Mets offseason Top 30 prospects for 2024

It is fair to say the Mets’ farm system had its ups and downs in 2024. On the offensive side there were not many breakout campaigns, and there were long-term injuries to multiple top offensive prospects in the system that caused somewhat “lost” years of development.

On the pitching side, there were some breakout performances that I will highlight below. The perception in the industry is that the Mets’ pitching development system under vice president of pitching Eric Jagers and vice president of player development Andy Green is emerging and trending in the direction of becoming one of the best in the sport.

I spoke to evaluators from other clubs who would rank the Mets’ overall system about 10th to 13th in baseball. They noted that if some of the injured prospects were healthy and had strong seasons, the perception may be different.

As the Mets look to build a sustainable winner, one of the most important things is to have homegrown, cost-controlled players in addition to external additions via free agency and trade. The Mets are getting closer to that reality, as you will see with the ETAs for reaching the big leagues for plenty of prospects on this list — notably guys near the top who are within a year or two of making it.

Here is my offseason Top 30 Mets prospects list…

1. INF/OF Jett Williams

Williams only played in 33 regular season games in 2024 after undergoing wrist surgery. He was able to return late in the season and reach Triple-A Syracuse in the last week. He has been playing in the Arizona Fall League, where he made the Fall Stars Game. Offensively, he has above average bat-to-ball skills, elite plate discipline, and average power. He is a plus athlete who has played all three up-the-middle positions, profiling best at second base or center field. Williams’ athleticism plays on the base paths as well, where he looks the part of a 30-plus stolen base threat at the next level. He has a chance to be a dynamic top-of-the-order threat at the next level.

MLB ETA: 2025

2. RHP Brandon Sproat

Sproat went from the Mets’ second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft to a consensus top 100 prospect in the sport as well as one of the best pitching prospects. He dominated High-A and Double-A, posting a 2.05 ERA across 87.2 innings while striking out 110 batters. He received a late-season promotion to Triple-A Syracuse, where he ran into his first struggles as a professional, posting a 7.53 ERA in 28.2 innings. Triple-A does pose more of a challenge for pitchers as they are often facing veteran hitters, and are at a level that uses a different baseball. The strike zone is also different with the automatic ball-strike system in place.

The Mets’ organizational pitcher of the year, Sproat has excellent stuff, with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can touch triple digits, though throughout the 2024 season he scaled back velocity as games went on. Sproat’s 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. With some refinement, he could project as a No. 2 type of starter, and I think he is not far off from reaching Queens.

MLB ETA: 2025

3. OF Drew Gilbert

Much like Williams, Gilbert missed most of the 2024 season, only getting into 56 games at the Triple-A level due to a hamstring injury. In those 56 games, he hit 10 home runs and notably closed the season on a high note, posting an .821 OPS in September. Gilbert is also in the Arizona Fall League, where he has an .805 OPS with four home runs in 18 games.

Gilbert is not the most tooled-up prospect by any means, but he is average-to-above-average across the board, with his best tool being his throwing arm. This allows him to be a fit in all three outfield spots. Gilbert knows one speed and it is 100 percent, and that shows in all facets of his game. He projects as an everyday player who should be big-league ready in short order in 2025.

MLB ETA: 2025

4. 1B/OF Ryan Clifford

Clifford has the most raw power in the Mets’ system, with at least a 60 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale while routinely posting plus-to-elite exit velocities and showing a propensity to elevate the ball. The power showed up in a big way once he got out of the confines of Brooklyn, which has historically been the worst ballpark in all of minor league baseball for left-handed power hitters due to the wind coming off the water.

Clifford moved to Double-A Binghamton this past season and ended the year ninth in the Eastern League in OPS (.815) and third in home runs (18) in only 98 games. What was impressive is that he put up those numbers as a 20-year-old with the average age of the pitchers he faced being 24.5.

He can stand to be more aggressive early in counts, as he will at times miss pitches to hit early in order to work counts. Defensively, Clifford has split time between first base and the corner outfield spots. But as a below average athlete, the expectation from scouts I speak to is that first base is his most likely long-term home. Clifford has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order 25-to-30 home run type of bat who should also post quality on-base percentage numbers.

MLB ETA: 2026

5. OF Carson Benge

The Mets’ 2024 first-round pick out of Oklahoma State was a two-way player in college, but Benge 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. There are a lot of moving parts in his swing and that is something the Mets will likely quiet down a bit in pro ball.

Benge primarily played right field in college, but as a good athlete with a plus throwing arm (he did throw 95+ mph off the mound in college), the Mets are planning to send him out as a center fielder. With some swing adjustments and physical maturation, he could be an everyday type of outfielder with 20-plus home run potential.

MLB ETA: 2026

6. INF Ronny Mauricio

Mauricio missed the 2024 season after tearing his ACL in the Dominican Winter League. He had a follow-up cleanup surgery in June and is progressing toward baseball activities. 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. Depending on how the Mets opt to construct the 2025 roster, Mauricio could be a factor at either second or third base.

