Due to the rumors circulating about a potential deal of Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets, Baseball America has opted to release their list of the top 10 Mets prospects earlier than anticipated. Looking back at the list published last year by Baseball America, the Mets top 10 has changed quite a bit:

No.1 Andres Gimenez, SS

2018 Level: St.Lucie & Binghamton
2018 Stats: .281/.347/.409, 29 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 38 SB
Scouting Report: “His lean physique, baby face and smaller stature belie a quick-twitch athlete with well-rounded skills, a high baseball IQ and leadership qualities. Elite contact ability and a quick, loose lefthanded swing give him above-average—and possibly plus—hitting potential.”

No. 2 Peter Alonso, 1B

2018 Level: Binghamton & Las Vegas
2018 Stats: .285/.395/.579, 31 2B, 3B, 36 HR, 119 RBI
Scouting Report: “Alonso is a polarizing prospect for scouts because his strengths and weaknesses are so pronounced. He makes the ball disappear in a hurry with 70-grade raw power and elite exit velocities. Alonso’s disciplined plate approach helps him draw walks and wait for pitches to slug, but more advanced pitchers have gotten him to expand his zone against breaking pitches.”

No. 3 Ronny Mauricio, SS

2018 Level: Gulf Coast & Kingsport
2018 Stats: .273/.304/.410, 16 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 35 RBI, 2 SB
Scouting Report: “Mauricio is uncommonly developed—physically and at the plate—for a player who played all season at 17. He grew two inches to 6-foot-4 after signing and filled out his once-skinny frame to profile as a possible plus bat with plus power.”

No. 4 Jarred Kelenic, OF

2018 Level: Gulf Coast & Kingsport
2018 Stats: .286/.371/.468, 10 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 15 SB
Scouting Report: “Kelenic is part of the Mets’ renewed focus on up-the-middle athletes and could develop into a center fielder with five average or better tools. He has a long track record with wood bats and a simple, quick lefthanded swing honed by countless hours in the batting cage.”

No. 5 Justin Dunn, RHP

2018 Level: St. Lucie & Binghamton
2018 Stats: 8-8, 3.59 ERA, 1.330 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, 10.4 K/9
Scouting Report: “Dunn evolved from thrower to pitcher in 2018 by working his fastball to both sides of the plate and up and down in the zone at 93-95 mph from an effortless delivery.”

No. 6 Mark Vientos, 3B

2018 Level: Kingsport
2018 Stats: .287/.389/.489, 12 2B, 11 HR, 52 RBI, SB
Scouting Report: “Vientos hits the ball hard consistently thanks to hand speed and bat speed that rank among the best in the system. His projectable frame should equate to further strength gains and power production.”

No. 7 Anthony Kay, LHP

2018 Level: Columbia & St. Lucie
2018 Stats: 7-11, 4.26 ERA, 1.410 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9, 9.0 K/0
Scouting Report: “Kay tops out at 96 mph and sits 92-94 with an above-average, high-spin fastball that plays at the top of the zone in conjunction with his curve and mid-80s changeup at the bottom of the zone. His change flashes above-average potential and sinking action. Kay pitches with a bulldog demeanor.”

No. 8 David Peterson, LHP

2018 Level: Columbia & St. Lucie
2018 Stats: 7-10, 3.16 ERA, 1.172 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9, 8.1 K/9
Scouting Report: “Peterson is a physical, 6-foot-6 lefthander with ample starter traits if not necessarily a huge ceiling. His fastball sits 89-91 mph and tops out 93 but looks a few ticks faster because his elite extension boosts his effective velocity.”

No. 9 Shervyen Newton, SS

2018 Level: Kingsport
2018 Stats: .280/.408/.449, 16 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 41 RBI, 4 SB
Scouting Report: “He’s a switch-hitter with who can drive the ball deep to his pull side while batting lefthanded with quick hands he uses to keep his bat on plane through the hitting zone. Some scouts see potential 70-grade power down the line as his 6-foot-4 frame matures.”

No. 10 Simeon Woods-Richardson, RHP

2018 Level: Gulf Coast & Kingsport
2018 Stats: 1-0, 1.56 ERA, 1.096 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9, 13.5 K/9
Scouting Report: “What sets him apart is his fiery, almost angry, mound demeanor and “now” stuff. He topped out at 97 mph and sat 93 from an overhand arm slot. His fastball plays up thanks to a high spin rate and plus extension.”

The main thing which stands out from this list is how the vast majority of players in this top 10 spent time not just in Single-A, but the lower levels of Single-A. Aside from Alonso, each and every prospect on this list played a good portion of their season in Single-A.  In fact, only three of the prospects played in Double-A.

This is a byproduct of players like Amed Rosario and Tomas Nido graduating from propsect status the past few seasons. It is also the result of the Mets doing a much better job the past few years bringing talent into the organization. For example, half of the players on this list joined the Mets organization over the past two years.

Another factor to consider is the Mets seem to be doing better in the draft. With the exception of Gimenez, Mauricio, and Newton, each prospect on this list was either a first or second round draft pick.

Overall, this list shows why the Mets farm system has become much better regarded over the past year. It is full of first and second round picks performing well, and there are players like Mauricio how have received large signing bonuses in international free agency. Ultimately, it appears there is a wave of quality prospects in the system who should be ready to contribute to the Mets within the next 3-4 years.