New York Mets Top Prospects 2024

New York Mets Top 30 prospects by Chris Clegg for dynasty, including: Drew Gilbert, Jett Williams, Ronny Mauricio, and more!

Welcome to our team prospect rankings. Over the next two months, I will be pumping out team top 30 prospect rankings and evaluations for dynasty baseball. These reports are generated from live looks, film study, and advanced data analysis to bring you in-depth fantasy scouting reports on every player you need to know, with today’s being the New York Mets Top Prospects.

Not all 30 players in each writeup will be dynasty relevant, but many will, and if you play in a deep league, certainly most of the names will be worth knowing.

You can check out our previous Top-30s:

Atlanta, Miami

Today, we move to the Big Apple to cover the New York Mets, who have massively overhauled their farm system via trades and the MLB Draft. The system was a blast to cover and write, and I got a lot of live looks at some of these players this year, helping make the reports even deeper. There are video on the players I have seen, plus my friends Eric Cross and Geoff Pontes were gracious enough to let me use some of their video.

Each player has a detailed write-up on each. The top 10 rankings and writeups are free for all, but the top 30 are for paid subs. Get an edge in your dynasty leagues and get in on some of these players first!

Glossary:

FFG = Future Fantasy Grade - essentially, what is the likely long-term outcome for the prospect? This is always going to be more conservative. Handing out ace tags is not something I like to do. So this is a realistic outcome.

90th Peak = If the player hits their best-case outcome, what does it look like?

Variance = How risky is this player’s profile, and how likely are they to hit their likely outcome? Low variance is good; high means more risky.

1. Drew Gilbert, OF, 23, 5’9”/195

Gilbert may be short, but he plays well above his height as an intense ballplayer who plays the game with a high level of energy and confidence. The lefty had an illustrious career at Tennesse, leading to the first-round selection in 2022 by the Astros.

Gilbert’s swing is relatively simple and generates good bat speed, showing above-average power and tools across the board. He finished the season with a near 104 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, which is right around MLB average. Gilbert may not add much more power, considering his age and the fact there is not much room left to add to his 5’9”/195 frame. From a contact standpoint, the 76 percent clip he posted is above average.

It is important to note that Gilbert spent a lot of the summer nursing an elbow injury, and while everyone thought he was falling off in Double-A, he was really injured and playing through it. Upon getting healthy and being traded to the Mets at the deadline, Gilbert finished the year with a .325/.423/.561 slash with six home runs across 154 plate appearances in Double-A Binghamton.

Gilbert has above-average tools across the board, and the profile plays better in an OBP league but still very solid in batting average formats. The profile will be a points league, darling.

FFG: High OBP Floor with Respectable Power

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .275/.360 OBP/20-25 HR/10 SB

Variance: Low

2. Jett Williams, SS, 20, 5’6”/175

It is rare to see a profile like Williams’s excel at a high level, but he defies all odds after an impressive 2022 season in which he mashed 13 home runs and stole 45 bases. Standing at 5’6”/175, which I would argue is fairly accurate after standing next to him on the field pre-game while in Greenville, Williams controls the strike zone extremely well and walks at a high clip due to his decisiveness. The chase rate of 12 percent was one of the best in the Minors while also making contact at a 79 percent rate across three levels.

Williams shows underrated power for his size, posting a 90th percentile exit velocity of 102.5 mph while hitting plenty of fly balls and line drives, making the most of his power. While the frame is maxed out physically, Williams spent the entire season at 19, and it is possible he finds a way to become a perennial 15 to 18 home runs threat with elite speed.

There is an argument that Williams might be a 70-grade runner, but he is comfortably a 6 in that category and is a highly efficient base stealer, finding success on 45 of 52 attempts in 2023.

Williams offers an incredibly high and safe floor, showing enough with the bat, plus the versatility in the field to make him at least an average everyday regular in the Majors with All-Star potential. The speed plus OBP and batting average skills will allow for him to be a great fantasy asset, even if his power is just slightly below average. 

