2025 Top Mets Positional Prospects
By David Mills, Talkin Mets Special Contributor
Mike Silva writes… Thanks to the hard work of Talkin’ Mets special contributor David Mills, we are releasing our early-season top prospects list starting today. The pitchers will come in a week or so. I hope this becomes an annual tradition, as we will create our early-season and post-trade-deadline lists.
Talkin’ Mets Top Positional Prospects
By David Mills, Special Contributor to Talkin’ Mets
It’s that special time of year once again when Talkin’ Mets Behind the Mic looks at the minor league prospects and offers our rankings. We do it a bit differently. Here you’ll find the Top-15 position players and a separate Top-10 pitchers. We expand a bit by adding five honorable mentions for hitters and three for pitchers. So, the Talkin’ Mets list encompasses 33 of the system’s best from our unique point of view.
We do have rules. And rules are meant to be followed. We recognize prospects through their age-26 season. At the 27th birthday, it’s sayonara. So, don’t expect to see Hayden Senger or Jonathan Pintaro, even though they may appear at CitiField this season. Hitters can be prospects through 150 MLB ABs; Starting pitchers: 12 MLB starts or 70 innings; Relievers: 20 MLB appearances. So, here we go…
POSITION PLAYERS
1. Luisangel Acuna — Mets fans have to like what they are seeing from the diminutive Acuna brother. The 23-year-old displays tremendous range, soft hands, good DP pivots, and an accurate gun while manning the second Sack. On the basepaths, he epitomizes speed and aggressiveness, and has yet to be caught in six actual stolen base attempts. With his quick bat rounding into form and an early season .300 BA/.355 OBP/.727 OPS/109 OPS+, there’s a lot to look forward to, and no reason Luisangel should not be the #1 prospect for another few weeks. He may even be played himself into more than a platoon role. Will we see him in CF anytime soon?
2. Ronny Mauricio — After a sensational age 22 season at Syracuse in 2023 (.292 BA/.346 OBP/.506 SLG/.852 OPS with 23 HR/71 RBI/24 SB), which followed a breakthrough 2022 campaign with the Rumble Ponies (.259 BA/.296 OBP/.472 SLG/.767 OPS with 26 HR/89 RBI/20 SB), Mauricio spent September in Queens. During that cup of coffee, He put his ample skills and huge body on full display. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious torn ACL in winter ball and had to sit out all of 2024 and spring training 2025. With some luck, he may be ready to return to the Mets by August. The skills are real. So too is the lack of plate discipline. Mauricio could take the place of Alonso at first base (should he depart) or Vientos (should he move across the diamond). But a switch-hitter with power, speed, soft hands, and a gun doesn’t come along very often.
3. Jett Williams — Generally the consensus #1, with a good glove, blazing speed, and line drives to all fields. Like Acuna, the 21-year-old plays middle infield and some centerfield, which may present a good problem for David Stearns, as the Mets system is loaded with middle infielder-types. The 5’6” Williams had a sensational first season in 2023 (.263 BA/.425 OBP/.451 SLG/.876 OPS). Most importantly, Jett had 43 XBH and almost as many BB as SO. The 45 stolen bases have to bring a smile to every fan, front office-type, and coach. 2024 was mostly lost to injury, and he is off to a solid start in 2025. Since many organizations covet him, and Stearns has studs like Acuna, Mauricio, Brett Baty, as well as several other up-and-comers, a likely outcome for Williams is that he gets traded (along with other prospects) for someone like Sandy Alcantara. This season with the Rumble Ponies: .300 BA/.344 OBP/.533 SLG/.877 OPS. ETA: 2027
4. Carson Benge — The 2024 first-rounder, and former two-way, launched his pro career with 15 strong games in the Florida State League last year. This season, the Cyclones’ stadium is messing with the 22-year-old lefty swinger, which it tends to do. Good bat-to-ball skills, decent speed, a plus arm, and power potential make the Mets front office believe he can be the CF of the future. Truth be told, there’s not much future elsewhere other than fourth OF, DH, or trade bait. After 30 MiLB games, Benge is off to a decent start: .255 BA/.397 OBP/.391 SLG/.788 OPS. ETA: 2027
5. Jesus Baez — Like Williams, Mauricio, Drew Gilbert, Jacob Reimer, and Marco Vargas, Baez’s promising development, which commenced in 2022, was stunted by a season-ending injury (torn meniscus) last June amid a terrific breakout season. We like the 20-year-old’s mature, two-strike approach and power potential. His subtle launch-angle swing launched him into the 90th percentile in exit velocity in the Florida State League. And while he does chase, Baez does not strike out much. Primarily a middle infielder thus far, his strong arm, soft hands, and bulkier frame project him to third base or the DH role. ETA: 2028
