Mets updated midseason Top 30 prospects for 2024

The perception of the Mets system continues to grow in the eyes of evaluators as well as public outlets.

Recently, both Baseball America and FanGraphs ranked the Mets' system as the No. 10 system in the sport. This comes despite some mostly lost years due to injury for a few players who will be on the list below.

The Mets were happy with the results of their first MLB Draft under David Stearns and vice president of amateur scouting Kris Gross. You will see a few of those players highlighted on this list. At the trade deadline, the Mets only parted with two prospects who would have made this top 30 list -- Kade Morris and Tyler Stuart, who would have been No. 24 and No. 25, respectively. 

This continues the plan that has been there since Steve Cohen bought the franchise and Stearns took over as president of baseball operations. They were going to try to win now, but also keep an eye on the future so the success can be sustained and not just a one-year thing. That can be a hard needle to thread, and it takes time to get that fully in motion.

I think that time is nearing, as you will see a lot of the ETAs for reaching the big leagues on these prospects are within a year or two. 

Here is my post-draft/trade deadline top 30 Mets prospects list...

1. INF/CF Jett Williams

Jett played in only 11 games this season before undergoing wrist surgery. He is working out and there is some hope he could get into game action before the season is out, but if not, playing in the Arizona Fall League is a possibility. I know sometimes prospects are out of sight, out of mind, but let’s not forget the type of talent Williams is. 

He has solid bat-to-ball skills, plus plate discipline, and sneaky power. He is a plus athlete and that shows on the base paths and in the field, where he can play all three up-the-middle-spots. Williams has a chance to be a dynamic top-of-the-order type of player.

MLB ETA: 2025

2. RHP Christian Scott

Scott is currently on the major league IL with a right UCL sprain. Only time will tell how that pans out, and he is just four innings shy of losing rookie and prospect eligibility. The early results have been uneven at the big league level, but a lot of the issues have to do with location within the zone. 

There is no debate that Scott is a strike thrower, and he can throw all four of his pitches for strikes. The next step in his development will be finding ways to miss barrels in the zone. I see no reason to deviate from my previous proclamation of him being a mid-rotation starter with a chance for more. Scott needs to clean up some of the small things and remain healthy.

MLB ETA: Already made it

3. OF Drew Gilbert

Much like Williams, Gilbert was a bit out of sight, out of mind due to a hamstring injury that occurred on April 6. He didn't return to Triple-A Syracuse until July 23, and he is still adjusting to being back in lineups nearly every day.

It was just a few months ago that there was debate whether he was the top prospect in the Mets system after he posted a .984 OPS with Double-A Binghamton after joining the Mets organization in the Justin Verlander trade. Gilbert may not be the most tooled up prospect, but he is average-to-above-average across the board and is a true gamer who is always going 100 percent. Gilbert has enough range for center field and enough arm for right field, and he should factor into the outfield equation for the Mets some time in 2025.

MLB ETA: 2025

4. 1B/OF Ryan Clifford

Clifford, the second prospect acquired in last deadline’s Verlander deal, didn’t come out of the gates the way Gilbert did. A big part of that was playing for High-A Brooklyn. The wind coming off the water in Coney Island has impacted left-handed power hitters as long as it has existed. You name a left-handed power hitter who came through the Mets' system in the last 15 years or so, and they all struggled to hit for power in Brooklyn.

Clifford only hit one home run in 31 games for Brooklyn. The Mets believed in the batted ball data as well as his plan at the plate, and promoted him to Double-A Binghamton. After an adjustment period, Clifford has 13 home runs in 63 Double-A games. He has the best power tool in the Mets system, routinely posting plus exit velocities, and also has plus plate discipline. 

He can stand to be a little more aggressive early in counts, as at times he will miss pitches to hit early in order to work counts. That isn’t the worst thing, as one scout told me, "It is easier to teach someone to be more aggressive than it is to teach someone to be more patient." Defensively, Clifford has split time between first base and the corner outfield spots, but as a below average athlete, the expectation from scouts is first base is his most likely long-term home. 

MLB ETA: 2026

5. RHP Brandon Sproat

The biggest positive story in the system this year has been the emergence of Sproat. He was the Mets' second-round pick in 2023 out of Florida, and in his first professional season he made six appearances with High-A Brooklyn and 11 appearances with Double-A Binghamton, where he posted a 2.05 ERA combined between the two levels with 110 strikeouts in 87.2 innings.

Sproat was just recently promoted to Triple-A Syracuse and is generating talk about if he can be a potential value add in the big league bullpen in September. 

He has excellent stuff, with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can touch triple digits, though throughout the season you have seen him scale back velocity as games go on. His best secondary offering is his changeup with plus arm-side fade. He also has a hard slider/cutter, sweeper, and a curve ball that is more of a get-me-over type of pitch.

