There’s a new boss in town, and the Mets have pushed the chips in to be in contention to win now. New owner Steve Cohen has been hot on the trade market and free agency to build the best team he can for 2021. In the process, several of the New York Mets top prospects have been on the move. Fortunately, the Mets farm system is still excellent at the top and has a lot of young talent throughout that could continue to develop. Without further ado, let’s get to our New York Mets top 20 prospects.
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New York Mets Top Prospects
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF
The Mets 2020 first-round pick finds himself atop the Mets’ top prospect rankings despite not debuting in a game to this point. Crow-Armstrong was a high schooler who was selected 19th overall by the Mets and decided to spurn his commitment to play college baseball at Vanderbilt to sign with the Mets. Crow-Armstrong has been known for some time, hailing from the same high school as Jack Flaherty, Lucas Giolito, and Max Fried. He was also a standout on the travel ball circuit and was part of USA Baseball’s 18 and under championship team.
From a Fantasy Baseball standpoint, Crow-Armstrong’s standout tools are his ability to hit and run. In the field, he is a standout centerfielder who should stick up the middle long term. While Crow-Armstrong’s approach has always been hit first, that does not mean there is a lack of power. He makes a ton of hard contact and is quite strong. Crow-Armstrong produces great bat speed and has a swing that he could easily add loft to. There are plenty of reasons to believe he could develop into a 20 home run bat. His plus speed should stick with him throughout the early-to-middle parts of his career.
Reports out of the Mets fall instructional camp raved about Pete Crow-Armstrong. The power is developing sooner than expected. One home run left the park at an exit velocity of 107 mph. It is also important to remember that Crow-Armstrong is still just 18 years old and has plenty of development time ahead of him. A .280 hitter with 20 home runs and 20 steals is definitely in play here.
Having a blast studying the #Mets system.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is such a gamer. Has the potential to be a true 5 tool player. Reports out of instructs were that PCA really tapped into his power. With his plus speed and his contact skills, PCA is going to really take off in 2021. pic.twitter.com/zFkrOmd3Y8— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) January 30, 2021
2. Matthew Allan, RHP
The Mets look to have gotten a steal by drafting Matthew Allan 89th overall in the 2019 draft. Allan had a strong commitment to the University of Florida and had a high price tag, which led many teams to pass on him.
Allan is built to pitch, both strong and very athletic at 6’3 225 pounds. He has continued to add strength and has his fastball sitting in the mid-90s but gets up to 97. Allan’s fastball gets great movement near the plate, and he can blow it by hitters. He is comfortable throwing it up the zone. Some scouts grade that pitch as a 70. He compliments it with a plus curveball that is a hammer. He buries it at the bottom of the zone extremely well. Allan has ramped up his changeup usage, and it has the looks of a plus pitch as well. The best part; Allan commands all three of those pitches extremely well.
Allan’s stock has soared after rave reports at the alt site and instructional league. He dominated hitters and has breakout written all over him in 2021. With his consistent, repeatable delivery and the potential for three plus offerings, don’t be surprised if Matthew Allan develops into a solid number two starter.
You would be wise to acquire #Mets Matthew Allan now in dynasty before his price tag 🚀
-He commands his pitches well
-Has a plus FB/CB
-Developing changeup
There’s a lot of upside in Allan’s profile#FantasyBaseballpic.twitter.com/D7WTpB0cVp— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) February 3, 2021
3. Francisco Alvarez, C
Catching prospects are not the most exciting for Fantasy Baseball purposes unless your name is Adley Rutschman. Francisco Alvarez is a name you will want to remember, though. In 2019 at 17 years old, Alvarez tore up the Appalachian and Gulf Coast Leagues, slashing .312/.407/.510 in 182 plate appearances. During those 42 games, Alvarez also slugged seven home runs.
Alvarez has shown the ability to hit to all fields with great power. He barrels the ball well with great bat speed. His plate discipline and recognition for the strike zone are excellent for his age. Alvarez’s swing is geared for line drives and fly balls and hit some deep home runs to the pull side in 2019. He has power over hit type of approach but is still an advanced hitter.
It only helps that Alvarez has a plus arm and great glove behind the plate. The Mets plan to keep Alvarez behind the plate, so though his bat is advanced, Alvarez will still take several years to master the position. The upside is there for Alvarez to be a top-five catcher for Fantasy Baseball. It would not be surprising to see Francisco Alvarez as the Met’s top prospect at any point.
