Ernest Dove - The Mets Farm System Report

 

The Sports Report continues a look at the Mets farm system as a group of them continue training after a lost season at the spring complex in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Players from across the country and world continue to gather in St. Lucie. They are fighting through the relenting south Florida rain to participate in simulated games, utilizing all the players they have, often playing out of position sandlot style to get games in.  

An organization and farm system recently having shown a decrease in respect throughout the national rankings circles continues to quietly have talent by the dozens. A system loaded with talent grouped in the 18 to 20 age range continues to grow and mature per multiple reports from spring through winter. Today I wanted to further review and discuss a handful of young prospects on the farm and what fans may expect in the hopeful 2021 season to come.

Starting at the top of my personal team rankings is 18 year old catcher Francisco Alvarez. The young catcher was able to play in 42 games during his first professional season for the GCL Mets and Kingsport Mets. Going strictly off the box scores there is no denying the hit tool of a then 17 year old slashing .312/.407/.510/.916 across the two affiliates. Also appears to be an impressive 21 walks to 37 strikeouts overall through his 182 plate appearances. 

My understanding per early reports through the present day is that his skills behind the plate show a prospect still currently projected to stay at the position. This is key considering the position with such offensive showing and potential, leading to my current day positioning of Alvarez as the organization’s number one prospect.

The question going forward into 2021, especially after a lost season, is where to place the soon to be 19 year old come spring. Catchers often can move slower through the system. But would it be wise to have Alvarez go from 182 career plate appearances in rookie ball levels right to low A Columbia? The bat potential appears too strong to hold back in 2021 at perhaps a projected affiliate and league created in spring training sites. For now I must assume and project that Alvarez appears in Low A.

A case still can be made by many to have infielder Ronny Mauricio keep his place as the top prospect in the organization. As with recent international top bonus prospects before him like Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez, Mauricio has been rushed through the levels early in his pro career. The box scores have been different but the potential remains.  

By all accounts, per my sources through the 2019 Low A season up until now, I am told Ronny Mauricio is a future major league starting shortstop. The soon to be 20 year old come April may perhaps by these reports may currently still lean closer to Rosario than Gimenez defensively, the potential remains and I am told Mauricio should stick at the SS position if the organization wants to go in this direction moving forward.

However, based on his physical frame and offensive potential I’m told that as certain things began to click for him during the 2019 season, he could be a change of position to the biggest need later option. Based on his age, I am wondering if the Mets consider still having Mauricio begin 2021 in Class High A instead of jumping him to AA. This may be wise even if just for a month or two.

The name that appears to be hottest during the initial weeks of instructional league now is infielder Brett Baty. Baty has reportedly been showing off his power with multiple home runs during simulated games. From the time of initial instructional league participation by Baty the year he was drafted I was told one key element to Baty was his work ethic. I am told his effort and maturity in training was noticeable and respected by his peers from that time until now. 

This is why I have continued to look beyond any initial small sample size of games played during this draft year. This is where you trust the amateur scouting department and the reports from those around him going into 2021. I feel it is safe to project Baty to have a good season ahead. The power numbers can always be hard to project for players in Low A and Class High based on the areas, weather and ball parks. For now I am still willing to predict and project that Baty plays out 2021 at the A ball levels and goes into double digits in homeruns. As far as position, I have not been informed of any negative aspects to his game at third base, where I would like to see him through the next season.

One pitcher of note is the perhaps the most notable. Presumably everyone’s top organizational pitching prospect Matthew Allan continues to impress on and off the field, as is the case with Baty. Multiple reports continue to praise Allan specifically for his fastball and curveball. I was told early on following his draft season the coaches were already working with Allan on specific aspects to his pitching. By all accounts since it appears the work has been paying off. 

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