New York Mets’ Ronny Mauricio

The New York Mets have promoted prospect Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse.

The switch-hitting Mauricio, still only 22, may be the beginning of the team’s 2024 new roster construction.

Mauricio is the 4th best Mets prospect according to MLB.com.

About Ronny Mauricio:

From the Dominican Republic, the Mets signed Ronny Mauricio to a $2.1 million signing bonus in the 2017 international signing period. In the next year, the Mets gave Venezuelan catcher Francisco Alvarez a $2.7 million signing bonus.

Alvarez made his MLB debut September 30, 2022, when Alvarez was only 20-years-old. The Mets are getting younger.

Mauricio was drafted as a shortstop, but he’s also capable of playing second base, third base, and the outfield.

Showing his outstanding athletic ability and versatility, during his development in the Mets farm system, Mauricio spent most of his time at shortstop. But he also saw some opportunities at second, third and in left field.

Mauricio’s physicality is one of the characteristics that have scouts most positive about his future.

Mauricio has excellent size and strength, at 6-3, 222 pounds.

A solid prospect, there is concern about Mauricio’s lack of patience at the plate. In addition, he is still learning to recognize pitches, which always takes time.

This season at Syracuse, Mauricio compiled a stat line of .292/.346/.506/.852 in his 532 plate appearances covering 116 games. He drew only 35 walks, but struck out 97 times.

The lack of walks is a concern. But again, he is a young, emerging player. He is not a seasoned veteran.

Mauricio had 30 doubles, three triples, and 23 homers at Syracuse.

One must remember that prospects are just that-prospects. Until he proves he belongs, in September, Ronny Mauricio will be playing for a future role with the big league club.

Scouting Ronny Mauricio:

Mauricio was attractive to the Mets due to his solid frame, his good athletic ability, and his potential power as a middle-infielder.

To this scout, his speed is another very solid tool for Mauricio. However, some scouts have not given him high marks for his speed and base running ability.

In the past three seasons, Mauricio hit 20, 19, and 26 home runs over several minor league classifications. They were signs of the power the Mets projected.

When promoted to the Mets this year, Mauricio had already exceeded 20 home runs once again, with a month left in the Triple-A season.

In parts of five minor league seasons, Mauricio hit 76 homers. He drove in 296 runs in 2,277 plate appearances.

Mauricio brings the Mets a nice power hitting/speed combination. He is very capable of stealing bases, with 63 stolen bases in 104 attempts. He still needs technique refinement regarding stealing bases in particular, and base running in general.

In 2022, Mauricio was one of only 27 minor league players to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases. He is capable of hitting the long ball from both sides of the plate. He has followed that this year with another 20-20 season.

Mauricio has a smoother swing from the right side of the plate, but he can power the ball from both sides with his above average bat speed.

Despite a great year at the bat this season, there is some concern about Mauricio’s ability to hit major league quality breaking balls. He may have some initial difficulty hitting for average, but in time, he could adjust nicely. His overall hitting tool is seen as average, at best. But at this point, he remains a highly valuable, highly regarded prospect.

This writer feels Mauricio will become a better big league hitter for average than scouts have projected.

Mauricio has shown a weakness in reaching for balls up high in the zone. He has to work on that area of his offensive game. It will take more patience and quicker pitch recognition. He is very capable of those adjustments.

Mauricio is an average defensive shortstop with adequate range, and a strong arm. He won’t replace Francisco Lindor at shortstop, but he could be a candidate to play second base. Especially since Jeff McNeil can play left field. Or, since he has played there before, Mauricio can also play left or third base in a revised 2024 Mets lineup.

Given Mauricio’s power potential, and his above average speed, he should make a case for a 2024 roster spot with the Mets.

In his September 1, 2023 debut with the Mets, Mauricio got a double and a single in three trips to the plate. He played second base flawlessly.

For this scout, Mauricio grades as a 55 on the MLB 40-80 scouting scale. That equates to an above average major league quality player.

Conclusions:

Recently promoted New York Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio has a chance to make the 2024 Mets roster.

The versatile Mauricio has played primarily at shortstop. However, going forward, he could play either second base, third base, or left field with the Mets.

Mauricio has a strong, powerful frame that helps him generate power from both sides of the plate.

Mauricio has work to do on his patience at the plate, his pitch recognition, and in making more consistent content. However, all the ingredients are in place for success.

A good athlete with power and speed, Ronny Mauricio is being given a September chance to prove he belongs on the Mets major league roster.