Mets top prospect Drew Gilbert reaches three times, drives in two during AFL action

After missing significant time due to injuries during the minor league season, the Mets sent two of their top prospects — Drew Gilbert and Jett Williams — to the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost reps.

The pair have gotten off to a bit of a slow start at the plate, but they showed exactly why they are such highly-touted prospects during the Scottsdale Scorpions’ win on Thursday night.

Williams opened the bottom of the first with a single up the middle and he put his speed on full display right away, as he went first to third on a knock from the next batter, but he ended up being stranded there when Gilbert struck out to end the inning.

Gilbert had another big opportunity with two on and one out two innings later, and he was sure to cash in this time, lacing a two-run double down the right field line to put the Scorpions in front — and they never looked back.

The 24-year-old drew a walk and singled up the middle in each of his next two plate appearances, enjoying himself a nice 2-for-4 day at the plate with a pair of runs driven in and his second double of the Fall League.

Gilbert is hitting just .219 through 18 exhibition games, but he has four homers and he’s drawn more walks (13) than he has strikeouts (11), which has helped him put together an impressive .367 on-base percentage.

Williams’ only other knock of the game came in the bottom of the seventh, as he lined another single up the middle, but he proceeded to steal his seventh base of the Fall League before being stranded in scoring position again.

He has two doubles, two triples, two homers, and a .770 OPS through 19 games.

The Mets are also using this as an opportunity to get the youngster more reps in center, as he’s already appeared out there nine times after predominately playing second base and shortstop during his injury-shortened minor-league campaign season.

While David Stearns said earlier this week that the 20-year-old still has more to accomplish in the minors before receiving a potential big-league call-up, he praised the versatility that he’s shown.

“He’s a great athlete,” Stearns said. “He has the ability to play all three positions up the middle at a high level. We’ll let him continue on with his development and go from there, but I think whatever we ask of Jett he’s going to be able to accomplish.”