In case you hadn’t heard, the Mets acquired Juan Soto this winter. Soto is one of the best hitters in the game and will instantly boost New York’s lineup. Bringing back Pete Alonso also helps as they team up with Francisco Lindor and an ascending Mark Vientos. Pitching will be critical here as Clay Holmes transitions to the rotation and Kodai Senga works his way back from injury. Being without Sean Manaea for a few starts and Frankie Montas for a few months could test the Mets. Ultimately, they should be strong enough to overcome it while contending for a division title.
Breakout/Bust:
Breakout – Brett Baty: For the past three seasons, Brett Baty has struggled whenever given a chance at the major league level. In 169 games, Baty has just a .215 average with 15 home runs and 55 RBI. His performance in the minor leagues, along with his prospect pedigree, has told a different story, though. Last year, Mark Vientos surged past Baty, but to the latter’s credit, he expanded his defensive versatility. That means he can start the season at second base while building on a strong spring.
Bust – Jeff McNeil: Prior to injuring his oblique this spring, there was talk about Jeff McNeil improving his approach at the plate. This is a story we’ve heard on multiple occasions and often subpar results. McNeil hasn’t been able to get back to the 23 home runs he hit in 2019 although he did hit .326 in 2022. Last year, McNeil was just .238 with 12 home runs and 44 RBI. With Baty starting the year at second base and Luisangel Acuna in the mix, it’s possible McNeil won’t regain regular playing time.
Key Prospects:
Hitting Prospect – Jett Williams: Based on the Mets’ depth, they’ve done a good job of increasing Jett Williams’ versatility in the field. While short in stature, the former first-round pick is a player to watch after he bounces back from injury woes last year that held him to just 33 games. In 2023, though, Williams hit .263 with 13 home runs, 81 runs scored, and 45 stolen bases in 121 games. With just six games at Triple-A to this point, Williams still needs a little more seasoning before we see in New York.
Pitching Prospect – Brandon Sproat: The Mets were aggressive last season with Brandon Sproat as he progressed from High-A to Triple-A. In the first two levels, Sproat dominated with ERAs of 1.07 and 2.45. When he got to Triple-A, Sproat was overmatched and finished with a 7.53 ERA over seven starts in 28.2 innings. The lack of success shouldn’t be a poor reflection on Sproat as he now got those adjustments out of the way. He’s capable of striking out more than a batter per inning, and now he just needs some more refinement as he adjusts to a higher level of baseball. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the big leagues towards the latter part of 2025.
Key Hitters:
1B: Pete Alonso: Prediction: .250 AVG, 37 HR, 100 RBI, 90 R, 3 SB
3B: Mark Vientos: Prediction: .255 AVG, 33 HR, 90 RBI, 80 R, 0 SB
SS: Francisco Lindor: Prediction: .265 AVG, 30 HR, 90 RBI, 105 R, 30 SB
LF: Brandon Nimmo: Prediction: .250 AVG, 18 HR, 75 RBI, 85 R, 7 SB
RF: Juan Soto: Prediction: .285 AVG, 40 HR, 110 RBI, 115 R, 7 SB
Key Starting Pitchers:
SP1: Clay Holmes: Prediction: 3.45 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 150 K, 11 W
SP2: Kodai Senga: Prediction: 3.50 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 170 K, 12 W
Key Bullpen Arms:
Closer: Edwin Diaz: Prediction: 2.85 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 95 K, 35 SV
SU1: AJ Minter: Prediction: 3.20 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 75 K, 3 SV
SU2: Reed Garrett: Prediction: 3.65 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 80 K, 2 SV
