While the 2023 season was extremely disappointing for the New York Mets at the big league level, at least they used the down-year productively to bolster their farm system. Thanks to some creative accounting with Steve Cohen’s pocketbook, the Mets ate down contracts on their veterans in an aim to buy prospects and the strategy proved to be very beneficial.

Big trades of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer highlighted a deadline sell-off of seven players that netted the Mets a handful of prospects, including four that are going to be featured in our top 15.

When combining their deadline additions, with some breakout performances from their homegrown talent, the Mets farm system is in better shape than it has been in a long time.

1. 1. Jett Williams no – 2B – (Double-A)

Height/Weight: 5’8″, 180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (14) – 2022 (NYM) | ETA: 2025

Compact but explosive, Williams is a great athlete with more impact than his frame would suggest. His polish at the plate helped him make quick work of the lower levels.

Offense

A relaxed, narrow setup, Williams uses a decent-sized leg kick to gather into his back hip, but controls his lower half well. Despite his smaller frame, Williams is strong with a powerful lower-half, using the ground well to create power.

Between his lower half control and minimal movement with his hand load, Williams is consistently on time and makes elite swing decisions. He is one of the most patient hitters in the Minor Leagues, running a chase rate of just 12% in 2023.

Producing average exit velocities, Williams consistently drives the ball in the air with good carry (35% ground ball rate), giving him a chance to hit for average game power. Nothing jumps off of the page with Williams offensively, but he is solid across the board and gets the most out of his tools with his elite feel for the strike zone and overall knack for hitting.

Defense/Speed

An easy plus runner, Williams is a phenomenal athlete who the Mets have already played at shortstop, second base, and center field. His most likely home is probably second base, where he would project as an above average defender. He is a passable defender at shortstop, but his actions are a bit inconsistent with fringy range.

Aggressive on the bases, Williams swiped 45 bags on 52 tries in the 2023 season.

Outlook

It’s easy to see why the Mets are so excited about their 2022 first round selection. He combines a high-floor offensive profile with dynamic athleticism and just enough impact to provide exciting upside.

A sure thing to be a consistent on-base threat, he and Termarr Johnson became the first teenagers since 2005 to walk 100 times in a Minor League season. Williams could provide value with the glove at second base or even in center field if he gets more reps out there. A well-rounded profile, he seems like a relatively safe bet to be a good big league regular.

1. 2. Drew Gilbert – OF – (Double-A)

Height/Weight: 5’9″, 195 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 1st Round (28), 2022 (HOU) | ETA: 2024

Above average tools across the board and a fiery competitor, Gilbert has the makings of a really balanced, yet productive ballplayer.

Offense

Gilbert starts with a slightly wide stance and his weight shifted on his back side before using a toe tap for timing. He has above average bat speed with a knack for barreling baseballs. Despite his smaller frame, Gilbert uses his lower half well to produce average power with flashes of above average pop to his pull side.

The athleticism is evident in the box for Gilbert showcasing plenty of adjustability both with the barrel and his body. His 90th percentile exit velocity of 103.5 MPH is a notch above average, but there might be a bit more impact in the tank as Gilbert gets his best swings off more consistently.

He was challenged with a quick bump to Double-A where he started a tad slow before gaining his footing. Gilbert posts above average contact rates and a patient approach.

Defense/Speed

A borderline-plus runner, Gilbert’s speed is better used in the outfield than on the base paths. He covers ground quickly in center with direct routes and good reads. With a plus arm as well, Gilbert should not only stick in center field, but be an above average defender there.

His speed has not quite made its way to the base paths in the form of stolen bases yet, but Gilbert is still valuable when on base.

Outlook

Traded to the Mets at the 2023 Deadline for Justin Verlander, Gilbert instantly became the team’s best outfield prospect. It’s extremely difficult to poke a hole in Gilbert’s game with above average tools everywhere you look and a motor that teams love.

3. Christian Scott – RHP – (Triple-A)

Height/Weight: 6’4″, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 5th Round (142) – NYM (2021) | ETA: 2024

An improved fastball and a leap command wise helped Scott break out in 2023, posting one of the best K-BB figures in the Minor Leagues. The right-hander built on the success by adding a sweeper in the offseason that has yielded impressive results in the early going.

Arsenal

Scott has overpowered Double-A hitters with his 94-96 mph fastball, attacking the zone with plenty of confidence. The pitch is unique because he features a three quarters release, but is still able to maintain more ride than run on the fastball, creating an incredibly flat and unfamiliar approach angle for hitters.

