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New York Mets’ Top 10 Outfield Prospects Heading Into 2015

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New York Mets' Top 10 Outfield Prospects Heading Into 2015

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The New York Mets’ farm system has long been known for pitching, but recently the position players have started to catch up. This is particularly true in the outfield, where the Mets are starting to build some depth, including a few players with the potential to be impact big leaguers. Heading into the 2015 season, here are the Mets’ top 10 outfield prospects.

10. Jared King

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10. Jared King

MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show
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Little about King stands out, but he does have solid tools all the way around. He had a .759 OPS in A-ball in 2014 in his first full season in the minors, despite missing time due to injury. He's not a potential difference maker in the big leagues, but if he can be a productive hitter in the upper minors, he's competent enough defensively to one day be the fifth outfielder on a major league roster.

9, Raphael Ramirez

Mets Prospect3
Kim Klement - USATODAY Sports

9. Raphael Ramirez

Mets Prospect3
Kim Klement - USATODAY Sports

The Mets took Ramirez in the 18th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, and he had a nice debut in the Gulf Coast League. He's a little undersized, but his speed gives him a chance to be a plus defender in center field -- he was 18-of-21 stealing bases in the GCL last year. Ramirez has great athleticism, but there are questions about whether or not he'll hit enough. But a .256 average with eight extra-base hits in 2014 was a nice start to his career.

8. Vicente Lupo

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Joe Camporeale - USATODAY Sports

8. Vicente Lupo

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Joe Camporeale - USATODAY Sports

Lupo tore up the Dominican Summer League as an 18-year-old in 2012, and after a sluggish 2013 he came back strong in 2014 with a line of .278/.415/.504. He doesn't offer much in the way of size or speed, but he has great strength and incredible amounts of raw power. Players who are barely 6-foot rarely make it to the majors on power alone, but the power Lupo has shown early in his minor league career warrants watching.

7. Ricardo Cespedes

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Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

7. Ricardo Cespedes

Mets Prospect1
Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

Cespedes was the Mets' most expensive international signing in 2013. He's just 17, so he is a long way away and has not yet made it stateside, but he's 6-foot-1 with a lot of room to fill out as he gets older. Cespedes has a nice left-handed swing that allows him to hit line drives, and this will help him handle better pitching as he moves up the ladder. He's obviously young, but the Mets project him as a center fielder with a high upside.

6. Ivan Wilson

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Joe Camporeale - USATODAY Sports

6. Ivan Wilson

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Joe Camporeale - USATODAY Sports

Wilson is a big-time athlete the Mets drafted in the third round in 2013, but he's been slow to turn that athleticism into baseball success. Right now, he's an all or nothing hitter, belting 11 home runs in 2014 but striking out 99 times with just a .176 average in 58 games. Obviously he needs to make more contact and round out his game, but the athleticism and raw power make him an intriguing prospect to watch over the next couple of years.

5. Champ Stuart

NYM
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5. Champ Stuart

NYM
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Stuart is an amazing athlete with unbelievable speed who's still trying to turn that athleticism into baseball skills. He put up a line of .256/.341/.340 in 2014, displaying a little bit of power and a decent approach. However, he struck out too much and did not look comfortable facing breaking pitches. If he can keep improving as a hitter, he has the potential to be a plus defender in center field and a terror on the base paths in the majors.

4. Wuilmer Becerra

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Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

4. Wuilmer Becerra

Mets Prospect2
Brad Penner - USATODAY Sports

At age 19, Becerra had a bit of a breakout season in 2014, hitting .300/.351/.469 in rookie ball. He has a 6-foot-4 frame that he's starting to fill out, and along with good bat speed he has a lot of raw power. He's also starting to become a more complete hitter, as evidenced by his .300 average last year. He's a few years away from the majors, but if he can put it all together, Becerra has the tools to be an average or better MLB right fielder.

3. Cesar Puello

Cesar Puello
Kim Klement - USATODAY Sports

3. Cesar Puello

Cesar Puello
Kim Klement - USATODAY Sports

Puello may be approaching his last chance with the Mets, as he's out of options in 2015 and is coming off a disappointing season in 2014. That being said, he still has great tools, and the memory of an explosive 2013 season at Double-A is enough to think Puello is still capable of being a useful big leaguer. However, he's going to have to earn a spot on the opening day roster this spring or else the Mets will have to put him on waivers.

2. Michael Conforto

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2. Michael Conforto

Michael Conforto Mets
Dave Weaver - USATODAY Sports

Conforto had an impressive pro debut last summer after the Mets drafted him in the first round. He has a nice blend of power and patience at the plate, although he does tend to strike out too much and will be defensively limited to left field. However, Conforto is a fairly safe bet to make it to the big leagues, and while he'll start 2015 in A-ball, he's likely to move fast through the minors and may be able to reach the big leagues by 2016.

1. Brandon Nimmo

Brandon Nimmo
Mark J. Rebilas - USATODAY Sports

1. Brandon Nimmo

Brandon Nimmo
Mark J. Rebilas - USATODAY Sports

Nimmo had an impressive 2014 season, first forcing the Mets to promote him to Double-A midseason and then finishing the season strong after an adjustment period. He's starting to fill out his frame, which has led to more power in games; however, Nimmo continues to strike out a lot and struggle against lefties. With another year in the minors of developing and improving, Nimmo may be ready to help the Mets in the big leagues.

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