6. Boston Baro — Another high school infield bat from the 2023 draft when he weighed in at 170 lbs. (now about 190). The 20-year-old lefthanded hitter can rake. His MiLB numbers: .266 BA/.351 OBP/.377 SLG/.728 OPS with ample gap power. If he develops the kind of power he displayed in the Breakout Game, he could be a very interesting piece. Likely to compete best at third base. ETA: 2028
7. Nick Morabito — This guy pushes through his glass ceiling (and then some) at every level. The super-speedy 21-year-old outfielder stole 59 bags in 2024 and was named Mets Minor League Player of the Year in only his second full year of pro ball. His MiLB numbers are outstanding: .295 BA/.390 OBP/.393 SLG/.783 OPS with 88 SB in 108 attempts. Having been a shortstop through high school, he is slightly below average as a centerfielder, but he has speed and he’s constantly improving. Morabito, the compensation pick for losing Noah Syndergaard to the Angels, could be the answer in CF if the Mets are looking for a high-average 9th Place slap hitter with exceptional speed, or in a platoon with the likes of Benge or Drew Gilbert. ETA: 2027
8. Ryan Clifford — Many scouts were higher on 21-year-old Clifford than Gilbert, who was the more highly rated piece from the Astros in the Justin Verlander deal. The lefty swinger, at 6’3” and 200+ lbs., may be the quintessential power-hitting slugger with prodigious blasts and whiffs to match, even though he sports a good walk rate and delivers quality ABs. While the power is enticing, Clifford struggles with a lack of speed and off-speed pitches low in the zone, which is a bit strange for lefties. So, corner outfield is not likely. Therefore, he is relegated to 1B or DH. If Pete signs a multi-year deal, look for Clifford to be moved in 2026. ETA: 2027
9. Drew Gilbert — To say that a 24-year-old is getting a little long in the tooth is strange, but injuries have impacted his once-impressive march to The Show. Nonetheless, Gilbert has a plethora of skills, not the least of which is the best gun in the entire system, including the outfield roster at CitiField. He also had excellent defensive range, plus speed and surprising power for his 5’8” frame. We employ the past tense since the question for Gilbert is: Will his bat speed and foot speed rebound from the hamstring issues of 2024? He must also improve his contact rates on off-speed pitches. ETA: 2026
10. Jacob Reimer — This 21-year-old from Yucaipa, CA, possesses a keen eye and solid swing, along with excellent bat-to-ball skills. Another 2024 injury story with only 25 MiLB games, but Reimer made up ABs in the AZFL, where he was okay (.371 OBP). This season in Brooklyn, he’s back to his old self with the bat after 19 games: .303 BA/.369 OBP/.566 SLG/ .935 OPS with 23 RBI and 13 XBH. Reimer’s plate discipline and power potential make him a fascinating prospect. He currently defends at 3B and occasionally LF, but projects at 1B or DH in due time. ETA: 2028
11. Eli Serrano III — In high school, Serrano was a teammate of Ryan Clifford and was thought by many to be the better prospect. But North Carolina State beckoned, and he performed well with a .288 BA/.384 OBP/.832 OPS with 16 HR and 71 RBI over two seasons. By the time the Mets got him, he was 6’5” and about 200 lbs., and is now producing some extraordinary exit velocities in the 105-109 mph range. His 35 MiLB games have yielded: .236 BA/.362 OBP/.441 SLG/.803 OPS with 22 BB (19% walk rate) and 33 SO. The 21-year-old, with a classic left-handed swing, understands the zone and is drawn to fastballs. So, the Mets may have a slugger on their hands if Serrano can combine those qualities successfully with the impressive exit velocity. He has better-than-decent speed, a strong arm, and is a good athlete. Good enough to play CF at NC State, but was moved to RF at St. Lucie and is still there in Brooklyn. Could be a sleeper with real pop! ETA: 2027
12. Jeremy Rodriguez — Another true middle infielder whom the Mets obtained as a 16-year-old for Tommy Pham in 2023. The raw talent that earned him $1.25M when he signed with the D-backs is always on display, especially in terms of OBP, which has averaged .382 in three MiLB seasons. The .283 BA/.408 SLG/.790 OPS and low K-rate are also positives. But it’s still too early to get too high on Rodriguez, who must increase his bat speed and get plenty of reps as he moves through the system. ETA: 2029
13. A.J. Ewing — Another on-base machine with very good wheels and some utility value, Ewing came to the Mets as the comp pick for Jacob deGrom in late 2023. In 115 low-A games, his offensive numbers are astounding: .263 BA/.506 OBP/.615 SLG/ 1.121 OPS with 28 SB, 11 HR and 72 RBI. In 18 games this season, the 20-year-old Ewing has exploded to .400 BA/.393 OBP/.426 SLG/ 819 OPS with 20 RBI, 15 BB, and only 10 SO, which has earned him a promotion to Brooklyn. The left-handed hitter is very much in the mold of Jeff McNeil, with more speed, and plays 2B and all three OF spots. It will be fun to watch his continued ascent. ETA; 2028
