Brett Baty/Photo by Allen Greene Photography
Keith Law, now of The Athletic, has released in his Top 100 rankings, and he has rated four Mets prospects in his top 100. So far, this makes Law the most bullish on the top-end talent in the Mets organization. The four Mets prospects who were ranked are:
17. Ronny Mauricio, SS
48. Francisco Alvarez, C
92. Matthew Allan, RHP
95. Brett Baty, 3B
With Mauricio and Alvarez in the top 50, we have seen the international signing efforts from the end of the Sandy Alderson regime are paying big dividends. With Allan and Baty in the top 100, we are also seeing the daring gambit Brodie Van Wagenen and his front office pulled off at the draft has been viewed as wildly successful thus far.
Mauricio being within the top 20 is eye-opening, but it is an indication of just how talented a player he is. Ultimately, if Mauricio continues to develop and realize his full potential, Law sees a player who “could easily be a top 5 prospect in a year with a solid showing in High A.”
If you think the future is bright for a player like Mauricio, the ceiling may be even higher for Alvarez. In addition to noting Alvarez is an average receiver at 17 years old, Law notes he is a player who may not just have the best swing in the Mets farm system, but overall, there is the potential for Alvarez “has this kind of average/OBP/power potential has enormous, MVP type upside.”
Moving further down the list, third round pick Allan cracked the top 100 because he was really a first round talent with highly projectible stuff. While Law thinks there may be issues with how Allan’s fastball will play at the higher levels, Allan has the complete repetoire which could one day lead to “a solid No. 2 outcome, meaning a consistently above-average major-league starter, is a more realistic projection.”
Finally, Baty, the first ever draft pick by Van Wagenen, was ranked 95. While Baty has been noted for his agility, Law believes he will ultimately be a first baseman due to his size. Overall, the calling card for Baty will be the bat, and Law sees a bat with “middle-of-the-order potential.”
Overall, while many have been down on this Mets farm system with all the talent traded away, there is still high end, difference making talent remaining. That’s even with Jarred Kelenic being as the eighth best prospect overall. On that note, as we see players like Mauricio and Alvarez rocket through top 100 rankings like we see them doing, we may eventually focus more and more on the prospects still here and not just on the ones who are playing elsewhere.