#Mets catching prospect Francisco Alvarez was praised for his work on offense and behind the plate at the alt site. He has an advanced approach for his age and generates great bat speed. He barrels the ball well and could develop plus power. pic.twitter.com/lpy0TYKKiy
— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) January 31, 2021
4. Brett Baty, 3B
The Mets have done a tremendous job in the MLB Amateur draft over the last several seasons. Brett Baty is just another player that fits that mold, as he was selected in 12th overall in the 2019 draft. Baty had some of the most raw power among all players in the 2019 class. Upon his short-season debut in 2019, Baty played at three different levels, finishing the season at low-A. In 228 plate appearances, Baty slashed .234/.368/.452 with 7 home runs.
Baty generates great bat speed and loft from the left side of the plate, which leads to big home run power. He can hit to all fields well and has shown the ability to hit the ball out of the park going the opposite way. Baty is also extremely patient at the plate. There is some resemblance here to Nolan Jones, whose profile plays up much better in OBP formats. But much like Jones, working deep into counts hurts him on occasion.
Baty appeared to spend his time in quarantine working out, as he showed up to the alternate training site in greater shape. He seemed to add more strength, and it showed in his bat. Baty’s hit tool development will hinge on what kind of prospect he can become, but he is a player you want on your roster for OBP leagues.
5. Ronny Mauricio, SS
I may not be the highest on Ronny Mauricio, but that does not mean I hate him as a prospect. I’m a little lower than most, but I do not believe that Mauricio develops plus power like many think.
Mauricio was one of the top international prospects in the 2017-2018 signing periods. The Mets have been aggressive with him pushing him fast through the system. In 2019, Mauricio was 3.5 years younger than his average competition in Class A. Mauricio is a switch hitter but is more advanced from the left side of the plate. Many scouts believe he will grow into more power as he fills out his 6’3, 166 lb frame.
I will give Mauricio the benefit of the doubt. He has always been extremely young at each level. My biggest concerns are the weakly-hit ground balls. In 2019, Mauricio hit the ball on the ground at a 53.6 percent rate. At this point, Mauricio’s future power output is solely projection, and I’m not sure if I fully buy into him being a plus power bat. I feel more comfortable projecting him as a 20 home run bat, and he won’t be a real threat on the bags either.
6. J.T. Ginn, RHP
J.T. Ginn was talented enough out of high school to be selected by the Dodgers in the 2018 MLB Draft. They did not meet his asking price, so Ginn decided to attend Mississippi State, where he was SEC freshman of the year. Ginn was likely on track to be a first-round selection again in 2020 as a draft-eligible sophomore before Tommy John Surgery limited him to just three innings. The dreaded surgery did not cause the Mets to shy away from him with their second-round pick and still give him first-round money (2.9 million).
Ginn can really get his fastball going and gets it up to 97 mph with a great life on it. He does not induce a ton of whiffs despite the velocity and the run and sink action, but he does induce weak contact with the pitch. Ginn’s slider grades out as a plus pitch as well, and he uses it as his punchout pitch. His changeup is still developing, but it showed flashes of being a plus pitch. Ginn commands and controls his pitches well despite the crazy movement he gets. In 86.1 innings during his freshman season at Mississippi State, he struck out 105 batters while walking just 19. For reference, that is nearly a 30 percent strikeout rate and just above a five percent walk rate.
Ginn should return to games by midseason in 2021, so it will be worth monitoring how his velocity looks. If Ginn returns to form quickly, he could rise prospect rankings quickly.
#Mets fans are going to love J.T. Ginn. Would have been a mid-first rounder if not for having Tommy John last March. The Mets still took him 52nd and gave him first-round $ at 2.9 Mil. Here is Ginn striking out #Rangers Josh Jung ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Mrtn2FLOT3
— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) January 30, 2021
7. Mark Vientos, 3B
It feels like we have been waiting on Mark Vientos to breakout for several years. The 6’4 185-pound third baseman was drafted 59th overall by the Mets in 2017. Many considered Vientos to be a first-round talent, but a rough senior season led him to fall in the draft. The Mest paid him above slot value to sign him away from his commitment to Miami.
Vientos has had moments where he flashed moments of being a high upside offensive player. In 2018, he slashed .287/.389/.489 with 11 home runs in just 60 games in the Appalachian League. He followed that up with a slow start in 2019 in Columbia but finished the second half of the season well.
Very few players in the Mets system can post the kind of exit velocities that Vientos does. He has easy plus power in his profile. The question with Vientos is whether he will make enough contact to really tap into that power. It is important to remember that Vientos just turned 21 years old, despite feeling like he has been in the organization for a while. It is currently hard to project Vientos for much more than a .250 batting average with 25 home run pop, but if he begins to hit more, there is 30 home run power in his bat.
