Mets top 30 prospects for 2025 season

Heading into 2025, the Mets minor league system under senior vice president of player development Andy Green is looking as deep as it has in years. While it may be lacking that elite, top of the sport type of prospect right now, there are several prospects who will be highlighted below that are either among the top 100 prospects in baseball now or on the cusp.

Evaluators I spoke to would grade the Mets’ system just outside of the top 10 in the sport, but noted that if they had gotten fully healthy years last season out of the likes of Jett Williams, Ronny Mauricio, and Drew Gilbert, among others, the perception may be different.

There were some breakout campaigns in 2024, especially on the pitching side under vice president of pitching development Eric Jagers and his staff. The Mets’ pitching development system is emerging as one of the best in the game in a relatively short period of time.

As Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns will continually remind us, it is imperative that the Mets infuse and give opportunity to young, cost-controlled talent to impact the major league roster around the established stars like Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor. I believe the Mets are getting closer to that becoming a reality, as you will notice plenty of the below prospects have MLB ETA’s of 2025 or 2026.

Here is my preseason Top 30 Mets prospects list…

1. RHP Brandon Sproat

Sproat was the Mets’ organizational pitcher of the year in 2024 and has emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. After dominating High-A and Double-A to the tune of a 2.05 ERA with 110 strikeouts over 87.2 innings, he faced his first real adversity at the professional level at Triple-A Syracuse. In 28.2 innings, he posted a 7.53 ERA. While that doesn’t sound good, Andy Green told us on The Mets Pod why that could be a good thing: “Adversity is going to come in a big league uniform at some point in time and you can go back to that experience in the minor leagues where you conquered that,” Green said.

Triple-A poses some different challenges for pitchers, including a different strike zone with the automatic ball-strike system in place. At that level, the physical baseball also changes to the major league ball, which affects the pitch movements that pitchers are accustomed to seeing and adds another adjustment. It is also the first time that prospects face veteran players with major league experience who could be a decade-plus older than them.

Despite all those factors, the Mets are incredibly excited at how Sproat has come into camp this year. He is equipped with a four-seam fastball and sinker that sit in the mid-90s and can touch triple digits. Sproat’s best secondary offering is his changeup, with plus arm-side fade. He also has a hard slider/cutter, a sweeper, and a curve ball. He has No. 2 type of starter potential, and with a strong start to the season with Triple-A Syracuse, he could push for a spot in the Mets’ rotation in the first couple of months of the 2025 season.

MLB ETA: 2025

2. INF/OF Jett Williams

Williams was only able to get into 33 games in the 2024 regular season after he underwent wrist surgery that took him out of action for four months. He was able to play at the Arizona Fall League after the season concluded, but those games were largely just getting at-bats and getting back into the swing of things. He reported to spring training healthy and looking to regain his 2023 form, where he posted an .876 OPS with 44 extra base hits, 45 stolen bases, and 104 walks in 121 games.

When he is right, Williams 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.

While I would not rule out a 2025 debut for Williams, I think it is more likely he begins the season with Double-A Binghamton — and there are several veteran or young players who are currently ahead of him on the depth chart. He still looks like a future everyday player who could hit at or near the top of a batting order.

MLB ETA: 2026

3. RHP Nolan McLean

McLean entered 2024 as a two-way player who was also converting from college reliever to professional starter. He took his last professional at-bat on June 20, and over the last two and a half months of the year he posted a 3.12 ERA across 52 innings with Double-A Binghamton.

This offseason was a big one for McLean, as he was able to focus exclusively on pitching for the first time in his life — and he also had his first full season as a starter under his belt.

McLean is an excellent athlete on the mound with a unique ability to spin a baseball. He boasts the best offering in the system with his 70-grade sweeper that will exceed 3,000 rpm and is his primary swing-and-miss pitch. He also possesses a mid-90s fastball that right now grades above average with a chance for more. He is rounding his repertoire into shape with a changeup, two-seam fastball, curve ball, and cutter.