FFG: High OBP Floor with Elite Speed

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .280/.370 OBP/15-18 HR/40 SB

Variance: Low

3. Ronny Mauricio, SS, 22, 6’3”/166

After an impressive showing across 116 Triple-A games this year and much clamoring from Mets fans, Ronny Mauricio finally received the call. After spending 26 games with the Mets, the results were mixed, but Mauricio did manage to hit two home runs and steal seven bases. 

Mauricio is an enigma of a profile as he hyper-aggressively swings at over 50 percent of pitches he sees and chases nearly 40 percent of pitches out of the zone. He counteracts it with high in-zone contact, running a rate above 86 percent in Triple-A.

There has never been any denying his power, as Mauricio’s 109 mph 90th percentile ranks toward the top of all MiLB hitters and firmly puts him in the plus or better range. The higher ground ball rate limits the output on barrels, but if Mauricio lifts the ball more consistently, there is 30 home run pop in the bat. While he may not be the fastest runner, Mauricio has a knack for stealing bases at a high clip, posting 20 and 31 over each of the last two seasons. 

Mauricio plays down in an OBP format dynasty league but could play better in a batting average context. The high swing rates will always limit his OBP upside.

FFG: Power and Speed Threat with Lower BAs

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.320 OBP/25-28 HR/20 SB

Variance: Medium

4. Luisangel Acuña, SS, 21, 5’9”/180

Another trade deadline acquisition for the Mets’, Luisangel Acuña, is the brother of Ronald Acuña Jr. He is smaller, but his swing looks nearly identical. Acuña puts a ton of balls in play, posting a 76 percent contact rate, and while the nine home runs in 2023 don’t suggest much power, I have seen him put on quite a display in batting practice with some monster home runs. While the game power might be a 40 right now, the raw power is comfortably above average, and Acuña has the potential to get to average in-game power. 

2023 saw major steps forward for Acuña in several aspects, including contact rates and launch angle. The speed and athleticism give Acuña the potential to make a significant impact on the game, as he stole 57 bases on 67 attempts in 2023. The aggressive approach will limit Acuña’s upside in OBP leagues, but he does have a chance to hit for respectable batting averages. 

FFG: High Average and Stole Base Specialist

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .280/.350 OBP/10-12 HR/40 SB

Variance: Medium

5. Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF, 20, 6’3”/200

Clifford makes the third of the Mets’ top five to have been acquired at the trade deadline, coming over with Drew Gilbert in the Justin Verlander trade. He was drafted in the 11th round of 2022 but handed a massive over-slot deal of $1.26 million. The lefty profiles better at first base than a corner outfield spot.

Despite the 27.5 percent strikeout rate he posted this year, Clifford did have a 75 percent contact rate, which shows at least average contact skills. After seeing him seven times live this year, Clifford did get eaten up on breaking balls and good velocity. He changes his approach with two strikes to go from a short stride to no stride at all, enabling more contact. 

The power is comfortably plus, with exit velocities hovering around 106 mph on the 90th percentile. Considering his age and physicality, Clifford certainly looks the part. He is a prospect worth investing in if you are looking for a future first-base masher.

FFG: Power Hitting First Baseman

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.350 OBP/25+ HR/5 SB

Variance: Medium

6. Christian Scott, RHP, 24, 6’4”/215

The former Florida Gator relief pitcher broke out in a big way as a full-time starter in 2023, posting a 2.57 ERA across 87.2 innings with 107 strikeouts and just 12 walks. Scott posted just a 3.6 percent walk rate to pair with a 31.9 percent strikeout rate and was the only pitcher in the minors with a walk rate below 6.5 percent and a strikeout rate north of 30 percent. He posted an impressive 32 percent CSW(Called Strikes + Whiffs) while throwing strikes at a 68.5 percent clip.

