Ladies and gentlemen, we’re busting out the MMN Top 40 Prospect List starting today! You can expect every profile to include a little background information, an outlook for the future, and their skills on the scouting scale. As always, I am excited to get this series off the ground because it also starts some of the best discussion about the Minor Leagues at a time when baseball has died down for both the MLB and MiLB teams. The ideal schedule here is that we’ll get you a new prospect profile each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until we get to the top 10 prospects.

40. Jhoan Urena, 3B

Height: 6’1

Weight: 200 LBs

DOB: 9/1/1994 (19 years old)

Bats/Throws: Switch/Right

Hit: 40/45 Power: 35/50 Arm: 55/60 Field: 45/45 Speed: 45/45

Jhoan Urena was recently named to BA’s GCL Sleeper List — and for good reason. He was signed in 2011 for $425,000 as an IFA. Urena is a big guy for a third baseman, but many scouts compliment him on his mobility. He also covers himself a little with an above-average arm, and demonstrates good hands, so he might actually stick at third base down the line. His range is around average, but it’s pretty impressive for a guy his size.

That’s quite an important thing to note, considering he packs some extra power in his swing because of his body type. He’s a switch hitter — which is always good to see — and seems to be more proficient as a left-handed hitter. Urena slashed .299/.351/.376 in 157 at-bats for the GCL Mets in 2013 with six doubles, three triples, no home runs, and four stolen bases. I know it’s weird to see me give a potential average power rating for a guy that hit zero home runs, but word is he was purposely looking to make more line drive contact. It makes sense, since he bumped his average up about 20 points from the DSL.

Urena finished the year on a strong note, going 11-for-33 (.333) with three doubles over his last ten games.

Outlook: It’ll be really interesting to see what the Mets do with Urena. The simple decision would be to let him play in short-season Kingsport and start at third base. However, depending on what players the Mets draft and subsequently send to Brooklyn for 2014, Urena could find himself starting at third right around here. I’d like to see him try to get that power out of batting practice into game situations, but Brooklyn might not be the best place for that…so we’ll see. In any case, it’ll be some time before we start thinking about Urena at the MLB level.

ETA: 2018

MMN Top 40 Prospects

40. Jhoan Urena