He does need to refine his command, though I believe that will improve as he continues to get more reps. McLean threw only 57.1 innings in his three years at Oklahoma State. He also needs to polish up some things on his secondary pitches, but he is lauded for his work ethic and how well he takes to coaching. Scouts believe 2025 could be a breakout season for McLean. There is a chance he pushes for a spot in the big leagues late in the season.

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. Want some evidence? Look no further than his home run at 110.7 mph off the bat in the Feb. 27 spring training game against Houston. He combines that with plus plate discipline and knowledge of the strike zone.

That power showed up in a big way in 2024 once he got out of the confines of Brooklyn, which is the toughest ballpark in all of minor league baseball for left-handed power hitters due to the wind coming off the water.

In 31 games with High-A Brooklyn, Clifford posted a .716 OPS with only one home run. After moving to Double-A Binghamton, the 20-year-old ranked ninth in the Eastern League in OPS (.815) and third in home runs (18) in only 98 games while being four years younger than the average age of pitchers he faced at the level.

He can stand to be more aggressive early in counts, as he will at times miss out on pitches to hit early in at-bats while attempting to work deeper counts. There is swing-and-miss in his game as well (29 percent strikeout rate in Double-A), but some aggressiveness earlier in counts could lead to a lower strikeout rate. Defensively he plays some corner outfield, but first base is his likely long-term home. With some approach-refining, 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 work to quiet down a bit in his first full professional season.

Benge is a good athlete who entered the Mets system with a projectable frame that he has already added some good weight to. In a small sample size (15 games) in his pro debut with Low-A St. Lucie, he posted an .857 OPS and hit two home runs with an over 88 percent in-zone contact percentage and a 90th percentile exit velocity of 102.3 mph.

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. However, most scouts I spoke to think he will ultimately be a right fielder at the next level.

With some swing adjustments and further physical maturation, Benge could be an everyday outfielder with 20-plus home run potential. He should start the 2025 season with High-A Brooklyn, where it will be important to watch the batted ball data against just the statistics you can find on MiLB.com. As noted above, Maimonides Park in Brooklyn is the toughest ballpark in minor league baseball on left-handed power hitters.

MLB ETA: 2026

6. INF Jesus Baez

Baez is a rising prospect in the system despite his 2024 season ending in early July due to a meniscus injury. Between May and June, he had an .827 OPS with 10 home runs and 28 RBI split between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn.

Baez is an aggressive hitter with plus bat speed and has posted exit velocities north of 110 mph. While his aggressive approach can lead to some chasing and walks are unlikely to be a big part of his game, his in-zone contact percentage of over 82 percent with St. Lucie allowed him to maintain a very modest 16 percent strikeout rate. Defensively, his athletic profile and arm have most scouts believing he is a third baseman long term, and he spent more time there as his 2024 season went on.

Baez will play the 2025 season as a 20-year-old, and he could reach the Double-A level this year.  He is trending toward being a top 100 prospect in the sport, with Baseball America already putting him on their top 100 list.

MLB ETA: 2027

7. RHP Jonah Tong

Tong was the biggest riser in the Mets’ system last year, going from a prospect 12 months ago who was not in my top 30 to now sitting comfortably inside the top 10. He had a breakout season in 2024, posting a 3.03 ERA in 113 innings, allowing only 85 hits and striking out 160 between Low-A St. Lucie, High-A Brooklyn, and even making it to Double-A Binghamton by the end of the season. His first Double-A start was one to remember as he threw six perfect innings against Somerset with nine strikeouts.

Tong’s repertoire is headlined by a unique fastball from his over-the-top delivery. It will top out around 95 mph but with elite carry, generating north of 20″ of induced vertical break and metrics that are similar to Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga. He loves to throw his old school 12-to-6 curve ball, but that pitch grades more average-to-above average than plus. He is also working on a cutter and a changeup to round out his repertoire.

