Alvarez, Baty, Mauricio Make Baseball America’s Top 100
Courtesy of the Arizona Fall League
Baseball America announced their 2022 Top 100 prospects. Three Mets enter into the fold.
Consensus Mets top prospect Francisco Alvarez climbs one spot to No. 13. Alvarez ended 2021 as Baseball America’s 14th-ranked prospect, soaring from his 2020 ranking of 61. Alvarez’s ascension is no surprise to Mets fans. He hit 22 home runs in Brooklyn to go with a staunch .889 OPS. Alvarez has yet to play above High-A Brooklyn, but the soon-to-be 21-year-old is widely expected to rise above High-A in 2022.
Brett Baty finds himself 13 slots higher on the 2022 ranking at No. 39 after ending 2021 at No. 52. Much like Alvarez, the 2019 first-round selection rising higher is no surprise.
Baty blasted through Brooklyn in 2021. He hit .309 in 181 at-bats, netting seven home runs while maintaining a .911 OPS. A promotion to Double-A Binghamton, and some exposure to playing corner outfield, did nothing to truly slow down Baty.
In 151 Double-A at-bats, Baty hit another five home runs with a .787 OPS and a more than respectful .364 on-base percentage. In the Arizona Fall League All-Star game, Baty put on an exit velocity showcase.
Brett Baty tonight in the AFL Fall Stars game:
103 mph forceout
101 mph groundout
104 mph double ???? pic.twitter.com/HhxlC5BHfJ— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) November 14, 2021
The Top 100 rankings wasn’t all good news for Mets fans and prospects. Ronny Mauricio dropped 20 slots from No. 72 down to No. 92. Mauricio has the size and the power to stick on this list, but as Baseball America notes “Mauricio needs to become a more selective hitter”.
In his last 392 at-bats, Mauricio has struck out 101 times and walked just 24. His .290 OPB won’t turn many heads in a positive way, but if improved pitch selection yields more than 19 homeruns and more balls in play then he too will rise above Binghamton sooner than later.
Mark Vientos finds himself off the 2022 list entirely, Vientos finished No. 88 on the 2021 ranking. After scorching through Binghamton and continuing to rake in his brief exposure to Triple-A Syracuse, Mets fans have more than minor league expectations for the 22-year old.
The right handed swinging Vientos has more than a little defensive exposure all across the diamond seeing innings at first base, third base, and left field. Vientos’ defensive versatility and high-contact plate approach make his rise to the big leagues a more than reasonable 2022 expectation.
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