Justin Dunn/Photo by Ed Delany
MLB Pipeline has updated their 2018 Prospect Watch List, and for the first time since 2015, the Mets organization has four prospects to make the list. With four prospects ranked, the Mets have the sixth most Top 100 prospects among Major League teams.
No. 55 Andres Gimenez, SS
MMN Rank: 1
Level: St. Lucie & Binghamton
Stats: .281/.347/.409, 29 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 38 SB
Analysis: “Now on a faster track because of the aggressive promotion in 2017, Gimenez’s skills and maturity should allow him to keep streaking up the system. The Mets obviously have Amed Rosario at short in New York, and while the organization doesn’t have to worry about it just yet, no one worries about Gimenez’s ability to slide to second base if needed.”
No. 58 Peter Alonso, 1B
MMN Rank: 4
Level: Binghamton & Las Vegas
Stats: .285/.395/.579, 31 2B, 3B, 36 HR, 119 RBI
Analysis: “At his position, there’s more pressure on his bat from the right side of the plate. The good news is it looks more and more like he has the tools to hit enough to be an everyday player there, even if he’s looking at Dominic Smith ahead of him on the depth chart currently.”
No. 62 Jarred Kelenic, OF
MMN Rank: 2
Level: Gulf Coast & Kingsport
Stats: .286/.371/.468, 10 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 15 SB
Analysis: “Kelenic gets as high marks for his work ethic and attitude as he does for his physical gifts. He made quick work of the Gulf Coast League and earned a bump up to the Appalachian League during his summer debut, perhaps a sign he could be an advanced high school bat that can move a little more quickly.”
No. 89 Justin Dunn, RHP
MMN Rank: 3
Level: St. Lucie & Binghamton
Stats: 8-8, 3.59 ERA, 1.330 WHIP, 10.4 K/9
Analysis: “A certain learning curve was to be expected, given Dunn’s lack of starting experience, though being shut down at the end of his first season didn’t help quiet detractors who worried about his size and durability. He answered some of those questions with his strong 2018 campaign, showing he has the stuff, and stamina, to start.
Judging from other Top 100 prospect lists we have seen, we could have reasonably expected Gimenez, Alonso, and Kelenic to make MLB Pipeline’s list. The mild and pleasant surprise from this list was the inclusion of Dunn, who cracked this list for this first time since being the Mets first round draft pick (19th overall) in the 2016 draft.
Certainly, Dunn cracked this list as he made a huge step forward during the 2018 season. In his second full season as a starter, he quieted some concerns about his ability to stick in the rotation. More than that, he embodied the type of significant improvement we saw from a number of Mets prospects this season, which has led to many analysts to look more favorably on the Mets farm system.