There are some questions among scouts about his command translating at the upper levels, but Tong is one of the more interesting arms to follow in minor league baseball this year. The 21-year-old is looking like a big player development success story. He will start the season back with Double-A Binghamton.

MLB ETA: 2026

8. INF Ronny Mauricio

Mauricio missed the 2024 season after tearing his ACL in the Dominican Winter League and a follow-up cleanup surgery this past June. He is partaking in baseball activities and has looked good in batting practice from both sides of the plate while fielding ground balls. He ultimately won’t draw many walks. But when he is right, he has special batted ball data.

Even if he ends up beginning the season slightly behind schedule, Mauricio is in the Mets’ plans for a role in 2025 with his versatility to play second or third base and shortstop. It will be important to see how he bounces back athletically, as prior to the injury he was considered to have 20-20 potential.

MLB ETA: Already made it

9. SS Elian Peña

Peña signed with the Mets in January for a franchise record $5 million. He was considered the No. 2 prospect in this year’s international class, behind only Roki Sasaki.

The 17-year-old comes equipped with plus bat-to-ball skills and plus plate discipline. The advanced knowledge of the strike zone showed up in showcases and even in batting practice, where he would refuse to swing at pitches that he deemed to be a ball as to not make a habit out of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone.

He has good bat speed and projects to have above average power and the chance to be a 25-home run type of bat down the road as he physically matures. Defensively, most project he will end up at third base long term, but the Mets will start his career at his position of comfort at shortstop.

Peña is years away from making an impact at the big league level, but he has the type of skill set to be one of the very best prospects in baseball as he moves through the minor league system, drawing some comparisons to a young Rafael Devers.

MLB ETA: 2029

10. OF Drew Gilbert

Gilbert missed most of the 2024 season, getting into only 56 games at the Triple-A level due to a hamstring injury. In those games, he hit 10 home runs and notably closed the season on a high note, posting an .821 OPS in September. Gilbert also played in the Arizona Fall League, where he posted a .783 OPS with four home runs in 21 games.

Gilbert did not get into any Grapefruit League action this spring as a non-roster invite due to him still working to get fully healthy from last year’s injury. There is optimism that he could be ready for the start of the minor league season, but it does raise some eyebrows that almost a year later he is still working toward full health with his hamstring.

When he is healthy, while not being the most tooled up prospect, Gilbert is average-to-above average across the board, with his best tool being his plus throwing arm. Most scouts believe his best long-term fit will be in right field, though he can play some left and center field as well. If he can get healthy and put together a strong start in Syracuse, Gilbert should find his way to Queens in 2025.

MLB ETA: 2025

11. INF Luisangel Acuña

After an up-and-down 2024 campaign at the Triple-A level, Acuña received a call up to the big leagues when 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. It seemed when the lights were literally and figuratively brighter, Acuña stepped up.

In Triple-A, the statistics were inconsistent (.654 OPS) and the underlying batted ball data wasn’t particularly impressive, either. In the small sample size at the big league level he showed some plus exit velocities and hard hit percentage while striking out only 15 percent of the time. Defensively, Acuña thrived, and the Mets are comfortable with him at shortstop and second base — and he is now starting to play some third base. His speed showed up, although not in the base-stealing fashion that he showed in the minors. He was in the 95th percentile for sprint speed at the big league level, which is a good sign for his future.

Evaluators want to see more, and there is question regarding whether Acuña will be an everyday player or end up settling in as a quality utility player. I believe it would be in his best interest to send him back to Triple-A Syracuse to start the season and have him be the first call-up if there is a need at either shortstop or second base.

MLB ETA: Already made it

12. RHP Blade Tidwell

Tidwell struggled mightily when he got to Triple-A Syracuse, where he got away from just attacking hitters aggressively. He posted a 5.93 ERA in 85 innings, surrendering 17 home runs and walking 53 batters.

