Now that the Mets have added a new crop of minor leaguers to the team’s already improving farm system and trade season is over, it’s time to take a look at their updated top 30 prospects list.

The Mets did a great job of grabbing high-end talent in the recent 2022 draft that was praised by MLB Pipeline as the best, and you will see that reflected in my list with a handful of the new prospects in the top 30.

Here’s my updated top 30:

1. Francisco Alvarez, C, Triple-A Syracuse – No surprise here, he’s also one of the top prospects in all of baseball.
2. Brett Baty, 3B, Majors – Again, I think it’s pretty clear that Baty is the Mets’ second best prospect.
3. Kevin Parada, C, 2022 draftee (Debut soon) – The Mets’ top pick from the 2022 draft has been on multiple Top 100 list.
4. Alex Ramirez, CF, High-A Brooklyn Cyclones – Ramirez is starting to crack Top 100 lists.
5. Jett Williams, SS, 2022 draftee (FCL Mets) – The Mets’ second first rounder of 2022 has a very impressive hit tool.
6. Ronny Mauricio, SS, Double-A Binghamton – The switch-hitter is starting to fall off Top 100 lists as he continues to struggle getting on base.
7. Mark Vientos, 1B, Triple-A Syracuse – Still hitting for power but is now playing mostly first base and striking out at a high clip.
8. Calvin Ziegler, RHP, Low-A St. Lucie Mets – The 2021 second rounder is striking out 14.4 K/9 this year.
9. Blade Tidwell, RHP, 2022 draftee (PSL Mets) – Likely a first round pick if not for missing time this year with an injury.
10. Matt Allan, RHP, Injured – This ranking is all about that Allan hasn’t pitched in a minor league game since 2019.
11. Joel Diaz, RHP, Low-A St. Lucie – The 18-year-old has struggled this year but his stuff is still impressive and he’s better recently.
12. Jose Butto, RHP, Triple-A Syracuse – Righty has a career-high 10.5 K./9 this year in AA that earned a recent promotion to AAA.
13. Mike Vasil, RHP, High-A Brooklyn – The 2021 draftee is getting a good amount of ground ball outs to go along with 10.8 K/9.
14. Dominic Hamel, RHP, High-A Brooklyn – 2022 3rd rounder has 3.49 ERA and 10.7 K/9 in first 20 pro outings.
15. Nick Morabito, OF/INF, 2022 draftee – The Gonzaga College High School product was ranked #46 going into the draft by Keith Law.
16. Javier Atencio, LHP, Low-A St. Lucie – Impressive 20-year-old lefty that’s been up to mid-90s and has 11.8 K/9.
17. Stanley Consuegra, OF, High-A Brooklyn – I had to talk myself out of putting him higher, hits the ball as hard as anyone in Mets system.
18. Khalil Lee, OF, Triple-A Syracuse – Another Syracuse outfielder that has struggled with only a .694 OPS.
19. Simon Juan, OF, DSL – Talented 17-year-old has struggled to start pro career with .628 OPS but is 16-for-17 in stolen bases.
20. Bryce Montes de Oca, RHP, Triple-A Syracuse – One of the harder throwers in minors (up to 102 mph), 40 Ks in 26 AAA innings.
21. Jesus Baez, INF, DSL  – The 17-year-old has opened eyes with big raw power and a great arm.
22. William Lugo, INF, High-A Brooklyn – Mixture of solid pop, plate discipline, and defense on left side of infield.
23. Christian Scott, RHP, High-A Brooklyn – Fastball velo up to 97 mph this year, 2.68 FIP and 11.7 K/9.
24. Jacob Reimer, 3B, 2022 draftee (FCL) – Big-time raw power for the Mets recent fourth rounder.
25. Eric Orze, RHP, Triple-A Syracuse – Home run ball and health have been issue this season, but still has strong fastball/splitter mix.
26. Willy Fanas, OF, DSL – One of Mets top IFA signings this year has struggled (.630 OPS) to start career.
27. Junior Santos, RHP, High-A Brooklyn – Cleaner mechanics have helped improve command, still only 20, getting tons of groundballs.
28. Vincent Perozo, C, FCL, – Powerful left-handed hitting catcher that made full season debut at 19 this season.
29. Raimon Gomez, RHP, Low-A St. Lucie – Up to 100 mph this year on fastball with 17.3 inches of induced vertical break. Only 20.
30. Omar De Los Santos, OF, Low-A St. Lucie – Elite speed with 62 stolen bases a bit of pop (39 XBH), but strikes out a lot.

