Mets post-draft top 30

by psiogen on Aug 23, 2025 6:07 PM EDT

Don't beat me up too badly, this is my first real attempt at a prospect list. On with the show:

1) Matt Harvey, RHP, 22

A+ & AA: 127.2 IP, 10.6 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 3.17 ERA

Mediocre ERA, excellent peripherals following AA promotion.

2) Zach Wheeler, RHP, 21

A+: 108 IP, 10.1 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, 3.75 ERA

Walks have been his nemesis, but he's been very stingy with them for the past month or so.

3) Jeurys Familia, RHP, 21

A+ & AA: 109 IP, 9.9 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 2.81 ERA

A touch of longball-itis in AA is the only black mark on a huge bounceback season.

4) Brandon Nimmo, OF, 18

Just your generic five-tool high-school phenom. More data needed.

5) Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF, 23

AAA: 221 PA, .298/.403/.505, 32 BB, 59 K, 5 SB

Still striking out too much, but the bump in his walk rate bodes well.

6) Jenrry Mejia, RHP, 21

Tommy John. Should be back midseason 2012, and hopefully will be given a chance to hone his stuff in AAA rather than being rushed back into the majors.

7) Matt Den Dekker, OF, 23

A+ & AA: 558 PA, .272/.345/.467, 47 BB, 139 K, 22 SB

Defensive wiz has shown better power than expected.

8) Cesar Puello, OF, 20

A+: 448 PA, .250/.306/.389, 17 BB, 98 K, 15 SB

Well, at least he hit 9 HR after just 1 in 2010. And he continues to possess the quirky secondary skill of HBP magnetism.

9) Michael Fulmer, RHP, 18

Just your generic high-school phenom with a big fastball and nasty curve.

10) Wilmer Flores, SS, 19

A+: 507 PA, .277/.317/.393, 25 BB, 61 K, 2 SB

Seems churlish to be downgrading a kid who just turned 20 this month, but at some point, he needs to hit like a top prospect again.

11) Reese Havens, 2B, 24

A+ & AA: 216 PA, .287/.370/.420, 24 BB, 56 K, 2 SB

Still a potential eveyday 2B, just has to stay on the field long enough to prove it.

12) Jordany Valdespin, SS, 23

AA & AAA: 500 PA, .290/.331/.468, 23 BB, 79 K, 34 SB

Questionable makeup, questionable defense, questionable eye, but he's plainly doing something right.

13) Cory Vaughn, OF, 22

A & A+: 481 PA, .266/.382/.396, 58 BB, 104 K, 10 SB

After a hot start with St. Lucie, he's struggled mightily for the past month or so.

14) Cory Mazzoni, RHP, 21

A-, A+: 11 IP, 12.3 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 0.82 ERA

Hard-throwing 2nd-rounder has been sharp in a tiny sample so far.

15) Juan Urbina, LHP, 18

Rk+: 46.1 IP, 7.6 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 5.83 ERA

Will still be 18 on opening day next year. Hopefully he can find a way to be less hittable to rookie-ball bats.

16) Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B, 19

A: 510 PA, .216/.264/.356, 29 BB, 100 K, 1 SB

Ouch.

17) Albert Cordero, C, 21

A: 370 PA, .283/.314/.388, 12 BB, 59 K, 43% CS

Being the Mets' best catching prospect is like being the world's least-despised child-molester, but hey, here he is.

18) Phil Evans, SS, 18

Sweet swinging overslot pick, debuted in rookie ball today.

19) Jack Leathersich, LHP, 20

A-: 10.2 IP, 18.6 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 0.84 ERA

Fastball/curve 5th rounder, strikeout machine in short NYPL sample. Potential relief ace.

20) Zach Lutz, 3B, 25

AAA: 221 PA, .316/.403/.534, 25 BB, 55 K, 0 SB

Hassled by injuries and blocked by David Wright, but he keeps hitting.

21) Akeel Morris, RHP, 18

Has given up more walks than hits in each of his first two pro seasons.

22) Juan Lagares, OF, 22

Org batting leader and toolsy 2005 Fernando Martinez co-signee is now an intriguing dark horse.

23) Luis Mateo, RHP, 21

Older than he once claimed but still has stuff. Making mincemeat of the DSL.

24) Rafael Montero, RHP, 20

Three-pich arsenal and dominance in DSL/GCL has Mets talking about him.

25) Josh Satin, 1B/2B, 26

Dude can hit baseballs.

26) Erik Goeddel, RHP, 22

Fastball/slider should get him to the show in some form if he can stay healthy.

27) Danny Muno, SS, 22

Intriguing future utlityman beating up on the NYPL.