From an arsenal standpoint, Scott has seen his velocity take a considerable jump forward to not sitting mid-90s while topping out at 98 mph. His slider is arguably a plus pitch sitting in the mid-80s with some nice deceptiveness, causing it to miss a ton of bats. The changeup is still a crucial pitch for Scott’s long-term success. But with the plus command and already strong fastball/slider combo, Scott has a strong chance to stick as a starting pitcher long-term. Scott showed as stretch during the middle of the season before his injury in which he pitched at least six innings in five out of six starts. 

*Video Credit: Eric Cross

FFG: SP3 Caliber Arm

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 160 IP/3.50 ERA/180 K

Variance: Medium

7. Colin Houck, SS, 19, 6’2”, 190

If you are looking for a great athlete, Houck is who you are looking for. He was a three-star high school quarterback with 12 offers, many being power-five. On the diamond, he shows above-average tools across the board and has not even had the chance to focus solely on baseball until now. 

His power has primarily been gap-to-gap, but he has a frame that could easily add strength and turn the doubles into home runs. The hand and bat speed are electric, and Houck has flashed some high exit velocities. His athleticism is off the charts, as you might imagine from a multi-sport star athlete, posting a 6.6 60-yard dash. The contact skills are the biggest question mark, but the power has above-average potential and the run times are firmly plus. I like to bet on strong athletes in my evaluations, and Houck is certainly one of them.

Video Credit: PBR

FFG: Athletic SS with Power and Speed

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.330 OBP/20 HR/20 SB

Variance: Medium

8. Kevin Parada, C, 22, 5’11”/197

After an illustrious career at Georgia Tech, Catcher University, the Mets drafted Parada with the 11th overall pick in 2022. Parada spent most of 2023 in High-A Brooklyn but ended the season in Double-A. His overall line of .248/.324/.428 left a lot to be desired, especially considering he struck out 27.5 percent of the time while walking just 7.8 percent of plate appearances. 

A lot of Parada’s focus has been on developing behind the plate, which could be why the bat lagged behind this year. The most concerning thing is that Parada made contact on just 65 percent of pitches while swinging at an aggressive 53 percent clip. 

There is more in the tank than Parada has shown as a professional, but the bat needs to make progress in 2024. At the end of the day, Parada does have a high chance of being a big leaguer, but the questions remain of how much impact he will make in dynasty leagues.

FFG: Startable Catcher with some Pop

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.340 OBP/20 HR/

Variance: Medium

9. Blade Tidwell, RHP, 22, 6’4”/207

Tidwell saw his stock take a huge step in the right direction in 2023 by putting together a masterful season in which he posted a 3.57 ERA across 116 innings with 153 strikeouts. A lot of his damage was done in High-A, as the 2022 2nd rounder did struggle upon his promotion to Double-A, but most of the damage was done in two starts in which he allowed six and five earned runs each. 

Tidwell’s velocity sat around 96 mph in most starts and topped at 99 on any given day. The slider is a devastating pitch and arguably the best in his arsenal, with incredible sweeping action sitting in the mid-80s. Tidwell also mixes in a low-80s changeup and a mid-70s curveball but the fastball and slider are the go-to pitches.

The biggest improvement that Tidwell will need to make in 2024 is with the command and strike-throwing, as he posted a 13 percent walk rate last year and threw strikes at just a 61.6 percent clip. If he does, there are certainly all the traits of being a solid starting pitcher, given his frame and arsenal.

*Video Credit: Geoff Pontes/Baseball America

FFG: SP3 Caliber Arm

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 160 IP/3.60 ERA/180 K

Variance: Medium

10. Alex Ramírez, OF, 20, 6’3”/170

Ramirez seemed primed for a breakout in 2023 after putting together a solid 2022 season between Single-A and High-A while posting good exit velocities and having a frame to dream on. The 2023 results were a bit disappointing, however, as Ramirez hit just seven home runs and slashed .221/.310/.317. After sitting in on a week of Brooklyn’s games, Ramirez did all the right things and had 11 hard-hit balls during the six-game series, but hit it hard right at fielders every time. He did leave the yard once, but overall, he did not get the results that you would think from watching him swing the bat. 

