Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the The 2024 Prospect Digest Handbook here.
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1. Jett Williams, SS/CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50/60 | 45/50 | 70 | 60 | 50/55 | 55 |
Background: A littlebit of a fun fact: The New York Metropolitans have owned the 14th overall pick in the draft three separate times – 1971, 1973, and 2022. In each of those instances the organization has opted for a high school prospect. The front office snagged Rich Puig in 1971. The always underrated Lee Mazzilli followed two years later. And, of course, Jett Williams was selected from Rockwall-Heath High School in 2022. Williams, who stands just 5-foot-6 and 175 pounds, dipped his pinky toe into the waters of professional baseball during his abbreviated debut that summer, hitting .250/.366/.438 with a trio of extra-base hits in 41 trips to the plate. Last season, the young sparkplug made stops at three separate levels as he moved through Low-A onto High-A and then settled in nicely for a six-game cameo at the minors’ most challenging level – Double-A. Not bad work for a 19-year-old making his way through his first extended looks at the minor leagues. Williams would finish the year with an aggregate .263/.425/.451 with 22 doubles, eight triples, 13 homeruns, and 45 stolen bases (in only 52 total attempts; 86.5% success rate). Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his production topped the league average mark by a whopping 45%.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Strong, borderline incredible bat-to-ball skills with plus speed. He’s going to be a doubles machine that will run into 15 or so homeruns at peak maturity. Bulldog. Gamer.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only five 19-year-old hitters met the following criteria with one club in any Low-A league (min. 300 PA): 130 to 140 wRC+ with a 21% to 23% strikeout rate and a walk rate north of 12%. Those five bats: Marco Luciano, Xavier Isaac, Taylor Trammell, Luke Adams, and – of course – Jett Williams.
Williams is facing the same defensive conundrum that newly acquired Luisangel Acuna is starring down: a logjam of high-priced veterans at both middle infielder spots. So the front office did the prudent thing: they started having Williams experimenting in centerfield. And the early returns are quite positive. Physically speaking, the former prep star lost two inches over the course of the year; he was originally listed at 5-foot-8 but it’s been updated to just 5-foot-6, which does add a little damper to his future projections. Regardless, though, the pint-sized Mighty Mite packs a punch. Williams shows a very advanced, incredibly patient approach at the dish. Plus hit tool, plus-plus speed, and close to average power. Williams is a potential table-setter on a contending team, which is hard to find and develop. Lightning quick bat. If you haven’t jumped on the Jett Williams bandwagon, you might want to do so now.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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2. Drew Gilbert, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55 | 50 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 55 |
Background: The overall on-field results from the signings of future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander weren’t ideal, at least in terms of overall team success. But trading the veteran aces did help aid the club’s sagging farm system with the additions of Luisangel Acuna and Drew Gilbert. Taken with the 28th overall pick two years ago out of the University of Tennessee, Gilbert was one of the nation’s top bats that season as he slugged .362/.455/.531 for the perennial SEC powerhouse. And the 5-foot-9, 185-pound centerfielder continued to swing a ferocious stick during his abbreviated low level debut as well, batting .313/.405/.531 in 11 games. Last season, Gilbert moved quickly – and violently – through the South Atlantic League, thrashing the competition the competition to the tune of .361/.421/.686. Houston promoted Gilbert up to the minors’ toughest challenge – Double-A – after just 21 games and he struggled for the remainder of his time with Corpus Christi (.241/.342/.371). After joining the Metropolitans’ organization, Gilbert’s bat caught dire in the Eastern League as he finished out his first full professional season by hitting .325/.423/.561 in 35 games with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Overall, Gilbert finished the year with an aggregate .289/.381/.487 slash line with 26 doubles, three triples, 18 homeruns, and 12 stolen bases. Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production line surpassed the league average mark by 33%.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Gilbert packs a wallop in a deceivingly strong frame. He’s pure muscle and athleticism. Above-average hit tool, lightning quick bat, and does not get cheated. Above-average hit tool, good patience, 50-grade power.
