I love New York City and I love St. Patrick’s Day, but the last time I combined the two was a sordid tale. I was about 12 sheets to the wind on the 7AM train into the city. By mid morning (which was cloudy) I had passed out. I woke up in a small nook near a stoop in the afternoon (now it was sunny). The change in weather – combined with waking up still drunk – led me to believe that I had slept through to the next day. I had lost my crew and found about $1.25 in change around my person. Apparently people mistook me for a derelict teen down on his luck. I made the most of the afternoon, took the train home, and arrived back at the house to find my crew sitting in the living room. They had spent the entire day looking for their lost friend in NYC and oh BTW I was their ride home from the train station. They were not happy. Here are the top ten specs in the Mets system. Slainte!
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1. Pete Alonso, 1B | Age: 24 | ETA: 2019
Peter ‘Pete’ Alonso should have a bunch of redraft value this year, but he might have to start the season in the minors given the spring that Dominic Smith is having (hitting .400). Alonso is a better source of power and therefore a better fantasy option than Smith, but the Mets might make us wait in an effort to manipulate Alonso’s service time. Twenty homers is realistic, even with less than 500 plate appearances.
2. Andres Gimenez, SS | Age: 20 | ETA: 2020
Gimenez is a high-floor prospect who looks like a natural fit at short, hits for contact, and can steal some bases. He doesn’t hit for much power at the moment, but there is some projectability there, especially if he tweaks his approach. He reminds me of Lindor or Albies, players who had the base skills and added power to their game.
Grade B
3. Ronny Mauricio, SS | Age: 17 | ETA: 2022
Mauricio is a switch-hitting shortstop who had a decent showing in Rookie ball last season. He hit .273 with three homers and a pair of steals in about 250 plate appearances. Obvs, he is extremely young so it’s all projection, but Mauricio has the chance to develop into the total package at short or a power hitter at the hot corner.
4. Mark Vientos, 3B | Age: 19 | ETA: 2021
A second round pick from two years ago, Vientos is about ready to make the move to A-ball this season after a solid 2018 in Rookie ball. He hit .287 with 11 homers and more importantly paired a 14% walk rate with a 16% strikeout rate. Vientos could contribute in both average and power – something like .280/20+.
5. Shervyen Newton, SS | Age: 19 | ETA: 2022
Another switch-hitting shortstop prospect (my favorite kind). Newton hit .280 in Rookie ball and had a fantastic 17% walk rate, but unfortunately also struck out in over 30% of his plate appearances. Nothing to worry about at this point, more to keep an eye on as he advances. He’s an average runner with plus power, so it’s a matter of his hit tool developing to match his athleticism.
6. David Peterson, LHP | Age: 23 | ETA: 2020
I like Peterson but he’s not a high ceiling prospect. He’s a lefty with a feel for his stuff, even though none of that stuff really grades out as above average. If he can continue on his current trajectory, he looks like a good bet to be a midrotation starter with good ratios but a limited impact in the strikeout category.
7. Simeon Woods-Richardson, RHP | Age: 18 | ETA: 2022
The Mets took Woods-Richardson in the second round of last year’s draft, and while he’s more volatile than Peterson, he also has more upside. He struck out 26 batters in 17 Rookie league innings in his pro debut. His arsenal is built off of a plus heater and a plus curve. There’s bullpen risk here, which is why I’d currently be more comfortable betting on Peterson in my leagues.
Grade C
8. Tony Dibrell, RHP | Age: 23 | ETA: 2020
With some more seasoning of his control and command, Dibrell could be interesting in the back of a rotation. He struck out 147 batters in 131 innings last year, and while his walk rate (nearly four per nine) wasn’t so hot, he gave up way less homers than the year before. He’ll likely pitch in High-A this coming season – maybe Double-A by the end of it.
9. Freddy Valdez, OF| Age: 17 | ETA: 2023
Valdez is a big dude with some projectability in the power department and at least average speed. He’s a center fielder now, but I’d guess a move to a corner is in his future as he matures. Right now that hit tool is graded as below average, but that could change once everybody gets a chance to check him out in Rookie ball this year.
10. Anthony Kay, LHP | Age: 23 | ETA: 2020
Kay has a nice three-pitch mix between his fastball, curve, and change. He had Tommy John surgery a couple of years ago, so 2018 was more about getting back into the swing of things. He fanned 123 batters in as many innings across two levels in 2018, and he should start 2019 close to or even in Double-A. The Mets have no reason to keep the training wheels on now, so this season should give us a clear(er) picture of his upside.
