New York Mets 2020 Midseason Top 30 Prospects Update — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

To see every team’s Top 30 prospects list, click here.

STATE OF THE SYSTEM

The Mets have attacked the high school ranks in the past four draft classes, coming away with six of their top 11 prospects—Pete Crow-Armstrong, Brett Baty, Matt Allan, Mark Vientos, Isaiah Greene and Josh Wolf—plus two others (outfielder Jarred Kelenic and righthander Simeon Woods Richardson) used in trades. A similar focus on Latin America has yielded shortstops Ronny Mauricio and Andres Gimenez and catcher Francisco Alvarez, who are three of the system’s top prospects. As a result, the Mets’ farm has a lot of talent to potentially harvest one day, though it will take time to ripen.

1. Ronny Mauricio, SS

The tall, lean switch-hitter could mature into a four-tool shortstop, or possibly third baseman, who lacks only speed. At age 19, Mauricio still has a lot of development in front of him.

2. Francisco Alvarez, C

Alvarez hit .312 with power in his pro debut, wowing scouts with an ability to stay on the ball and drive it. The 18-year-old catcher misses out on valuable game reps this season.

3. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF

The Mets drafted Crow-Armstrong 19th overall this year, lauding both his tools and competitive makeup. The lefthanded hitter has Gold Glove potential in center field and a top-of-the-order offensive profile.

4. Brett Baty, 3B

Selected 12th overall in 2019, Baty had one of the top bats in his high school draft class. His power showed up in his pro debut, but he tended to drift and not hit against a firm front side. The lost season hurts the 20-year-old Baty more than most because he was old for his class.

5. Matt Allan, RHP

The top high school pitcher in the 2019 draft, Allan fell to the Mets in the third round but got more money than any high school pitcher but the Pirates’ Quinn Priester. Allan has a pro-ready fastball/curveball combination and a big league physique.

6. Andres Gimenez, SS

The 21-year-old was one of the youngest players to crack an Opening Day roster this year (and made his big league debut as a defensive replacement). Gimenez is a steady, high-baseball-IQ player who shines defensively while offering untapped offensive potential based on his youth.

7. J.T. Ginn, RHP

Ginn succumbed to Tommy John surgery in March, but the eligible Mississippi State sophomore would have been a first-round talent if healthy. The Mets snagged him in the second round and signed him for late-first-round money on the strength of the double-plus fastball and slider he showed when healthy.

8. Mark Vientos, 3B

Vientos has the bat speed, coordination and loft to do damage, which he did at times last year in the South Atlantic League. His power will have to carry him to a big league role.

9. Thomas Szapucki, LHP

Szapucki has the high-spin repertoire for today’s north-south game: fastball up and curveball down to change eye levels. The challenge has been staying healthy. Szapucki had Tommy John surgery in 2017 and was on a tight leash in 2019.

10. Isaiah Greene, OF

The SoCal high school center fielder had second-round talent this year but fell into the supplemental second round, where the Mets got a deal done. Greene has a smooth lefthanded swing that makes him a potential plus hitter with room to mature and add power.

11. Josh Wolf, RHP
12. Kevin Smith, LHP
13. David Peterson , LHP
14. Jordan Humphreys, RHP
15. Junior Santos, RHP
16. Franklyn Kilome, RHP
17. Michel Otañez, RHP
18. Robert Dominguez, RHP
19. Alexander Ramirez, OF
20. Shervyen Newton, 2B/SS
21. Freddy Valdez, OF
22. Jose Butto, RHP
23. Richard Brito, RHP
24. Jaylen Palmer, 3B/SS
25. Dedniel Nuñez, RHP
26. Walker Lockett, RHP
27. Tony Dibrell, RHP
28. Daison Acosta, RHP
29. Carlos Cortes , 2B
30. Ryley Gilliam, RHP

SYSTEM STRENGTHS

The additions of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Isaiah Greene in the 2020 draft underscored the organization’s emphasis on up-the-middle athletes, who constitute five of the system’s top 10 prospects. The power righthanders added in the past two drafts—Matt Allan, J.T. Ginn, Josh Wolf—also stand out.

SYSTEM WEAKNESSES

The Mets traded Jarred Kelenic to acquire Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano, and Juan Lagares faded quickly because of injuries. As a result, the Mets have struggled to find a reliable center fielder in recent seasons, an issue amplified by the rise of flyball hitters in the majors. Two of the club’s 2020 draft picks, particularly Pete Crow-Armstrong, could address that weakness one day. Like most organizations, the Mets lack impact catching depth in the upper minors.

PLAYER POOL TIDBITS

The Mets emphasized major league proximity rather than upside potential when drawing up their 60-man player pool. The most notable prospects brought to summer camp were those on the 40-man roster, such as Andres Gimenez, Thomas Szapucki, Jordan Humphreys and Franklyn Kilome, and those advanced enough to conceivably contribute in 2020, including college lefthanders Kevin Smith and David Peterson. The rest of the Mets’ pool largely consists of minor league veterans and former major leaguers hoping for another chance.

HURTING

RHP Walker Lockett, who made four spot starts last season, was out with lower back discomfort.

RHP J.T. Ginn, the club’s second-rounder this June, is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and should be on target to return in mid 2021, if everything goes according to plan.