8. Alexander Ramirez, OF
Alexander Ramirez was the Mets prized jewel in the 2019 international signing class. Ramirez is extremely athletic and stands at 6’3 170 pounds. He has shown an advanced feel to hit and a great eye for the strike zone. He knows when to take a pitch and exhibits traits you look for in someone who can post high OBPs.
Ramirez makes consistent, solid contact and sprays line drives to all fields with ease. It is also easy to see Ramirez developing more power as he has already begun to flash the ability. Like Mauricio, Ramirez has a frame you can dream on. He is a natural athlete and bound stick in center field long term. Ramirez just turned 18 years old in January, so there is plenty of time for him to continue his development. 2021 may be a season of struggles and growth for Alexander Ramirez, but big things are ahead for the Mets’ young outfielder.
9. Thomas Szapucki, LHP
The Mets selected Thomas Szapucki in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB draft. The lefty has a plus fastball/curveball combo that leads to high numbers of strikeouts. There is also some injury history going against Szapucki as he had back injuries in 2016, a shoulder injury in 2017, and then missed all of 2018 with Tommy John surgery. Upon his return from TJ in 2019, Szapucki looked solid in 61.2 innings pitched. He posted a 2.63 ERA, a 27.2 percent strikeout rate, and a near ten percent walk rate.
Szapucki does have bullpen risk due to the injury history, and often he struggles with his command. If the changeup continues to develop with his command and control, Szapucki could stick as a starter. But right now, it is much easier to see him as a reliever given his solid fastball and curveball mix.
10. Robert Dominguez, RHP
The Mets appear to have found great value in Robert Dominguez, who they signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019. Dominguez was eligible to sign in 2018 out of Venezuela but decided to move to the Dominican Republic and take one more development year.
Dominguez has great strength for his age is already 6’5 195 pounds, and he just turned 19 years old. His fastball reached 99 miles-per-hour before even turning 18 years old. He generates great spin on his pitches and can generate plenty of swings and misses on his curveball. There needs to be some refinement on Dominguez’s mechanics and further development of his changeup, but the tools are there to be a solid starting pitcher. It would not surprise me to see Dominguez jump to the top of the New York Mets’ top prospect list by next year.
11. Shervyen Newton, SS
Shervyen Newton has several similarities to Ronny Mauricio but does not make the kind of contact that Mauricio does. Newton is 6’4, 180 pounds, and a switch hitter, like Mauricio. They both have frames that are projectable and could add power. Unfortunately, Newton’s hit tool has seemingly regressed, and his strikeout rates ballooned in 2018 and 2019. Both seasons, Newton posted strikeout rates of over 30 percent, which are concerning.
The Mets chose not to add Newton to their 40-man roster last fall, leaving him unprotected for the Rule 5 Draft. He was not selected despite being an interesting name. If Newton begins to make more consistent contact, he could grow into plus power. But for now, his swing and miss concerns leave Newton’s future in question.
12. Freddy Valdez, OF
Considering he just turned 19 years old, Freddy Valdez well filled out physically. At 6’3 212 pounds, Valdez exhibits big raw power. It still looks like there is room for growth in Valdez’s frame. His power is the carrying tool in his bat, but Valdez is extremely aggressive and can get into strikeout trouble. Another concern with Valdez is how pull heavy he is and the lack of ability to hit to the opposite field. The questions remain whether Valdez can hit enough to tap into his raw power, but he could be a big threat at the plate if he does.
13. Franklyn Kilome, RHP
Tommy John Surgery kept Franklyn Kilome out all of 2019, and his MLB debut in 2020 is one I’m sure he would like to forget. Now, Kilome should enter 2021 fully healthy and get a chance to start in AAA and continue to develop as a starter. Kilome has a fastball and curve that both grade as plus pitches. His changeup improved before TJ, so it will be interesting to see where he stands in 2021. The fastball and curve combo could play extremely well in the bullpen if the Mets decide to take that route.
#Mets RHP Franklyn Kilomé throwing a bullpen session today under the watchful eye of Pedro Martinez: pic.twitter.com/k1ZI7GJhml
— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) February 2, 2021
14. Adrian Hernandez, OF
The Mets have done well in the international market in recent years, and Adrian Hernandez is another example. Hernandez was a highly touted J2 signing in 2017 that the Mets gave a 1.5 million dollar signing bonus to. He has a ton of strength in his 5’9 210-pound frame, and there is plus raw power in his profile. He also has above-average speed and can really get going. His speed plays up in the field, though he did steal nine bases in 63 games during the Dominican Summer League in 2018. If his pitch recognition improves, his hit tool will improve with it, and Hernandez could develop into a solid outfield with plus power and solid speed.
