Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Every Monday, we'll be taking a look at how the Mets' top prospects (their MLB.com Mets Top 10 rankings are in parenthesis) are faring.

Andres Gimenez, SS, Double-A Binghamton (No. 2) -- ETA 2020

The 20-year-old Gimenez -- who is the Mets' No. 2 prospect by default (MLB.com has not yet removed Pete Alonso's No. 1 prospect status) -- is viewed by most minor league experts as one of the best 50 or so prospects in baseball.

After opening the season by hitting .283/.345/.453 over his first 12 games, Gimenez has hit a cold snap - with zero hits in his last 12 at-bats as his line has dropped to .231/.306/.369. He has one homer, one triple, and four doubles in 65 at-bats this season.

Ronny Mauricio, SS, Low-A Columbia (No. 3) -- ETA 2022

The 18-year-old Mauricio, a switch-hitter who the Mets gave $2.1 million in 2017 as an international free agent, is hitting .302/.341/.360 with three doubles and one triple in 21 games (86 at-bats) this season.

His assignment to Low-A means a potential promotion to High-A St. Lucie at some point this season. Mauricio is the No. 68 prospect in baseball, according to FanGraphs. If he continues to perform well, look for his name to be on most Top 100 lists this summer.

Mets SS Ronny Mauricio is our 68th-ranked prospect and hit a double to left center on this swing for Low-A Columbia last weekend. He's likely moving up in our next update. https://t.co/i1lhzqPMpz pic.twitter.com/5xCAO4qwHQ
- FanGraphs Prospects (@FG_Prospects) April 23, 2019

Mark Vientos, 3B, Low-A Columbia (No. 4) -- ETA 2021

Vientos, 19, is hitting .225/.313/.310 with one homer and three doubles in 21 games (71 at-bats) this season after having a breakout season in 2018 for Rookie-level Kingsport.

"With bat speed and strength, Vientos produces exit velocities that are among the best in the system, up there with the likes of slugger Peter Alonso," MLB.com notes in their scouting report.

Sheesh 👀 .@MarkVientos_5 #LetsGlow pic.twitter.com/LPg2wARdLd
- Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) April 13, 2019

Shervyen Newton, SS, Low-A Columbia (No. 5) -- ETA 2022

The 19-year-old Newton shows "a very advanced approach at the plate for a prospect his age," according to MLB.com's scouting report. He hit .280/.408/.449 with with five homers, 16 doubles, and two triples in 56 games last season for Rookie level Kingsport. Newton has had a slow start this season after starting the year on the IL due to a minor shoulder injury. He has just one hit (a double) in 18 at-bats over five games.

David Peterson, LHP, Double-A Binghamton (No. 6) -- ETA 2020

Peterson allowed three runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out eight in 5.2 innings during his last start. The 23-year-old, who profiles as a mid-rotation starter, has a 3.77 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 14.1 innings (three starts) this season. Like most of Double-A Binghamton, Peterson had his schedule interrupted by a slew of weather postponements earlier this month.

Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, Low-A Columbia (No. 7) -- ETA 2022

The 18-year-old Richardson has been flat out dominant so far this season, posting a 1.23 ERA and 0.75 WHIP while striking out 22 batters and walking none in 14.2 innings (five starts). His innings are being ticked up slowly, which is why he has averaged only roughly 3.0 innings per start.

The Mets' second-round pick (No. 48) in the 2018 draft, Woods Richardson has one of the most electric arms in the system, with a fastball that reaches as high as 97 MPH and had Mickey Callaway raving during Spring Training.

Similar to Ronny Mauricio, look for Woods Richardson to get some love on Top 100 Prospect lists later this season if he excels. And look for Mauricio to get promoted to High-A St. Lucie before the season ends if he keeps dominating.

Career-high 7 strikeouts for Simeon Woods Richardson in only 3 innings with Columbia tonight. #Mets

His career-to-date numbers: 32 IP, 48 K, 4 BB, 5 ER pic.twitter.com/CEUUsyt1Rr
- Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) April 26, 2019

Anthony Kay, LHP, Double-A Binghamton (No. 8) -- ETA 2020

With his fastball topping out around 95 MPH, Kay has allowed just one run on five hits while striking out 17 and walking five over his last two starts (11.1 innings). Overall this season, Kay has posted a 1.85 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 29 strikeouts in 24.1 innings (five starts).

The 24-year-old Kay has moved up the ladder along with David Peterson. And like Peterson, he profiles as a mid-rotation starter.

Anthony Kay has been impressive so far for the @RumblePoniesBB. The @Mets eighth-ranked top prospect through five starts in Binghamton:
24.1 IP, 13 H, 11 BB, 29 K, 1.85 ERA.

The 24-year-old expressed that he feels like he's playing his best baseball right now. @Mets_Minors pic.twitter.com/t7vtNguvYK
- Kiley Farrell (@KileyFarrellTV) April 28, 2019

Thomas Szapucki, LHP, Short-Season Brooklyn (No. 9) -- ETA 2021

Now recovered from Tommy John surgery, the 22-year-old Szapucki -- whose innings are being increased very slowly -- threw 3.0 scoreless frames for Columbia over two starts while allowing two hits, walking one and striking out one. Since then, he has been assigned to Short-Season Brooklyn -- likely because his innings are being closely manged. Brooklyn's season does not begin until June.

Szapucki is further away than David Peterson or Anthony Kay because of the delay due to Tommy John surgery, but he has more upside than either.

"His explosive fastball is electric with plus life, and he throws it in the 92-97 mph range," according to MLB.com's scouting report. "His power breaking ball can be a second plus pitch which freezes hitters and misses bats."

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