RHP Colin Holderman, RHP Jose Acuna, RHP Carson Seymour, LHP Nick Zwack, and 2B/OF Hector Rodriguez were on this list before I updated for trades.

Just Missed

The back-end of my top 30 was tough for me, and I don’t have a significant difference in my thoughts of the players that just made the list and the following players that just missed:

• LHP Keyshawn Askew – One of my favorite players to watch in the Mets system given his unique lower arm angle. He has a 2.72 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings to begin his pro career between St. Lucie and Brooklyn.
• OF Brandon McIlwain – The former Cal quarterback has started to see things click this season. He slashed .298/.389/.472 for Brooklyn to start the year before getting a promotion to Double-A Binghamton recently. He’s struggled there with nagging injuries and his OPS is just .659, but he’s a toolsy player that good speed and raw power.
• RHP Grant Hartwig – The Mets signed Hartwig last year after he went undrafted out of college. The 24-year-old has quickly shot up the Mets farm system and is one of their better relief prospects. Hartwig has a 1.93 ERA with 60 strikeouts and only one home run allowed in 42 innings this season combined between St. Lucie, Brooklyn, and Binghamton. He’s also second in the Mets minor leagues at inducing groundballs at 60 percent. He uses a mid-90s sinker, a two-plane  slider the low 80s, and an occasional changeup.
• LHP Daniel Juarez – The 21-year-old has been one of the better relievers in the Mets farm system this year with a 1.85 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 39 innings for St. Lucie. Juarez is close to the top of the FSL leaderboard as he averages a little over 20 inches of induced vertical break on his fastball that has topped out at 94 mph.
• RHP Jordany Ventura/Joander Suarez – This duo of right-handers have pitched minimal innings this year coming off of injury and they need to simply log innings at this point.
• C Nick Meyer/Hayden Senger – Two defensive minded catchers that have had a hard time getting playing time in the upper minors because of Álvarez. Both are above average athletes for the position with Meyer stealing 14 bases this season.

Franklin Sanchez, Photo by Ed Delany of Mets Minors

Bringing the Heat

Montes de Oca is a hard thrower close to the big leagues and Gomez is just getting started, but the Mets have many more fireballers in the system right now. Here’s a list of the pitchers that I know have hit at least 99:

• Franklin Sanchez, High-A St. Lucie Mets – The 21-year-old has been up to 100 mph this year. He has a 3.29 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and has yet to allow a home run in 27 innings this season. The 6’6” right-hander is also throwing a cutter in the mid-90s.
• Michel Otanez, Triple-A Syracuse – Otañez was given serious consideration fro my top 30 but his total lack of control in Triple-A has me re-thinking his potential role as a big league reliever. The right-hander has been up to 102 mph this year, however, he has 18 walks in 17 2/3 innings in Triple-A.
• Dedniel Nunez, Double-A Binghamton – Taken in the Rule 5 draft by the Giants, only a few months later needed Tommy John, and then was given back to Mets this latest offseason. Righty has been up to 99 mph, though his WHIP in Double-A right now is 2.00.
• Saul Garcia, RHP, FCL Mets – The 19-year-old has been up to 99 mph this season for the FCL Mets. He’s allowed way too many baserunners (1.64 WHIP) but has struck out 41 in 28 2/3 innings.
• Eris Albino, RHP, DSL Mets – Another teenager that has been up to 99 mph. Also has issues with baserunners including 31 walks in 24 innings.
• Sammy Tavarez, RHP, High-A Brooklyn – Whopping 47 strikeouts in 31 innings, but 26 walks as well. He’s been up to 99 mph.

