Photo by Ed Delany, MMN
20. Michel Otanez, RHP
B/T: R/R Age: 23 (7/3/1997)
Height: 6’3’’ Weight: 215
Acquired: International Free Agent in 2016 out of the Dominican Republic
ETA: 2023 Previous Rank: 24
2019 Stats: 14 GS, 63 IP, 7.4 H/9, 0.4 HR/9, 4.0 BB/9, 10.0 K/9, 3.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP
Velocity always gets you noticed as a minor leaguer and Michel Otanez has it. With the ability to reach the high 90’s with his fastball, Otanez makes our list here at No. 20. When we last saw him in 2019, he was pitching for Kingsport and Brooklyn to the tune of a 3.14 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. The lost 2020 season and the inability to pitch in the instructional league due to a health issue means 2021 will be a very much make or break year for the right-hander.
Featuring a fastball that sits in the mid to high 90’s, Otanez has always been able to rack up the strikeouts. He has also had his share of control issues, walking a batter every other inning on average in his career. He did show better control as the 2019 season progressed, so it will be interesting to see if the year off and work he was able to get in has helped him. Along with the fastball, Otanez has shown a breaking ball and a changeup during his time on the mound. The breaking ball is more advanced than the changeup, and does show the potential to be an above average pitch, yet both were in need of some more development the last time we saw him in action.
Currently a starter in the system, the Mets may be inclined to move Otanez to the bullpen if he is not able to show progress in the mentioned off-speed pitches enough to get guys out multiple times through the lineup. We really don’t know what to expect with many of the players who didn’t feature in the instructional league, and Otanez is the prime example of this. He could show better command and feel for all three pitches and move himself into the conversation for top five starting pitching prospects in the organization, or he could just be a guy who throws hard with no other redeeming qualities, who is destined to be a career minor league bullpen guy, we are just going to have to wait and see how it plays out.
I would expect the Mets to be aggressive considering his age and lost development time in 2020, and try to see if Otanez can handle an assignment in Brooklyn to start the 2021 season and move him to Binghamton if he pitches well early.
Photo: Ed Delany
19. Wilmer Reyes, INF
B/T: R/R Age: 23 (12/27/1997)
Height: 6’0’’ Weight: 161
Acquired: International Free Agent 2016 out of the Dominican Republic
ETA: 2023 Previous Rank: 27
2019 Stats: 61 G, .323/.350/.441, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 16.8 K%, 136 wRC+
After having a breakout season in 2019 with the Brooklyn Cyclones, Wilmer Reyes was poised to further show off his ability in 2020. While not being a member of the alternative site team, Reyes did however impress during the instructional league with some talk of him being the MVP of the camp. An infielder who has the ability to play multiple positions above average, Reyes should get a chance to play his way into the higher levels of the minors in 2021.
A right-handed hitter, Reyes was known for his aggressive and contact oriented approach at the plate while coming up through the system. In 2019, however he did seem to get more power as he was able to hit five home runs and finish in the top ten of the league in slugging percentage. The remarks coming out instructs also show he has continued to tap into his new found tool as his ability to make hard contact was noted by many observers. If he can now translate it into league play the Mets may have a sleeper prospect in the making.
On the defensive side of the ball Reyes has played mostly second base and shortstop. His arm and range both play at those and even third base, and he has seen sometime in the outfield during his minor league career. Most evaluators believe his best position will be shortstop thus making him a much more valuable prospect going forward.
Reyes is likely to head right back to Brooklyn (now the Mets High-A affiliate) to start the season, where he’s likely to play a number of different positions. If Reyes starts taking more walks at the plate, he could be a guy that moves quick through the Mets system in 2021.
18. Freddy Valdez, OF
B/T: R/R Age: 19 (12/6/2001)
Height: 6’3’’ Weight: 212
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent 2018 out of the Dominican Republic
ETA: 2024 Previous Rank: 16
2019 Stats: 60 G, .274/.367/.448, 16 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 39 RBI, 6 SB, 18.1 K%, 124 wRC+
The 2019 Sterling DSL Hitter of the Year Award winner Freddy Valdez comes in at number 18 on our list. After signing at the age of 16 in 2018, the reports on Valdez were that he was a big right-handed bat with impressive power. During his lone season in the Mets system, while he did improve his power numbers as the season went on, it was not yet fully on display. With power often being the tool that develops last with younger prospects the glimpses of it in his games leaves one to ponder just how far up the scale Valdez’s ceiling in that department can go.
