There are some minor league
players that are starting to show signs that we should all take them more
serious.
This report is about three
of them.
Colin Houck is no strange to prospect lists. The ex-prep star was a standout at Parkview HS (GA) in both baseball (senior: .487 with pop) and football (QB).
Houck is a 21-year-old
infielder (primarily shortstop and third base).
Born: September 30, 2004
(Stockbridge/Lilburn, Georgia).
Physical: 6'2", 190
lbs, bats/throws right-handed.
Committed to Mississippi
State but signed with the Mets after they drafted him 32nd overall (Competitive
Balance Round A, first-round pick) in the 2023 MLB Draft. He received a $2.75
million signing bonus.
Houck is still early in his
development as a high school draftee. He has played across Rookie, Low-A (St.
Lucie), and High-A (Brooklyn) levels:
2023 (FCL Mets, rookie
ball): .241/.389/.310 in 9 games.
2024 (St. Lucie, Low-A):
.206/.304/.306 with 5 HR, 51 RBI in 112 games. High strikeout rate (36%).
2025 (split St.
Lucie/Brooklyn): .228/.315/.384 combined, 10 HR, good power in Low-A
(.252/.351/.461) but struggled after promotion to High-A (.198/.269/.289).
2026 (Brooklyn, High-A,
ongoing): Around .213/.279/.346 with 5 HR in ~52 games; continued contact and
strikeout issues.
Career minors (through
2026): Roughly .217/.306/.345 with 20 HR and 26 SB in ~289 games. He has shown
some speed and raw power but struggles with contact, especially against
breaking pitches/spin (high K rates in the 30+% range).
He was a top-10/15 Mets
prospect in 2024 but has slipped (e.g., #25–#34 range or lower in various
2025/2026 lists) due to performance and swing-and-miss concerns. Scouting
grades often note average-to-plus raw power and athleticism but below-average
hit tool currently, with questions about his ultimate defensive home (SS/3B
versatility).
He's viewed as a toolsy,
projectable player with a long development path, but he's trending toward a
fringe/organizational depth type unless he improves his plate discipline and
contact rates significantly.
Houck is a classic
high-upside prep pick who is still working through the challenges of
professional baseball.
Born: September 21, 2005
(Kansas City, MO)
Height/Weight: 6'1",
197 lbs
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Draft: Selected by the Mets
in the 5th round (144th overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Liberty North
High School (Missouri). He was Missouri’s Gatorade High School Player of the
Year and had committed to Tennessee before signing.
Signing Bonus: $1,322,500
(well above the slot value for his pick).
He made his pro debut in
2024 with a brief stint in Single-A (St. Lucie Mets) after starting in the
Florida Complex League.
2024 (A): 6 G, .182 AVG,
.308 OBP, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB in limited action.
2025 (A - St. Lucie): 115 G,
.220 AVG, .336 OBP, .288 SLG, 5 HR, 48 RBI, 41 SB, 72 BB, 96 K.
2026: Started on the 60-day
IL with St. Lucie, had a rehab stint in the FCL, and was activated in early
June. He's been performing well since returning (hot start noted in recent
games, including extra-base hits).
He shows a solid approach
with good plate discipline (high walk rate) and speed on the bases, though his
power is more fringe/average at this stage.
Strengths: Polished high
school hitter with good swing decisions and contact ability. Solid arm and
instincts at shortstop. Good baserunner (though added strength may have
slightly reduced his pure speed).
Areas to Improve: Power
development (exit velocities have been inconsistent) and range/athleticism at
shortstop. He may eventually move to second or third base long-term due to
average speed.
Scouting Grades (approx.
from MLB.com): Hit: 45, Power: 40, Run: 50, Arm: 55, Field: 50, Overall: 40.
ETA around 2028.
He's viewed as a high-floor
prospect with a mature approach for his age, and he's one of the Mets' better
lower-level infield prospects. As of 2026, he's ranked in the Mets' top ~20-25
prospects by some outlets.
During the period of 6/5-6/14, Binghamton catcher Vincent Perozo produced a 1.162-OPS.
Perozo is a Venezuelan
catcher in the New York Mets minor league organization.
Born: March 6, 2003 (age 23)
in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
Bats/Throws: Left/Right.
Height/Weight: Listed around
5'11" / 170
Position: Primary catcher,
with some time at 1B and LF.
The Mets signed him as an
international free agent on July 2, 2019. He missed 2020 due to the COVID-19
minor league shutdown and debuted in 2021 with the Florida Complex League (FCL)
Mets.
His development has
included: Struggles with consistency and strikeouts early on.
Multiple injuries (e.g.,
shoulder issues).
Steady progress as a
switch-hitting threat from the left side.
He has bounced between
levels in recent seasons, often filling in as needed across the Mets' system.
2026 Season (as of
early/mid-June) - He has split time across High-A Brooklyn, Double-A
Binghamton, and a brief Triple-A Syracuse appearance. In Double-A with
Binghamton, he showed strong recent form, earning Mets Minor League Player of
the Week honors for Week 11 (5 games, .450 AVG, 2 HR).
He has shown decent plate
discipline at times (walking more in better seasons) but has dealt with higher
strikeout rates.
Notable seasons: 2022 (age 19): Strong in FCL
(.283/.387/.475).
2023: Solid power in
Single-A (8 HR).
2025: Better contact rates
in Single-A St. Lucie (.259/.376/.378).
Outlook - Perozo is a depth
catcher prospect with left-handed bat potential and defensive skills behind the
plate. He is not yet on the MLB roster and remains in the upper minors
(primarily Double-A in 2026). Projections suggest modest big-league upside as a
backup or platoon option, though he needs more consistency.
He is known for a smooth
left-handed swing with some pull-side power, though he can be vulnerable to
high pitches.
8 comments:
Houck is not in my top 30 until his strikeouts drop greatly. He is simply another Jaylen Palmer.
Perozo and Snyder I am much more positive about.
Perozo has heated up recently and could end the year as an exciting new addition to the prospect rankings
I am convinced has a MLB career ahead of him
I too want Houck to giddy-up
Mack, at some point, I just wonder if the fix for a guy like Houck is two-fold: be more aggressive on strike one, which I’m presuming he probably takes too many strikes. And secondly, and this applies to a lot of these guys, learn to choke up and put the ball and play with two strikes.
Mark Vientos has been up a sizable 108 times when his count went to 2 strikes.
His slash line?cAn insanely bad .098/..148/.167, with 51 Ks.
A slash line like that should be IMPOSSIBLE for any self-respecting major leaguer.
I still also think that Suero has a future, because he can catch competently. Despite hitting 198 he has a .357 OBP. And 19 steals and 11 homers. But I think it’ll take him until 2028 to be ready. I doubt he will ever be a high average hitter, or get much over 200. But he’ll draw his walk, steal his bases and hit some homers. As a catcher, those are all acceptable levels of performance.
He simply is in the middle of a very bad period. I too was a big fan here
It's seems t9 me that Houck has lost his confidence with a bat in his hand
I noticed Houck is hitting .233 with “just” 18 Ks in 16 games in June. In May, it was 43 Ks in 23 games. Perhaps June is a step in the right direction.
Shorten the swing and choke up with 2 Ks.
The closest to a 2 strike performance stat for him is “2 strikes and RISP”, and in 42 PAs, he is weak: .154/.214/.308, and 3 walks vs 16 Ks.
No one has improved more this month in plate discipline than Kevin Parada
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