MLB ETA: Already made it

7. RHP Nolan McLean

McLean entered the 2024 season as a two-way player, both pitching and serving as the designated hitter. He likely took his last professional at bat on June 20, as the Mets and McLean agreed to end the hitting experiment so he can focus on pitching full-time.

McLean possesses the best pitch in the Mets’ system with his 70-grade sweeper that will exceed 3,000 rpm and is his primary swing-and-miss pitch. His four-seam fastball is an above average offering that will sit 94-95 mph and touch 98. He has a curve ball and is working on a changeup and cutter as other options.

Scouts believe there are better days ahead for McLean due to being able to focus only on pitching and no longer having to split training, practice, and mental reps on handling both sides of the ball. McLean will need to establish a third and fourth offering to fulfill his potential of a No. 3 or No. 4 starter with a floor of a late-inning reliever focusing on the fastball/sweeper.

MLB ETA: 2026

8. INF Jesus Baez

Baez’s season ended in early July when he suffered a meniscus injury. Prior to the injury he was trending toward being potentially the highest riser on this list. Between May and June, he combined for an .827 OPS with 10 home runs split between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn.

Baez is an aggressive hitter with plus bat speed and can post exit velocities north of 110 mph. This aggressiveness does lead to chasing, and walks are unlikely to be a huge part of his game. But his zone contact percentage is a plus, which has led to him maintaining a modest 16 percent strikeout rate. Defensively, he has a plus throwing arm, and I would expect he transitions more to a third baseman in 2025, which is likely to be his long-term home according to scouts. Baez will be 20 years old for the entirety of the 2025 season and should start back with High-A Brooklyn.

MLB ETA: 2027

9. RHP Blade Tidwell

Tidwell did not have the same success in Triple-A level that he did in Double-A. The home runs were up, the walks were up, and the strikeouts were down. As I noted above, 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 was unchanged from what it was in Double-A. It is a fastball up to 97 mph 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. 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 Jonah Tong

For me, Tong was the biggest riser of anyone in the Mets’ system in 2024. He started the season not ranked in my top 30 to now cracking the top 10. He was considered a raw piece of clay as a pitcher when he was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the Georgia Premier Academy by way of Canada.

In 113.0 innings pitched in 2024, Tong posted a 3.03 ERA, allowing only 85 hits and striking out 160 (good for 12.7 strikeouts per nine) between Low-A St. Lucie, High-A Brooklyn, and Double-A Binghamton.

Tong’s fastball is not going to blow hitters away with sheer velocity, as it will top out at 95 mph, but it comes along with 20 inches of induced vertical break, which helps it generate swings and misses. His go-to secondary pitch right now is his old school 12-to-6 curve, and he is also working on a hard slider/cutter and changeup. He still needs refinement, but the 21-year-old is looking like a big success story for the Mets player development staff. Tong should return to Double-A to start the 2025 season.

MLB ETA: 2026

11. INF/OF Luisangel Acuña

After an up-and-down 2024 campaign at the Triple-A level, Acuña received a call up to the big leagues when Francisco Lindor missed time in September with his back issue. In a crucial time for the Mets, Acuña hit .400/.423/.920 with three home runs in those eight games. His role heading into spring training is unclear, but the Mets believe he can handle all three up-the-middle positions defensively. Offensively, albeit in a small sample, there were good signs. He showed excellent barrel control and bat speed while routinely hitting the ball hard. One scout I spoke to speculated that he may have been a bit bored in Triple-A. There is still everyday player potential with Acuña, with that opportunity being a possibility as soon as Opening Day of 2025.

MLB ETA: Already made it

12. RHP Christian Scott

Scott maintains prospect eligibility due to not reaching 50.0 innings pitched or 45 total days on the active roster. Unfortunately, the reason he did not reach those plateaus was due to an elbow injury that eventually led to Tommy John surgery. He will be out for the 2025 season. If all goes well, he should be on track to be ready for spring training of 2026 to compete for a rotation spot as a 26-year-old.

MLB ETA: Already made it

13. 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.

Santucci 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. He 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 Santucci has mid-rotation or better potential.

MLB ETA: 2026

14. SS/2B Jeremy Rodriguez

Rodriguez was the return in the Tommy Pham trade in 2023. He was the Diamondbacks’ top international signing in 2023 for $1.25 million. Rodriguez has above average plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills, primarily as a gap-to-gap line drive hitter right now. He needs more physical maturation to truly impact the baseball, as he has below average exit velocities. He had a solid 2024 with the FCL Mets, hitting .282/.355/.400 in 50 games, but he just turned 18 years old in July 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

15. INF Marco Vargas

Vargas had mostly a lost 2024 season due to injury. He got into just 37 games for Low-A St. Lucie, where he posted a .208/.369/.239 slash line.

However, when he is right, Vargas 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. Vargas stands out as a rebound candidate for 2025.