Ramirez entered the season with more hit tools concerns than anything else, yet he made contact 75 percent of the time and posted just a 21.9 percent strikeout rate. What I saw in Ramirez was a hitter who made enough contact, made decent swing decisions, and hit the ball hard. The .277 BABIP and 5.6 percent HR/FB stand out to me as a bit of bad luck, considering the power and speed that Ramirez brings to the table. I actually believe that 2024 could be a big season for the 6’3” stud athlete. 

FFG: Corner Outfield with Power and Speed

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.330 OBP/20 HR/20 SB

Variance: High

11. Dominic Hamel, RHP, 24, 6’2”/237

Hamel tossed 124 innings in Double-A this season, posting a 3.85 ERA with 160 strikeouts and 49 walks. Among pitchers that threw 100 innings in 2023, only five had a strikeout rate north of 30 percent and walk rate south of 10 percent, and Hamel was one of them and the only one to spend the entire season at Double-A or higher.

Hamel's fastball ranges from 93-97 with a near-elite 20 inches of IVB, giving the pitch nice life at the top of the zone. He mixes a slider and a cutter, with the slider sitting in the mid-80s and the cutter getting into the upper-80s. The curveball is more of a 12-6 shape with good downward movement. Over his final nine starts, Hamel tossed 48 innings with a 1.88 ERA and a .189 batting average against while striking out 32.4 percent of hitters. If his strong finish to 2023 carries over to 2024, we can expect to see Hamel in a Mets’ uniform sooner than later.

FFG: SP4 Caliber Arm

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 150 IP/3.60 ERA/170 K

Variance: Medium

12. Mike Vasil, RHP, 23, 6’5”/220

After looking rather dominant to begin the season in Double-A, Mike Vasil looked to have been on the fast track to the Big Apple. Over his first seven starts, Vasil tossed 37 innings with 46 strikeouts and a 2.19 ERA. Over his final 19 starts, Vasil looked like a different arm, posting a 5.69 ERA across 87 innings with 92 strikeouts, with 16 of the starts coming in Triple-A. 

Vasil is a fastball-heavy arm, throwing a four-seam and a cutter that sometimes pulls back to a slider. But the four-seam/cutter(slider) combo was thrown at a 78 percent clip. The slider sits in more of the mid-80s, while the cutter has gotten into the 90s. Vasil will mix in a changeup and curve ball at a 10 percent clip each. 

Vasil has an average feel for command and strike-throwing, having a 65 percent strike rate and an 8.8 percent walk rate on the season. Vasil has starter stuff and a frame of a workhorse type. He profiles as a backend starting pitcher profile who could pitch in the Mets rotation next season.

FFG: SP5 Caliber Arm

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 150 IP/3.75 ERA/160 K

Variance: Medium

13. Marco Vargas, 2B, 18, 6’0”, 170

The Mets seemingly stole Vargas in a trade at the deadline when they moved David Robertson for Vargas and Ronald Hernandez, who we will discuss later. The trade generated a ton of buzz for Vargas, and he was discussed on social media as a top 50 overall prospect. I struggled to get there on him due to underwhelming power, but Vargas finished the year across two FCL teams and Low-A St. Lucie with a .275/.432/.389 slash with two home runs and 13 stolen bases. 

Vargas does make contact at a high level and showed a zone-contact rate in the mid-80s at the complex, but that number did drop to 77 percent in a smaller sample at Single-A St. Lucie, where he also chased 28 percent of pitches and had an overall contact rate of 72.5 percent. Vargas will need to get to more in-game power, though, as he has posted a 90th percentile exit velocity south of 100 mph for two straight seasons. The good news is Vargas is still young and has a frame that could certainly allow him to see a tick-up in power to pair with a solid hit tool and speed.

