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 -- has been hot over his last eight games, with 11 hits in his last 29 at-bats. His hot streak has included a double and homer.
Overall, he is hitting just .239/.307/.355 in 67 games this season. Gimenez, who can be a staple for the Mets at either shortstop or second base, was recently profiled by MetsBlog contributor Joe DeMayo here.
.@AndresGimenez with an absolute no-doubter. 💥 pic.twitter.com/TP3l2lcaeH
- Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) July 7, 2019
Ronny Mauricio, SS, Low-A Columbia (No. 2) -- ETA 2022
Mauricio, who we recently profiled here, has hit a bit of a skid, with just one hit in his last 14 at-bats.
A switch-hitter who the Mets gave $2.1 million in 2017 as an international free agent, the 18-year-old is hitting .280/.318/.376 with three homers, three triples, and 15 doubles in 75 games this season.
Mauricio, who is roughly three years younger than the average player in his league, is the No. 45 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball Prospectus.
#Mets top prospect Ronny Mauricio goes to the back of the berm for his third home run of the year for the @ColaFireflies 💣👀 pic.twitter.com/mbK2OLny7N
- Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) July 4, 2019
Anthony Kay, LHP, Triple-A Syracuse (No. 3) -- ETA Late-2019
After dominating for Double-A Binghamton earlier this season, the 24-year-old Kay has taken it on the chin a bit while adjusting to Triple-A. He has allowed 15 runs in 14 innings over his first four starts there, including four runs in five innings last Saturday.
He fired a scoreless inning while reaching 96 MPH with his fastball during his appearance Sunday in the Futures Game during All-Star Week in Cleveland.
Due to his incredible display before being promoted, Kay has risen from the club's eighth-ranked preseason prospect to the the third-best.
Beautiful sequence from Anthony Kay: 82 mph curve and a 96 mph fastball to strike out Luis Robert. #Mets #FuturesGame pic.twitter.com/gxybS2nUMr
- Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) July 8, 2019
Mark Vientos, 3B, Low-A Columbia (No. 4) -- ETA 2021
Vientos has gone 8 for his last 18, and his triple slash is now at .263/.315/.405. He has seven homers and 18 doubles in 74 games this season.
With the Mets needing a long-term answer at third base, the 19-year-old Vientos could be the guy.
"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.
Multi-hit games for both Ronny Mauricio and @MarkVientos_5. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/W2FMXK9ZGc
- Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) July 3, 2019
Shervyen Newton, SS, Low-A Columbia (No. 5) -- ETA 2022
Newton was hitting just .078 roughly three weeks into the season, and is now hitting .207/.280/.304 in 61 games this season. He has been on fire lately, with eight hits in his last 14 at-bats.
The 20-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.
David Peterson, LHP, Double-A Binghamton (No. 6) -- ETA 2020
Peterson had arguably his best start of the season on July 3, allowing two runs on six hits in 7.0 innings while walking one and striking out five. He has allowed just 10 runs total over his last four starts.
The 23-year-old has a 4.37 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 86 strikeouts in 78.1 innings (16 starts) this season.
Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, Low-A Columbia (No. 7) -- ETA 2022
Woods Richardson allowed one run on two hits while walking three and striking out three in 5.0 innings on July 4. He has allowed two runs or fewer in six consecutive starts.
Overall this season, the 18-year-old -- who had a rough four-start stretch in May that has skewed his overall numbers, has a 4.86 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 76 strikeouts in 63 innings (17 starts).
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.
Thomas Szapucki, LHP, High-A St. Lucie (No. 8) -- ETA 2021
Now recovered from Tommy John surgery, the 23-year-old Szapucki -- whose innings and pitch counts are being increased very slowly -- tossed four no-hit innings while walking one and striking out four on June 28. After the start, Szapucki was promoted to High-A St. Lucie, where he tossed 1/3 of an inning on July 3.
Overall this season, Szapucki has a 2.05 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 22.0 innings.
Aside from perhaps Simeon Woods Richardson, it can be argued that Szapucki has the highest upside of any starting pitcher in the Mets' farm system.
"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."