As we approach the 2024 season, the Mets farm looks wildly different than it did just a year ago. 2023 saw the graduations of Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty, both top 25 prospects in all of baseball, and Mark Vientos. However, the Mets’ disappointing season allowed them to part with veteran players on short-term contracts and build the farm system up. By the end of July, General Manager Billy Eppler gave up hope on a miraculous late-season run to support the long-term goal of sustainable success. During the 2023 deadline, the Mets dealt away Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, David Robertson, Mark Canha, Tommy Pham, and Dominic Leone in exchange for prospect returns. A total of 19 All-Star appearances and six Cy Youngs were dealt away in under a week. As a result, the Mets farm, expected to take a hit going into this year, instead has become one of the strongest in baseball. Many prospects in the system could impact the team as soon as the 2024 season. Here are ITD’s updated top 10 prospects in the Mets system for 2024.
Note: Prospects listed on the updated MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects will be noted with their rankings
1. Jett Williams, SS/CF (MLB #45)
The Mets selected Williams with the 14th overall pick of the 2022 MLB draft out of high school, and he was immediately one of the most intriguing prospects. His 5’6 statue may have concerned some teams, but his hard-nosed style of play helped him become a top prep prospect that year. He started the 2023 season in Single-A St. Lucie before eventually ending the season in Double-A Binghamton. In his age 19 season, Williams slashed .263/.425/.451 with a .876 OPS between three levels. He hit 13 home runs with 22 doubles and 45 stolen bases in 121 games. Williams walked 104 times, second most in all of MiLB in 2023, displaying elite plate discipline. He spent most of his time at shortstop but also played several games in center, expanding his versatility behind a stacked group of Mets infield prospects and Francisco Lindor, who has the shortstop position locked up for years to come.
2. Drew Gilbert, OF (MLB #53)
A year after being drafted 28th overall by the Houston Astros, Gilbert was dealt to the Mets as part of the return in the Justin Verlander trade. Drafted out of the University of Tennessee, Gilbert is an aggressive and passionate competitor, often described as playing like his hair is on fire. In his first full professional season between High-A and Double-A, Gilbert slashed .289/.381/.487 with a .868 OPS, 18 home runs, 26 doubles, and 12 stolen bases in 116 games. He has played all three outfield spots in the minors and projects as capable even in center to go along with his plus arm strength. As Gilbert enters his age 23 season, he is slated to begin the year in Triple-A Syracuse, just one phone call away from the majors. It seems likely that at some point in the 2024 season, Gilbert should make his MLB debut, where he could slot into the Mets outfield for years to come.
3. Luisangel Acuna, SS/2B/CF (MLB #66)
Acuna was signed out of Venezuela in 2018 for $425,000 by the Texas Rangers. Five years later, Acuna was traded to the Mets in return for Max Scherzer. He spent the 2023 season in Double-A between Frisco and Binghamton, slashing .294/.359/.410 with a .769 OPS, following up his 2022 campaign, where he put up a .795 OPS. Acuna stole 57 bags with nine home runs and 28 doubles a year after stealing 40 with 11 home runs and 16 doubles. He also scored 93 runs and drove in 63 in 121 games in 2023. He has primarily played shortstop and second base, but also played a bit in center field. He has excellent range to go along with a solid arm, allowing him to play all over the diamond. After the trade to New York, he struggled at the plate, particularly in the power department, but should he start to hit the ball in the air more consistently, he could increase his extra-base hit numbers significantly.
4. Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF (MLB #97)
Clifford was an 11th-round pick by the Astros in 2022 and began to shoot up prospect rankings before he was traded to the Mets along with Drew Gilbert for Justin Verlander at the 2023 trade deadline. His commitment to Vanderbilt worried teams in the draft, allowing him to drop to 343rd overall, but the Astros managed to sign him for second-round bonus money. Between Single-A and High-A, Clifford slashed .262/.374/.480 with a .854 OPS in his first full pro season. The 19-year-old had 20 doubles and 81 RBIs to go along with 24 home runs, tied for second amongst MiLB teenagers. He walks at a solid rate but does strike out more often than you would hope. He isn’t particularly special in the outfield, but he has a solid arm and could project as well enough in the corner outfield and has also seen time at first base. Wherever he ends up playing, the bat is good enough to carry him through the minors and to New York before too long.
