New York Mets Prospects Looking to Make Opening Day Roster
The New York Mets have 2 top 100 prospects that they received from the Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander trades respectively ready to make their Major League Baseball (MLB) debuts.
#53 Drew Gilbert
Drew Gilbert is a former first round pick by the Houston Astros, he is 23-years old and plays in the outfield (OF).
Drew Gilbert flew through the Astros minor league system. The 23-year old was making an early push for a promotion to the AA-level of the minors, until an injury sidelined him.
In 2023 Gilbert started the season at the high A-level, and ended the season at the AA-level.
At the high A-level Gilbert played in 21 games, with a .360 batting average (avg), with 31 hits (H), 18 runs batted in (RBI), and a 1.107 on base plus slugging percentage (OPS).
With the Astros AA team Gilbert played 60 games, where he produced 54 H, 6 home runs (HR), 20 RBI, with a .241 avg, and a .713 OPS.
Drew Gilbert was traded from the Houston Astros to the New York Mets along with other prospects for Justin Verlander in 2023
With the Mets AA team Gilbert played 35 games, where he produced 40 H, 6 home runs (HR), 21 RBI, with a .325 avg, and a .984 OPS.
Drew Gilbert was invited to Spring Training this year with a chance to make the Mets opening day roster. In 5 spring training games the 23-year old had an .111 avg, 2 RBI, and a .311 OPS.
#66 Luisangel Acuña
Luisangel Acuña is a 22-year old shortstop/third baseman (SS/3B) signed by the Texas Rangers in 2018’s International Free Agency.
Acuña impressed by reaching the AA-level at the age of 20-years old, in 2023 Acuña played all of his games at the AA-level.
With the Texas Rangers AA team, Acuña played in 84 games, with 114 H, 7 HR, 51 RBI, with a .315 avg, and a .830 OPS.
Acuña ended up being traded midway through the 2023 season to the New York Mets for Max Scherzer.
Once traded to the New York Mets Acuña did not get a call up to the AAA-level, or the Major League level. But he also didn’t get demoted to high A.
Acuña played 37 games with the Mets AA team, where he had a .243 avg, and a .621 OPS. The SS/3B produced 36 H, 2 HR, and 12 RBIs for the Mets AA team.
Luisangel Acuña has been playing in the minor leagues for four seasons. In three of those seasons he has stolen at least forty bases. Acuña shows elite speed that he can use to beat out ground balls to the shortstop, or third basemen.
This speed ability also gives the 22-year old great range to be a SS, but due to Francisco Lindor having that position with the Mets, Acuña could see a change of position to second base, or center field.
Luisangel Acuña is the brother of reigning National League (NL) MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.
Acuña got an invite to spring training this year with the New York Mets, where he played in 5 games, with 3 H, and 1 RBI. The 22-year old had a .375 avg, and .875 OPS during spring training.