Scouting Report: The Mets’ brass certainly doesn’t put an emphasis on frame size. Three of their best everyday prospects are 5-foot-9 or less, which is saying something. Gilbert’s first full season in pro ball went as expected: he breezed through High-A with relative ease, and after initially struggling in Double-A the former Volunteer righted the ship and manhandled the Eastern League competition. Gilbert’s more about a well-rounded approach instead of standout impact tools. Above-average hit tool, average power, and speed, he’s solid – yet unremarkable – in centerfield. In terms of big league ceiling, think .270/.340/.410.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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3. Luisangel Acuna, 2B/SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55 | 40 | 60 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: The front office showed little hesitation throughout the 2022-23 offseason as he they handed out high profile, big dollar contracts to future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, as well Kodai Senga, Edwin Diaz, and Brandon Nimmo. And then there’s small, yet still noteworthy, deals with guys like José Quintana, David Robertson, Adam Ottavino, and Tommy Pham, among others. But how’s the saying go? Something like, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” And awry they certainly went for the Mets in 2023. After starting the season out on strong footing – they were 15-12 entering May – the club struggled as they went 21-34 over the next two months and would eventually finish the year well below .500. Then they started shipping out what they could, including Scherzer and Verlander. “Mad” Max would end up in Texas, which turned out to be disastrous for the eventual World Series champions. Verlander went to the state of Texas, though to the Astros. The returns would help bolster the Mets’ middling farm system as they set their sights on future contention. Scherzer’s departure brought in top prospect Luisangel Acuna. The younger brother of reigning Most Valuable Player Ronald Acuna, but Luisangel is hardly stuck in his older brother’s shadow. The younger – not the youngest, though – Acuna quietly filled the stat sheet during stateside debut in 2021. Then he shredded the High-A competition as a 20-year-old the following season and spent considerable – though mostly forgettable – time in Double-A. Last season, between Texas’ and New York’s Double-A affiliates, the pint-sized dynamo slugged .294/.359/.410 with a career-best 28 doubles, two triples, nine homeruns, and 57 stolen bases, another personal high.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Acuna’s a man without a position, or at least not yet, but the Rangers already have hundreds of millions of dollars invested in Marcus Semien and Corey Seager at second base and shortstop. So it wouldn’t be surprising to see him takes his talents / athleticism to centerfield in 2023. Very similar offensive profile with more power as former Ranger Delino DeShields Jr.
Scouting Report: Unfortunately for Acuna, he moved from one organization that had both middle infield positions entrenched with high-priced veterans (Corey Seager and Marcus Semien) to another with similar depth (Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil). So Acuna’s potentially still facing some type of move to the outfield in the near future, especially if the club sticks with Brett Baty at the hot corner. Truth be told, the 5-foot-8, 181-pound sparkplug would likely handle the change with aplomb; he has speed to burn and plenty of athleticism to help expedite the learning curve. Acuna doesn’t have his brother’s swath of skills that’s required for superstardom, but he does own a potential above-average hit tool, enough power to belt out a dozen homeruns at the big league level, and plenty of quickness. A year ago Acuna looked to have a similar trajectory as Delino DeShields Jr. Now, though, he looks like he could be even better, like Delino DeShields Sr. In terms of big league ceiling, think something along the lines of .280/.340/.400 with 30 or so stolen bases and solid-average defense.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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4. Ryan Clifford, 1B/LF/RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/45 | 50/55 | 35/30 | 55 | 50 | 50 |
Background: Drew Gilbert, the former Tennessee Volunteer star, wasn’t the only prospect the Mets received in the Justin Verlander swap with Houston last season. Hell, Gilbert wasn’t the only member of the 2022 draft class that the Astros shipped to the Big Apple. Enter: Ryan Clifford, a big over-slot signing taken in the 11th round. The 343rd overall selection, Clifford agreed to bypass his collegiate commitment to SEC powerhouse Vanderbilt University for a hefty $1,256,530 bonus. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound first baseman / corner outfielder turned in a solid, unremarkably vanilla debut that summer, batting .247/.426/.390 in 25 games between the Complex League and Low-A. Last season, Clifford looked remarkably noteworthy in his return to the Carolina League, slugging a hearty .337/.488/.457 with five doubles or two homeruns in 25 games. Houston eventually relented and sent him to the South Atlantic League – where he would spend the remainder of the year, even after the trade to the Mets. He finished his first full minor league season with an aggregate .262/.374/.480 slash line with 20 doubles, 24 homeruns, and five stolen bases. His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 34%.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Big, hulking middle-of-the-lineup thumper, Clifford, simply, does not get cheated. The swing is a bit long. And there’s a solid chance he turns into a dead pull hitter. But it’s easy to see why he commanded such a large bonus. He could develop into a 50-grade bat, 60-grade power, and be an OBP monster. He’s raw, though, and he’s going to need time to figure it out.
