Since the purchase of the organization by Steve Cohen, the Mets have been amongst the biggest spenders in baseball. They seem willing to dish out blank checks to almost anybody the front office identifies as a target (just not Carlos Correa). This, however, does not mean that they are without prospects. The Mets’ organization is run extremely well from top to bottom with excellent ownership and player development. They have a deep farm system that is filled with several players that are ready to contribute in 2023. The system is hitter-heavy at the top and then features several pitchers who have intriguing potential. Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos have already made their debut in Queens—check out the rest of the article for the other 12 prospects Mets fans should be excited for.
New York Mets Top Fantasy Baseball Prospects
1. Francisco Álvarez, C
Age: 21/2022 Stats (AA/AAA): 411 AB/.260/.374/.511/27 HR/0 SB/74 R/78 RBI
MLB Stats: 12 AB/.167/.286/.500/1 HR/0 SB/3 R/1 RBI
The Mets signed Francisco Álvarez out of Venezuela in 2018. After an excellent professional debut in 2019, Álvarez put himself on the radar and has not fallen off it. Ranked as the top catching prospect in baseball heading into 2022, he hit a combined 27 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A before being promoted to the Major Leagues. At the plate, his hands fly through the zone, allowing him to tap into his pull-side power. The power is Álvarez’s calling card and points to 25 home run potential from the catcher position.
There are times when Álvarez shows his youth and immaturity at the plate swinging out of his shoes to hit the ball as far as possible. There is a lot of swing-and-miss to his game and he tends to get fooled by breaking balls. During his brief Major League stint, he whiffed 40% of the time. He also walks a lot, boosting his value in OBP leagues. Álvarez is not a sure bet to hit in the Major Leagues, but if it all clicks, he can instantly become one of the best catchers in fantasy.
2. Brett Baty, 3B
Age: 23/2022 Stats (AA/AAA): 362 AB/.315/.410/.533/19 HR/2 SB/76 R/60 RBI
MLB Stats: 38 AB/.184/.244/.342/2 HR/0 SB/4 R/5 RBI
The Mets selected Brett Baty out of high school with the 12th overall pick in the 2019 draft. He touched three levels in his first year of professional baseball, looking mature beyond his age. Standing at 6’3” and batting from the left side, the power is evident. Despite this power, Baty does not get too pull-happy but instead is content taking what the pitcher gives him to all sides of the field.
The issue with both his hit and power tools has been his inability to get the ball off the ground. He has consistently run ground ball rates north of 50%. For the first time at Double-A in 2022, Baty reduced his ground ball rate to 42% and hit a career-high 19 home runs. The power skills and feel for hitting are evident, he just needs a swing adjustment to help it all click. His 10 degree average launch angle and 43% sweet spot rate in his brief Major League stint are encouraging numbers. He should see improvements in his walk rate and BABIP for 2023 and profiles as the Mets’ starting third baseman with Carlos Correa signing in Minnesota. Baty has .275 with 20-HR potential and a relatively safe floor.
3. Ronny Mauricio, SS
Age: 21/2022 Stats (AA): 509 AB/.259/.296/.472/26 HR/20 SB/71 R/89 RBI
Ronny Mauricio signed with the Mets back in 2017 out of the Dominican Republic. He stands at 6’3”, swinging the bat from both sides. Mauricio stands tall at the plate with a leg kick and hands-driven swing. His swing generates more power and loft from the left side of the plate. His first two seasons of professional baseball were about adjusting and learning. Coming out of the pandemic, Mauricio blossomed to the tune of 46 home runs over the past two seasons combined.
The power is the most exciting part of Mauricio’s game. The talent and tools have always been there, but he struggled to get the ball in the air. Mauricio lowered his ground ball percentage in each of the past two seasons, helping turn raw power into game power. The speed is closer to average, and he will likely settle in around 10-15 stolen bases a year. Concerns stem from Mauricio’s handsy swing that has generated high chase rates. The average has never gotten above .268 in a full season and there is a risk he will always struggle to hit. There is a large amount of risk in his profile, but Mauricio has a chance to hit .260 with 30 home runs from the shortstop position.
PS: Doesn’t his left-handed swing look just like Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s??
