After Wednesday afternoon’s game the Mets will have exactly 100 games remaining in the schedule. The first 62 games have felt much longer than it should. Already this season the Mets farm system has provided support for the big club. But there are multiple reasons that could explain why a player might be down on the farm – in the minor leagues. The minor leagues are filled with players who never play in the major leagues but give the few blue-chip prospects other players to fill out the team or play against. How about those Mets blue-chip prospects? There are several highly rated minor league stars on the farm. When will they arrive in Queens?
Last season Francisco Alvarez, who was once the #1 rated prospect in baseball, came up to the big club in September of 2022 and immediately became a primary contributor. Brett Baty was also a number one prospect, promoted to the Mets one month before Alvarez in 2022. Baty, who is currently playing in Syracuse, has been back and forth between the minors and majors since his first promotion.
This season rookie right-handed starting pitcher Christian Scott made his impressive debut in May making excellent starts along with one dud. He’s back in the minors temporarily mainly due to the Mets schedule and is expected to be back up with the Mets this month.
That’s kind of it. We’ve heard about good young talent the Mets have acquired. Why are there only three who’ve played with the team? With the Mets playing poorly, the team was shaken up a bit by the sending down of Baty, and in response calling up MLB veteran Jose Iglesias to offer badly needed middle infield depth. Iglesias has made the most of his opportunity and has sent Jeff McNeil to the bench for a few games. It’s a nice story but Iglesias is not a future everyday Mets player. Right now, many Mets fans don’t feel Jeff McNeil is either.
The other prospects waiting for their chance to make a splash with the team are Luisangel Acuna, who was acquired from the Astros in the Verlander deal last year. Acuna’s not far from being ready and has 20 steals for Syracuse in only 53 games. He’ll likely join the Mets prior to the end of the season even if it is as a September call-up. Ronny Mauricio, another well-regarded prospect, would have had a real opportunity to win an everyday job in spring training this year, but was injured playing winter ball and won’t play again this season.
An infield with Mark Vientos/Brett Baty at third, Lindor at short, Acuna or Mauricio at second (Mauricio also can play third), is more interesting and exciting than watching Jeff McNeil. If Pete Alonso is traded it would not be a surprise to see Vientos at first, and Baty at third for the remainder of this season. There is no heir apparent at first base in the entire Mets organization unless you are a Ryan Clifford fan and he’s playing in Brooklyn right now which is further from Queens than its actual mileage.
All the above sets up a very interesting competition in the infield for the 2025 season once Mauricio is healthy again, and another top prospect Jett Williams enters the infield competition. A plethora of talented and exciting young players would be very welcome to Mets fans.
Pitchers Blade Tidwell, Brandon Sproat (the guy so nice the Mets drafted him twice), and Jonah Tong are among most talked about of the up-and-coming hurlers. Tidwell is at AAA Syracuse himself and has a good chance of making his Mets debut this season. Sproat has moved up the ladder quickly and is throwing 100MPH for AA Binghamton. Tong has been exciting but is now pitching in Brooklyn so he’s a year or two away from being able to contribute at the big-league level.
The Mets being the oldest team in MLB know they need to get younger. Barring a winning run that puts the team back in the Wild Card hunt, the Mets will transition to being sellers again at the trading deadline and the young guns on the farm will get a long and healthy look this season. That would be a reason for fans to keep watching!
About the Author: Mark Kolier along with his son Gordon co-hosts a baseball podcast called ‘Almost Cooperstown’. He also has written baseball-related articles that can be accessed on Medium.com and now Substack.com.
