Infield prospect Ronny Mauricio has been tearing up Triple-A since coming back from a prolonged ACL reconstruction rehab. In solely seven video games with Syracuse, he’s gone 14-for-25 (.560) with a double and three residence runs for a garish 1.546 OPS. This has followers speculating a couple of big-league call-up within the close to future, however that’s not the case.
The membership is exercising excessive warning with the 24-year-old Mauricio. He’s solely performed back-to-back nine-inning video games as soon as and they should see how he handles a traditional workload after being sidelined for greater than a full 12 months.
“He’s doing a great job,” David Stearns mentioned. “No. 1 is health and getting him back to building up the volume, and we’re continuing to do that. But anytime you see players consistently hitting lasers all over the field — which is what he’s doing right now in Triple-A — you pay attention. And so we’re paying attention, and we’ll continue to monitor that and see where it goes.”
There are not any particular benchmarks the Mets need Mauricio to satisfy, with Stearns saying it’s extra “subjective.” Mauricio has all the time been identified to be a free swinger, and whereas it was wonderful throughout his quick main league stint in 2023, going ahead, the Mets want him to see him take a extra discerning strategy on the plate.
“He certainly has development left in his offensive game, and he’s an enormously gifted player,” Stearns mentioned. “He’s likely never going to be the type of guy with Juan Soto-type plate discipline, but there are probably some strides he can make there. So while he’s in Triple-A, we will encourage him to continue to make those strides while recognizing his gift is that he hits the ball incredibly hard. We don’t want to encourage any approach change that takes away from what his true gift is.”
The opposite query is the place the Mets can play him.
Mauricio has been blocked so long as he’s been within the system. The membership most likely took too lengthy to maneuver him off shortstop in 2023, and he was given permission to play winter ball following the season to have the ability to get third base reps. However then he bought injured in a winter league sport, and wasn’t capable of develop defensively at third base.
To date, he’s performed three video games at third, three at second and as soon as he’s gotten into the Syracuse lineup as a chosen hitter. The Mets have Jeff McNeil at second base and within the outfield to accommodate Brett Baty’s bat. Baty made a place change final 12 months and the Mets are pleased with the outcomes, but additionally pleased with how he’s plated at third base splitting with Mark Vientos.
Vientos has struggled defensively, however the Mets need his bat within the lineup.
There are not any simple solutions proper now, so they may proceed to let Mauricio construct up in Syracuse till he’s wanted or till he turns into too good to disregard.
“If he were 100 percent healthy and has had 200 plate appearances already this year, it’s a much easier decision,” Stearns mentioned. “I don’t have in my mind like, he’s got to get to this plate appearance threshold before he’s an option. Once we do feel like he’s at that spot, if we’re going to bring him here, he’s got to play. And how does that work? I mean, we’ve got some other guys who are swinging the bat pretty well and helping us. We also have some guys who are out of options. So figuring out exactly what that puzzle looks like is a real part of it.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
The Mets plan to journey Paul Blackburn to Los Angeles for his or her upcoming sequence in opposition to the Dodgers subsequent week in anticipation of activating him off the injured checklist. The best-hander can be inserted into the rotation because the sixth man, however the Mets haven’t but determined the place they may use him.
Jose Siri (fractured tibia) is build up his operating development and taking outside batting follow, however isn’t but near a rehab task.
Proper-hander Frankie Montas (lat pressure) may return in the course of June, with Stearns estimating left-hander Sean Manaea (proper indirect pressure) is 2-3 week behind him. Montas is at the moment out on a rehab task, having made two begins for Low-A Brooklyn.
ROSTER MOVE
Proper-handed reliever Chris Devenski was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday to take the place of left-hander Brandon Waddell within the bullpen. Waddell pitched 5 innings in a loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday to spell an overtaxed bullpen.
Devenski has a 1.96 ERA over 18 1/3 innings with Syracuse. A veteran who received a World Sequence with the Houston Astros in 2017, Devenski agreed to a minor league contract with choices to have the ability to stay with the Mets group all season.
