Andres Gimenez,, Photo by Ernest Dove
A month into the season, Baseball America has updated their preseason Top 100 prospects list. The thing that jumps out is how Baseball America still only has one Mets prospect ranked.
That prospect is shortstop prospect Andres Gimenez, who is off to a terrific start this season. In 24 games for St. Lucie, Gimenez is hitting .276/.343/.425 with five doubles, a triple, two homers, and 10 RBI. He also has stolen seven bases in nine attempts.
In addition to his hitting and running the bases well, he has played well defensively at shortstop. It should be noted the Mets have begun to try to make him more versatile with Gimenez already playing two games at second base this season. With Amed Rosario playing shortstop in Queens, getting Gimenez exposure at second base is a wise decision.
In moving Gimenez from No. 91 to No. 85 in their rankings, Baseball America noted:
Scouts expect him to impact the ball more frequently as his body matures and he gains strength in his 20s.
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Nothing phases Gimenez at the plate, where he has the attributes to be an above-average hitter. His lefthanded swing is direct to the ball, and he identifies pitches well, doesn’t swing and miss often and hangs in versus southpaws.
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Body control and quick actions serve Gimenez at shortstop, where he has above-average range, reliable hands and an arm that plays up to plus thanks to a quick release and accuracy. His instincts and feel for the game will keep him at shortstop-where he has plus defensive potential-as he climbs the ladder, while his arm and reliability would allow him to shift to second or third base as needed.
What is a surprise was how first baseman Peter Alonso was unable to crack their Top 100.
On that front, Baseball America’s Ben Badler said, “I’m hoping to see him in person soon to get a better read on him. The power is obvious. and I like what I’m hearing about the strides he’s making with his selectivity at the plate.”
In 23 games this season, Alonso is hitting .393/.490/.762 with seven doubles, eight homers, and 22 RBI. He currently sports a 252 wRC+ which is the best in all of professional baseball. Alonso is not only performing this well in Double-A, but his home ballpark, NYSEG Stadium, is known as a pitcher’s park.
Despite this terrific start where he has made noted improvements, Alonso has not yet joined Gimenez on the Top 100. With the improvements he has made, it is very possible Alonso will continue to have a good season. If so, he should be among Baseball America’s top 100 when they publish their mid-season update.
