No. 5 Will Toffey

B/T: L/R Age:25 ( 12/31/1994)
Height: 6’2’’ Weight: 205
Acquired: Via trade with the Oakland Athletics with Bobby Wahl in exchange for Jeurys Familia
2019 Stats  (Binghamton): .219/.347/.349, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 111 wRC+

If you have ever seen the movie “Moneyball” you know the Oakland A’s like players who can generate a free pass via the walk. Unfortunately for Toffey, that might be his only above average skill and probably why the A’s were willing to include him the deadline deal for Familia in 2018.

In 2019 Toffey registered 50 walks in comparison to 90 strikeouts. His level and quick swing ,in addition to his exceptional eye provide an ability to swing much latter than most players by comparison. This also leads to his ability to hit the ball the opposite way, yet it means more line drives vs home runs. He has raw power, yet the inability to translate it into games remains a knock on his profile. His average took a dive down in 2019 to .219, the lowest he has had as a professional.

An average fielder who provides solid defense at third, he should have no problem playing there for the remainder of his career. He will struggle to make the spectacular plays but the routine ones will continually find their way into his glove.

Toffey will continue to do what he does best, walk, and that may carve a nice career for him as a pinch hitter/role player as that is something that many players struggle to develop. His future as a regular player will be defined by his ability to hit for more power and higher average.

No. 4 Jose Peroza
B/T: R/R. Age:19 (06/15/2000)
Height: 6’1’’ Weight:214
Acquired:  Signed out of Venezuela in 2016
2019 Stats ( Brooklyn and GCL): .263/.330/.514, 10 HR, 42 RBI, 143 wRC+

After a disappointing 2018 season Peroza turned in one of the better minor league seasons by any Mets prospects. Starting in the GCL, Peroza hit .328 ,6 HR,and 20 RBI in 16 games with 64 at-bats. He was then promoted to Brooklyn where his performance did slip slightly, but considering his age versus the level of competition it was to be expected.

With a large frame and raw power to all parts of the ballpark it was nice to see Peroza translate it into games as he hit the forth most home runs in the GCL. While he must work on his discipline and lack of drawing walks has been an issue for him since coming stateside, his strikeout numbers were not at the level of concern to keep him off our radar.

While he did play a few positions in the GCL, once he was promoted to Brooklyn he logged all his reps at the hot corner. Through 215 innings he only committed two errors. Possessing a strong arm and decent range for a player his size ,there is not yet any major red flags to make anyone think third base is not his best position moving forward.

Considering his top level success when repeating the GCL to start the 2019 season, a repeat of that in 2020 with Brooklyn would only further his name on Mets prospect lists.

No. 3 Jaylen Palmer
B/T: R/R Age: 19 (07/31/2000)
Height: 6’3 Weight: 195
Acquired: Drafted in 22nd Round of the 2018 MLB Draft
2019 Stats (Kingsport): .260/.344/.413, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 111 wRC+

Jaylen Palmer is a hometown kid, as he was born in Flushing and drafted out of Holy Cross HS. The 19-year old spent his 2019 season in Kingsport and was the fourth youngest hitter in the league.

Raw is the word that many use to describe Palmer’s game. While he put together a season that saw him being named the tenth best prospect in the Appalachian League, many scouts and evaluators see a player that has yet to maximize on the talent they see in him. In what is a reoccurring theme for many of the guys on this list, Palmer struggled with his strikeouts (39.1%)and has work to do to turn his above average bat speed into more constant contact. He does generate power and if he is able to develop better pitch recognition we should see an increase to the seven home runs he hit in 2019.

Splitting his time between third base and shortstop, Palmer showed the ability to handle both positions at an above average level. Quick hands, strong arm, and deceiving athleticism are the backbone of the thought that he can play on the left side of the infield going forward, with the focus being at third as he matures physically.

The future for Palmer will be determined by his ability to turn his offensive tools into performance. His ceiling at the third base position is quite high considering his definitive ability to defensively handle the position, while the two players on this list ahead of him have raised questions about their ability to do so.

No. 2 Brett Baty
B/T: L/R Age:20 (11/13/1999)
Height: 6’3″ Weight: 210 lbs
Acquired: First round in 2019 from Lake Travis HS, Austin, Texas
2019 Stats: 51 Games, .234/.368/.452, 16 2B, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 115 wRC

The most advanced bat of the 2019 Amateur Draft, Brett Baty was drafted twelfth overall by the Mets out of Texas. The term “most advanced” tends to happen when a player has won multiple awards and is hitting over .600 at the time of the draft but it also can be used as a slight negative as Baty was a 19-year old senior who was significantly more physically mature than his high school opponents.

Following the draft the Mets sent Baty to the GCL, where most high school draftees tend to start their careers. After a torrid five game span, Baty earned himself a promotion to Kingsport where he found himself for most of the season until a brief promotion to Brooklyn for the Cyclones playoff run.

Power is Baty’s calling card, his high school batting practice sessions were must see, and he profiles as a middle of the order hitter. Like many prospects Baty will have to work on his ability to make contact as he struck out 65 times in 188 at-bats in 2019.

One surprise from the 2019 season for Baty was his defense. Prior to the draft many had Baty pegged as a guy who would eventually have to transition across the diamond to first base or a corner outfield spot, yet his performance left some to think he could stick at third due to his better than expected athleticism and plus arm.

When evaluating Baty going forward the most notable thing to keep an eye on is his age. He would have begun his first full professional season, in 2020, at the age of 20 and this will cause many to expect him to move quickly through the system like he did in 2019. All stumbles and rough patches will be amplified due to his lack of perceived time to develop.

No. 1 Mark Vientos
B/T: R/R Age: 20 (12/11/1999)
Height: 6’4″ Weight: 185 lbs
Acquired: 2017 Amateur Draft (2nd round, American Heritage HS, FL)
2019 Stars: ( Columbia) 111 G, .255/.300/.411, 27 2B, 12 HR, 62 RBI, 105 wRC+

The 2019 organizational Hitter of the Year, Mark Vientos lands as our top third base prospect. This comes after a year that saw the then 19-year old produce an above average campaign in his first full season of professional baseball.

A power bat who needs to cut down on his strikeouts, as he struck out nearly five times as much as he walked in 2019, his 12 home runs placed him in a group of only seven teenagers to hit double digit home runs in the SAL. Vientos has the chance to become a middle of the order hitter who makes hard contact when he gets the bat on the ball.

On defense while his glove is not currently going to win him much praise, he does present a strong arm and has plenty of time to develop as a fielder due to his age and timetable for his debut. It will be interesting to see as he and Baty eventually become teammates who is going to get the main share of reps at third base and who is forced to learn a new position. Vientos does have the arm and bat profile for a corner outfield spot if it is he that is moved off third base.

Heading into next season Vientos will be only 20 years old and already in his fourth overall season in the minors. Having so much experience at such a young age is something that leads many to be highly enthusiastic about his future in the organization.

Mets Catcher Prospects