Playoff Ronny. 🔥
Ronny Mauricio had a pair of hits, including this RBI single, for the @TigresdelLicey last night in the @LIDOMRD playoffs. pic.twitter.com/X9YVuck4wE
— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) January 9, 2023
4. Alex Ramirez, OF
Age: 20/2022 Stats (A/A+): 498 AB/.281/.346/.436/11 HR/21 SB/62 R/7 RBI
Alex Ramirez was the Mets’ prized international free agent signing back in July of 2019. The Mets saw projectability in Ramirez and prioritized signing him to the tune of $2.05 million. Ramirez performed admirably in 2021, getting his first taste of professional baseball at Low-A. At age 19 and in his second season, the Mets started Ramirez at Low-A again before promoting him to High-A. Between these two levels, he was able to show off his speed by stealing 21 bases while also demonstrating an improved understanding of the strike zone. Ramirez dropped his strikeout rate from 31.3% in 2021 to 22.1% in 2022.
Ramirez’s swing looks like a player who is still figuring out how to use his size and strength. He is big standing at 6’3” and has yet to tap into the full potential his size provides him. He posted an average exit velocity of 86.9 mph in Low-A this season which is right around the league average. The swing tends to get choppy, leading to inconsistency and many ground balls. Ramirez’s profile lends itself to projectable power and speed, it is just going to be a matter of whether he can figure out how to use it.
5. Kevin Parada, C
Age: 21/2022 Stats (CPX/A): 40 AB/.275/.455/.425/1 HR/0 SB/6 R/8 RBI
After deferring the MLB Draft in 2020 to attend Georgia Tech, Kevin Parada was selected by the Mets 11th overall in the 2022 draft. In his final collegiate season, Parada posted video-game numbers with 26 home runs and a .361 batting average. Parada was viewed by many to be one of the safest prospects in the 2022 draft. He swings from the right side and has an excellent feel for hitting the ball to all fields. He batted over .300 in both seasons at Georgia Tech and profiles to be an above-average offensive catcher.
The ceiling comes from Parada’s power. This was on full display in college, but there are questions about how well it will translate to the pros. As mentioned earlier, he likes to use all fields which helps his batting average but could come at the expense of his home run total. The ceiling is .280 with 20 homers, but there is a chance the home run total does not come to fruition. His value is higher in OBP leagues due to his above-average plate discipline.
6. Mark Vientos, 3B/1B
Age: 23/2022 Stats (AAA): 378 AB/.280/.358/.519/24 HR/0 SB/66 R/72 RBI
MLB Stats: 36 AB/.167/.268/.278/1 HR/0 SB/3 R/3 RBI
Mark Vientos was drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 2017 draft. After making little noise during his first few years of professional baseball, Vientos burst onto the scene with a monster 2021 season. He hit 25 home runs in 83 games between Double-A and Triple-A, finally reaching what many consider to be his ceiling. This is a 43/600 pace. The power comes without any speed as Vientos has only stolen a total of two bases in his Minor League career.
When it comes to Vientos, the hit tool has always been the biggest question. While Vientos experienced his power breakout, his strikeout rate soared. Known for always having a good understanding of the zone, Vientos rarely chases but has posted below-average contact rates. His value is higher in OBP leagues where his walks count for something as he will likely never hit for much average. The power upside is mountainous, but there is a chance his inability to make consistent contact prevents him from ever being an everyday player.
7. Jett Williams, SS
Age: 19/2022 Stats (CPX): 32 AB/.250/.366/.438/1 HR/6 SB/7 R/6 RBI
After selecting a college bat with their first pick in 2022, the Mets pivoted to a high school bat. Jett Williams was taken 14th overall despite his underwhelming size. Standing at just 5’8”, Williams more than makes up for his lack of size with baseball intellect and quick instincts. Williams flashed some of his skills at the complex league when he went a perfect six-for-six on stolen base attempts. His plus speed should stick as he continues to grow and develop.
Williams pairs his speed with a plus feel for hitting. He makes solid contact at an above-average rate which limits strikeouts. Williams has the highest floor and the best hit tool of all Mets’ prospects. He is not a power hitter, but his swing is designed to land the ball in the gaps. This plays to the strength of his speed. Williams’ upside is capped by a modest home run projection, but the average and speed provide a stable floor.
