Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2026: Writer’s Thoughts (25-11)

With the 2026 season approaching, Amazin’ Avenue’s prospect panel has released its annual countdown of the New York Mets’ most intriguing minor-league talents. Today we examine the back half of the Top 25—players ranked 25 through 11—where breakout potential collides with real-world risk and every swing, miss, or mechanical tweak could swing a career trajectory.

25. Boston Baro, OF Once viewed as a rising utility knife, Baro stalled in High-A at age 20, slashing a forgettable line and posting an ISO south of .100. Evaluators still like his well-rounded skill set, yet without a carrying tool he risks sliding into organizational-player territory.

24. Daiverson Gutierrez, C Gutierrez salvaged his stateside debut with average-ish production (98 wRC+) and sturdy defense behind the plate. The power is nearly nonexistent (.067 ISO), but the 21-year-old backstop’s contact skills and approach give him a high-probability floor if the exit velocities ever tick up.

23. Randy Guzman, 1B/OF The most out-of-nowhere name on the list, Guzman erupted in St. Lucie with a 108.5-mph 90th-percentile exit velocity and a max of 111.9 mph—both elite marks for a 20-year-old. A 44% chase rate tempers enthusiasm, yet the raw ingredients—impact power, reasonable contact, plus pull-in-air tendency—make him a lottery ticket worth monitoring.

22. Eli Serrano, OF A fourth-round 2024 selection, Serrano flashed an adjusted, pull-happy approach and a 144 wRC+ through May before a lower-body injury derailed his summer. The post-injury line (.212/.308/.304) clouds the outlook, but the Mets will likely send the 22-year-old to Double-A to prove the early production was real.

21. Edward Lantigua, OF Lantigua’s 144 wRC+ at the complex turned heads, driven by plus bat-to-ball and more walks than strikeouts. Critics caution the approach borders on passivity; sustained success against Single-A arms in 2026 will determine whether the on-base machine can keep thriving up the ladder.

20. Jace Jimenez, INF Taken 102nd overall in 2024, Jimenez pairs bat speed with athleticism but also an everything-swing ethos that produced alarming whiff totals. The Mets’ player-development staff have earned trust polishing raw hitters, yet pitch recognition historically proves difficult to teach.

19. Ryan Lambert, RHP An eighth-round reliever who touches triple digits, Lambert fanned nearly 40% of hitters across two levels while allowing fewer than one hit per nine. A 14.7% walk rate at Double-A is the red flag, but the induced-vertical-break fastball and sharpened secondaries point to a late-inning future as soon as 2027.

18. Dylan Ross, RHP Syracuse’s 13th-round steal from 2022 pairs a high-90s heater with a swing-and-miss splitter that grades among the best in the minors. A 17.3% walk rate and mediocre fastball shape limit the ceiling to high-leverage relief rather than closer, but the stuff is undeniable.

17. Chris Suero, C/OF The local product posted a 140 wRC+ split between Single-A and Double-A, yet a spike in strikeouts coincided with evaporating power after his promotion. Still 21, Suero has time to marry his improved damage on contact with a more measured approach.

16. R.J. Gordon, RHP A 24-year-old righty who barely cracked Double-A, Gordon transformed his profile by adding a “kick” changeup reminiscent of fellow farmhand Nolan McLean’s. High-20s strikeout rates and a usable slider give him a chance to wedge himself onto the 2026 pitching-depth chart.

15. Nick Morabito, OF Once an underwhelming 2022 second-rounder, Morabito is now on the doorstep of the majors thanks to elite center-field defense and top-tier sprint speed. The offensive game is light, yet the glove alone should keep him in 40-man conversations for years.

14–11. (To be continued…) The countdown will resume with the top dozen prospects, where projectable upside gives way to legitimate star power and the Mets hope to unearth the next core piece for a contending club in Queens.