Scouting Report: There are certain players that just look good in a baseball uniform. Ryan Clifford’s one of those dudes. He just looks like a ballplayer, like it’s in his blood. Clifford looked pretty good at the plate last season, performing well in Low-A and High-A, but some of that is artificially driven by Houston’s Sally League affiliate’s home park. It’s home field is one of the biggest bandboxes in the game. So it’s not surprising that 11 of his 16 homeruns with the Tourists were at home. The swing is still long, and he’s still way too pull happy. And he’s way too susceptible against lefties (he batted .135/.304/.203 against LHP vs. .289/.389/.539 against RHP). He should grow into above-average power at full maturity. He’s giving off some Ryan Ludwick vibes, but he has to prove it against southpaws.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2025
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5. Marco Vargas, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50/55 | 35/40 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: The Scherzer and Verlander trades weren’t the only white flags the organization began waving last season. In a bit of an underrated deal with the Marlins, the organization sent veteran fireman David Robertson to Miami in exchange for teenage infielder Marco Vargas. A bit of an afterthought on the international scene two years ago, the Fish signed the 6-foot, 170-pound youngster to a deal worth just $17,500. But almost immediately Vargas began to exceed expectations. The Chihuahua, Mexico native batted .319/.421/.456 with 13 doubles, three triples, two homeruns, and 14 stolen bases in the Dominican Summer League. He continued to perform as he moved into the Complex League last season. Vargas slugged .283/.457/.442 in 33 games before the trade. Then after joining his new club, he spent another few weeks in the rookie league before finishing up strong with St. Lucie. Vargas batted an aggregate .275/.432/.389 with 14 doubles, one triple, two homeruns, and 13 homeruns (in 17 total attempts). Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his production topped the league average by 28%.
Scouting Report: It’s an incredibly savvy move by the Mets as they acquired an interesting low level lottery ticket that’s definitely trending upward – as well as backstop Ronald Hernandez. This might sound a bit hyperbolic, but the international-free-agency-afterthought-turned-trade-piece may have a chance to develop the best overall hit tool among any Mets prospect. And that’s in a system with some very strong hitting prospects. Vargas’s left-handed swing is lightning quick and so explosively short and compact. He’s likely not going to develop any type of power north of 40-grade, but he’s going to be a doubles machine. Adding to the intrigue is the strong possibility that he can stay at short. Tremendous, tremendous work by the front office. He could be one of the biggest breakout prospects in the all the minor leagues in 2024.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: 2025
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6. Ronny Mauricio, IF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 50 | 50 | 45 | 45 | 45 |
Background: Thelongest tenured prospect still eligible to be on the Mets’ farm. It seems like the switch-hitting middle-infielder / outfielder has been considered a top prospect for a decade or so. And it’s equally difficult to believe that he’s still only entering his age-23 season. Mauricio finally made it up to the club’s Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Mets, for the first time in 2023. And his production passes the eye test – at least artificially. Appearing in 116 International League games, Mauricio batted .292/.346/.506 with a career 30 doubles, to go along with three triples, 23 homeruns, and 24 stolen bases (in 31 total attempts). But remember that whole artificial eye-test thing? Well, Mauricio’s production line topped the league average mark by just 8%, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus. The long-time top prospect appeared in 26 games with the Mets, hitting a disappointing .218/.296/.347 with four doubles and a pair of homeruns.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: The question has never really been about the tools, but rather is Mauricio (A) willing to walk enough to compliment his value or (B) hit enough to compensate his lack of patience? To this point the answer has been a resounding no and no. But the ceiling remains severely limited due to his terrible approach at the plate.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only three 22-year-old hitters met the following criteria with one club in any Triple-A league (min. 350 PA): 103 to 113 wRC+, a 17% to 19% strikeout rate, and a 5.5% to 7.5% walk rate. Those three bats: Mets immortal Dilson Herrera, Yolmer Sanchez, and Ronny Mauricio.
