Recent trades, notably the ones for Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, and Marcus Stroman, have decimated the New York Mets‘ farm. Most of the high-end talent is in the lower minors now.
Trading Jarred Kelenic to the Seattle Mariners last year was a blow to the system, which lost its brightest prospect.
However, that doesn’t mean that there are no players on the verge of contributing to the major league team. Yes, most of the Mets‘ spots are filled with either young, talented players like Jeff McNeil or Pete Alonso; or high-salary veterans like Robinson Cano, but these players have the potential to help the Mets in 2020:
Five prospects in the New York Mets‘ system that can contribute next year
Ali Sanchez, C
The Mets think highly of Sanchez, as they added him to their 40-man roster in November. That way, he can’t be scooped up by a rebuilding team in the Rule 5 Draft.
Sanchez will play the 2020 season as a 23-year-old, defense-first catcher. He will most likely start in Triple-A, a level he failed last season after a decent showing in Double-A.
The Venezuelan backstop hit .278 with one home run, 13 doubles, 28 runs scored, and 30 runs batted in 270 Double-A at-bats. His .674 OPS there is proof of his defense-first nature. He had a .179 average in 56 Triple-A at-bats.
If he can hit decently at Triple-A and the Mets need to have a catcher around, he may get the call since he is now in the 40-man roster. He is a fantastic defensive backstop with a cannon of an arm, great instincts, and knows how to call a game.
Andres Gimenez, SS
Of the five prospects listed here, Gimenez may be the least likely to be called up to the major leagues in 2020, but he is also the best prospect of the bunch by all accounts.
Small but toolsy, he is excellent at shortstop with athleticism, range, great hands, and instincts. He also has above-average speed but not much power.
Gimenez spent the entire season in Double-A and hit .250 with nine home runs and 28 stolen over 432 at-bats. He had a reverse split, batting .223/.274/.365 against right-handed pitching and .320/.394/.443 versus lefties.
Given his slick glove, Gimenez could play a good shortstop for the Mets right now. However, the team prefers to let him face Triple-A pitching first.
Patrick Mazeika, C
Mazeika is a left-handed hitting catcher who hasn’t played in Triple-A yet but had a great year in Double-A. There, he hit 16 homers and drove in 69 runs while hitting .245. His OPS was .738.
While he is no Buster Posey or Yadier Molina behind the plate, he can make it work. His arm isn’t his most potent tool, but he is known for getting would-be baserunners out around a 30 percent rate over his career.
He is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, so it is not a given that he will be with the Mets in 2020. However, if he masters Triple-A, he could find himself in Flushing in the summer.
Luis Carpio, 2B/SS
Like Mazeika, Carpio is also eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, so he may not stick with the Mets. There is not much power in his profile, but at 22 years old, it may come.
Carpio’s defense is outstanding, and he can play in second or shortstop. He is willing to draw walks and had been experimenting with modifying his swing plane so he can add more power. However, he only hit four homers between Class A-Advanced and Double-A last season.
Overall, he hit .263/.347/.362 and a .709 OPS in 243 Double-A at-bats. He has had shoulder surgery, so his power may take a spike in 2020 now that it is well in the rearview mirror.
Sam Haggerty, 2B/OF
Statistically, 2019 was a breakout season for Haggerty, a 25-year old who can play in the outfield and second base.
He played in Class A-, Double-A, Triple-A, and even the majors. He accrued the most games in Double-A, with 68, and he hit .259/.370/.356 there with a .339 wOBA and a 120 wRC+. Additionally, he also stole 19 bases there and 23 at all levels.
His biggest strength as a player is his ability to take walks. However, as there isn’t much thump in his swing, big leaguers can attack him aggressively to see if he can do damage. Will he? It is uncertain, but he could help the New York Mets in 2020.