28) Chris Schwinden, RHP, 24

29) Collin McHugh, RHP, 24

Next year's crop of Dillon Gee/Brian Bannister types.

30) Logan Verrett, RHP, 21

3rd-rounder with three good pitches, command and a maybe a little more projection.

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Read More: Cesar Puello (RF - NYM), Wilmer Flores (SS - NYM), Kirk Nieuwenhuis (CF - NYM), New York Mets

Comments

Not bad at the top

Like Nimmo a lot

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by mathisrocks5 on Aug 23, 2025 6:24 PM EDT reply actions

Thoughts

-Den Dekker is way too high, the power is nice but he’s still striking out way too much. His Double-A line (.242/.324/.434) is below average for someone who just turned 24.

-Flores is too low and his line (.277/.317/.393) isn’t as bad as people are making it out to be. This is still a guy who was a teenager three weeks ago and is playing in the extremely pitcher friendly FSL. Plus his walk rate and strikeout rate have both improved from his stint in the FSL last year.

-Verrett is way too low. If you’re gonna put Mazzoni and Leathersich in the top 20 then he belongs there as well. They have nice numbers but it’s a small sample size in relief, Verrett has a higher ceiling than both of them.

-If you include Mejia then you have to include F-Mart too, I would slot him somewhere in the 7-13 range.

by Metfan on Aug 23, 2025 6:53 PM EDT reply actions

How could you possibly include F-Mart?

He isn’t a prospect by any measure. Why not add Jose Reyes and David Wright?

by auclairkeithbc on Aug 23, 2025 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

F-Mart is still 22

by secret defense on Aug 23, 2025 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions

so what?

he has crossed every rookie threshold imaginable. he is not a prospect anymore. not saying he has no future, just saying unlike Mejia, who i think is still ROY eligible, while still by most standards no longer a prospect, F-Mart isn’t a prospect or eligible for ROY next year.

by auclairkeithbc on Aug 23, 2025 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

the definition of prospect status is not set in stone

some people view age rather than MLB games/AB/IP.

by secret defense on Aug 23, 2025 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

no

you might. but “some people” don’t.

by auclairkeithbc on Aug 23, 2025 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions

sure the official MLB regulation says 130 AB, but it is an arbitrary threshold which doesn't count things like walks, hbp, sacrifices etc. FMart has 131 AB, which is one bunt/walk/sac fly away from still being a rookie

and if you go by official regulations then Mejia isn’t a prospect neither since he’s exceeded 45 days on active roster.

by secret defense on Aug 23, 2025 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes exactly

I understand wanting to think of F-Mart as a prospect, but at least with Mejia, there is some technical justification to do so. Most people wouldn’t include Mejia on a prospect list. But honestly, no one should have F-Mart on the list, even though developmentally speaking, there is nothing wrong with viewing him as such.

by auclairkeithbc on Aug 23, 2025 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

BA standards are widely recognized

And service time is not a criteria. It is 50IP/130AB/30relief appearances.

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by Jeff Reese on Aug 23, 2025 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Service Time

is still an “Official” measure. But still FMart has no business being on any “prospect” list

by ADLC on Aug 24, 2025 2:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Mazzoni

His stuff is pretty damn good. I like Verrett too, but I don’t think he has a higher ceiling.

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by Jeff Reese on Aug 23, 2025 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Mazzoni could move up quite a bit next year

Overall, the Mets have a good top four, not much else beyond. Where do people think this system ranks?
I think Satin is too low, personally. And I am interested to see how Phil Evans does next year…really didn’t think he would sign, but could be a real good player, especially if he can stick at shortstop.

by cookiedabookie on Aug 23, 2025 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the top 2 quite a bit

Nimmo would probably be #3 for me. I’m not a huge Familia fan. After that, most of the guys I like are low in the system (Fulmer, Urbina, Morris, Evans, Tapia). Puello is still very intriguing, and he might crack my top 5. Flores needs to show me more production given his lack of defensive value. Havens is a complete shot in the dark; if he stays healthy, I like him as an above-average MLB second baseman, but he has never done that. It feels like the system should be around 20th overall (sorry for the stream of consciousness style).

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by Jeff Reese on Aug 23, 2025 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I just kind of chickened out on F-Mart

I really don’t know what to think of him. Some people think he’s still the real deal if he can just get off the DL, others say his knees are so shot that his career is essentially over. I punt.

