Photo by Ben Wilson of Prospects1500
Baseball America has published their annual list of the players with the best tools at each level of the minor leagues. The players are selected by votes from the minor league managers. The categories focused on specific batting, pitching, and fielding tools for each position. In total, there would be five Mets who were ranked to have one of the best tools for their level.
For the second straight year, Andres Gimenez was named the top defensive shortstop for his level. This year, he was named as the top defensive shortstop for the Eastern League. In addition to Gimenez, Ronny Mauricio was named the top defensive shortstop for the South Atlantic League.
In addition to Gimenez and Mauricio being named top defensive shortstops for their level, it should also be noted Baseball America has rated both shortstops Top 100 prospects. This has the Mets as the only organization with two shortstop prospects ranked as the top defender in their league, and it has the Mets as just one of three organizations with two shortstop prospects in the top 100.
In addition to Gimenez and Mauricio being tabbed as the top defensive shortstops for their league, the Mets would have two other players ranked as having the best tools for their league.
Binghamton 2B Sam Haggerty was named the best defensive second baseman and the best base runner in the Eastern League. The Mets obtained Haggerty this past offseason from the Cleveland Indians in the Kevin Plawecki trade. What is interesting about Haggerty’s selection is that he has played just 23 games at second base this year. He has also played third and all three outfield positions.
Finally, Columbia OF Hansel Moreno was named as having the best outfield arm. The 22 year old has predominantly played center for Columbia being being promoted back to St. Luce on July 2. While assists are not the best measure of an outfielder’s arm, it should be noted Moreno had four outfield assists in his 32 games for Columbia, and in his 58 games for St. Lucie, he has 11 outfield assists.
In total, these rankings show the Mets do have some strong up the middle defenders developing in their minor league system. Additionally, these rankings further highlight the depth of the Mets shortstop prospects in their system.