Sproat has a clean, easy repeatable delivery that has allowed his control and command to take a big step forward in pro ball. At the Double-A level he walked only 2.2-per nine. Whether he makes his big league debut in 2024 or not, he is on the fast track to Queens. 

MLB ETA: 2025

6. INF Ronny Mauricio

Mauricio is missing the 2024 season after tearing his ACL in the Dominican Winter League. He will enter spring training in 2025 likely in competition for a spot at either second base or third base. He will never get on base at a high clip, but has special batted ball data. It will be interesting to see how Mauricio bounces back athletically from the ACL injury. He had seven stolen bases in only 26 big league games in 2023.

MLB ETA: Already made it

7. INF/OF Luisangel Acuña

Acuña has had an up-and-down season for Triple-A. It started slow, then he got hot between May and June -- where he hit .290 with a .342 on-base percentage and stole 18 bases. Power is not going to be a big part of his game and he has average plate discipline, so that in a way caps his upside. He is going to be reliant on his improved bat-to-ball skills and his plus speed. Acuña is a dynamic athlete with the potential to steal 30+ bases at the next level and play all three up-the-middle positions.

MLB ETA: 2025

8. OF Carson Benge

The Mets 2024 first-round pick out of Oklahoma State was a two-way player in college but the expectation as of now is that he will focus strictly on hitting in pro ball. He has strong plate discipline and contact ability to go with above average raw power, primarily to the opposite field right now.

Mets VP of amateur scouting Kris Gross told us on The Mets Pod that as Benge grows and learns to pull the ball, he could be a player who hits in New York for a long time. Defensively, the plan is to send him out as a center fielder, but he may translate best in right field with his strong arm.

MLB ETA: 2026

9. RHP Blade Tidwell

Tidwell has not had the same success at the Triple-A level that he did at the Double-A level. The home runs are up, the walks are up, and the strikeouts are down. It is important to note that Triple-A is a more offense-driven league that utilizes the automated ball-strike challenge system, where you can’t get away with pitches that are just missing being called strikes. It places a higher importance on throwing good strikes.

On the positive side, Tidwell’s stuff profile really is the same as it was in Double-A. It is a fastball up to 97 with a sweeper, split-change and cutter. He needs to throw more strikes at the Triple-A level, and when he does, they need to be better strikes. Tidwell still has the potential to be a No. 3 or No. 4 type of starter, with the possibility if the command doesn’t take that step forward to end up in the bullpen. 

MLB ETA: 2025

10. RHP Nolan McLean

I can no longer write 'Two way player, Nolan McLean' as he has officially given up hitting in pro ball and will be focusing exclusively on pitching. The difficulty in developing both at the professional level is so difficult, and that is what makes Shohei Ohtani unique. 

McLean had an adjustment period going from High-A to Double-A, which is often considered the biggest jump in Minor League Baseball. The Mets are limiting his outings to four or five innings per game as he has his first full year of pro ball transitioning from college reliever to pro starter. In his last five starts he has a 3.13 ERA in 23 innings, striking out 19. Importantly, his walks are down to 3.2 per nine, which is a stark improvement from his last year of college.

He has a big-league-ready fastball that is up to 98 mph, and a sweeper. He also throws a curve and changeup that need some development. McLean is a high floor pitcher and if starting doesn't work out, he can be a two-pitch late-inning reliever. The Mets really like what they have seen from him as a starter, though, and intend to continue to develop him as one knowing the fallback option they have. 

MLB ETA: 2025

11. LHP Jonathan Santucci

The Mets' 2024 second-round pick was recruited to Duke in high school, where he was primarily a hitter over a pitcher. He was a two-way player for most of his collegiate career, with 2024 being the first season that he fully focused on pitching.

He comes equipped with a fastball that will get up to 96 mph, a plus slider, and a changeup that he has a feel for and flashes plus but lacks consistency due to it being a new pitch he is still learning. Santucci will need some work on his command, but he is athletic on the mound and has a starter’s build with an easily repeatable delivery. The Mets believe that he has mid-rotation or better potential.

MLB ETA: 2026

12. INF Colin Houck

Houck is a raw prospect who has had a tough first year in pro ball. He was the Mets' first pick (No. 32 overall) in the 2023 draft, after he was a two-sport star both in baseball and as a quarterback. He has the chance for above average power, having shown flashes of plus exit velocity, but he has swung and missed too much this year. Houck is a good athlete with a good work ethic and some baseline tools. If he can put them together in game, he can be an average-to-above average regular.

MLB ETA: 2027

13. INF Jesus Baez

Baez has above average power, and was second in the Florida State League with 10 home runs prior to his promotion to High-A Brooklyn. He has tapped into his raw power while only striking out 16 percent of the time. The Mets have been very impressed with his improved plan at the plate while maintaining his barrel rate and plus exit velocities. Baez likely profiles best as a third baseman long-term.

