Andres Gimenez, viewed by most as the top prospect in the Mets' system, has been honored as the shortstop on MLB Pipeline's All-Defense team for 2019.

"Gimenez reached Double-A as a teenager, partially because of an advanced approach at the plate, but also because of his glovework at the premium position," MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo wrote. "He has the hands, arms, range and internal clock to play the position long-term, even if he has to slide over to second in deference to Amed Rosario."

The now 20-year-old Gimenez was one of the youngest players in Double-A when he was promoted in the middle of the 2018 season, and the expectation is that he will open the 2019 season there. If he performs well, a promotion to Triple-A and/or the big leagues at some point in 2019 could be in the cards.

Gimenez hit .282/.348/.432 with six homers, four triples, 20 doubles, and 28 stolen bases in 85 games last season for High-A St. Lucie before hitting .277/.344/.358 with one triple, nine doubles, and 10 stolen bases in 37 games for Double-A Binghamton.

In their latest scouting report, Baseball Prospectus writes that Gimenez has a ceiling as a "first division shortstop, occasional all-star," with a likely projection as an "above-average everyday shortstop" who is a low-risk prospect.

"While the profile lacks superstar upside at present, Gimenez inherits the "safe middle infield prospect" mantle from predecessors Willy Adames and Ozzie Albies," notes BP. "He doesn't have the power upside they've shown, but he's a plus athlete with a good hit tool. If you want to bet on a "high-floor" profile at the 6, that's the one."

With the Mets being pretty stacked with infielders right now -- Robinson Cano, Jed Lowrie, Amed Rosario, Todd Frazier, and Peter Alonso means the Mets have five starters for four spots -- the need for Gimenez in 2019 may be less than it was when the offseason began. But a trade or injury could open up a spot for Gimenez this season. As could players shifting around the diamond.

"He's a gifted shortstop in the field, but he's such a smart, instinctual fielder knowing where to be and when that he'll have no issue moving to second base if that's what the Mets ask him to do," a scout told MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone earlier this offseason.

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