Mets’ Jesus Baez Gets On Track With Offseason Adjustment
First impressions can be long lasting.
Such was the case with shortstop Jesus Baez, who hit five home runs in his first 14 professional games as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League in 2022.
So even when Baez scuffled through the rest of the DSL season and then again in the Florida Complex League in 2023, when he hit .210 with two home runs in 40 games, he remained one of the Mets’ brightest lower-level prospects.
The reason was simple: Even as his surface production lacked oomph, his batted-ball data offered promise.
So Baez spent the offseason heading into 2024 focused on improving the consistency of his swing plane, aiming to be more direct to the ball. What followed was a breakthrough season.
Baez batted .262/.338/.444 with 10 home runs and eight stolen bases in 64 games for Low-A St. Lucie last season. The 19-year-old’s .782 OPS ranked fourth best among teenagers in the notoriously pitcher-friendly Florida State League.
“If you drill down on the things that make a future big leaguer,” Mets farm director Andrew Christie said, “you see that he hits the ball hard, he’s really young and he makes a lot of contact.”
Baez hit a ball nearly 111 mph in 2024. His zone-contact rate of 83% was good for a young hitter with power. He hits velocity and offspeed effectively, though like many young hitters he can be enticed to expand his zone against quality breaking pitches.
Scouts with rival clubs praise Baez’s combination of patience and aggressiveness, noting that he sees the ball well out of the pitcher’s hand.
All these factors led the Mets to promote Baez to High-A Brooklyn in late June, making him one of just 38 teen hitters to take even one at-bat at the level. He hit well in eight games before his season came to an end when he tore the meniscus in his right knee on July 3 and had season-ending surgery.
The 5-foot-10 Baez signed out of the Dominican Republic as a shortstop and he has played the position predominantly as a pro. Most see him settling at a different infield position.
“He’s a no-doubt infielder. He’s totally willing to play second base and third base in addition to shortstop, to work on his craft at other positions,” Christie said. “He’s got MLB-quality tools defensively. His hands and arm are special. He’s not a one-trick pony. This guy can pick it.”
