27. Daiverson
Guerterrez
Daiverson Gutierrez is a promising young catching prospect in the New York Mets organization.
He's a
Venezuelan-born player, signed as an international free agent in January 2023
at age 17. The Mets made him their top priority that signing period, giving him
a $1.9 million bonus—which was about a third
of their international budget that year. This was a significant investment,
drawing comparisons to their earlier big signing of fellow Venezuelan catcher
Francisco Alvarez.
Background
and profile:
- Born: September 11, 2005 (age 20
as of 2026)
- Height/Weight: 5'11", around
205-206 lbs
- Bats/Throws: Right/Right
- Position: Catcher
Scouts have
noted his tools for the position, including slightly above-average power
potential, arm strength, and average fielding/arm grades in early reports. He's
seen as having the raw ingredients to potentially become a starting MLB
catcher, though he's still early in development with a long road ahead (ETA
often projected around 2029 or later).Professional career so far:
- 2023 (age 17-18): Assigned to the Dominican Summer League (DSL Mets). He struggled in 50 games, hitting .186/.321/.244 with 2 HR, but showed some patience with 22 walks (though high strikeouts at 36).
- 2024 (age 18-19): Major
turnaround after mechanical swing adjustments—the Mets reworked his setup
for better mechanics. He dominated early in the DSL (.300+ with strong
plate discipline), then moved to the Florida Complex League (FCL Mets)
where he hit .317/.463/.537 in 15 games
with power and walks. He got a brief taste of full-season ball at Single-A
St. Lucie late in the year but struggled (3-for-27 with high K's), likely
due to age and inexperience.
- 2025: He progressed further,
including time at Single-A St. Lucie, where he hit his first affiliated
home run (solo shot highlighted by MLB) and showed doubles power. Overall
minor league stats across levels showed improved contact, power flashes,
and plate discipline (e.g., combined .259/.396/.435 in a 2024 sample, with
more extra-base hits).
As of early
2026 rankings (e.g., Amazin' Avenue's Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2026), he's
slotted around #24 in the system—a solid but not elite ranking, reflecting his
youth, position value, and ongoing development needs (especially behind the
plate and refining his hit tool).He's a high-upside catcher with power/arm
potential, but like many international signees at his age, he's a project with
plenty of growing pains ahead. The Mets are handling his workload carefully to
build him up gradually. If he continues progressing, he could climb higher in
future lists.
9 comments:
These become much more lengthy as we move up the lisr
In speaking of workload, I would certainly manage his catching workload. If however, I thought he was a promising bat, I would get him a lot of DH time at a minimum. And maybe some time at first base. Just to get them on the field in most games.
You can’t slow walk these guys, because before long, the good International kids need to be added to the 40 man roster. I still think that given the age that these guys are signed out they should be extending them an extra year before they need to be added to the 40 man if they sign it age 16 or age 17. Conversely, a guy who signs at age 22 out of college should be able to get added to the 40 man a year earlier than they currently are. But the rules are the rules.
So, if I were the Mets, in 2026, I would try to get Davey the Gut 450–500 plate appearances, even if only half of those are as a catcher. Other guys who are unlikely to be good enough to have to be added to the 40 man roster would just have to settle a little more. It’s all about developing major league talent. It’s kind of like being on American Idol. You audition and you either go forward or you go home. So the guys who are in top-tier, need to make a quick impression or gather splinters on the bench to let guys like Davy, the Gut to get more playing time.
To add meat to the bones of the last comment from me, DG went to the plate 395 times last year - this year, that should be 495. Give him a lot of at bats. And let’s all remember that he will play the entire 2026 season as a 20-year-old. I don’t know if there’s room to immediately put him in Brooklyn, but I think it would be better to start him out again in St. Lucie for a few months, and then move him up to Brooklyn. If he pans out well in 2026, get him in AA in 2027 and AAA in 2028.
Good approach for ALL young catchers
Starting catching is pretty much blocked
Catching being blocked with a good problem to have. Frankly, don’t see any problem with Davie being held back at St. Lucie for an entire year. He had 250 last year. No reason he can’t go out and hit 330 there this year and then get promoted. If you tear it up, you will get promoted.
Agree with the aggressive approach - even early on. Would be interesting to quantify how aggressive development impacts the prospects that actually make it to the majors. It can break some prospects but isn’t it better to find that out early vs waiting too long? Might lose a few gems in the process but overall come out ahead.
Seems like to old Mets took too long with the development of the Baby Mets. All very unfinished products when required to be placed in 40 man & manage option years.
Except Alvarez
Alvarez came up early too. The starting catchers both got hurt - Narvaez and someone else, I can’t remember.
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