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. 1) -- ETA 2020

The 20-year-old Gimenez -- who is the Mets' No. 1 prospect now that Pete Alonso's prospect status has expired -- 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 slumped for the most part. After three-consecutive multi-hit games from May 11 to May 15, he has just one hit in his last 16 at-bats as his triple slash has dipped to .235/.295/.360 in 34 games.

Ronny Mauricio, SS, Low-A Columbia (No. 2) -- ETA 2022

The 18-year-old Mauricio, a switch-hitter who the Mets gave $2.1 million in 2017 as an international free agent, has come on strong lately, with seven hits in his last 18 at-bats, including one double and one homer. Overall, he is hitting .282/.337/.353 in 39 games (156 at-bats).

Mauricio, who is roughly three years younger than the average player in his league, is the No. 68 prospect in baseball, according to FanGraphs. If he performs well this summer, look for his name to be on most Top 100 lists.

Earlier tonight, #Mets SS prospect Ronny Mauricio belted his first home run of the season. He also doubled and singled twice -- good for a career-high 8 total bases for the 18-year-old.

Mauricio has hit safely in 12/16 games played in May. pic.twitter.com/7f29sZHinL
- Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) May 19, 2019

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

After a rough start to the season, Vientos has been on absolute fire lately, with 17 hits in his last 22 at-bats -- including back-to-back four-hit games. The 19-year-old has a pair of homers during that span and is hitting .248/.313/.398 with four homers and eight doubles in 38 games (133 at-bats) this season.

"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.

Mark Vientos hit his third home run of the season, a two-run bomb to left-center tonight for Columbia. Hard to see where it landed but it looks like a fan jumped for it under the SRP sign. #Mets pic.twitter.com/2FJZ4exSR7
- Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) May 17, 2019

Shervyen Newton, SS, Low-A Columbia (No. 4) -- ETA 2022

After an almost impossibly bad start to his season (he was hitting .078 on May 12), Newton has come on a bit lately, with hits in six of his last eight games -- including back-to-back two-hit games (with one double in each) on May 18 and 19.

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.

This is an at bat of #Mets 2B/SS/3B prospect Shervyen Newton. He was signed out of Netherlands in 2015. Now 20 years old he has excellent bat speed and is developing great raw power. He has a good approach which allows him to control his strikeouts and draw plenty of walks. pic.twitter.com/InjiaEKMIm
- Yehuda Schwartz (@yaschwa30) May 15, 2019

David Peterson, LHP, Double-A Binghamton (No. 5) -- ETA 2020

After getting tattooed on April 29 (allowing seven runs on six hits in just 1.2 innings), Peterson has allowed just one run in each of his last three starts spanning 15.2 innings. During that span, he has walked four and struck out 19.

Overall, Peterson has a 4.55 ERA and 1.61 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 31.2 innings (seven starts) this season.

Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, Low-A Columbia (No. 6) -- ETA 2022

After the 18-year-old opened the season in dominant fashion, posting a 1.23 ERA and 0.75 WHIP while striking out 22 batters and walking none in 14.2 innings (five starts), Woods Richardson has struggled over his last four starts, allowing 20 runs in a combined 12.2 innings.

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.

MetsBlog contributor Joe DeMayo recently profiled Woods Richardson here.

Anthony Kay, LHP, Double-A Binghamton (No. 7) -- ETA Late-2019

Kay, who could be nearing a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse, remained dominant during his start on May 14, firing a 7.0 inning complete game while allowing no runs, three hits, walking one and striking out eight as his ERA dipped to 1.24 and his WHIP dropped to 0.87. Kay has 45 strikeouts in 43.2 innings (eight starts) this season.

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

Kay could potentially help the Mets later this season, and was recently profiled by SNY contributor Joe DeMayo here.

Thomas Szapucki, LHP, Low-A Columbia (No. 8) -- ETA 2021

Now recovered from Tommy John surgery, the 22-year-old Szapucki -- whose innings are being increased very slowly -- has allowed two runs on seven hits while walking five and striking out 11 in 8.1 innings (four starts, two relief appearances) this season.

Szapucki is further away than David Peterson and Anthony Kay because of the delay due to Tommy John surgery -- but he arguably 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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