MLB ETA: 2027

14. RHP Jonah Tong

Another big player development win in 2024 is what Tong has provided. I spoke to Tong in May, which you can read here. He has exceptional swing-and-miss stuff with a special fastball that rarely will top 95 mph but gets elite levels of induced vertical break on it.

Tong couples that with an old-school 12-to-6 curve. He is working on a cutter and a changeup to round out his arsenal. He has posted a 3.36 ERA in 15 starts for High-A Brooklyn, striking out 88 in 64.1 innings. Tong has a wide range of possible outcomes, but he is one of the most intriguing arms in the system.

MLB ETA: 2026

15. C Kevin Parada

A lot of people have counted Parada out as he had a slow start to his professional career after coming with such high expectations as the No. 11 overall pick in 2022. While his strikeout rate is higher than you’d like, since June 20 Parada has hit .284/.386/.450 (.835 OPS) for Double-A Binghamton. He has emerged as a leader on that team and works diligently at improving behind the plate. If Parada can turn his success over the last six-to-seven weeks into consistent performance, there is still starting catcher potential here. If not, he can be an offense-first backup.

MLB ETA: 2025

16. INF Jeremy Rodriguez

The return in last season's Tommy Pham trade was a prospect the Mets had looked at prior to him landing with the Diamondbacks as their top international signing in 2023 for $1.25 million. Rodriguez has above average plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills, but needs more physical maturation to truly impact the baseball. He had a solid 2024 with the FCL Mets, hitting .282/.355/.400 in 50 games, but he just turned 18 years old so there is plenty of room to grow. Defensively, Rodriguez likely profiles best at second base, but does show good actions at shortstop.

MLB ETA: 2027

17. RHP Nate Dohm

Dohm was the Mets' 2024 third-round selection out of Mississippi State. He got off to a strong start as the Friday night starter before suffering a forearm strain that caused him to miss a couple of months. He was able to return near the end of the season for a few abbreviated outings.

Gross told SNY that Dohm is healthy and that at the MLB Draft Combine he was back to his normal self. He throws his fastball in the low-to-mid 90s, and it will touch 97 mph from a low release with good extension. He has an above average slider and an average curveball and changeup to complete his four-pitch mix. Had Dohm not gotten injured, he might have found himself in top two round territory. This is a good project for the Mets' pitching development system.

MLB ETA: 2027

18. RHP Dom Hamel

Hamel’s first foray in Triple-A has been a bit of a roller coaster. He has had some exceptional outings and some tough ones. I speculated before the season that he could be negatively impacted by the ABS system, and his walks have jumped up in a significant way.

That being said, the stuff profile is the same as it was when he was successful in Double-A. It’s a five-pitch mix with a fastball that is mostly 92-94 but can get up to 96, a slider with plus spin rates, and a cutter, curve ball and changeup. Hamel looks like a back-end starter or a potential multi-inning reliever -- and his bulldog-like nature on the mound may play well in that role.

MLB ETA: 2025

19. INF Marco Vargas

Vargas has had mostly a lost 2024 season due to injury. He has gotten into just 22 games for Low-A St. Lucie, where he has posted a .235/.372/.272 slash line.

However, when he is right, he boasts plus plate discipline and outstanding bat-to-ball skills. Vargas joined the Mets organization in the trade that sent David Robertson to Miami. Not too dissimilar from Rodriguez, he needs more physical maturation to tap into extra base hit power, but there is everyday second base potential here.

MLB ETA: 2027

20. RHP Mike Vasil

Vasil had his first strong month at Triple-A in July, where he posted a 3.38 ERA across 32 innings. He needs to carry that success over to the rest of the season. He still has the potential to be a back-end type of starter, or perhaps a swing-man reliever capable of going multiple innings. 

MLB ETA: 2025

21. C Yovanny Rodriguez

Rodriguez was the Mets' top international signing this past January, inking a deal for $2.85 million. I had the opportunity to talk to him, which you can read here. At the time of his signing, MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 6 prospect in the 2024 international signing class. Rodriguez comes with a 70-grade throwing arm and natural feel to receive the ball behind the plate. Offensively, he shows the ability to barrel the ball and has above average raw power. He is a long way away with a wide range of possible outcomes, but he is a prospect the Mets are very high on.

MLB ETA: 2029

22. OF Alex Ramirez

Ramirez has above average tools across the board, but he has not been able to implement them in-game with consistency. He is a hard worker, and he worked on shortening his swing last winter. In spots it has been good, but he hasn’t been able to put together a long string of success. He is a good athlete who can roam center field and is impactful on the base paths, where he leads the Eastern League with 31 stolen bases. He is still just 21 years old, but he needs to find consistency at the plate to live up to his potential.