Bat speed ain’t worth a darn if it’s glued to a below-average hit tool with an itchy trigger finger. And that’s ultimately been the argument against Ronny Mauricio. His overall production has constantly hovered near the league average mark at each stop and his work in the International League was no different. Throw in some below-average leather work and it’s not an overly pretty picture for Mauricio. Not that’s not to say he can’t be a serviceable big league because that’s achievable. He’s just not going to be a star. Amed Rosario with worse defense. That puts his ceiling somewhere around .260/.310/.400.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2023
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7. Collin Houck, IF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 55 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 45 |
Background: A star on the diamond and the gridiron during his time at Parkview High School. Houck, who stands a solid 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, was a three-star rated pro-style quarterback according to Rivals and 247Sports. Some of the colleges recruiting the potential first round shortstop as a QB included: Arkansas, East Carolina, Georgia Tech, and Houston, among others. He finished his football career with more than 6,200 yards passing, 66 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions. But it’s his work on the infield grass that brought a lot of attention to the Georgia star. Houck struggled through his freshman season with the Panthers, hitting a lowly .200/.346/.250 with a double in only 20 COVID-limited games. His production at the plate, though, took several leaps forward the following year as he mashed .400/.458/.672 with eight doubles, four triples, and six homeruns. And – once again – he raised the bar during his junior campaign as he slugged .412/.531/.912 with 10 doubles, one triple, and 15 dingers. Last season, in his Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year winning campaign, Houck mashed .487/.589/.587 with 14 doubles, three triples, and eight long balls. The Mets selected Houck in the opening round, 32nd overall, and signed him to a deal worth $2.75 million. The teenage infielder batted .241/.389/.310 with one triple in nine games, spanning 36 plate appearances.
Scouting Report: Pre-draft scouting report:
“Effortless swing with a lot of natural loft. Short, quick to the ball with above-average, not plus bat speed. Defensively, he’s solid at shortstop, though likely moves to the hot corner in the minor leagues. Good speed, not great. There’s some room left on his frame to add muscle and weight. Above-average power. The largest question surrounding Houck is the hit tool. He punched out 21 times in 151 plate appearances as senior – or about 14%.”
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2027
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8. Blade Tidwell, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | N/A | 60 | 50/55 | 45 | 45 |
Background: New York alternated college prospect and high school player for the first couple of rounds of the 2022 draft, first nabbing Kevin Parada, then following up with Jett Williams and Blade Tidwell. A solid starter during his sophomore season at the University of Tennessee, Tidwell looked like a potential mid-first round pick heading into his junior campaign. But a shoulder issue knocked him out of action for a bit, and by the time he was healthy the Volunteers were already cruising along and his workload was closely governed. He would throw just 39.0 innings, posting a dominant 51-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio – production that convinced the Mets he was worthy of a second round pick. After a few brief appearances during his debut, Tidwell began the year in the Sally League, but that lasted 17 starts before he was deemed ready for the fires of Double-A. And he held his own – more or less. He would throw a combined 116.0 innings between both levels, posting a 153-to-63 strikeout-to-walk ratio to go along with an aggregate 3.57 ERA and a 4.31 FIP.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: There’s some mid-rotation caliber upside with the floor of a dominant backend reliever. The early season shoulder woes are concerning and would likely push him down into a second round grade if I were interested in drafting him.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only three 22-year-old hurlers posted a 32% to 34% strikeout percentage with a walk percentage north of 12% with one club in any High-A league (min. 75 IP): Ignacio Feliz, Yilber Diaz, and Blade Tidwell.
