MACK - Five Hottest Bats In The Chain

 

John From Albany sent me this list of the five hottest bats during the period of 6/5-6/14. 

I will post updates to additional hottest bats throughout the season and a summary about each player.

The first five are:

 

1.       Emerson Estevez/DSL - .348/.400/.783/1.183

 

Emerson Ramses Estevez is a 17-year-old (born October 5, 2008) right-handed hitting and throwing outfielder in the New York Mets organization. He was signed as an international free agent from Santiago, Dominican Republic, on January 15, 2026, for a modest $25,000 bonus.

Height/Weight: 6'0", 192 lbs.

Position: Outfielder (OF).

Bats/Throws: R/R.

He has gotten off to a strong start in his pro debut with DSL Mets Blue:

Outlook - As a low-bonus DSL signee, Estevez is a long-term developmental prospect without a high public profile yet. His early power and production in the DSL are encouraging signs for a 17-year-old, but it is very early in his career.

 

2.       Aiberson Blanco/DSL - .364/.417/.727/1.144

 

Aiberson Jose Blanco is a switch-hitting outfielder (S/R) in the New York Mets' minor league system, currently playing in the Dominican Summer League (DSL).

Born: February 12, 2008 (age 18) in Maracay, Venezuela

Height/Weight: 5'11" / 157 lbs

Bats/Throws: Switch / Right

Position: Outfielder (primarily CF, also LF/RF)

Signed: International free agent by the Mets on January 15, 2025 (UDFA)

He debuted in the DSL in 2025

Limited experience, showing patience at the plate (solid walk rate) but contact and strikeout issues typical for a young DSL player. He has some speed and has played all three outfield spots, with decent defensive metrics in limited innings.

Blanco is a raw, toolsy international signee in the very early stages of his development. At 5'11"/157 lbs, he's still filling out. His switch-hitting ability and outfield versatility are positives, and he shows plate discipline for his age. Like most DSL prospects, he's a long-term project with no established prospect ranking yet.

 

3.       Ji Hwan Bae/Syracuse - .385/.467/.654/1.121

 

Ji Hwan Bae (also spelled Jihwan Bae) is a 26-year-old South Korean professional baseball player (born July 26, 1999, in Daegu, South Korea) who currently plays in the New York Mets organization, primarily as a center fielder and second baseman.

Bae was a standout amateur in South Korea, winning the Lee Young-min Batting Award as the top high school hitter. He initially agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Braves in 2017, but it was voided, making him a free agent. The Pittsburgh Pirates signed him in March 2018 for a $1.25 million bonus.

MLB Career (with Pirates, 2022–2025) - He debuted in the majors on September 23, 2022, and played 163 games for Pittsburgh through 2025. His career MLB stats are modest:

Batting: .223 AVG, .294 OBP, .293 SLG, .586 OPS (62 OPS+)

Key numbers: 2 HR, 44 RBI, 37 SB, 43 BB, 131 SO in 514 AB

He showed speed and versatility (playing 2B, CF, and other outfield spots) but struggled with consistent hitting and strikeouts in the big leagues.

He had a strong 2022 debut in limited action (.333 AVG in 10 games) but regressed in subsequent years, including a poor 2025 (.050 AVG in 13 games).

The Pirates placed him on waivers in November 2025.

The Mets claimed him off waivers on November 6, 2025, viewing him as affordable center field/outfield depth with minor-league options and versatility.

In January 2026, the Mets outrighted him to Triple-A Syracuse (he cleared waivers and has options remaining).

Physical: 5'11", 185 lbs; Bats left, throws right.

Strengths: Speed (proven base-stealer), defensive versatility (middle infield and outfield), solid minor-league bat (.300+ AVG and good OBP in several seasons).

 

4.       Cleiner Ramirez/DSL - .348/.423/.696/1.119

 

Cleiner Jesius Ramirez is a 17-year-old right-handed hitting outfielder (born December 1, 2008, in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela) in the New York Mets' system. He signed with the Mets as an international free agent on January 15, 2026, for $1,372,500 and was assigned to the DSL Mets Orange in late May 2026.

Height/Weight: 5'9" / 175 lbs (stocky, compact build with strength projection).

Bats/Throws: R/R.

He's described as a "quarter-stick of dynamite" with standout bat speed, explosive lower-half strength, and good leverage for his size. He's an above-average runner (around 50 grade) with athleticism that could allow versatility (primarily outfield but some infield background).

Scouts praise his balanced skill set, repeatable swing, and advanced plate discipline for his age. He uses his shorter stature to generate good bat speed and barrel control. His power is still developing but shows carry and projection (raw power around 45). Pre-signing, he hit .419 with strong on-base numbers in the Caracas Prospect League.

FanGraphs (2026 preseason) gives him a 35+ FV (Future Value), ranking him around #40 in the Mets' system.

Tool grades (present/future):

Hit: 20/50

Raw Power: 45/45

Game Power: 20/45

Run: 50/50

Fielding: 30/45

Throw: 45

Evaluators have compared his projected build and style to Kirby Puckett and he's been likened to fellow Venezuelan Luisangel Acuña for his upside and skill set.

He was ranked as the #23 international prospect in the 2026 class. The Mets used bonus pool space (partly due to other signings like Wandy Asigen) to land him. He's a high-upside lottery ticket typical of well-regarded Venezuelan signings — lots of bat speed and athleticism, with development needed on defense, strength, and consistency.

 

5.       Nick Lorusso/Binghamton - .348/.400/.696/1.096

 

Nick Lorusso (full name: Nicholas Dante Lorusso) is a right-handed hitting and throwing infielder in the New York Mets minor league system.

Born: September 11, 2000 (age 25) in Carmel, NY; hometown Monroe, CT.

Height/Weight: 6-1, 215 lbs.

Positions: Primarily third base, with time at first base and some second base.

Draft: Selected by the Mets in the 9th round (276th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Maryland; signed for $50,000.

Lorusso started at Villanova (2019–2021), where he was named Big East Freshman of the Year in 2019. He transferred to Maryland and had a standout senior season in 2023:

Hit .379/.446/.765 with 26 HR and a nation-leading 105 RBI (most in Division I since 2003).

Earned consensus All-American honors.

2023 (Single-A St. Lucie): .169/.250/.270 in 26 games (tough pro debut adjustment).

2024: Stronger showing — .262/.367/.462 with 12 HR and 44 RBI in 78 games (mostly High-A Brooklyn; brief AA stint). Named SAL Player of the Week in May 2024. Missed some time with injury.

2025 (Double-A Binghamton): .241/.312/.368 with 7 HR, 56 RBI, and 29 doubles in 112 games.

2026 (Double-A Binghamton, partial season): Around .218 with double-digit home runs and solid power production in limited action.

Career Minors (through ~2026): Roughly .234–.241 AVG, with power (20+ HR) and decent plate discipline, though strikeouts can be an issue. He's shown versatility across the infield.

Lorusso is a bat-first prospect with good raw power and production in college that has started translating to pro ball, especially in 2024. He's not typically ranked among the Mets' very top prospects but has flown somewhat under the radar as a solid organizational depth piece/corner infielder.