Opening Day is finally here!

Minor League Baseball is a much different animal since the last time we saw it in 2019, 40 teams are no longer affiliates, the entire structure has been reformatted, and there’s more rules experimentation happening.

Another key change for the 2021 minor league season is that teams will play six-game series to limit travel and then a universal day off. Other protocols in place require the team to take multiple busses when traveling to limit the amount of players in one enclosed area. Syracuse Mets manager Chad Kreuter noted that the team took three busses to take 33 players from Brooklyn to Syracuse.

With all that said, baseball is finally back in the minors today, with all four of the Mets full season affiliates playing. Before we dig into the players to watch in 2021, let’s breakdown exactly where each of the Mets full season affiliates will play.

Earlier this year, Doug M of MMO took a look at how the Mets overhauled player development in the Steve Cohen era. Though, part of that changed on Monday night when farm director Kevin Howard was promoted to the Mets assistant hitting coach and Hugh Quattlebaum moved from minor league hitting coordinator to major league hitting coach.

Triple-A Syracuse Mets

The Syracuse Mets remain the Mets Triple-A affiliate and will play in the Northeast Division of Triple-A East. Their 2021 opponents will be the Worcester Red Sox, Buffalo Bisons (TOR), Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI), Rochester Red Wings (WSH), and the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY).

Here’s the Syracuse full roster to start the season. Right-hander Jordan Yamamoto will get the start, the game is at 6:35 ET p.m. and can be watched on MiLB tv. All Syracuse home games will be available so stream. (MiLB tv cost $39.99 for the season and covers all games)

Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Thanks to a fight by many, including Rumble Ponies owner John Hughes and local politicians, Binghamton stays despite being apart of the initial plan to no longer be a part of affiliated baseball. It stays as the Mets Double-A affiliate, they will play in the Northeast Division of Double-A Northeast. They will be joined by the Hartford Yard Goats (COL), New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR), Somerset Patriots (NYY), Portland Sea Dogs (BOS), and the Reading Fightin Phils.

Here’s the full 2021 Binghamton roster to start the season. Right-handed prospect Tylor Megill will get the Opening Day start and you can watch it on MiLB tv at 7:05 ET p.m.

High-A Brooklyn Cyclones

The Cyclones won the New York-Penn League as a short-season affiliate in 2019, but now they will be the Mets High-A affiliate. They will play in the North Division of High-A East. They will play against the Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL), Hudson Valley Renegades (NYY), Jersey Shore BlueClaws (PHI), and the Wilmington Blue Rocks (WSH).

Here’s the full Cyclones roster to start 2021. Left-hander Joshua Walker will get the Opening Day start at 6:35 ET p.m. in Asheville. The Cyclones will be on MiLB tv this season for the first time during home games. However, you will be able to listen to the first series of the season here.

Low-A St. Lucie Mets

St. Lucie stays with the Mets, but they drop down to Low-A with Brooklyn leap-frogging them. They will play in the East division of the Low-A Southeast. They’re joined in the division by the Daytona Tortugas (CIN), Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA), and the Palm Beach Cardinals.

Here’s the full St. Lucie roster to start the 2021 season. Right-hander Joander Suarez gets the Opening Day start at 6:10 ET p.m. in St. Lucie. They will be the only Mets affiliate without MiLB tv video streaming in 2021.

Here’s where the Mets Top 30 prospect (using our list) will start the 2021 season:

1. C Francisco Alvarez  – St. Lucie Mets
2. SS Ronny Mauricio – Brooklyn Cyclones
3. RHP Matt Allan – Brooklyn Cyclones
4. CF Pete Crow-Armstrong – St. Lucie Mets
5. 3B Brett Baty – Brooklyn Cyclones
6. 3B Mark Vientos – Binghamton Rumble Ponies
7. RHP J.T. Ginn – At Complex rehabbing TJS
8. OF Khalil Lee – Syracuse Mets
9. LHP Thomas Szapucki – Syracuse Mets
10. INF Jaylen Palmer – St. Lucie Mets
11. RHP Franklyn Kilome – Syracuse Mets
12. RHP Robert Dominguez – Complex
13. INF Shervyen Newton – St. Lucie Mets
14. RHP Junior Santos – St. Lucie Mets
15. OF Alexander Ramirez – Complex
16. RHP Jose Butto – Brooklyn Cyclones
17. UT Carlos Cortes – Binghamton Rumble Ponies
18. OF Freddy Valdez – Complex
19. INF Wilmer Reyes – Injured List
20. RHP Michel Otanez – Brooklyn Cyclones
21. OF Adrian Hernandez – Complex
22. RHP Daison Acosta – Complex Rehab
23. RHP Sam McWilliams – Syracuse Mets
24. RHP Joander Suarez – St. Lucie Mets
25. C/1B Patrick Mazeika – MLB Taxi Squad
26. RHP Richard Brito – Complex
27. RHP Joshua Cornielly – Unsure
28. RHP Tylor Megill – Binghamton Rumble Ponies
29. RHP Jordany Ventura – Injured List
30. RHP Yennsy Diaz – Syracuse Mets

Other minor leaguers that are expected to start the season on the injured list/at complex rehabbing include right-handed pitchers Kyle Wilson, Tommy Wilson, Nathan Jones, and Tony Dibrell, and outfielders Mallex Smith, Kennie Taylor, and L.A. Woodard.

The Cyclones roster is certainly the first one that jumps out at you with Allan, Mauricio, and Baty. Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com listed the Cyclones as the fifth most-loaded roster in all of minor league baseball.

The St. Lucie roster isn’t far behind to me, with the Mets top prospect in Alvarez and top pick from 2020 in Crow-Armstrong. Palmer and Newton gives them two toolsy, but raw infielders as well.

Most of the eyes in Binghamton will be on Vientos and Cortes, both known for their offensive upside. Both will move a round a bit defensively in 2021, with Vientos slated to play some first base and Cortes was actually listed as an outfielder after playing almost exclusively second base in his pro career. Don’t sleep on Opening Day starter Tylor Megill, he’s been impressive since Instructional Camp last fall and is the type of guy you could see pitching out of the Mets pen in 2021.

Finally, Syracuse will be loaded with mostly veterans in 2021, but outfield prospect Khalil Lee has some enticing offensive skills and Thomas Szpaucki looked great at the Alternate Site.

We will update you throughout the day and minor league season here at a MMN.