Baseball America has published their list of the top 10 prospects in the Mets farm system. Perusing this list, you will notice notable Mets like Amed Rosario, Dominic Smith, Brandon Nimmo, and Robert Gsellman are not included as they no longer qualify for Baseball America’s list. This means the new top 10 prospects in the Mets farm system are:
#1 SS Andres Gimenez
Age: 9/4/98 (19)
Acquired: Signed as an IFA in 2015 for $1.2 MM bonus
Level: Columbia
Stats: 92 G, 399 PA, 347 AB, 50 R, 92 H, 9 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 14 SB, 8 CS, .265/.346/.349
MMN Rank: 3
#2 LHP David Peterson
Age: 9/3/95 (21)
Acquired: 2017 First Round Draft Pick (20th overall) from the University of Oregon
Level: Brooklyn
Stats: 0-0, 2.45 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 3.2 IP, 6 K, 1.364 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9, 14.7 K/9
MMN Rank: 5
#3 RHP Justin Dunn
Age: 9/22/1995 (21)
Acquired: Drafted by the Mets in the 1st Round of the 2016 MLB Draft (19th overall)
Level: St. Lucie
Stats: 5-6, 5.00 ERA, 20 G, 16 GS, 95.1 IP, 75 K, 1.563 WHIP, 4.5 BB/9, 7.1 K/9
MMN Rank: 7
#4 1B Peter Alonso
Age: 12/7/94 (22)
Acquired: Drafted in Round 2 (#64) in 2016 from University of Florida
Level: St. Lucie & Binghamton
Stats: 93 G, 393 PA, 353 AB, 52 R, 102 H, 27 2B, 3B, 18 HR, 63 RBI, 3 SB, 4 CS, .289/.359/.524
MMN Rank: 9
#5 LHP Thomas Szapucki
Age: 6/12/1996 (21)
Acquired: Drafted by the Mets in the 5th Round of the 2015 MLB Draft (149th overall pick)
Level: Columbia
Stats: 1-2, 2.79 ERA, 6 G, 6 GS, 29.0 IP, 1.172 WHIP, 8.4 K/9
MMN Rank: 6
#6 SS/3B Mark Vientos
Age: 12/11/99 (17)
Acquired: 2017 second round draft pick from American Heritage High School (Plantation, FL)
Level: Gulf Coast & Kingsport
Stats: 51 G, 211 PA, 191 AB, 23 R, 50 H, 14 2B, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 2 CS, .262/.318/.398
MMN Rank: 10
#7 RHP Marcos Molina
Age: 3/8/95 (21)
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent for $100,000 (January 2012)
Level: St. Lucie & Binghamton
Stats: 5-10, 3.21 ERA, 18 G, 17 GS, 2 CG, 106.2 IP, 86 K, 1.125 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9, 7.3 K/9
MMN Rank: 17
#8 OF Desmond Lindsay
Age: 1/15/1997 (19)
Acquired: Selected in the second round (53 overall) of the Amateur Draft (Out-of-Door Academy, Sarasota, Fl.)
Level: Columbia
Stats: 65 G, 251 PA, 214 AB, 40 R, 47 H, 10 2B, 3B, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 4 SB, 2 CS, .220/.327/.388
MMN Rank: 11
#9 RHP Chris Flexen
Age: 7/1/94 (22)
Acquired: Drafted in 2012 (14th round) from Memorial HS in Newark, California
Level: St. Lucie, Binghamton, MLB
MiLB Stats: 6-1, 1.76 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 2 CG, SHO, 61.1 IP, 63 K, 0.815 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
MLB Stats: 3-6, 7,88 ERA, 9 G, 48.0 IP, 36 K, 2.o21 WHIP, 6.6 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
MMN Rank: 4
#10 MI Luis Guillorme
Age: 9/27/1994 (22)
Acquired: 10th round of the 2013 Draft from Coral Springs (Fla.) Charter High School
Level: Binghamton
Stats: 128 G, 558 PA, 481 AB, 70 R, 136 H, 20 2B, HR, 43 RBI, 4 SB, 3 CS, .285/.376/.331
MMN Rank: 13
Where there is a disparity between the MMN and Baseball America rankings three things should be noted. First and foremost, the MMN list was compiled mid-season when players like Rosario and Smith were still eligible. Another consideration is players could have performed better or made changes in the second half of the season which could have impacted their ranking. Finally, not everyone’s rankings are going to look the same.
Baseball America does believe the Mets strengths as a system lies in their left-handed pitching with prospects like Peterson, Szapucki, and 2016 first round pick Anthony Kay. This is a strength this organization has not had in quite some time, if ever. Another notable strength is their international system which has seen Rosario reach the majors and has seen Gimenez replace him as the top prospect in the system.
While Baseball America terms it differently, to put it more succinctly, this organization lacks upside. Aside from Alonso, there are no real power threats. Even with the five pitchers in the top 10, none are considered to be aces.
Overall, Baseball American notes the Mets farm system is trending downwards which is due in large part of the promotions of their players. This includes not just Rosario, but also players like Michael Conforto who have also recently graduated.
Oof! That top 10, and the subsequent chat, was pretty brutal towards the state of their farm system. But Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith are still high end talents; IMO this fallow period is less about scouting failures (or injury) then the timing of promotions and 2015-16 trades.
That said, it’s still frustrating that the Mets failed to net a single impact prospect in July/August; not enthused at all about stockpiling AAA middle relievers.
What’s wrong with stockpiling relievers who are close to the minors?
Giminez, Vientos, Lindsay, Guerrero, Mauricio and Hernandez are all high upside.
There may not be a future ace in the system, but there are a bunch of MLB quality arms who aren’t far off
That’s my thinking we’re seeing it now in the WS you need a strong, deep BP or just ability to hit 8 hrs a game. if 2-3 of those guys stick as Mainstays in the BP it would be a success. I like Drew Smith & Bautista especially from those trades.
In my ideal world: Gimenez starts adding some Extra base power in High A, Lindsay stays healthy & cuts down on his Ks while showcasing that Power & eye at the plate, Vientos continues to build off his 1st season with Mets