With the minor league season winding down, the Mets have promoted two of their three highly-touted 2019 draft picks to Short-Season Brooklyn as the Cyclones continue their playoff push.
3B Brett Baty (the Mets' No. 2 prospect, per MLB.com) is being promoted from rookie level Kingsport and RHP Matthew Allan (the Mets' No. 4 prospect) is being promoted from the rookie level Gulf Coast League.
The Mets selected Baty with their first round (12th overall) pick in the MLB Draft this past June, and snatched up Allan in the third round (89th overall) after he dropped due to signability concerns.
Baty, 19, has hit .234/.350/.457 with seven homers, 14 doubles, and two triples in 46 games split between the Gulf Coast League and Kingsport this season.
Allan, 18, has been largely dominant in five games (four starts, one relief appearance) since making his professional debut, posting a 1.08 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 11 strikeouts in 8.1 innings.
Viewed by MLB.com as the 13th-best prospect in the entire draft, the Mets got an absolute steal by drafting and then signing Allan -- who profiles as a potential front of the rotation starter.
"His four-seam fastball touches 97 mph on a regular basis and he maintains that velocity deep into starts," according to Allan's MLB.com scouting report. "He'll drive the ball down in the zone, but can pitch up and down with his fastball well, with improved overall command of the pitch both in and out of the strike zone. He complements the heater with a plus power curve he can throw for strikes, missing bats consistently. His changeup has also taken a step forward after he changed his grip on the pitch from a split-fingered to fingered, giving him a third at least above-average pitch."
The Mets have been aggressive with the placement of their top prospects under the Brodie Van Wagenen regime, challenging lots of their younger players at more advanced levels -- such as placing 18-year-old Ronny Mauricio and 19-year-old Mark Vientos with Low-A Columbia, where they are years younger than the average player in the South Atlantic League this season.
With the Mets taking a more aggressive approach with their best prospects, it wouldn't be surprising to see both Baty and Allan open next season with Columbia.