28. Wilmer Reyes, SS

B/T: R/R
Age: 26 (12/22/1997)
Ht: 6’0  Wt: 161 LBS
Acquired: 2016 International Free Agent
ETA: 2024  Previous Rank: N/A
2021 Stats (FCL/Brooklyn): .345/.409/.483, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, CS, 16 G

Defensive versatility and speed are more than just buzz words, they are the main reason Wilmer Reyes finds himself within the Mets Minors Top 30 for 2022. Reyes burst onto the scene in 2019, smashing through short season competition in Brooklyn to the tune of a .323 while collecting two triples and 12 stolen bases. That effort earned Reyes a 2019 NY-Penn league All-Star appearance. His showing at Staten Island that night earned move rave reviews as Baseball America noted”

Wilmer showed off his ability to play a quality shortstop. The infielder moves well laterally and has a good transfer to his throwing hand. He is able to throw from multiple angles with good arm strength. He has sound footwork up the middle, and his glove was clearly at asset to his team.

On the defensive side, Reyes played all across the infield (65.0 at 1B, 73.0 at 3B, 312.1 at SS). Reyes maintained a fielding percentage of 96.6% at first, 95.7% at short, and 87.5% at third, which only swells his value in the Mets system. While the 2020 seasons was lost, Reyes did turn heads at the instructional league and continued to build his brand.

More #Mets instructional league home runs:

Here’s Wilmer Reyes, who hit .323 with 5 homers and 12 stolen bases for Brooklyn in 2019. pic.twitter.com/BZtO7P9qbO

— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) October 17, 2020

Reyes star was set to burst onto the scene in 2021, but a knee injury held him out of competition until September. Reyes played seven games at GCL, then earned his promotion to High-A Brooklyn where he would hit .400 in his first 35 at-bats and flash some leather defensively. Ideally, a fully healthy 2022 will ascend the 24-year old Reyes beyond Brooklyn and higher up prospect boards as a reliable bat with plus speed and maneuverability all across the defense. Of course, all of this is assuming Wilmer survives the Rule-5 draft once the lockout ends and remains a future versatile asset in New York.

27. Mike Vasil, RHP

B/T: L/R
Age: 21 (03/19/2000)
Ht: 6’0  Wt: 161 LBS
Acquired: 2021 Amateur Draft, 8th Round
ETA: 2025  Previous Rank: N/A
2021 Stats (FCL): 0-0, 1.29 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 7.0 IP, 0.429 WHIP, 0.0 BB/9, 12.9 K/9

Mike Vasil came to Mets in the 8th round of the 2021 Amateur Draft where Baseball America had ranked Vasil as the 115th ranked prospect. The glowing reviews from BA did not end after the Mets selection, as Carlos Collazo of Baseball America noted Vasil and his 97 MPH fastball could be the best fastball in the draft 2021 draft class. Vasil may have some impressive heat, but he’s no slouch in the breaking ball game either, he made that clear one start in June 2021.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1408390734160482307

Vasil was a projected first round selection in 2018 out of high-school, but chose instead to carry-out his commitment to UVA. As noted in Mets Minors Draft Review, Vasil may not have had the dominant three collegiate seasons that a first round draft grade out of high-school suggests, but to get that sort of potential in the 8th round offers all the reward and far less risk.

In his three professional appearances, Vasil was held under 3.0 IP each time but tallied 6 K’s in his September 11 appearance, and 3 more a week later over 2.0 innings. MMO‘s own Michael Mayer noted his September 11 showing saw that fastball Baseball America fawned over touching 97 MPH. As Vasil enters his second professional year, likely spending time in St. Lucie and perhaps Brooklyn, his ability to miss bats and avoid walks while keeping the heat in the high 90’s will go a long way in deciding just how much of a steal this talent was in the 8th round of 2021.

Mets Top Prospects 29-30