Without question, Tidwell owns a starter’s repertoire. Plus fastball that’ll reach the upper-90s at times, plus slider that can be a swing-and-miss offering, and his changeup – while erratic – looked vastly improved with significant velocity separation and some arm side fade. Most scouting reports indicate he’ll mix in a curveball, but it looks as though it’s just his slider thrown with less velocity. The fastball command is decent, but his ability to throw strikes (not even quality strikes) with his secondary weapons is definitely lacking. Tidwell’s likely ticketed back to Double-A for at least half-a-season. Backend starter if the command doesn’t bump up.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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9. Kevin Parada, C
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 55 | 30 | 45 | 45 | 45 |
Background: The New York Mets have drafted a total of seven catchers in the opening round of the draft. The most famous – or infamous – is Steve Chilcott, who was taken directly in front of Reggie Jackson. The most valuable backstop, to date, is the immortal Kevin Plawecki, who’s tallied nearly 2.5 Wins Above Replacement in 447 big league contests. One final interesting note on the 2022 draft: the Metropolitans now have three players that were taken among the top 28 selections – Kevin Parada, Jett Williams, and recently acquired Drew Gilbert. Parada, like his fellow 2022 first round counterparts, reached the minors’ most challenging level by the end of his first full year in the pros – though his offensive production was, by far, the worst of trio. Appearing in 105 games with St. Lucie (four games), Brooklyn (87), and Binghamton (14), the 6-foot-1, 197-pound former Georgia Tech slugger batted .248/.324/.428 with 23 doubles, four triples, and 14 homeruns. His overall production, as measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by just 5%.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Parada doesn’t walk a whole lot, but he should hover around the 7% mark in the professional ranks. In terms of big league ceiling, think: .260/.320/.460 with 20 homeruns.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only two 21-year-old hitters met the following criteria with one club in High-A (min. 350 PA): 110 to 120 wRC+ with a 24% to 26% strikeout rate and a 6.5% to 8.5% walk rate. Those two sticks: former Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks and Kevin Parada.
The success rate for first round catchers that have stuck at the position has been pretty low in recent years. Sure, Adley Rutschman’s been a smashing success and face of the resurgent Baltimore Orioles. The Dodgers’ Will Smith has established himself as one of the preeminent players at the position too. And maybe Mike Zunino, too, depending upon your feelings on him. Same with Tyler Stephenson. There’s still some unknown like Drew Romo and Bo Naylor. Otherwise, it’s a laundry list of failures: Joey Bart, Shea Langeliers, Korey Lee, Joey Bart, Reese McGuire, Nick Ciuffo, Patrick Bailey, Joe Mack. A year into Parada’s career and he’s tracking more like Joey Bart than a star. The hit tool isn’t as good as expected, moving from a 50-grade tool to a 45, maybe even a 40 if you’re in a particularly prickly mood. Average power, which was expected. The glove work was also a bit of disappointment overall as well. The big league bar for catching is so low, that he’s very likely going to be a solid big league backstop. He’s just not going to be incredibly valuable. He’s tracking like a .240/.310/.410-type hitter right now.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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10. Wilfredo Lara, 3B/OF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/45 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 45 |
Background: An under-the-radar signing midway through the 2021 season. Lara, who joined the organization for an undisclosed amount, looked absolutely dreadful during his stint in the Dominican Summer League that year, batting a terrible depressing .208/.309/.354 with six doubles, one triple, and a pair of homeruns in 31 games. Surprisingly, though, the front office opted to send the 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive vagabond stateside to the Complex League, but the production still languished well below a reasonable level – even for an 18-year-old. He finished the season with a .235/.338/.353 slash line with seven doubles, three triples, and a dinger. But – once again – the front office brass continued to push him through the low levels and he found himself up in Low-A with St. Lucie. This time, though, his bat not only showed a heartbeat, but it also showed some thump and promise. Appearing in 99 contests, the Dominican-born third baseman / outfielder slugged .264/.362/.452 with 18 doubles, three triples, 14 homeruns, and 17 stolen bases (in 23 total attempts). His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average threshold by 22%.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only three 19-year-old hitters met the following criteria with one club in any Low-A league (min. 350 PA): 117 to 127 wRC+, a 21% to 23% strikeout rate, and a double-digit walk rate. Those three bats: Noelvi Marte, Lars Anderson, and – of course – the practically unknown Wilfredo Lara.
Lara’s an interesting bat. You watch him take close pitches and figure he’s a rather disciplined hitter. Then the next one comes in, just off the plate, maybe a bit low, and he goes after it. There’s definitely some Vladimir Guerrero, toes-to-nose type approach here, even if he did walk more than 12% of his time last season. Good swing velocity that doesn’t look robotic or stiff. The power really started to come through in-game last season. Good athlete with plus speed, Lara played some all around the diamond (sans pitcher and catcher). Above-average glove wherever he plays too. There’s some potential here, but I’m not ready to jump on the bandwagon just yet.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2025/2026
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, Baseball America, and X-user @mk237700 (for compiling Statcast Data)