MLB ETA: 2026

23. OF Nick Morabito

Morabito was a pop-up prospect in the 2022 MLB Draft out of high school in Washington, D.C. He was not a regular at the major showcase events, but displayed a wide range of tools that enticed the Mets to use the 75th overall pick and give him a $1 million signing bonus. He has turned the tools into on-field performance.

Split between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn this season, Morabito is slashing .316/.409/.397 with 47 stolen bases. He can stand to physically mature some to help him impact the baseball more (only 19 extra-base hits in 92 games). Morabito is an exciting athlete who can play all three outfield spots and has potential to rise up this list even more if he can grow from his strong 2024 season next year at the Double-A level.

MLB ETA: 2026

24. INF Boston Baro

Baro was the Mets' eighth-round pick in the 2023 draft out of high school in California. The Mets signed him for $700,000 ($500,000 over slot), and one of the focuses of his first offseason was to put on weight, as he was a lanky 175 pounds when drafted. He is now north of 190 pounds. Baro has had a strong first season with Low-A St. Lucie, posting a .287/.369/401 slash line.

He has a line drive approach with an emphasis on putting the ball in play that should lead to doubles and some home runs as he continues getting bigger and stronger. Defensively, the Mets have exposed Baro to second base, shortstop, and third base. He has looked most natural at third.

MLB ETA: 2027

25. C Ronald Hernandez

The second prospect acquired from the Marlins for Robertson is having a strong season as a 20-year-old in Low-A. He is tied for fifth in the league in batting average (.286) and is sixth in on-base percentage (.385). Power isn’t a big part of his game, but he truly puts up a professional at-bat trying to spray liners and work counts. Hernandez is bilingual, which helps his communication and leadership skills as a catcher, where he is an average receiver and thrower. He may not translate as a future big league starter, but he has the ingredients of a potential backup catcher.

MLB ETA: 2027

26. 3B Jacob Reimer

Reimer suffered a torn hamstring during spring training and he did not get back into game action until July 9. He has played in 14 games and has recently made his way back to High-A Brooklyn, which was going to be where the Mets started him this year.

He is a strong 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, possessing above average raw power that shows more in batting practice than in-game right now. He also has a plus eye at the plate. Defensively, he has made strides at third base and has played some first base. There is also a chance the Mets try him in left field at some point.

MLB ETA: 2027

27. SS Trey Snyder

The Mets' 2024 fifth-round pick is a player the Mets were very excited to be able to draft. They gave Snyder a well above slot signing bonus of $1,322,500 to sign him away from the reigning College World Series champion Tennessee Volunteers. 

He may not have the loudest tools in the class, grading out currently average to above average across the board. He is described as a true baseball player who does the little things well. Snyder attended a Mets workout in Dallas and he "put on a show," as Gross put it. Snyder projects as a shortstop who can run and throw and plays in a tenacious way on the field. He also won the Mets over in pre-draft interviews with the type of person he is off the field.

MLB ETA: 2028

28. OF Eli Serrano

Serrano, the Mets' 2024 fourth-round pick is someone Gross had his eye on since high school. He attended the same academy in high school as Ryan Clifford. At the time there were some who thought Serrano was the better prospect. Clifford went on to sign with the Astros, whose scouting department was then led by Gross, prior to being traded to the Mets in the Verlander deal, while Serrano ended up in college.

Standing at 6-foot-5 and 201 pounds, the power that was expected to come in college for Serrano didn’t really develop as expected. He has plus bat-to-ball skills with a good approach at the plate. If he can add some strength and work on lofting the ball more consistently, there is a chance for the power potential he had in high school to become more of a reality in pro ball. Defensively, he played first, left, and even some center field in college. Most scouts believe his future is likely in left field.

MLB ETA: 2027

29. C Daiverson Gutierrez

Gutierrez was the Mets' top international signing in 2023, when he inked a deal for $1.9 million. In 29 games split between the Dominican Summer League and the Florida Complex League, Gutierrez is hitting .309/.467/.506 (.974 OPS) with 10 doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI. He has impressed with his plan at the plate and ability to put the barrel on the ball, with 16 walks against only nine strikeouts. He also has above average raw power that right now is showing up in-game as line drive, gap power. Defensively, he is raw but has above average arm strength.

MLB ETA: 2029

30. OF Edward Lantigua

Lantigua signed with the Mets this past January as a 17-year-old for $950,000. He is a very projectable 6-foot-3 and 174 pounds. He has split his season between the Mets' two Dominican Summer League teams, posting an .877 OPS and he was named a DSL All-Star. Despite his raw build, he has shown some impressive exit velocities, which provides some hope that he can develop more power as he matures. Lantigua is a good athlete who scouts believe should stick in center field. 

MLB ETA: 2029