The New York Mets, who finished fourth in the NL East division and 12 games below.500, will try to forget about their terrible 2023 year.
Their dismal play caused the team to start selling off some of its high-profile players in order to acquire promising pieces in exchange for their enormous salary, which resulted in them paying a record-setting luxury tax.
Outfielder Drew Gilbert, who joined the Mets from the Houston Astros in the Justin Verlander trade, was one of those highly sought-after prospects.
Gilbert, who is now ranked 52nd by MLB Pipeline, is a consensus Top-100 talent in the sport and is currently their No. 2 overall prospect.
In his first full season of professional baseball in 2023, he had a monster season after being selected by the Astros in the first round in 2022.
After signing with the New York Mets, Gilbert’s performance increased even more. In 35 games, he posted a slash line of.325/.423/.561, six home runs, and 21 RBI. While managing the other players and covering all three outfield positions, he also demonstrated excellent defense.
Therefore, given that his anticipated MLB debut is not expected until 2025, why may he make it in 2024?
David Stearns, the new president of baseball operations for the Mets, said in November that he wants to give their younger guys more playing time.
“We will construct a roster that provides enough flexibility that our young, talented players do get a chance over the course of a year,” he said.
The 23-year-old, whose talent profile makes him a potential early call-up candidate, will also be close to the Major League roster.
“Despite an aggressive swing, he does not strike out at an alarming rate (under 20 percent strikeout rate at the Double-A level) and has above-average plate discipline … He is an above-average athlete and that translates into the outfield, where he can handle the responsibilities of center field while possessing an arm strong enough to play right field … I fully expect Gilbert to begin the season with Triple-A Syracuse with the opportunity to potentially get a look at the big league level in the first half of 2024,” writes Joe DeMayo of SNY.
In light of this, don’t be surprised if their star prospect has numerous chances to shine for New York in the upcoming season.