10 – SS Elian Peña

B/T:  L/R

Age: 18 Ht: 5’10”  Wt: 180 lbs.

Acquired: International Free Agent Signing (January, 2026)

2025 Stats: 55 G, 178 ABs, .292/.421/.528 (.949 OPS), 9 HR, 21 SB

ETA: 2030

The Mets signed Peña as their most expensive international free agent ever, handing out a $5 million signing bonus to the Dominican-born shortstop last January. With a great deal of eyes on him immediately, all he did was immediately produce at a high level while also being almost a full year younger than the average player in the Dominican Summer League.

In 55 games of action, Peña put up a .949 OPS with nine homers, 13 doubles, and 21 stolen bases. He predominantly played shortstop, but saw time at second base as well. Considering the level of athlete that he is, there is a solid chance for Peña to play up the middle the entirety of his career. With a sweet lefty swing, a strong eye, nd a plus glove, Peña has the makings of a future everyday player, with the chance to turn in star-level seasons. If he duplicates his success from last year in 2026, he will be significantly higher on this list next year, and likely a consensus top-100 prospect.

 

9 – RHP Will Watson

B/T: R/R

Age: 23

Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 180 lbs

Acquired: 2024 Draft, Seventh Round

2025 Stats: 28 G, 23 GS, 121 IP, 2.60 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 10.53 K/9,

ETA: 2027

The Mets selected Watson out of Southern California in 2024, and he almost immediately exploded onto the scene and turned himself into a legitimate prospect. Watson only made nine collegiate starts between USC and Cal Lutheran while spending 2023 with San Joaquin Delta College, and found solid footing in St. Lucie to begin 2025 before eventually rising to the Double-A ranks by the end of the season. Overall, he impressed at each level, but did his best work for High-A Brooklyn during the summer. His numbers did not budge too much after jumping from Brooklyn to Binghamton, outside of ERA rising in an admittedly incredibly small sample size.

Watson’s mix depends on a solid three-pitch assortment with his fastball, slider, and changeup, while also mixing in a cutter that isn’t likely to be a Major League pitch. His fastball sits in the mid-90s with the ability to reach into the upper-90s, while his slider and change both sit in the mid-80s, although the slider can reach the upper-80s at times. Command has been a consistent issue for him, and there was no real change in his command at each level in 2025. If he wants to make the jump to being a top-100 prospect in 2026, finding more consistency wth the strikezone would be a great start.

 

8 – LHP Jonathan Santucci

B/T: L/L

Age: 23 Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 205 lbs

Acquired: 2024 MLB Draft, Second Round

2025 Stats: 25 G, 117.2 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 10.6 K/9, 3.1 BB/9

ETA: 2027

Santucci was the Mets’ second-round draft pick in 2024, coming off an injury-riddled career with the Duke Blue Devils. He never threw more than 52 innings in a season during his time in the ACC, but has managed to find good health since being drafted. 2025 was his first professional season after sitting out the remainder of the 2024 campaign, and he impressed almost immediately. The mileage on his arm is incredibly light considering his consistent injuries; he has only completed 272 innings since beginning college.

From the mound, Santucci has a solid fastball and slider combination, supported by a good third pitch in a changeup. After walking five batters per nine innings in college, his 2025 mark of 3.1 BB/9 was a welcome sight. If he can continue to keep his command issues under wraps, he could shoot up this list through the 2026 season. A lefty with good command, three good pitches, and solid control would be an immediate starter at the Major League level, and Santucci has all the makings to fit that mold someday soon.

 

7 – RHP Jack Wenninger 

B/T:  R/R

Age: 23 Ht: 6’4 Wt: 210 lbs

Acquired: 2023 MLB Draft, Sixth Round

2025 Stats: 26 GS, 135.2 IP, 2.92 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 2.8 BB/9

ETA: 2026

Much like Santucci, Wenninger has found success with the Mets following a lackluster collegiate career. Wenninger completed his collegiate career at Illinois after beginning at Murray State, and the final numbers were not terribly impressive. After entering the Mets’ system, he found steady improvement before exploding onto the scene last year, eventually earning himself top-100 prospect list rankings. After the debuts of Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong last September, Wenninger is now the best right-handed prospect the Mets have who has yet to debut.

Wenninger comes down the mound with an incredibly strong fastball and changeup mix, supported with good command and fastball velocity that can reach the upper-90s while typically sitting in the 92-96 MPH range. His changeup is more of a splitter, but most classifications still lump it under changeups. Regardless, it is by far his best pitch, and one of the best pitches in all of the Mets’ minor league pitching. It helped him total 140 strikeouts on the year, which was good for the second-best in the Mets’ system behind just Jonah Tong. If the Mets need to call on a pitching prospect to enter their rotation this year, Wenninger might be the next man up.

 

6 – 1B/OF Ryan Clifford

B/T:  L/L

Age: 22 Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 200 lbs

Acquired: Trade with Houston (July, 2023)

2025 Stats: .826 OPS, 29 HR, 93 RBI, 14.7 BB%

ETA: 2026

Clifford is the best power prospect the Mets currently have and is the lone prospect remaining at the top of this list from the memorable fire sale ahead of the 2023 trading deadline. Clifford’s progression through the minor leagues has taken time, but he is finally on the doorstep of Queens. He is the most major league-ready of their prospects in the minor leagues and has the most power potential of any prospect in the Mets’ system. He mashed Double-A pitching to start the 2025 season, before regressing after being promoted to Triple-A for the final month of the season.

He’ll start his minor league season in Syracuse, barring something unforeseen occurring in camp, and will have every chance to take advantage of the offense-friendly run environment in the International League. His ISO jumped significantly from 2024 to 2025, an increase of 40 points, pointing to him finally filling out his frame and growing into more power. The Syracuse single-season homer record is currently tied between Daniel Palka and Luke Ritter at 26, giving Clifford a legitimate chance to make club history if he spends the entire season in Syracuse. His quickest path to the majors this season is likely at first base, considering the Mets seem poised to start Juan Soto and whoever wins the camp battle in right field, with Carson Benge likely getting a long look before Clifford. The Mets have maintained positional versatility for Clifford since being acquired, giving him a clearer path to Queens this season.