He showed up to spring training in great physical shape, and he’s changed his delivery to an overhead one to try to get more rhythm and consistency. Tidwell also trimmed his pitch mix as last year he was at times throwing upwards of nine different pitches. He will be focusing on five offerings this year: four-seam and two-seam fastball, gyro slider, changeup, and sweeper. The velocity on the fastball is sitting in the mid-90s and touching 99 (Tidwell also believes he will touch 100 mph this year) and the gyro slider is another plus offering.

With some command improvements and refining another pitch or two in his arsenal, Tidwell could be a part of the Mets’ starting pitching depth in 2025. If not, he could profile as a power reliever.

MLB ETA: 2025

13. 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, which is where he is likely to begin the 2025 season.

He thrives with his bat-to-ball skills and pitch recognition skills. As he physically added weight, the Mets want to see Baro impact the baseball more this year. He is a good athlete who has played three spots in the infield, with third base being the most comfortable with his above average throwing arm. If Baro can tap into more extra base power in 2025, he could shoot up this list.

MLB ETA: 2027

14. 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. His game is based on a contact over power approach with an above average hit tool, above average plate discipline, and being a plus athlete. That athleticism shows on the base paths, where he stole 59 bases and on defense — where he can handle center field.

Home run power is unlikely to be a part of Morabito’s game, but if he can become a gap-to-gap line drive hitter, he could improve upon his floor of a fourth outfielder profile. Morabito could start the year with Double-A Binghamton.

MLB ETA: 2026

15. 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 dealt with injuries in college, including a fractured elbow his sophomore year, and he missed a month of his final season with a rib injury. He is healthy heading into his first professional season.

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 needs to find consistency. 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. He has had some impressive live sessions this spring and he is lauded for his intelligence and work ethic. The Mets believe that Santucci has mid-rotation potential, though it does come with some reliever risk.

MLB ETA: 2027

16. SS/2B Jeremy Rodriguez

Rodriguez joined the Mets organization in the trade for Tommy Pham at the 2023 trade deadline after being the Diamondbacks’ top international signing in the 2023 international class.

His calling card is above average contact ability and plate discipline, only striking out 17 percent of the time as a 17-year-old in the Florida Complex League. He needs more physical maturation to impact the baseball, as he showed below average exit velocities in 2024. Rodriguez is an average athlete who likely profiles best defensively at second base long-term. The Mets will also continue to give him reps at shortstop and third base.

MLB ETA: 2028

17. INF Marco Vargas

Vargas had a mostly lost 2024 season due to a wrist injury. 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 with a contact/on-base profile. Vargas stands out as a rebound candidate for 2025.

MLB ETA: 2027

18. 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 games as line drive, gap power. But he has 15-to-20 home run potential. Defensively, Gutierrez is still raw as a receiver, grading average. While he has struggled to throw out base runners, he does have at least above average arm strength, so there is hope that throwing out base runners will improve in 2025.

MLB ETA: 2028

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 does 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 pre-draft workout in Dallas and he “put on a show,” as Mets vice president of amateur scouting Kris Gross put it.

Snyder’s maturity as a player led the Mets to give him a taste of Low-A St. Lucie after the draft in 2024 to start his professional career, which is uncommon for high school picks. He projects as a left side of the infield player who has added some strength and size to his frame that could eventually push him to third base.

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 for the Bulldogs before suffering a forearm strain that caused him to miss a couple of months. He was able to return near the end of the college season for a few abbreviated outings, and he looks to be healthy to start his pro career this spring.

He is a strike thrower who has a 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. Dohm has the general profile of a back-end starter, but he is a prospect the Mets pitching development team is excited to work with.

MLB ETA: 2027

21. 3B Jacob Reimer

Reimer suffered a torn hamstring during spring training in 2024, and he did not get back into game action until July 9. He played in 25 games during the minor league season and went to the Arizona Fall League simply to get at-bats. He is fully healthy and having a normal spring training.

He is a strong 6-foot-1 and 215 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, but most believe first base may be his long-term home — which adds pressure for him to tap into more power.