14. Marco Vargas — When acquired with Ronald Hernandez from the Fish for David Robertson in 2023, Vargas had only recently turned 18 years of age (he will turn 20 in mid-May) and was likely the main grab. Unfortunately, his development has been impeded by wrist problems (never good for a ballplayer), which limited him to 45 games in 2023 and 37 games last year. In 13 games back with St. Lucie this season, Vargas appears to be back to form as an amazing all-fields hitter who gets on base with abandon: .409 BA/.527 OBP/.546 SLG/ 1.073 OPS with 10 BB and only 7 SO. This is an exceptionally talented lefty hitter with an advanced approach that belies his age. He does lack power, and the wrist problems will not help that. He has decent speed, is an excellent baserunner, and a better-than-decent glove at three infield spots, but second base is where he will find a home. ETA: 2028
15. Elian Pena — Oh, to be 17 years old with $5M in the bank! This talented Dominican accounted for 80% of the Mets’ International Slot Money this past winter and was second only to Roki Sasaki in yield. He has yet to play MiLB games, but from checking out his videos, Mets fans have a lot to look forward to. His extremely advanced left-handed swing displays decent power, very good bat-to-ball skills, fast hands, along with excellent balance and follow-through. Defensively, he has soft hands, gets rid of the ball quickly, and has a powerful gun. He also has plus speed. The guess is he will also grow up and out. We don’t like to rank anyone without some MiLB experience, but this kid is something special. ETA: 2030
In an unusual turn of events, all five HONORABLE MENTIONS are going to five catchers dotting the organization: Christopher Suero (21), Ronald Hernandez (21), Yovanny Rodriguez (18), Daiverson Gutierrez (19), and Kevin Parada (23). All have a chance to get to The Show. Suero is the most versatile and perhaps the best bat of the group, but teams will covet him because he can play all the corners and catch. Hernandez is a switch-hitting receiver with speed and is bilingual, which might make him the quintessential backup receiver. Rodriguez and Gutierrez have tools and promise, but are years away. Parada was a first-round pick with a strong bat and modest catching skills. He has improved his catching technique, but the hitting piece is not as appealing as the Mets had expected. He has also fallen from a Top 10 to the last mention here.
ON-POINT
When teams have players signed to long-term deals (i.e., Lindor, Nimmo, Soto), certain positions are locked up and prospects are stifled to various degrees. Case in Point: Most organizations are loaded with shortstop prospects, since so many shortstops are the best players on their high school and college teams, and are generally the best athletes. The Mets are no exception. Shortstop prospects Acuna, Mauricio, Williams, Baez, Baro, Vargas, Jeremy Rodriguez, Trey Snyder, and Colin Houck are all affected. We project Elian Pena’s ETA in 2030, which is Year nine of Lindor’s ten-year deal. Perfect timing for Pena, if he turns out to be the real thing. All the others will have to be weeded out by moving to other positions—2B, 3B, and CF, as well as through trades, which is a realistic scenario that might be exploited sooner rather than later.
If the Mets do intend to extend or re-sign Pete Alonso, the only positions open to prospects will be 2B, 3B, CF, and DH. The centerfield candidates are far and wide: Acuna, Williams, Benge, Morabito, Gilbert, Serrano, Ewing, and maybe even Mauricio, who can probably play anywhere. If the Polar Bear departs, the names may be Vientos, Mauricio, Clifford, Reimer, and Suero. The best left- and right-handed hitters might be headed to the DH role, but one will have to be an infield-type and the other an outfielder. Currently, roster construction is somewhat precarious, as both designated hitters are outfielders.
One other important fact to point out is that the Mets have put themselves in a position of not having to rush prospects to The Show, or even through the system due to the lack of available positions from contracts deep in years, which also gives Stearns & Co. lots of leverage when looking to acquire a special player to fill a role, let’s say CF, DH or an arm. The downside is what we call the Luisangel Effect—boredom at Triple-A.
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Next week, we’ll deliver our Top-10 Early Season Pitching Prospects with some surprises. Teaser: No BS at No. 1.
Loved this...thanks guys!