Baseball America has announced their 2022 Top 100 listing, and not surprisingly, three names appear again for the second straight year.
The Mets have 3 players in Baseball America's updated Top 100 prospects list:
#13 Francisco Álvarez
#39 Brett Baty
#92 Ronny Mauriciohttps://t.co/a9PDKEw2Tz— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) January 19, 2022
Consensus top prospect Francisco Alvarez climbs one spot to 13, Alvarez ended 2021 at 14 after soaring from his 2020 ranking of 61. Alvarez ascension is no surprise to Mets fans, with a powerful 22 homeruns in Brooklyn to go with a staunch .889 OPS. Alvarez has yet to play above High-A Brooklyn, but the soon to be 21-year old is widely expected to rise above High-A in 2022.
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Brett Baty finds himself 13 slots higher on the 2022 ranking at 39 after culminating 2021 at #52. Much like Alvarez, the 2019 first-round selection rising higher is no shock to Mets fans.
Baty blasted through Brooklyn in 2021, hitting .309 after 181 at-bats netting seven home runs while maintaining a .911 OPS. A promotion to Double-A Binghamton, and some exposure to playing corner outfield, did nothing to truly slow down Baty.
In 151 Double-A at-bats, Baty hit another five home runs with a .787 OPS and a more than respectful .364 on-base percentage. Then, in the Arizona Fall League All-Star game, Baty put on an exit velocity showcase.
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The Top 100 rankings wasn’t all good news for Mets fans and prospects, as Ronny Mauricio dropped 20 slots from 72 down to 92. Mauricio has the size and the power to stick on this list, but as Baseball America notes “Mauricio needs to become a more selective hitter”.
Mauricio’s consumed 101 strikeouts in his 392 at-bats and walked only 24 times. Mauricio’s .290 on-base percentage won’t turn many heads in a positive way, but if improved pitch selection yields more than 19 homeruns and more balls in play then he too will rise above Binghamton sooner than later.
Mark Vientos finds himself off the 2022 list entirely, Vientos finished 88 on the 2021 ranking. After scorching through Binghamton and continuing to rake in his brief exposure to Triple-A Syracuse, Mets fans have more than Minor League expectations for the 22-year old Vientos.
The right handed swinging Vientos has more than a little defensive exposure all across the diamond seeing innings at 1B, 3B, and even LF. Vientos defensive versatility and high-contact plate approach make his rise to the games highest level a more than reasonable 2022 expectation.
