Mets Minors: Brandon Sproat and the future top 10

The Mets are in a playoff run with the Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks this Spring and that was probably more than I would have hoped for seeing that our Ace would only pitch in one game for the team. The Mets are still very much relevant and a lot of that credit goes to Francisco Lindor but plenty also belongs to former prospects like: Mark Vientos (who I was repeatedly told was a AAAA Japanese League player), Jose Butto, and Christian Scott. With 2024 winding down I wanted to look into the Top Ten prospects and who among them might contribute in 2025.

The way I see things, the Mets have seven (7) prospects in their Top 10 who could make impacts in the 2025 season. A lot depends upon if the Mets bring back Pete Alonso and or go after big free agent fish like Juan Soto or Alex Bregman. Opportunities exist for Met prospects looking to make debuts in 2025.

1. Brandon Sproat, RHSP (23), AAA – I currently rank Sproat as the #1 prospect in the organization despite the bumps he’s faced since his promotion to AAA. He began his year with High A Brooklyn and earned first a promotion to Binghamton and then a promotion to Syracuse. Had his numbers been better in AAA I would have suggested him as a primary plan for a rotation spot next year but given his hiccups he’s more likely a Spring Training audition with almost no chance of breaking camp with the big league squad. Instead the Mets will return him to AAA and hope he’s ready to shine when they make their call. This call will 100% come and Sproat could finish the season as a cornerstone of the Mets’ starting rotation.
2. Ronny Mauricio, 3B/OF (23), MLB [IL] – Had he not been injured who knows where he’d be today. Instead with only 101 career MLB at bats he remains listed as a prospect. The switch hitting lead gloved shortstop showed some success at third before he was sidelined with injury and while he could show up in uniform this year there is about a snowball’s chance of that actually happening. With the repeated failures of Brett Baty to develop at the major league level, Mauricio has emerged as a potential answer for the Mets at third. With Vientos, Baty and Mauricio all on the roster, I think the Mets will sit out the Alex Bregman sweepstakes and give an internal option a chance. I still think Vientos is best used as the team’s first baseman or DH and I think Brett Baty won’t shine in Mets uniform, which leaves Mauricio as the future at third.
3. Carson Benge, OF (21), A – The Mets used their top pick to get the best overall player available to them in the draft with Benge. He’s a good all around player and has performed well in his late season audition. He will be sent to the difficult posting of Brooklyn in 2025 and has no chance of reaching the majors without some sort of divine performance there.
4. Ryan Clifford, OF/1B (21), AA – Surprisingly, Clifford has proven the better half of the package the Mets traded Justin Verlander (and loads of money) for. Part of that is health but a large part is ceiling. Clifford has big league impact power and while his performance is streaky he has gone through patches where he has been an offensive powerhouse this season. My favorite thing about Clifford is his OBP which comes in over 140 points above his average. He may be a low BA hitter and strike out a lot but he does know how to take a walk, which is vital. Clifford should begin the year in AAA but should be in discussion to join the big league roster as soon as an injury clears a path.
5. Jett Williams, SS/2B/OF (20), AA – Who knows where he’d be were it not for the early season injury bug that struck two of the Mets Top 5 prospects in rapid succession. The #1 ranked prospect going into 2024 is clearly being ranked down a peg. Williams is small guy at only 5’7” but he’s shown surprising power thus far and has been compared to Jose Altuve. That remains a best case scenario for Williams who spent most of the year injured and hasn’t looked amazing since returning. The Mets need to temper their plans for him but I think it’s conceivable to have him reach the majors in 2025 especially if he has a strong Spring and Jeff McNeil continues to look mediocre. Depending on what the Mets do in free agency the future position for Williams remains cloudy.
6. Drew Gilbert, OF (23), AAA – While less diminutive than Williams, at 5’9”, Gilbert is not exactly a prototypical outfielder. There is still plenty of reasons for optimism with Gilbert who was looking very good early, before being hurt. That injury derailed what could have been a 2024 debut and adds to speculation that the Mets could make an enormous splash in 2025 Free Agency which would limit the outfield opportunities even more. Gilbert doesn’t strike me as a star player which is why he’s slipped below Ryan Clifford. He does a number of things well and could be a viable MLB regular but he needs to show a lot more to earn his way to Queens.
7. Jonah Tong, RHSP (21), AA – It’s a little insane that Mets scouting started Tong in Low A this season but the pitching prospect absolutely outclassed the level and proved ready for promotion after 18.2 IP. In Brooklyn he was not perfect but showed improvement and development clearly earning a second in-season promotion to AA. There he has pitched one absolute gem and has become one of the most rapidly rising prospects in recent history. He should absolutely return to AA in 2025 but with the control problems held by other top pitching prospects in the organization, Tong could find himself either skipping AAA or quickly vaulting past other more advanced pitchers right to the majors.
8. Jesus Baez, SS (19), A+ [IL] – One of the players on this list with no chance of impacting the majors in 2025, Baez has earned his way into the Top 10 with a solid year and advancing beyond his age bracket prior to his injury. He may not stick at shortstop long term but is on track to be an impactful player in the next few years.
9. Blade Tidwell, RHSP (23), AAA – An extremely frustrating prospect, Tidwell began the year in AA and seemed to turn a corner with regards to his control issues. Unfortunately when promoted to AAA his control issues went from under control to a full blown wild fire. In 70.0 innings he has 48 walks and that isn’t sustainable. He has quality stuff and has shown an ability to use it but the 2024 season got completely away from him. Should these issues continue I think the Mets need to consider Tidwell in the bullpen where he could develop into a plus reliever. It’s possible he makes an impact in Queens in either a starting or relief role in 2025
10. Jeremy Rodriguez, SS (18), R – Following behind Baez is an even younger player who has the potential to have a big role in the Mets future but will have no role in their 2025 season. The one major concern is that his last game action was in July. Hopefully he is able to start the year healthy and productive to chase Baez up through the minors.

Players Outside the Top 10 who Could Impact 2025

– Kevin Parada, C AA – Parada was once thought of as a Top 5 prospect but he’s been pretty pedestrian in 2024. He could see time in the majors if Alvarez is injured again.
– Nolan McLean, RHSP AA – Since dropping the offense from his game his pitching has looked good and he’s close to the majors in terms of development. Still feels like a reliever to me.
– Alexander Ramirez, OF AA – The breakout seemed to be happening but the mirage vanished. He now looks more like a physically talented 4th outfielder.
– Nate Lavender, LHRP AAA – If not for injury he’d be a major part of the bullpen already.