Final winter, Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio took the Dominican Winter League by storm, slashing .287/.335/.468 for Los Tigres del Licey and incomes MVP honors. The 22-year-old was off to a good higher begin within the 2023–24 season, batting .433 with 4 extra-base hits in seven video games, however all that floor to a halt on Monday. Going through rivals Las Águilas Cibaeñas, Mauricio tried to steal second, however when he tried to make a sudden cease, his proper leg buckled. On Tuesday, SNY’s Andy Martino reported that the harm is a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Though the Mets gained’t put a timetable on his return till after he undergoes surgical procedure, even probably the most aggressive rehab schedule would have him lacking at the least the primary half of the season earlier than getting his legs again below him within the minors. It’s grim information for a younger participant who was primed to get his first actual shot at breaking camp with the massive membership.
A switch-hitting shortstop, the 6-foot-3 Mauricio has loud instruments however runs an eye-watering chase price. The Mets signed him in 2017, and he climbed the ladder by way of a collection of stable however not spectacular seasons. Except for an eight-game stint in rookie ball in 2018 and one other eight-game stint in Double-A in 2021, he by no means posted a wRC+ under 93 or above 108 in an any of his minor league stops, at the same time as he put up consecutive 20–20 seasons with Double-A Binghamton in 2022 and Triple-A Syracuse in ’23. He made his debut with the Mets on September 1, launching a 117.3-mph double, the crew’s hardest-hit ball in over two years (and the fourth-hardest a Met has ever recorded).
Mauricio ran an 80 wRC+ over 26 video games, taking part in second and third base. On the time of his call-up, Eric Longenhagen had this to say about him on Successfully Wild: “Mauricio’s dangerous. He’s going to strike out a ton. He’s form of a bodily freak the place he’s a 6-foot-3 switch-hitting shortstop with big energy.” Francisco Lindor’s presence at shortstop, although, places a ceiling on the worth that Mauricio would truly have the ability to present to the Mets. Whereas in Syracuse, he had been seeing time at second, brief, third, and left discipline, though the outfield experiment didn’t go significantly properly. Right here’s how Eric described the scenario:
I’ve Ronny Mo’ evaluated in a vacuum, proper? The place he can play shortstop, and that’s an enormous a part of carrying actual world baseball weight whenever you’re evaluating this man, as a result of finally solely so many guys can truly hack it at shortstop on the big-league stage. It’s a really troublesome factor to do. As a result of he’s not going to try this most likely for the Mets, if I’m predicting how he’s going to pan out from a worth standpoint, it’s in all probability under the place I’ve him evaluated in a vacuum as a shortstop, proper? He’s in all probability going to be a streaky, considerably irritating, but in addition very thrilling — and once more, harmful, the ability aspect right here makes him harmful — utility man for the Mets subsequent 12 months … Finally on a contending Mets crew this man might be taking part in in everywhere, filling in when guys get harm…
With shortstop blocked by Lindor, then, Mauricio appeared like a possible addition to the Mets’ present third base choices of Brett Baty and Mark Vientos. Baty has a bit extra plate self-discipline, and Mauricio has the velocity and positional flexibility, however all three have but to translate their success in Syracuse to success in Flushing. All three have struggled to show that they will play a good third base. All three could make very loud contact however are stricken by an excessive amount of swing-and-miss and an lack of ability to raise the baseball. Although each Baty and Vientos had actual probabilities to assert the third base job after the Mets traded Eduardo Escobar in June, neither got here significantly near placing issues collectively. The crew ended up with an MLB-worst -1.3 WAR on the place, and not using a single participant offering constructive worth there.
Taking a look at Mauricio, Baty and Vientos particularly, there’s not all that a lot daylight between the stats the three younger gamers put up in Flushing final season:
Mets of a Feather
| Title | PA | wRC+ | BB% | Ok% | Finest Velocity | GB/FB | LA | Barrel% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brett Baty | 389 | 68 | 7.5% | 28.0% | 101.6 | 1.84 | 6.6 | 7.6% |
| Mark Vientos | 233 | 69 | 4.3% | 30.5% | 103.4 | 1.64 | 9.5 | 10.7% |
| Ronny Mauricio | 108 | 80 | 6.5% | 28.7% | 101.4 | 1.74 | 7.6 | 5.7% |
Vientos has been engaged on his protection with Lindor in Puerto Rico, and Lindor instructed Newsday’s Laura Albanese that he has additionally invited Baty all the way down to work out. On the primary day of Winter Conferences, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns stated definitively that the Mets wouldn’t be including a 3rd basemen throughout the offseason, telling reporters, “We may have that coated internally.” He added, “I don’t have anybody in my head proper now that’s acquired the job. And we might not go into Opening Day with anybody who’s acquired the job.” He additionally indicated that Mauricio would on the very least get an opportunity to compete for the job, telling reporters that he wanted reps on the place, however that his fingers and reflexes had been adequate to play there.
Together with waiver declare Zack Brief, Joey Wendle, signed to a one-year, $2 million contract with further taking part in time bonuses, was purported to be the crew’s infield insurance coverage coverage. However with Mauricio out of the image, the calculus has modified. Martino, together with Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic, reported that the Mets at the moment are anticipated to look exterior the group for assist. In a way, the crew is correct again the place it began in 2022, hoping that Baty or Vientos will seize the job however hedging that wager with a veteran possibility who can contribute and nonetheless enable them to get sufficient reps to progress.
Excluding Matt Chapman, who ranked seventh on our Prime 50 Free Brokers record and represents a complete lot greater than the supplementary piece the Mets keep in mind, the free-agent pool options loads of choices however few slam dunks. Martino floated Justin Turner as a potential slot in a 3rd base-slash-designated hitter position, however whereas Turner put up a 114 wRC+ in Boston, he performed simply 50 video games within the discipline in 2023, and simply seven instances at third (and with significantly dangerous defensive numbers over that tiny pattern measurement). Amongst third basemen of their late 30s who can nonetheless contribute with the bat, although, Turner represents the most secure wager, adopted by choices like Donovan Solano, Evan Longoria, Josh Donaldson, and Jean Segura. Offered that he’s absolutely wholesome, the 32-year-old Gio Urshela would make loads of sense as a bounce again candidate. He performed simply 62 video games earlier than fracturing his pelvis in June, posting a 92 wRC+ with satisfactory protection for the Angels, however Steamer sees him as precisely league-average in 2024, placing up a wRC+ of 100 and 0.0 runs on protection.
It’s price noting that not one of the aforementioned gamers options the positional flexibility that Mauricio would have offered. For that, the Mets may need to go for a lesser possibility on the bat, equivalent to Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Enrique Hernández, each of whom can play the outfield. After that, there aren’t many gamers who characterize that rather more upside than Wendle. Lastly, the crew might additionally take a sentimental route, reuniting with Escobar or bringing again Luis Guillorme.
Mauricio’s harm is devastating for a participant who appeared so shut to creating it occur after years of ready. There’s no means of figuring out how his 2024 season would have gone, however in a single fell swoop, his harm robs the Mets of upside, depth, and suppleness. No matter whether or not they belief the choices they’ve or look so as to add, if the crew goes to succeed, Baty or Vientos want to start out hitting.