MLB ETA: 2027

16. OF Nick Morabito

Morabito won the Mets’ organizational player of the year award after slashing .312/.403/.398 in 119 games between St. Lucie and Brooklyn. Home run power is unlikely to ever be much of a factor in his game, but he shows solid bat-to-ball and above average pitch recognition skills. He is a plus athlete who stole 59 bases in 2024, and he should have the ability to stick as a center fielder. Morabito likely projects more as a fourth outfielder type, but if he can physically mature and improve his slugging — even if that is just extra-base hits — his ceiling could be more.

MLB ETA: 2026

17. 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 season was to put on weight, as he was a lanky 175 pounds when drafted. He is now north of 190 pounds. Baro had a very strong debut season with Low-A St. Lucie, slashing .288/.368/.399. The batting average and on-base percentage numbers both ranked second in the Florida State League. He received a promotion to Brooklyn for the last 11 games of the season.

Baro 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

18. RHP Dom Hamel

Hamel’s first foray in Triple-A was a bit of a roller coaster. He 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 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. The Mets will have to decide whether to add Hamel to the 40-man roster this winter or leave him exposed in the Rule 5 Draft.

MLB ETA: 2025

19. SS Trey Snyder

The Mets’ 2024 fifth-round pick is a player the team was very excited to be able to draft and sign. 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. Snyder received the third-highest bonus in the Mets’ class, behind only Benge and Santucci.

Snyder 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 Mets vice president of amateur scouting Kris 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

20. 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.

Dohm is healthy and 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 curve and changeup to complete his four-pitch mix. Had Dohm not gotten injured, he might have found himself in top two round territory. He is a good project for the Mets’ pitching development system.

MLB ETA: 2027

21. RHP Mike Vasil

Vasil had a tough year in 2024 with Syracuse, posting a 6.04 ERA in 134.0 innings. A once-promising pitching prospect now looks more like a potential swing man at the next level. The Mets will have to decide whether to add him to the 40-man roster this winter or leave him exposed in the Rule 5 Draft.

MLB ETA: 2025

22. 3B Jacob Reimer

Reimer suffered a torn hamstring during spring training and he did not get back into game action until July 9. He played in 25 games during the minor league season and is currently in the Arizona Fall League.

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 Reimer in left field at some point.

MLB ETA: 2027

23. INF Colin Houck

Houck is a raw prospect who had an all-around 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 in baseball and as a quarterback. He struggled with swing-and-miss and was unable to consistently barrel up the ball for St. Lucie.

Houck is a good athlete with a good work ethic and some baseline tools. If the 20-year-old can put them together in-game, he still has upside, but both the stats and batted ball data were worrisome this year.

MLB ETA: 2027

24. C Daiverson Gutierrez

Gutierrez was the Mets’ top international signing in 2023, when he inked a deal for $1.9 million. In 37 games split between the Dominican Summer League, Florida Complex League and a brief appearance with St. Lucie, Gutierrez hit .259/.396/.435 (.831 OPS) with 13 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. He also has above average raw power that right now is showing up in-game as line drive, gap power. Defensively, Gutierrez is raw and struggled to throw out base runners, but he does have above average arm strength.

MLB ETA: 2028

25. C Yovanny Rodriguez

Rodriguez was the Mets’ top international signing last January, inking a deal for $2.85 million. 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 got off to a slow start in his first professional season, but hit .341 with a .968 OPS in the final month.

MLB ETA: 2029

26. C Ronald Hernandez

The second prospect acquired from the Marlins for Robertson had a strong season as a 20-year-old in Low-A. He was third in the league in batting average (.271) and third in on-base percentage (.362). He received a promotion to Brooklyn for the last 10 games of the season. Power isn’t a big part of Hernandez’s 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

27. C Kevin Parada

After being the No. 11 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Parada has yet to find any consistency offensively as a professional. He will have times where it is clicking, and then go through stretches of struggles. Defensively, his receiving has improved, and he is a leader on the field, but his throwing is still below average. Currently, most scouts believe his future is as an offensive-minded backup.

MLB ETA: 2026

28. OF Edward Lantigua

Lantigua signed last January for $950,000. The 17-year-old was named the Mets’ Dominican Summer League Player of the Year after he slashed .263/.397/.395 (.792 OPS) in 45 games for the DSL Mets. He is a very projectable 6-foot-3 and 174 pounds. Despite his raw build, he has shown some impressive exit velocities, which provides some hope that he can develop more power as he physically matures. Lantigua is a good athlete who scouts believe should stick in center field.

MLB ETA: 2029

29. RHP Jack Wenninger

Wenninger was the Mets’ sixth round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Illinois. He appeared in 25 games, starting 19 games between St. Lucie and Brooklyn, posting a 4.30 ERA with 140 strikeouts in 115.0 innings. He performed much better at the higher level in Brooklyn (3.12 ERA) than in St. Lucie (5.02 ERA).

His primary two pitches are a four-seam fastball that will sit 92-93 and reach 95 mph and a split-change that is his best swing-and-miss offering. Wenninger has worked on his slider, curve and cutter to establish at least an average third pitch, with the slider flashing the best.

MLB ETA: 2026

30. OF Eli Serrano III

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 Justin 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. In a small sample size with St. Lucie, Serrano posted a max exit velocity of 109 mph, which is an encouraging sign of things to come. 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