On Den Dekker: I admit I’m probably higher on him than most. The .242/.324/.434 line isn’t great, but the strikeouts have really been his only problem; he’s been drawing more walks, he’s got speed and defense, and when he makes contact, he hits hard (46 2B, 11 3B, 14 HR in 158 pro games). He’s a bit old, but it’s also still his first full season. I’m not overly worried (yet) about two months of elevated Ks in AA.

by psiogen on Aug 23, 2025 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Darin Gorski

The only guy who looks like you missed to me. At least the only guy missing who I would grade at least a C+. Other differences I would have as far as names would mostly be swapping some C grade guys for others. Probably Tapia, Marte, and Armando Rodriguez would be the most interesting C grade guys missing.

Gorski has no real plus pitch, but three very solid MLB pitches, with the best command, feel, and pitchability in the system. Actually, BA says best change in the FSL. And while it’s not top of rotation stuff, I’d still say the raw stuff alone is still a step up from guys like Schwinden and McHugh. But the command and pitchability is some of the best I’ve seen.

by acerimusdux on Aug 23, 2025 9:22 PM EDT reply actions

Thing that worries me about Gorski is home runs

But I could be overreacting.

by psiogen on Aug 23, 2025 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Why?

His HR rate isn’t exactly high. He’s leading the FSL in ERA, 5th in FIP, and striking out 25.5% of batters faced. A 0.78 HR/9 just isn’t that alarming.

Pitchers working on new things, grips, etc., will occasionally hang a breaking ball or change up.

by acerimusdux on Aug 23, 2025 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I realize he's pitched well

I guess it’s just a gut feeling. His home run rates haven’t been awful, but it’s not a good sign that he’s given up 29 HR in 300 IP in tough hitting environments in the low minors. Keeping the ball in the park against advanced hitters is hard. Hopefully he makes me look silly.

by psiogen on Aug 23, 2025 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

3 omissions

I believe hard-throwing LH Josh Edgin, hard-throwing RH Domingo Tapia and Gorski should be on the list. Possibly instead of Goeddel (injury issues), McHugh (limited upside) and one of the two DSL pitchers who are older than Tapia at a lower level.
Still, for the first time in a lot of years, this system actually seems to have both some highly promising front line talent and even more so, a lot of depth to a point where it´s tough limiting the list to 30 prospects. Because one could easily add upper level prospects like G.Peavey, R.Carson, J.Marte, B.Holt, J.Stinson, Ar.Rodriguez, M.Cohoon or B.Moore for example who´d all have made such a list rather easily a few years ago when the talent base was much lower. The Mets also still have to pick 2 of the MIL 2nd tier prospects who - supposedly - won´t be top guys but not org. fillers either. Maybe someone like Gindl who´d also have a case to be included in a top 30.

For the first time in ages, it appears the Mets may have to make a few tough calls in terms of who to place on their 40-man roster this winter and who to leave exposed in the Rule V draft.

Of course, this system still lacks advanced impact hitting talent, so it´s probably not yet in the top 10 overall. However, thanks to 3 straight seasons of not trading away prospects, it´s certainly a system on the rise.

And while it has yet to turn out a true impact player again, it has produced several useful to promising major leaguers like 1b Ike Davis, LH Jon Niese, RH Dillon Gee, SS Ruben Tejada or 1b-OF Lucas Duda in the last 18 months along with adding spare parts like IF Justin Turner or RH Pedro Beato from the outside.

There´s still a lot of work to be done to turn this into a structurally sound and successful organization again - but one can see the strides both in terms of adding talent to the system and in terms of shedding payroll on the major league roster.

by Doob on Aug 24, 2025 1:42 AM EDT reply actions

Agree

I would drop the two DSL guys, neither that highly regarded at this point. Mateo was highly regarded back in 2008, but that was before they found bone chips in his elbow, and then discovered he was two years older than he had claimed. He still throws hard, but there are lots of guys in their 20s who can throw hard and look good in the DSL. There’s a reason he only got $150k this time.

I would also drop Muno, who was kind of a low upside polished college senior, so not that surprising what he’s doing in the NYPL.

For other intriguing recent additions, Tyler Pill isn’t much behind Mazzoni or Verrett, Bradley Marquez was one of their more intriguing draft picks (and a coup that he signed, even on a two sport deal), Craig Missingman has had a nice GCL debut for a 17-year old, and I’m also a bit intrigued by slick fielding SS Juan Carlos Gamboa (though at 5’ 7" he doesn’t have great upside).

But I would go with the three guys you mentioned plus Armando Rodriguez or Greg Peavey as the best candidates to add (though not sure those last two are better than McHugh).

by acerimusdux on Aug 24, 2025 6:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Taylor Whitenton

We think SP Whitenton could easily be included somewhere on this list, given the sketchy nature of some of these lower ranked players.Pitching well in AA-Ball, we think.

by Hairylady on Aug 27, 2025 8:50 AM EDT reply actions