5. Marco Vargas, SS/2B/3B
Vargas was signed out of Mexico by the Marlins in 2022 for just $17,500 as an international free agent. He got off to a quick start as a pro before being traded to the Mets in the deal that sent closer David Robertson to Miami in July 2023. In his first two professional seasons in rookie ball in the Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League and a short stint in Single-A St. Lucie, Vargas slashed .296/.427/.421 with a .848 OPS. In 107 games, he has 27 stolen bases and 88 walks to just 70 strikeouts as a 17 and 18-year-old. His power hasn’t developed yet, with just four homers between the two seasons, but as he grows into his frame, his quick lefty stroke and hard contact should help turn many of his 27 doubles into four-base hits. However, Vargas is still seen as a highly advanced hitter for his age. Vargas has spent time between second, third, and short throughout his career.
6. Christian Scott, RHP
Scott was selected in the 5th round in the 2021 draft out of Florida and rose quickly to the top pitcher in the Mets organization after a breakout 2023 season. Between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A, the 24-year-old pitched a 2.57 ERA over 19 starts in 87.2 innings. Scott struck out 107 batters with an 11.0 K/9 while walking just 1.2 batters per nine innings. He allowed just five homers all season, all in Double-A Binghamton. He throws a mid to high 90s fastball to go along with a plus slider and a changeup. His ability to find the zone and prevent home runs could help him crack the Mets rotation as early as the 2024 season. However, his capacity to improve the back end of his repertoire, perhaps adding a fourth pitch, will make or break his potential as a major league starter.
7. Ronny Mauricio, SS/2B/3B
Mauricio was signed by the Mets for $2.1 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 and has been near the top of the Mets farm system ever since, even being ranked as the organization’s top prospect at times. He finally met his potential with a great 2023 season in Triple-A Syracuse, slashing .292/.346/.506 with a .852 OPS. He hit 23 home runs with 30 doubles, 71 RBIs, 76 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases. He was called up to the majors in September and put up a .643 OPS over 26 games. His first MLB hit was a 117.3 MPH double, the hardest hit ball of any Met all season. After playing almost entirely shortstop before, Mauricio spent time at shortstop, second base, third base, and left field in 2023. However, while playing in the Dominican Winter League, Mauricio tore his ACL and will miss almost all, if not the entirety of the 2024 season. He was expected to compete for a starting role on the 2024 team.
8. Blade Tidwell, RHP
New York drafted Tidwell in the 2nd round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Tennessee. He had a solid first full professional season between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, pitching 116.0 innings over 25 starts. He put up a 3.57 ERA with 153 strikeouts and an 11.9 K/9. The 22-year-old had a bit of an inconsistent season, as he had an ERA over 5.00 in April and May before going underneath 2.00 in June and July. However, after being promoted to Binghamton in August, he struggled again over eight starts. Tidwell mixes a fastball with a slider, curveball, and changeup. He has some control concerns, walking 5.0 batters per nine innings so far in the minors, but hopefully can improve upon that as he moves closer to New York.
9. Kevin Parada, C
The Mets selected Parada out of Georgia Tech with the 11th overall pick of the 2022 MLB draft, the compensation pick for not signing top pick Kumar Rocker the year prior. In his first full professional season, Parada slashed .245/.324/.428 with a .751 OPS with 14 home runs and 23 doubles between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A. Parada struggled through injuries throughout some of the season but managed to play 105 games, catching 72 of them. The defense has never been Parada’s strong suit, and while he has shown some potential there, his below-average arm strength allows a high percentage of stolen bases, catching just 18% of runners in 2023. As Parada enters his age 22 season, he has a lot to prove, both offensively and defensively. However, even after a mediocre first pro season, there is still significant potential in the young catcher.
10. Colin Houck, SS
Houck was selected with the 32nd overall pick of the 2023 draft out of Parkview High School in Georgia. A top quarterback recruit as well, Houck was ranked as MLB’s #12 draft prospect before falling to the Mets at 32. He played just nine games in rookie ball, hitting .241 with a .699 OPS, playing primarily at shortstop but also playing a bit at second and third. In his senior year of high school, Houck slashed .487/.589/.857 with eight home runs, 14 doubles, and 16 stolen bases, winning the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year award. Houck projects as an average runner with plus power, especially to the pull side. As he focuses solely on baseball going into his age 19 season, the Mets hope some issues, such as swing and miss concerns, can be alleviated. Houck, who has a strong arm, is currently a shortstop, but many believe he best projects long-term at third base.
Honorable Mentions: Jeremy Rodriguez (SS/2B), Mike Vasil (SP), Alex Ramirez (OF)