8. Matt Allan, RHP
Age: 21/Did not play in 2022
Matt Allan was the Mets’ third-round pick back in 2019, but talent-wise he was much more than that. Speculation of college commitment was the culprit for causing the 13th-ranked prospect in the draft to slide to the third round. Allan ended up signing with the Mets and the stuff looked dominant in his brief professional debut. Allan struck out 14 batters in 10.1 innings back in 2019. Reports out of the alternate side in 2020 speculated that Allan had refined his command and looked like a future ace. Soon after, Allan tore his UCL requiring surgery causing him to miss both 2021 and 2022.
Allan has two plus offerings in his fastball and curveball. The fastball sits in the upper-90s, and the curve sits in the low-80s with excellent break. Allan was reportedly working hard in 2020 to refine his changeup to give himself a true third pitch. There is no telling what version of Matt Allan will show up in 2023 after missing two seasons. Maybe he ends up in a relief role, but it is still too early to give up on this promising talent. Allan has a front-end starter upside if he returns to form.
9. Mike Vasil, RHP
Age: 23/2022 Stats (CPX/A/A+): 71.1IP/3.53 ERA/1.08 WHIP/85 K
A tumultuous amateur career led to Mike Vasil sliding to the eighth round of the 2021 draft. Vasil was a high school star before an arm injury led to him attending college at Virginia. After the injury, he looked like a different pitcher with less feel and trust in his pitches. Throwing from the right side, Vasil has four pitches—all of which the Mets believe can be plus offerings.
During his college days, Vasil’s fastball sat in the low 90s and was more of a two-seamer. The Mets have helped him to transform this pitch into a four-seamer that is sitting in the mid-to-upper 90s now. His changeup, slider, and curveball all profile as average to slightly above average pitches. The slider is his most effective strikeout pitch to righties. The Mets appear to have gotten Vasil comfortable on the mound again for the first time since his injury. He has mid-rotation upside if the command and velocity gains stick.
10. Calvin Ziegler, RHP
Age: 20/2022 Stats (A): 46.2 IP/4.44 ERA/1.31 WHIP/70 K
Calvin Ziegler was the Mets’ second-round pick in 2021 out of Canada. Ziegler is on the shorter end for a pitcher standing at 6’0 but has an athletic build. He delivers to the plate straight over the top with a big leg kick and full extension of his throwing arm. Watching his tape, the comparison to Logan Gilbert becomes apparent. Ziegler’s go-to pitch is the fastball which he relies on over 60% of the time. The pitch sits in the mid-to-low-90s but plays up thanks to his extension. The curveball is his best secondary pitch and helps generate plenty of whiffs. Ziegler also throws a changeup in the mid-80s, but it is a clear third pitch for him.
Despite not throwing the hardest, Ziegler struck out over 35% of the batters he faced in his inaugural season. The fastball-curveball combination works well, but he needs to work on his control if he hopes to be a Major League starter. Without much command of his changeup—a tendency to fall off in his delivery—control might always be an issue. Ziegler has mid-rotation stuff if the Mets can help the 20-year-old develop. If not, he is likely destined for the bullpen.
11. Blade Tidwell, RHP
Age: 21/2022 Stats (CPX/A): 9.1 IP/1.93 ERA/1.18 WHIP/11 K
Blade Tidwell attended the University of Tennessee before being drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft. Tidwell has always been tall standing at 6’4” but has improved his overall build by adding weight. His size and deep repertoire profile him as a starting pitcher long-term. He throws four pitches ranging from 74-96 mph. The fastball can reach as high as 99 and works best when thrown up in the zone. Inconsistent location on the fastball is common and leads to high HR/9 rates. He will need to refine this as the competition increases.
The slider is the best of his breaking pitches sitting between 83 and 88 mph, sweeping down and away to right-handed batters. The best part of Tidwell’s game is his ability to strike both lefties and righties out. His changeup and curveball are both effective against lefties and the changeup profiles as a plus pitch. There is still a lot of movement in Tidwell’s lower half leading to control issues. He walked seven batters in just 9.1 innings last season. Cleaning up his windup and locating pitches is a priority for Tidwell if he wants to reach his ceiling.
