MLB’s list of Top 100 prospects came out last week, and it’s easy to be skeptical about the validity of some of the names that are on it. The baseball prospect game is a crapshoot, after all, and it’s impossible to know who’ll make it and who won’t.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t some validity to the list. Jeffrey Lutz of MLB.com wrote up a list of teams and how many players they have who started their careers by making this list, and for the New York Mets, there are two obvious ones along with two new names the Mets hope will power their season this year.
Juan Soto, right fielder (6)
Soto has obviously justified being on this list as a top ten prospect, and you can make an argument that he should have been at the top of the list when he came out. He’s turned out to be a generational hitter who will almost certainly make teh Hall of Fame someday, and he even turned himself into a base stealer last season.
The one remaining mountain to climb for Soto is his subpar defense. His -13 runs rating sticks out like a sore thumb in that future Hall of Fame resume, and Soto has vowed improvement this year.
Francisco Lindor, shortstop (11)
Lindor is right there with Soto in stature, and Soto and Lindor are the two guys who make the Mets go. The shortstop has more than justified his big contract, and his power numbers have spiked in a big way lately, with 30+ home runs in each of the last three seasons. Lindor isn’t always the most focused player on the field, and his flamboyant style isn’t for everyone, but he’s now the face of the Mets given that Soto prefers to do his work quietly in the background.
Bo Bichette, infielder (48)
Bichette replaces traded outfielder on this list, and he faces big expectations in New York. The big question for Bichette will be his defense, as he’ll be shifting over to third base, which is a position he’s never played. His signing was controversial, and it’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to the rigors of the New York market.
Freddy Peralta (63)
Peralta is the other new Met on this list, and he’ll instantly slot into the ace role. His numbers last year were outstanding to the point that he got Cy Young votes, and if he duplicates them in New York he’ll make Mets fans very happy.