Originally thought of having a wild and unorthodox swing, Valdez was able to keep his strikeout rate at a very encouraging 18%. When you consider that most younger ball players struggle with their strikeouts, this combined with his ability to draw walks, 11.5%, shows a player who is more comfortable in the box than most had projected.
At average speed and a good to plus arm, right field is the most likely outcome for Valdez’s future in the field. His large frame and continued physical development may some day force the Mets to reevaluate his ability to play there and he may have to be moved to a different position such as first base.
Like with any teenager, Valdez’s future is pure speculation and intrigue. What you do have to like though is the abilities he showed in 2019 and if he continues to develop at the rate he was during that season the sky is the limit as far as Valdez and his bat are concerned. Valdez should start the season either in the Mets complex league (similar to GCL).
Photo by Ed Delany, MMN
17. Carlos Cortes, 2B/OF
B/T: L/B Age: 23 (6/30/1997)
Height: 5’7’’ Weight: 197
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft
ETA: 2021 Previous Rank: 15
2019 Stats: 127 G, 26 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 68 RBI, .255/.336/.397, 119 wRC+, 14.6 K%
Once most notably known for his ambidextrous fielding abilities, Carlos Cortes has started to make a name for himself among evaluators for his bat and defensive versatility. Originally a second baseman, Cortes has been working in the outfield as well as the corners, as his bat is forcing the Mets to find places for him to play. After a decent showing in St. Lucie in 2019, Cortes was included in the Instructional League, yet it was his play down under for the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League that caught the attention of Mets fans yearning for some baseball action.
In 51 at-bats, Cortes put together a .392/.429/.706 line with three home runs and 16 RBI. He also saw plenty of time and the outfield and showed he was more than capable of handling it. His 1.134 OPS led the Australian Baseball League.
One of the best pure hitters in the system, Cortes has a the ability to generate decent power numbers thanks to his upward swing and above average bat speed. His approach in the box also is a plus, as he is not prone to the strikeout and has the ability to get on base via the walk. While not the fastest player on the roster, a high baseball IQ allows Cortes to make the smart play on the base paths and take the extra base when provided.
Primarily a second baseman early in his minor league career, Cortes has been taking reps all over the field in order to show his versatility to the organization. If he is able to make himself into a serviceable utility man in the field his projections should rise as the more he can handle defensively the more ability the team has to get him at-bats increases.
Cortes is a player I am very high on personally and I believe he will play himself into a role in Syracuse to start the minor league season and if the need were to develop at the Major League level, he should be in the conversation for a shot in the big leagues this season.
Photo: Ed Delany
16. Jose Butto, RHP
B/T: R/R Age: 23 (3/19/1998)
Height: 6’1’’ Weight: 160
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2017 out of Venezuela
ETA: 2022 Previous Rank: 22
2019 Stats: 27 G, 112 IP, 8.0 K/9, 0.6 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 8.8 K/9, 3.62 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.43 FIP
One of the lone bright spots of the 2019 rotation in Columbia, Jose Butto impressed many in his first full season. Possessing what most evaluators consider the best changeup in the Mets system, Butto went to the Instructional League in 2020 and left with a reputation as a consistent competitor who is working on mastering his craft.
Having an athletic and repetitive delivery, Butto throws a four-seamer that sits in the low 90’s and while it was once considered flat, reports are that he has put in work on making the pitch show more movement. As noted above Butto has the best secondary pitch changeup in the Mets system and it is truly a strikeout pitch. His ability to throw it at any time is what helps him keep hitters off balance and should only help his average fastball velocity. He rounds out his arsenal with both a curve and slider, that while both are still developing, he does control them well and throws them where he wants them.
A spot in the Binghamton rotation should be where Butto finds himself to start the 2021 season after a strong showing during the Instructional League. He’s one of the Mets best pitching prospects in their upper levels.
