the 2024 season
hitting .422 for the DSL-Mets. Went of to the FCL-Mets in 2024… .282. And then
last season for St. Lucie… .202. Oops, der it is. You can’t keep him there
after 492-PA last season, so it’s on to A+-Brooklyn. The good news he will only
be 19 when that season starts. And because Houck also plays that position, you
may see him return to his natural position at second.
Antonio Jiminez – will turn 22 in June. Also plays third. I follow draft
prospects. Thought this was a steal in 2025 as a 3rd rounder, out of
UCF. I had him going early in the 2nd. Got his feet wet last season
for St. Lucie: 110-PA, 15-K, 12-BB, 0-HR, 14-RBI, 8-SB, .263/.345/.274/a mere .619-OPS.
Blocked in Brooklyn. Sounds like a turf war. So, it should be a return to St.
Lucie, where he really needs to light it up at a level he, sort of, is too old
to play anymore.
Bohan Adderly – will play 2026 as an 18/yr. old. Also plays third.
Started off in 2024 or the DSL Mets (.229). Came stateside this past season for
the FCL Mets (.175). Will most probably repeat there, but let the next guy
start.
Elian Pena – Here he is. The 65-grade hitting tool-guy
that signed in January 2025 for $5,000,000 (team total pool: $6.25mil) got off
to a real, slow start this past season for the DSL Mets. Opened up 0-26. Send
the check back! And then all the hype turned into reality. Finished the season
at 9-HR, 33-RBI, 21-SB, .292/.421/.528/.949. It seems like there is nothing but
up for this kid that will play 2016 as an 18-yr. old. There’s no reason to push
him to St. Lucie on opening day. Jiminez is there. But, there is an outside chance
he could. He definitely will finish there. My guess is he is FCL Mets bound for
their opening day. Where is he going? I got people down there. They say they
have never before seen someone this talented. They emphasized the word NEVER.
Overall – there’s talent between Lindor and Pena, but the someday
arrival of Pena in Queens seems to be perfectly timed to Lindor’s decline.
Pray for two things here. No injuries here and that Pena is the real deal.
Rating: B+
Since writing this...
ReplyDeleteTalked to someone
Pena could open for full season St. Lucie
From DSL to A-, wow! Not sure I like that big a jump for a 17 year old that just came state side, but let’s see how he looks in March, I guess.
DeleteI remember 16 year old Francisco Pena in Savannah
DeleteAnd how did he handle it? I’ve never heard of him, so why would they have pushed a 16 year old? What was the benefit?
DeleteI’d start him in St Lucie, if only to get him game action a month earlier than when the FCL starts. You could send him to the FCL team then, if it is too aggressive.
DeleteThe wild card in this lot is Houck
ReplyDeleteTremendous school talent
Houck repeated a lower level and was able to get traction.
DeleteI thought it was a great steal that he dropped that low in that round
DeleteHouck has that high K rate. Can he fix that?
DeleteMack again we have to live long enough to see Pena play at least a couple of season with the big club right? Soto 2 who also can play what do they call it...oh yeah DEFENSE!
ReplyDeleteI'm on walker now
DeleteYou live to see him
Baby steps for me
I'm hoping for Thanksgiving
Remember
DeleteIf Lindor goes down before someone is developed, Jett Williams can return to his natural position
If he's that good, perhaps he makes the show as a 19 year old.
ReplyDeleteElian: NEVER? Wow! Now, you’ve got my hopes up on Pena, higher than they already were.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing that they expect Peña to move to 3B as he fills out. I don’t doubt they’ll start him in A-ball to see how he fits in there. They play in the same place as the FCL team, which starts a month later. No big adjustment if they need to drop him down for a couple of months. Kind of amazing how we have a top 5 farms system, and even after drafting a ton of MI over the past few years there’s really only one seemingly legit prospect from the SS group.
ReplyDelete