24. Carlos Rincon, OF
B/T: R/R Age: 24 (10/14/1997)
Height: 6’3″ Weight: 190 lbs
Acquired: Trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers (7/21/2021)
ETA: 2022 Previous Rank: N/A
2021 Stats: (Double-A) 101 G, 425 PA, 55 R, 101 H, .265/.334/.496, 20 2B, 22HR, 77 RBI, 5 SB
Remember Billy McKinney? When the Mets dealt him to the Dodgers last July, they got back in return one of Los Angeles’ top International signings a few years ago, Carlos Rincon. He had been moving up the ranks in the Dodgers system since he signed with them in 2016.
Before the Mets traded for him he was enjoying arguably his best MiLB season with Double-A Tulsa. However, the Mets did leave him exposed in the lockout delayed Rule 5 Draft. So he might be suiting up with a different team entirely by the start of the 2022 season.
Rincon spent the rest of 2021 with Double-A Binghamton, and he immediately picked up where he left off in Tulsa. He continued to hit consistently boasting a .268 average with Binghamton along with showing some flashes of power, hitting 10 home runs adding to his overall season total of 22.
While in Double-A, the then 23-year old set full season career highs in average, RBIs and slugging percentage, while tying career highs in hits and home runs. Rincon is primarily a corner outfielder with average fielding ability but an above average arm.
https://twitter.com/MetsFarmReport/status/1432056680884355076
Rincon, though, had some concerns while in the Dodgers system that began to surface during his short stint in Binghamton. While his average was a respectable .265 overall, his OBP was just .334 and like most power hitters, his plate discipline isn’t his strong suit. He walked only 36 times in 384 at bats while striking out 114 times.
Standing at 6’3 and 190lbs, if Rincon could fill out a bit more, that could improve his power numbers further and thus increase his value overall. It’s also worth noting that Rincon is notorious for getting the ball in the air when he makes contact. He hit into only four double plays last season.
Trading away McKinney for a Double-A outfield prospect was a low risk-high reward move for the Mets. Rincon has plenty of potential, but right now it appears that his likely role at the Major League level would be a bench player with some pop late in games as a pinch hitter. In a position that’s relatively thin for the Mets, it’s curious why they left the outfielder exposed in the Rule 5 Draft. If he’s left untaken, the Mets could have a diamond in the rough in their system for the 2022 season.
23. Robert Dominguez, RHP
B/T: L/L Age: 20 (11/30/2001)
Height: 6’5″ Weight: 195 lbs
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent by the New York Mets (11/20/2019)
ETA: 2024 Previous Rank: 12
2021 Stats: (FCL Mets) 1-1, 8.25 ERA, 10 G, GS, SV, 12.0 IP, 2.000 WHIP, 6.8 BB/9, 7.5 K/9
Signing for just $95,000 in November of 2019, it’s easy to see how the then 17-year old Dominguez might have flown under the radar for most baseball fans. One thing that radar has been picking up on is the velocity on his fastball.
During the cancelled 2020 MiLB season, Dominguez stayed in the Mets Spring Training facility in St. Lucie where his fastball would consistently stay in the mid-90s and would at times reach speeds up to 99 mph. With that, Dominguez went from a quiet International signing to an impressive top prospect in the Mets system.
By 2021, the Mets long wait to see Dominguez in a real game finally came to an end. Over the summer he made his professional debut in the Florida Complex League with the FCL Mets. Appearing in 10 games, primarily as a reliver, Dominguez struggled during his brief 2021 season pitching to the tune of an 8.25 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP in 12.0 innings.
He did have an impressive K/9 ratio at 7.50 but control was clearly a problem for him as his 6.75 BB/9 ratio put a damper in his first season of professional play.
#Mets RHP prospect Robert Dominguez made his professional debut in the Florida Complex League this morning, tossing a 1-2-3 inning.
(Video from extended spring training ⬇️) pic.twitter.com/6fJN5PCvPJ
— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) July 2, 2021
Dominguez who just turned 20 during the offseason still has a lot of potential, especially when his fastball can reach the speed it does. However, for him to move up the MiLB ranks he’ll need to develop and control his breaking ball.
As seen with his BB/9 ratio, when Dominguez had to use any pitches besides his fastball his performance suffered. The Mets hope that in 2022, Dominguez can find his command and begin to show why he is ranked so highly in their system. If he can do this, look for the 20-year old Venezuelan to become a very valuable piece in the Mets system.