The result was an opponent batting average below .200 and a ridiculous in zone whiff rate of 33% paired with a swinging strike rate of 19% on his fastball in Double-A. Scott’s ability to miss bats within the zone and plus command combined to give him a 73% strike rate on the pitch in 2023.

Working off of his fastball is a plus changeup with good arm side fade in the mid 80s. Scott sells it really well with his arm speed and release, making it extremely difficult for hitters to differentiate from his fastball. He also has an excellent feel for the pitch, landing it for a strike 67% of the time in 2023 while racking up a chase rate near 40%.

Scott made some tweaks to his slider, throwing two variations that are both improved from what we saw from him in 2023. He adding more of a true sweeper to the fold in the mid 80s which plays up from his more horizontal release, while also adding more vertical drop to his traditional slider at a higher velocity.

Outlook

Assuming the adjustments to his slider continue to translate, Scott boasts the pitch mix of a mid-rotation starter with the command to supplement it.

A late bloomer, Scott is a bit older than most of the top pitching prospects surrounding him on the top 100 list, however he only threw 121 collegiate innings at the University of Florida and is knocking on the door of his big league debut in his third pro season. Scott is the Mets best pitching prospect and should grab a spot in the rotation at some point 2024.

4. Luisangel Acuña – SS – (Triple-A)

Height/Weight: 5’10″, 180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $425K – 2018 (TEX) | ETA: 2024

Traded to the Mets for Max Scherzer at last year’s Trade Deadline, Luisangel Acuña may not possess the superstar potential of his brother Ronald, but he is advanced for his age with intriguing tools on both sides of the ball.

Offense

A nearly identical setup to his brother, Acuña lacks the lower half control and explosiveness of Ronald but still boasts a quick bat/hands and plenty of athleticism. He has looked much more under control with his base in 2023, and the results have been evident in his 5% jump in contact rate along with a 5% cut in his ground ball rate.

Previously a bit of a drifter, Acuña’s focus on keeping his weight back have helped him make massive gains against velocity. He registered just a .599 OPS against fastballs 94+ MPH last season, but has upped that figure to .763 in 2023.

Acuña’s hands are quick and adjustable and he uses the entire field well. Though he is somewhat of an aggressive hitter, Acuña still draws a decent amount of walks and has kept his strikeout rate in check at Double-A.

If Acuña fills out a bit more and continues to improve with his ability to sync his upper and lower half, there is 20-homer upside with the ability to spray the ball all over the field.

Defense/Speed

An above-average runner with great footwork, Acuña already looks like a strong defender at short. His actions are smooth and his arm grades as plus, providing plenty of optimism that he can develop into a plus defender at shortstop.

A menace on the base paths, Acuña swiped 57 bases on 67 attempts in 2023.

Outlook

Acuña still has some developing to do at the plate, but his athleticism, advanced glove and above average production as a 21-year-old in Double-A have him riding as much helium as any prospect in the Mets’ system while also solidifying his floor a bit. He has enough offensive upside to be an above-average bat at the shortstop position with the complementary skillset to make him an everyday option at the top of the order.

5. Ryan Clifford – OF – (Double-A)

Height/Weight: 6’3″, 210 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 11th Round (343), 2022 (HOU) | ETA: 2026

Drafted in the 11th round by the Astros, Clifford signed for second round money ($1.25 million) to forego his Vanderbilt commitment. He tapped into his big raw power in his age 19 season, joining first rounder Drew Gilbert in the Mets return for Justin Verlander.

Offense

A simple operation in the box, Clifford starts wide with his hands high, coiling into his back side in tandem with a small stride. His simple moves help him maintain his timing though he has the tendency to drift onto his front side, resulting in more weak contact and pop ups.

When he keeps his weight back, Clifford can do considerable damage, posting a 90th percentile exit velocity of 107 MPH and launching 24 home runs. Despite the hit tool projecting as fringy, Clifford did damage against all pitch types in 2023. He has struggled mightily left on left which is something to monitor.

A pretty good feel for the strike zone, Clifford walked at a 12.5% clip in 2023 and saw his swing decisions improve as he became more acclimated to High-A. There’s 30 home run upside for Clifford as he starts to lift the ball more consistently, especially to his pull side.

Defense/Speed

A below average runner, Clifford has seen action both in right field and first base. His plus arm could be more of an asset in right field, though his limited range and iffy reads could result in him winding up at first base.

Outlook

Clifford’s power potential is his calling card and he has already put it on display at the lower levels. While there may be minimal defensive value, Clifford could at least offer some versatility if he can develop into a passable defender in right field.

Ultimately, the Mets are focused on Clifford’s 30 home run upside which the lefty slugger is already well on his way to tapping into if he can sustain at least fringy contact rates at the upper levels.