Injuries Stink

For the most part, the Mets’ top echelon of prospects have been able to stay away from any serious injuries this season. That said, there’s a few guys that would’ve been higher on my list or on the list and are not because of injury.

• RHP Matt Allan – It’s not been since the 2019 season that Allan has been able to pitch in a game that counted. The 21-year-old had ulnar nerve transposition surgery early this year as a follow up to Tommy John.
• LHP Luis Rodriguez – Talented young lefty that was up to 97 mph in 2021 needed Tommy John in March of this season. Baseball America And FanGraph still have this Rodriguez (the Mets have a right-handed Luis Rodriguez as well) in their top 30 list for the Mets.
• RHP Robert Dominguez – Another young pitcher that needed Tommy John early this year. Dominguez has a big fastball that has touched upper-90s.
• INF Kevin Kendall – The 2021 7th rounder was having a great spring camp before he suffered an wrist injury that has knocked him out for the 2022 season so far.
• OF Jake Mangum – The talented defensive center fielder was in Triple-A when he suffered a back injury in June. Just made his first rehab appearance with FCL Mets.
• RHP Tom Hackimer – Sidewinding relief prospect that had Tommy John in May.
• RHP Cole Gordon – The right-hander started this season in Triple-A coming off a great run to end the 2021 season, but unfortunately only made one start before needing Tommy John.
• LHP Josh Walker – Tall lefty suffered an arm injury late in spring camp after impressing in the big league games for the Mets. He is on the comeback trail right now having pitched three games in the lower minors and one with the Syracuse Mets.
• RHP Marcel Renteria – The relief prospect suffered a torn ACL during a brawl with the Portland Sea Dogs earlier this season.

Players That Dropped Off

• INF Jose Peroza – The 22-year-old got off to a brutal start to the 2022 season with Brooklyn. He has gotten his OPS up over .700 OPS for the season with an .916 OPS since the start of July. Peroza is a good defender at both second and third base.
• UT Jaylen Palmer – The versatile 22-year-old is striking out 39% of the time this year for Brooklyn. He does have 19 stolen bases on 22 attempts.
• LF Carlos Cortes – After a good 2021 season, Cortes started the year with a 24 wRC+ in Triple-A before his demotion to Double-A where he has just a 92 wRC+. Cortes has improved defensively in the outfield and has shown off a strong arm this year.
• OF Nick Plummer – Despite a big home run for the Mets earlier in the year, the 26-year-old was recently designated for assignment after posting a .687 OPs in Triple-A.
• OF/1B Carlos Rincon – The 24-year-old was off to a bad start in Triple (58 wRC+) before an injury in June that he hasn’t returned from.

Young Players to Watch For

• RHP Layonel Ovalles – The 19-year-old recently made his full season debut with the St. Lucie Mets after posting a 2.76 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 29 innings for the FCL Mets. Ovalles looks the part of a pitcher with ideal size and has been up to 97 mph with his fastball this year. Also features a curveball with spin rates in the high 2800s and a changeup.
• SS Junior Tilien – The 19-year-old shortstop started off his first taste of full season ball in St. Lucie with a bang, he had 12 extra base hits in his first 20 games including a three-homer game. He’s a solid defender with above average speed that has played short, second, and third.
• SS Dangelo Sarmiento – The 17-year-old was given a $700K bonus to sign earlier this year. He’s a plus defensive shortstop with plus speed and has a .377 OBP in his first 33 games in the Dominican Summer League.

This is a Mets farm system that is now ranked fifth in baseball by ESPN and eighth by Baseball America. Álvarez is arguably the top prospect in the game, Baty is a consensus top-40 prospect, Parada and Ramirez are in top 100 lists, and Mauricio, Williams, and Vientos are in that next group outside the top 100. The last two drafts for the Mets have absolutely started to deepen a system that was lacking upside after their top couple of prospects.