FFG: High Contact 2B

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .280/.380 OBP/15 HR/20 SB

Variance: Medium

14. Jeffry Rosa, OF, 19, 6’1”/190

Rosa mashed this summer to the tune of a league-leading 15 home runs across just 148 at-bats and added 13 doubles. The 6’1”/190 outfielder slashed .277/.400/.669, finishing third in the DSL in OPS. Rosa certainly shows flashes of power and athleticism, showing the ability to play all three outfield spots. 

You always want to be weary of DSL numbers, especially from a repeater, but it is hard to ignore what Rosa did this season. All eyes will be on him heading into 2024 as we see what he can do stateside against a higher level of competition.

FFG: Power Hitting OF

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.340 OBP/30 HR/5 SB

Variance: High

15. Brandon Sproat, RHP, 23

The second time was the charm for the Mets and Brandon Sproat, as they drafted him in 2022 as well, and he did not sign. Sproat has underrated stuff, starting with a fastball that sits 96 mph with an average of 15 inches of run in his college days at Florida. His slider sits in the upper 80s, averaging 88 mph at Florida, with more of a traditional shape. The curveball is distinct sitting around 80 mph with nice vertical and horizontal movement. Sproat rounds out his arsenal with a change that sits 88 mph and gets up 27 inches of separation from the slider as the changeup averaged 17 or more inches of fade.

Sproat has a true four-pitch mix and even though he did not pitch in pro ball, he fired 106.1 innings last season at Florida, in which the 4.66 ERA did not represent how well he actually pitched.

FFG: SP4-5 Caliber Arm

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 150 IP/3.50 ERA/170 K

Variance: Medium

16. Tyler Stuart, RHP, 24, 6’9”/250

No, that is not a typo; Stuart is a 6’9” monster on the mound with crazy extension and a sinker in the mid-90s with a ton of arm-side run. Stuart’s slider has a ton of deceptiveness and late, sweeping action, sitting in the mid-80s. He does feature a changeup, but more often against lefties running it away from them. 

The question remains on whether Stuart will be a starter or reliever long-term, and a lot will probably hinge on whether Stuart can continue his development on the changeup. Regardless, the results were strong this year as Stuart pitched to a 2.20 ERA across 110.2 innings(21 starts) and struck out 112 batters. He posted a 31.1 percent CSW and a 63.7 percent strike rate.

FFG: SP5 or Long Reliever

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 130 IP/3.40 ERA/130 K

Variance: Medium

17. Joander Suarez, RHP, 23, 6’3”/253

Suarez was one of the biggest breakouts in the Mets system in 2023, and while the overall line of a 5.08 ERA in High-A is far from impressive if you look at the improvements throughout the season, you will come away impressed. Through 13 starts and 47 innings, Suarez owned a 7.23 ERA and had allowed 35 walks with a .368 BABIP. But from July 8 onward, which included three Double-A starts to end the season, Suarez posted a 1.92 ERA across 61 innings with 79 strikeouts and just 14 walks. 

Suarez leads the way with his fastball that sits between 94-96 mph with decent shape, showing some armside run at times. He is comfortable throwing a sweeper in the mid-80s with a lot of horizontal movement. The curve is a distinct pitch from the slider, showing nice downward movement and sitting in the upper 70s. If Suarez’s change can continue to develop and at least be an average, it would give him four pitches in different velocity bands as it sits in the upper 80s. 

The question is, which Suarez do we see in 2024? The one who posted a 7.23 ERA and a 15.4 percent walk rate in the first half or the one who posted a 1.92 ERA and a 33.6 percent strikeout rate to a six percent walk rate in the second half.

FFG: SP5 or Long Reliever

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 140 IP/3.75 ERA/160 K

Variance: High

18. Wilfredo Lara, 3B, 19, 5’10”/180

Lara is one of the biggest sleeper prospects in the Mets’ system, who might just be someone that fans and fantasy managers alike want to know. This season, Single-A St. Lucie, Lara posted a .264/.362/.452 slash line with 14 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 409 plate appearances. Lara struck out 21.8 percent of the time but displayed good contact skills, posting an in-zone contact rate of 83 percent, which is well above average for his age. It is especially encouraging considering he swung at over 70 percent of pitches in-zone, but displayed good strike zone awareness by only chasing 28 percent of pitches out of the zone. 