15. Junior Santos, RHP
When you think of someone massive on the mound, Junior Santos will soon be someone you think of. At just 19 years old, Santos stands at 6’8 218 pounds. Santos has a fastball that sits in the low 90s but can get up to 95 miles-per-hour, but Santos does struggle to command it from time to time. The velocity obviously plays up a lot thanks to the amount of extension Santos can get toward the plate. His slider and changeup still need refinement if he wants to be a starting pitcher. The mechanics could also be cleaned up. If Santos does end up in the bullpen, he could be a solid one.
16. Jaylen Palmer, 3B
The Mets drafted Jaylen Palmer in the 22nd round of the 2018 MLB draft and appear to have gotten a steal. One of the biggest reasons Palmer went unnoticed by many was because he was a late bloomer. In two years, he grew from 5’5 to 6’3 and gained 50 pounds.
Palmer is an elite athlete who has solid strength and posts high exit velocities when he makes contact. He does have big swing and miss problems, and his future development hinges on his hit tool. Even if he develops into a .250 hitter, it could go a long way for Palmer tapping in his power and turning into a solid hitter.
Absolute bomb of a home run from #Mets prospect Jaylen Palmer tonight in Kingsport.
18-year-old Flushing native has 10 XBH through 31 games. pic.twitter.com/1aI5W1A1Wn
— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) July 26, 2019
17. Carlos Cortes, 2B
The Mets drafted Carlos Cortes twice, once out of high school in the 20th round and then again in the third round of the 2018 draft. I spent much time watching Carlos Cortes in college as he attended the University of South Carolina and posted a slash line of .274/.378/.528 in his two-year career. In 2019, Cortes slashed .255/.336/.397 with 11 home runs and six stolen bases in 127 games. Cortes does generate good pop off the bat considering his small 5’7 frame. He has great bat-to-ball skills and makes repeated contact in his short swing. His advanced approach also leads to a lot of walks. If he can continue to improve his batting average and hit for power, he can find a spot in the lineup with the Major League club.
18. Daison Acosta, RHP
Daison Acosta was a member of the 2016 international signing class. Acosta features an above-average fastball and slider that give him a solid two-pitch mix. His changeup still needs work and refinement. Acosta gets high spin rates on his fastball, which causes them to have late action to them, fooling hitters. Control is the major issue here, and a lot of that is from his inconsistent delivery. If he wants to stick as a starter, he will need to show more consistency with his command and control. But, if he does move the bullpen full time, it could be a great move to use his fastball/slider combo.
In the second @ColaFireflies game, 20-year-old Daison Acosta struck out a career-high 9 batters in his second start since being promoted from Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/OZoyhRnk6h
— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) July 15, 2019
19. Sam McWilliams, RHP
Sam McWilliams is extremely athletic for his size, standing at 6’7 and weighing 230 pounds. The long time journeyman has bounced around from Philadelphia, Arizona, Tampa Bay and was even selected in the rule five draft by Kansas City. Now 25 years old, the Mets liked what they saw and gave McWilliams a Major League contract despite never pitching in the Majors. McWilliams gets great downhill plane on his pitches thanks to his extension, and his fastball has nice sink action. He pairs his fastball with an above-average slider and a developing changeup. His command is average, but McWilliams still needs to find a third pitch. Of all the prospects on this list, we know McWilliams will be with the big league club in 2021.
20. Jake Mangum, OF
Jake Mangum is a fantastic athlete who turned down offers to play SEC football to pursue a baseball career, also in the SEC. He was another player who the Mets actually drafted twice, as Mangum turned down the Mets in 2018 and returned to Mississippi State. When he returned to school, he broke the SEC all-time hits record, becoming the SEC hits king. He finished four seasons with a career slash line of .357/.420/.457 at Mississippi State. He also has a good eye at the plate from both sides of the plate and provides similar splits from both the left and right sides of the plate. If Mangum wants to be successful in the Major League’s he will need to lower his ground ball rate and get the ball in the air more often. If he can make some adjustments with his swing path, he could add to his power, but ten home runs look like his peak right now. Mangum will likely never be a top prospect, but he does sneak into the final spot of the New York Mets top prospects.
Jake Mangum. Broke SEC hits record, and hit .361 in his four years at Mississippi State
Can you see why? Pair this pattern with very elite hand eye coordination
Are you developing what the best do? No wasted reps. Find a mirror and a camera pic.twitter.com/olWTQ6B37Y
— Trey Hannam (@TJHannam10) June 5, 2019
Media Credits: Jacob Resnick, Columbia Fireflies, Trey Hannam
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