12. Dominic Hamel, RHP
Age: 24/2022 Stats (A/A+): 119 IP/3.25 ERA/1.15 WHIP/145 K
Coming out of a smaller school, Dominic Hamel put himself on the map with a 136-strikeout senior season. He was then taken in the third round of the 2021 MLB draft. Hamel has a smooth and consistent delivery that should play well as a starter. He performed well in his first full season of professional baseball, splitting time between Low-A and High-A. Hamel will be 24 by the time the season rolls around, and the Mets are expected to be aggressive with him.
His fastball sits in the low-90s with excellent late life. He likes to throw the pitch up in the zone, although the lack of velocity could be problematic as the competition increases. He has two out pitches: a slider to righties and a changeup to lefties. Both have good spin rates and sit in the low-80s. Hamel also throws a curveball with less consistency and feel. The lack of velocity keeps the ceiling low for Hamel who profiles as a back-end starter for the Mets.
13. Stanley Consuegra, OF
Age: 22/2022 Stats (A/A+): 481 AB/.245/.317/.407/13 HR/12 SB/71 R/59 RBI
After signing with the Mets back in 2017, it has been a long road for Stanley Consuegra to finally play a full season of professional baseball. Early in his career, he tore his ACL, causing him to miss an entire season of development before the pandemic. Now finally healthy, Consuegra performed well at Low-A, earning a promotion to High-A for the second half of 2022. The numbers might not jump off the page, but there are a lot of tools to like with this 6’2” outfielder.
Consuergra only hit 13 home runs this year and barely slugged .400, but Consuegra has above-average raw power in his game. He posted above-average exit velocity (89.98 mph) in High-A while demonstrating a consistent ability to get air under the baseball (16.71 LA). He can get pull-happy at times, but this should help play into his power which could break out in a big way in 2023. Consuegra can be a bit too patient at times at the plate, leading to high strikeout rates, but he has shown a solid ability to make contact. He also adds plus speed which is better used in the outfield than on the bases. Despite pedestrian Minor League numbers, Consuegra is a name to watch in 2023.
14. Willy Fanas, OF
Age: 19/2022 Stats (DSL): 101 AB/.257/.330/.297/0 HR/10 SB/16 R/10 RBI
Willy Fanas fits the mold of a projectible international prospect. The switch-hitting outfielder signed with the Mets in January in 2022. Watching him play, it is easy to see why the Mets gave Fanas $1.5 million. He stole ten bases in the DSL this past season, but the speed will likely slow down a tick as he continues to grow into his 6’2” frame. He has quick hands through the zone, especially from the left side where his swing tends to generate more power.
The upside is fun to project, but there is considerable risk in Fanas’ profile. During the 2022 season, Fanas’ swinging strike rate was 30.7%. That much swing-and-miss at such a low level is concerning. As the competition increases, his strikeout rate will likely continue to climb. If the Mets can help Fanas refine his swing to make more contact, he could fly up this ranking list. Right now, he is just a projectable outfielder with easy-to-point-out flaws.
15. Jacob Reimer, 3B
Age: 19/2022 Stats (CPX): 23 AB/.261/.414/.478/1 HR/0 SB/5 R/7 RBI
The Mets took Jacob Reimer in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. He played in seven complex league games in 2022, walking an impressive six times. While the sample size is small, maturity at the plate out of a high school bat is always a positive sign. Reimer’s swing is noisy right now and the Mets will likely want to tone it down. He features a toe tap with a small leg kick and lots of bat movement before his hands fly through the zone. With the noise he currently has, I worry about his hit tool struggling against professional pitching. Thanks to his big 6’2” 205-pound frame, he has plenty of raw power and is an interesting bat to project for the coming years. Keep an eye on the changes and developments with Reimer as he has a chance to rise up this ranking list.
Photos by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire and Harry Gillen/Unsplash | Featured Image by Ethan Kaplan (@DJFreddie10 on Twitter and @EthanMKaplanImages on Instagram)