One of the most important aspects of spring training is the evaluation of minor league talent. Using prospects in early Major League spring games is a way for fans to get a glimpse of the future and a way for the club to gauge the various developmental stages of the organizational talent.
As the Mets get ready to open up camp, Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez have taken center stage. The club’s top two prospects could be ready to compete at the big league level this season and will get plenty of chances to show they can hit Major League pitching with so many players missing time for the World Baseball Classic.
While Baty and Alvarez headline the class, there is another group of players that figure to be important players in the future. All winter we’ve heard the club talk about their desire to build a “sustainable” winner and the Mets will need a few key prospects to be ready in the near future if they want to accomplish that goal and start lowering the payroll.
Here are six prospects to watch this spring and how they could factor into the Mets’ future plans.
The 23-year-old is in a tough spot right now. Brett Baty is the projected third baseman of the future and he’s behind an All-Star in Pete Alonso at first base. The Mets’ 2017 second-round draft pick has also played shortstop in the minor leagues, but that spot it locked up for another nine seasons by Francisco Lindor.
Though he’ll certainly get a chance to compete with Baty, a move to the outfield might be ahead for the player who grew up rooting for the Mets in Florida. Vientos has played some outfield in Double-A and Triple-A and the Mets don’t have any top outfielders in the upper levels of their system.
Vientos was rewarded for a strong Triple-A season last year with a 16-game stint in the Major Leagues. He has raw power and did hit a home run in the Big Leagues, but it would benefit him to reduce his strikeouts and groundballs.
Will all of the additions the Mets made to the roster this winter it’s likely Vientos starts the season in Syracuse, which wouldn’t be a bad thing. He can continue to show power, make some improvements at the plate and gain some confidence.
Manager Buck Showalter plans to move players around the diamond during spring training but Mauricio may not be one of them. The 21-year-old has a higher trade value as a shortstop. Lindor will be playing for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, so Showalter can slot Mauricio into his spot in the order. This is beneficial for all involved since Mauricio’s defense still needs improving.
Of course, there is always the chance the Mets hang on to a talented prospect like this. But if the club needs to make upgrades at the trade deadline, Mauricio may be their best bargaining chip. He’s a lanky, switch-hitting infielder who was recently named the Dominican Winter League MVP.
The Mets might not have any stud outfielders at the higher levels but give it a few years and that might change. Ranked No. 4 in the system by MLB Pipeline, Ramirez is raw and toolsy but there is a ton of potential at just 20 years old.
Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $2.05 million during the 2019-20 signing period, he hit .281 with a .782 OPS in two levels last season. He’s fast, hits to all fields, and reduced his strikeout rate last season as well.
Ramirez was invited to Major League spring training, so he’ll likely get some at-bats in early games before the club starts trimming the roster.
The hope is that Alvarez and Parada will someday be calling games for the Mets. The club’s first-round draft pick last year out of Georgia Tech is sold at the plate and behind it. The 21-year-old has a line-drive swing and gets on base. It’s a small sample size, but he slashed .275/.455/.425 with an .880 OPS in 13 pro games last summer after the Los Angeles area native concluded a standout collegiate career.
The Mets are content to use free agency to bring in pitchers until they start getting the pipeline flowing, but if these two right-handers could crack the big leagues this year then it would be a start.
It’s tough to root against someone like Orze, a two-time cancer survivor who was drafted in the final round of the 2020 draft from the University of New Orleans. The splitter is his calling card and it’s why the Mets moved him to the bullpen in pro ball. It’s effective against both righties and lefties.
Orze reached Triple-A in 2021 but took a step back last season, possibly due to injuries. However, lefties hit just .145 against him last season and his walk rate stayed low, even as he posted an ERA 5.13 ERA.
Butto had a cup of coffee in the Major Leagues last season, making one start. He did not receive a decision after allowing seven earned runs over four innings. But the 24-year-old Venezuelan did strike out five in that outing, which is promising.
No team ever gets through an entire season with their starting five completely intact, and while the Mets have depth with David Peterson and Tylor Megill, they may have to call on Butto for a spot start this season as well. He’s deceptive and throws strikes, both of which typically tend to translate well at the next level.
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