Baseball America has released their ratings of the top 30 farm systems, and they have rated the New York Mets as having the fifth best in baseball. We got a sense of how highly rated the Mets system could be rated when six prospects were ranked among BA’s top 100 prospects.
Following the Mets system the past few years, we have seen their top prospects progress to the upper levels of the minors. Notably, they had some of the top prospects make their Major League debut last season. That proximity to the majors is part of BA’s analysis:
The system’s top three prospects—Francisco Álvarez, NPB veteran Kodai Senga and Brett Baty—will impact the big leagues this season, while 2022 top draft picks Kevin Parada, Jett Williams and Blade Tidwell provide depth and upside to supplement up-the-middle talents like Alex Ramirez and Ronny Mauricio.
We already know Senga will start the 2023 season in the Mets Opening Day rotation. With his hot start to the spring, there is a chance we may see Baty join him. If he doesn’t, the expectation is he and Álvarez will be contributors and everyday players before the end of the 2023 season.
While not specifically mentioned, there is also the chance we see players like Mark Vientos, Jose Butto, and Bryce Montes de Oca become significant contributors. This speaks to the depth of the Mets system and how much the upper levels of the system are improving and becoming able to produce Major League players.
It also speaks to how much the Mets system has improved. Last year, the Mets system was ranked 16th, and they were ranked 23rd in 2021. Now, they are in the top five.
With the Mets coming in fifth, they are behind the Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodges, and Cleveland Guardians. This puts them as the top system in the National League East.
The other National League East teams are ranked as follows: Washington Nationals (7), Philadelphia Phillies (19), Miami Marlins (20), and Atlanta Braves (30). With respect to the Braves, them coming last shouldn’t be that much of a surprise with the Braves graduating a significant number of prospects over the past few seasons.
Like the Braves, the Mets system will “take a hit” once prospects like Álvarez, Baty, and Senga graduate from prospect status. That said, the Mets scouting department has shown they draft better than anyone in the National League, and they have been identifying terrific players in international free agency. All told, the Mets system is well regarded now, and it promises to remain that way in the future.