From a power standpoint, there is good reason to believe that Lara still has plenty in the tank and room to grow into more power. His average exit velocity of 87 mph and 90th percentile of 102 mph don’t jump off the page, but the numbers show enough to be excited about a 19-year-old prospect who lifts the ball consistently.

In the field, Lara showed good versatility, playing every position in the field outside of catcher, but spent most of his time at third base and in the outfield. 

FFG: Versatile UTL Bat

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.340 OBP/20 HR/20 SB

Variance: High

19. Jacob Reimer, 3B, 19, 6’2”/205

Reimer was the Mets’ fourth-round draft selection in the 2022 draft out of Yucaipa, California. The 6’2” third baseman had a strong showing in 2022 following the draft and carried it over to 2023, especially in Single-A. Reimer’s plate discipline skills are very advanced for his age, as he swung at just 36 percent of pitches and chased just 17 percent of pitches out of the strike zone, an elite number. In Single-A St. Lucie, Reimer made contact 82 percent of the time while posting an elite 88 percent zone contact rate. 

From a power standpoint, Reimer posted respectable exit velocities for his age, coming in with an 87 mph average exit velocity and a 102 mph 90th percentile. With his frame, there is more room for growth in power, but Reimer will need to lift the ball more often, as he posted a 48 percent ground ball rate and an eight-degree launch angle. 

With the high floor of contact and plate discipline, Reimer feels like the type of player who can make the majors, it just depends on how far the power progresses and takes him.

FFG: High Contact and OBP Corner INF

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.350 OBP/20 HR/5 SB

Variance: Low

20. Julio Zayas, C, 17, 5’11”/190

Zayas was one of the more unheralded Dominican Summer League prospects despite putting up pretty gaudy numbers all summer. He finished the season with a .307/.368/.517 slash line with seven home runs and 22 extra-base hits in just 202 plate appearances. Zayas put a ton of balls in play despite showing an aggressive approach and struck out just 12.9 percent of the time. 

The 17-year-old looks like he has more room to grow in an already solid frame, and if he does, the power could take off. Zayas uses a big leg kick to help generate easy power to all fields. He has quick hands but also solid rotational torque, helping him get the most of his swing. Zayas will have a chance to move up the list significantly next year when he comes stateside and is at the complex.

FFG: Startable Catcher with Solid Tools Across the Board

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.330 OBP/20 HR/3 SB

Variance: High

21. Jeremy Rodriguez, SS, 17, 6’0”/170

Rodriguez initially signed with the Diamondbacks in January 2023 for $1.2 million and began the DSL season as a 16-year-old before being traded for Tommy Pham and swapping his jersey for a Mets uniform. Rodriguez was solid before the trade, but really took off upon the trade and ended the season with a .293/.411/.467 slash with three home runs, five triples, and ten doubles. 

Rodriguez is a strong athlete, showing the propensity to steal bases at a high clip, swiping 19 in 51 games this season. You want to take DSL stolen base numbers with a grain of salt, but Rodriguez is the player who can continue to steal bases. The left-handed swing is smooth and simple and he displays good plate discipline. If Rodriguez turns some doubles into home runs as he continues to develop and fill out his frame, his stock will soar.

FFG: Athletic SS with Power and Speed

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.350 OBP/20 HR/20 SB

Variance: High

22. Boston Baro, SS, 19, 6’2”/170

Baro was the Mets’ eight-round selection on a massive over-slot deal, giving him a $700k bonus with the slot value being $192k to keep him away from his commitment to UCLA. He is a strong athlete with an advanced approach from the left side of the plate, with plenty of optimization left in his swing. 