MLB ETA: 2027

22. OF Eli Serrano III

Serrano, the Mets’ 2024 fourth-round pick, attended the same academy in high school as Ryan Clifford. At the time, there were some who thought Serrano was actually the better prospect. Clifford went on to sign with the Astros, while Serrano ended up in college at North Carolina State.

He showed up to the Mets at 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds and displayed strong exit velocity numbers in a small sample size with Low-A St. Lucie, with 90th percentile exit velocities at 103 mph and a max exit velocity of 109 mph. The Mets tasked him with adding good weight this winter, and he reported to camp this year up 20 pounds.

Serrano has above average bat-to-ball skills with a good approach at the plate. He shows batting practice power, and the Mets are working with him on his swing mechanics to bring that into games. When you combine the mechanics tweak and the added size, Serrano could look like a different prospect later this year. Defensively, he played some center field in college, but the Mets will primarily work him in the corner outfield spots.

MLB ETA: 2027

23.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. Lantigua will be one to watch as he moves stateside in 2025.

MLB ETA: 2029

24. RHP Dom Hamel

Hamel’s first foray in Triple-A in 2024 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.

Hamel’s low-90s fastball will touch 96 with good ride, and his sweeper is an above average offering. His changeup does generate some swings and misses, but it is an average offering. He also throws a cutter and a curve ball. Scouts I speak to think Hamel projects as a reliever at this point, and I would consider making that move now. You could potentially get an uptick in stuff in shorter spurts, and he has the bulldog type of mentality to fit in the bullpen.

MLB ETA: 2025

25. C/1B/OF Christopher Suero

Suero is an incredibly versatile player who has spent time at catcher, first base, and in left field. At 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, the 21-year-old Suero has above average plate discipline and raw power to go along with being an above average athlete. His flexibility to be an average receiver and thrower behind the plate with enough athleticism to handle left field could help him grow into a versatile chess piece, even if in a backup role at the MLB level. He should start back with High-A Brooklyn, but could reach Double-A by the end of the season.

MLB ETA: 2027

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 is not going to hit for much power, but he puts up a professional at-bat. Hernandez is bilingual, which helps his communication and leadership skills as a catcher, where he is an average receiver and thrower. He has the ingredients of a future big league backup catcher.

MLB ETA: 2027

27. 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 innings. He performed much better at the higher level in Brooklyn (3.12 ERA) than in St. Lucie (5.02 ERA).

He has a five-pitch mix headlined by 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 sweeper, curve and cutter to establish at least an average third pitch. He has remade his body heading into 2025 and should reach the Double-A level this year. He could end up as a swingman type.

MLB ETA: 2027

28. RHP Raimon Gomez

Gomez missed the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He is throwing live bullpens in minor league camp, and he has hit high as 102 mph on the radar gun with his plus-plus fastball that possesses above average riding action. He also has an above average slider. He needs work on his control, but if that can be harnessed, Gomez could be a quick moving high leverage power reliever.

MLB ETA: 2026

29. C Kevin Parada

After being selected as 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 extended stretches of struggles. Defensively, his receiving has improved, and he is a leader on the field, but his throwing is still below average. He reported to spring training in excellent shape and committed to a new dietary and workout plan. This is a make-or-break type of season for Parada.

MLB ETA: 2026

30. INF Colin Houck

Houck entered the Mets’ system as a raw prospect after being selected with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He spent significant time in high school as a two-sport athlete, both playing quarterback and baseball. He had an all-around tough first professional season where he posted an OPS of .610 with 171 strikeouts in 112 games. Defensively, he primarily played shortstop and third base, with third perhaps being the best fit with his strong throwing arm.

While the statistics as well as the batted ball data were worrisome in 2024, Houck is still only 20 years old and is an above average athlete with a strong work ethic. It is far too early to give up on him as a prospect, but he needs to take a step forward in 2025.

MLB ETA: 2028