MACK - SUNDAY OBSERVATIONS - MACK'S #9 PROSPECT - SS ELIAN PENA - Brett Baty, A Starter, Nolan McLean, Brandon Nimmo, Juan Soto, Jonathan Santucci

 

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 #9:

 

                             SS ELIAN PENA

Elian Peña is a 17-year-old shortstop (born October 19, 2007, in Azua, Dominican Republic.

He's a left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, listed at 5'10" and 180 pounds, and is widely regarded as one of the Mets' top prospects following a blockbuster international signing.

On January 15, 2025—the opening day of the international signing period—Peña signed with the Mets for a record-breaking $5 million bonus, the largest ever given by the franchise to an international free agent (shattering the previous high of $2.85 million to Yovanny Rodriguez in 2024). This was the highest bonus for any Latin American prospect in the 2025 class and the second-highest overall (behind Rōki Sasaki's $6.5 million with the Dodgers). It consumed most of the Mets' $6.26 million international bonus pool.

Peña, who trained with La Alianza academy in the Dominican Republic, was ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 3 international prospect (behind Sasaki and Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez) and Baseball America's No. 2 (behind Sasaki).

David Stearns called him a "unique talent" with a left-handed swing, power, strike-zone awareness, and work ethic, noting he's already one of the top prospects on the island.

Peña is praised as a potential five-tool player with elite hitting ability for his age.

Hit tool: Plus-to-plus-plus bat speed, advanced plate discipline (rare for a teenager), excellent pitch recognition, and the ability to spray line drives to all fields. MLB Pipeline gave him a 65-grade hit tool.

Power: Projects for 25-30 HR potential as he adds strength to his lean, athletic frame (still growing physically).

Defense: Smooth actions at shortstop with soft hands, plus arm strength, good range, and instincts. He's expected to stick at SS long-term, though some project a future move to 3B or 2B for less demand on speed (which is average but playable).

Speed/Running: Above-average underway, 21 stolen bases in pro debut.

Overall: Baseball America grades him 55/Extreme risk, with high baseball IQ and leadership potential

2025 Performance (Pro Debut)

Assigned to the Dominican Summer League (DSL) Mets Orange (rookie level), Peña had a standout season despite starting 0-for-26:In ~55 games: .292/.423/.540 (.949 OPS), 9 HR (six in just two games—two separate three-HR games, making him one of only two pros in 2025 with multiple three-HR performances), 33 RBI, 46 runs, 35 walks, 21 SB (on 25 attempts).

ETA:      Around 2030, given his youth. Likely starts 2026 in the Florida Complex League (stateside rookie ball), with potential for quick rises if he dominates.

 Hagen Snell                  @HagenSnellBB

Brett Baty took a big step forward after being recalled from AAA, having him in a position to be the everyday third baseman

                Running From The OPS        @OPS_BASEBALL

                Brett Baty posted a 111 wRC+, slashed .254/.313/.435, and posted 2.3 fWAR over 432 PA. His QoC was fantastic, and he also increased his bat speed from 73.5 MPH last season to 74.8 MPH in 2025. The 26-year-old proved a lot of people wrong!

MACK – I have been criticized of going hot and cold on Baty. It’s true, but so does he during each season he plays. His 2^nd half stats last season are wonderful, but we’ve been to this movie before with him. His defense has gotten better but you haven’t seen him on any OAA or +DRS top 10 lists. Let me put it this way… I think Steve Cohen can pay for better here, but if the Mets want to give Baty one more shot at locking down this position, I can live with that

What I’m hearing…

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

CLICK HERE

3) Failing to add an ace-quality starting pitcher is defining insanity

The Mets have some starting rotation work to do this coming year and the tricky thing is they don’t have an obvious open spot. Even if they have a six-man rotation on a regular basis, we can already expect Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, David Peterson, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga to make up the main starting five. A move to the bullpen or trade opens up a spot for an ace to arrive. That’s the big challenge for Stearns to figure out.

There isn’t a world where the Mets go into next season with the same rotation. At least one change will take place. That means making a subtraction of some kind.

As far as aces go, obvious trade candidates include Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, and Sandy Alcantara. Free agency offers the Mets choices, too. None seem free of red flags and come with outrageous price tags.

It feels like the Mets already have an ace in McLean with questions about the others. Manaea and Senga pitched their way out of the rotation last year with Holmes bouncing between roles. Peterson was never moved to the bullpen but had one of the weakest finishes of anyone on the roster. He flamed out big time.

Failing to add a truly impactful starting pitcher this offseason when several trade candidates and free agents are available will be malpractice.

Here's an early look at the top 2026 Rookie of the Year candidates

November 19th, 2025

https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/early-candidates-for-2026-rookie-of-the-year?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

 Nolan McLean, RHP (NYM No. 1/MLB No. 11)

This guy was swinging the bat in 2024, so there is still ceiling here for him (as a pitcher). He couldn't have been much better than he was during the eight-start stretch in New York. But I think there is more for him, ceiling-wise, because he's still learning how to be a full-time pitcher, and the opportunity will be there. So let's see what he does.  -  Jonathan Mayo

 

MetCast        @MetCastPod

“Brandon Nimmo got pissed when Andy Martino did a Yankees-Mets team and he had Alex Verdugo above him. Also I don’t think he liked any of the talk about Francisco Lindor being captain.“

- Adam Ottavino (on Brandon Nimmo)

X  -  Former Mets reliever Adam Ottavino shared on his podcast that Nimmo strongly dislikes trade talk and even bristled at ideas of Francisco Lindor as team captain. The Mets are listening to trade offers for the 32-year-old outfielder, who has a full no-trade clause and $101 million left on his deal, but they haven't asked him to waive it yet. Nimmo brings elite defense and a lefty bat, though his age and salary complicate moves as the team reshapes around Juan Soto and Lindor.

MACK – This is a whole different shy Brandon Nimmo that I knew in Savannah. Must be money doin the talkin’

 

Running From The OPS                 @OPS_BASEBALL

Juan Soto was 2 SB away from a 40/40 season, and there were people seriously complaining about his slow start. Soto Pacheco is generational, and he's going to be a Met for a very long time!

 

Angry             @AngryMike24

Mets Jonathan Santucci had 19 outings in 2025, allowing 3 ER or fewer for HI-A & AA:

97.2 IP | 23 ER | 52 Hits | 30 BB | 116 K | 2.13 ERA | 0.84 WHIP

29% K-Rate for ‘25

#’s on par or better than any LHP ranked among Top 100, but Santucci remains unranked.

Absurd.