On the prep showcase circuit, Baro posted a 6.7-second 60-yard dash, ranking him in the 95th percentile for his class and also ranked 88th percentile in average exit velocity. There are strong reviews about Baro as a student of the game and his work ethic. Pair those things with 20 pounds of projection, and Baro might be a true steal in the eighth round of the draft.

FFG: Athletic SS with Speed

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.330 OBP/15 HR/20 SB

Variance: High

23. Cristopher Larez, SS, 17, 6’1”/190

Larez signed in January 2023 for $1.4 million with an already advanced approach for a 17-year-old with a solid frame. While only hitting one home run in the DSL this summer, he did have eight doubles in 97 plate appearances, showing a good feel for gap-to-gap power which could turn into more home runs over time. Larez also swiped nine bases.

The concerns come down to the swing and miss, and while he showed respectable discipline for his age, he struck out 29.7 percent of the time which I think has a lot to do with the plate discipline and working deeper into counts.

Larez will likely continue to grow and fill out his frame, considering the advanced size at the time of signing.

FFG: Power Hitting SS Who Could Move to 3B

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .250/.330 OBP/20 HR/5 SB

Variance: High

24. A.J. Ewing, SS, 19, 6’0”/160

It was a small pro sample of just seven games after being drafted in the fourth round this summer, but in 21 plate appearances, Ewing posted a .524 OBP, including four hits and five walks. Most of the intrigue with Ewing comes from impressive data as a prep bat.

There seems to be room to add at least 20 pounds of muscle to Ewing’s frame, which would only add to what has been impressive exit velocities across the showcase circuit. He is a quick twitch athlete, posting 10-yard splits and a 60-yard dash time both in the 99th percentile for his class. 2024 could be a massive breakout season for Ewing, who has all the intangibles if the contact skills prove to be there. 

FFG: High OBP Floor with Speed

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.350 OBP/15 HR/25 SB

Variance: Medium

25. Jesus Baez, SS, 18, 5’9”/180

Baez had an impressive DSL in 2022 after signing, in which he hit seven home runs and nine doubles across 217 plate appearances. The batted ball data was quite impressive as well for a 5’9” 17-year-old, as he posted a 103.9 mph 90th percentile exit velocity, which is north of the MLB average, and an 87.1 mph average exit velocity. The contact and chase rates were respectable as well, so the hopes were high heading into 2023. 

However, at the Complex, Baez slashed just .210/.306/.333 with two home runs across 160 plate appearances, leaving some questions of what kind of hitter he would profile as. In the field, Baez has a cannon of an arm, which is arguably 70 grade, and if he continues to grow and fill out his body, he could move to third base. 

The book is still out, but Baez has upside in both the field and at the plate.

FFG: High Power Hitting SS

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.330 OBP/25 HR/5 SB

Variance: High

26. Justin Jarvis, RHP, 23, 6’2”/183

One has to wonder if the tacky ball made a difference in Justin Jarvis’s arsenal, considering the splits from Double-A to Triple-A. In 14 Double-A starts in Biloxi, which used the tacky ball, Jarvis posted a 3.33 ERA across 75.2 innings with 91 strikeouts and 26 walks. He then made 12 starts in Triple-A, most with the Mets after moving there in the Mark Canha trade. In those 12 Triple-A starts, Jarvis completed just 43 innings and posted an 8.79 ERA with 47 strikeouts to 34 walks. His strike rate dropped six percentage points in the process.

Jarvis does have good stuff when he is on, leading with a fastball that sits 92-94 but topping out at 96 with a ton of carry up in the zone. His low-80s slider does show a good movement profile, but his misses are often left in poor locations, leading to it getting barreled up often. Jarvis also mixes in a splitter that ranges from 82-85 mph as well as a mid-70s curveball. 

Considering the drastic splits, I want to see which Jarvis we get in 2024 before pushing him up higher.

FFG: Long Reliever/Spot Start

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 120 IP/3.80 ERA/120 K

Variance: Medium

27. Luis Rodriguez, LHP, 20, 6’3”/220

While he has not been a starter since 2021,  After a dominant showing in the Florida Complex League in 2021, Rodriguez missed all of 2022 due to Tommy John Surgery. Injuries this year limited him to just 10.2 innings in the FCL and Single-A, posting a 4.22 ERA with ten strikeouts and seven walks. Health will be the biggest factor for Rodriguez because the stuff is good here, and command will be the determining factor of whether Rodriguez lands in the bullpen or not.

Rodriguez pumps in a fastball that has gotten up to 99 mph in the past but sat around 95 consistently. His slider is a big swing-and-miss pitch sitting in the low 80s with a ton of sweeping action. He also mixes in a curveball that sits in the mid-70s with a ton of downward movement. 

The future role for Rodriguez will hinge on health and command because there is not denying the stuff is good.

FFG: SP3 Caliber Arm or Backend Bullpen Arm

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 120 IP/3.50 ERA/150 K

Variance: High

28. Matt Rudick, OF, 25, 5’6”/170

Rudick is small, but that does not mean there isn’t any offense in his profile. Rudick can hit and gets the most out of his power by getting balls to the pull-side. He made contact on 86 percent of pitches he saw this season, putting him in the upper tier of all professional hitters, while also showing elite plate discipline, walking at a 17 percent clip while only striking out 15 percent of the time.

Rudick also plays a strong outfield and is versatile enough to play all three spots, but most of his games this season came in left field, with center field being a close second. Rudick likely profiles as a fourth outfielder type, but he has the skill set to stick on a Major League roster long-term. 

FFG: High Hit-Tool Fourth OF

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .280/.60 OBP/15 HR/5 SB

Variance: Low

29. Jonah Tong, RHP, 20, 6’1”/180

The former 7th-rounder out of Canada in 2022 did not post any surface stats across his 21 innings this season that would make anyone want to invest, but Jonah Tong has a lot to like in his arm. Tong tossed 12.2 innings at the Complex level before earning the promotion and making three starts in Single-A St. Lucie. The good Tong struck out 38 batters over his 21 innings in 2023; the bad, he also walked 22.

From a pure stuff standpoint, Tong’s fastball sits in the 92-94 range with an insane amount of carry at the top of the zone, reaching 20 or more inches of IVB often. The curveball completely changes the eye level of hitters sitting in the mid-70s but averaging 65 inches of vertical drop in a 12-6 shape. Tong also mixes in a low-90s cutter and a mid-80s changeup to round out his arsenal. 

The jury is still out if Tong can throw enough strikes to be a starting pitcher. The high walk rates and a 44 percent ball rate are both concerning, but the stuff is worth betting on here.

FFG: SP5 Caliber Arm or Bullpen

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 130 IP/4.00 ERA/130 K

Variance: Medium

30. Stanley Consuegra, OF, 23, 6’2”/206

Consugra is the kind of athlete I want to bet on figuring it out eventually. From a frame standpoint, Consuegra is not all that different from Alex Ramirez but is a bit more filled out. The slash line leaves a bit to be desired as Consuegra finished the High-A season with a .232/.294/.489 slash with 23 home runs, five triples, and 15 doubles across 394 plate appearances. 

His contact rate hovered around 70 percent most of the season, which you would like to see tick up, especially given the kind of athlete that Consuegra is. Over his final 40 games, he mashed 14 of his 23 home runs but struck out at a 30 percent clip while posting a .208/.282/.520 slash line. If he hits in Double-A next season, Consuegra has a chance to move up the rankings, but for now, it’s a toolsy profile with hit tool concerns.

FFG: Power Hitting Fourth OF

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .250/.320 OBP/25 HR/5 SB

Variance: High

Honorable Mentions:

Matt Allan, RHP

Daiverson Gutierrez, C

Nolan McLean, TWP

Nick Lorusso, 3B

Calvin Ziegler, RHP