Mets Prospects Who Can Still Make an MLB Impact in 2023

The New York Mets have welcomed a pair of highly touted prospects to the big leagues already this season, with catcher Francisco Álvarez and third baseman Brett Baty both becoming staples in the everyday lineup.

Even with those two moving on to the big leagues, there is still plenty of exciting up-and-coming talent on the horizon, including infielder Ronny Mauricio who could be next to join the mix in the big leagues.

Ahead, we've highlighted three prospects who can still make an MLB impact in 2023, focusing solely on players who have not yet appeared in the majors this year.

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Prospects who have already seen MLB action: RHP Jose Butto

LHP Nate Lavender

It looks like the Mets might have uncovered a steal when they selected Nate Lavender in the 14th round of the 2021 draft out of the University of Illinois.

Used as both a starter and reliever in college, the 23-year-old has worked exclusively out of the bullpen in pro ball, and he is already pitching at the Triple-A level in his second full season in the organization.

With an elite changeup that generates swings and misses from both sides of the plate, he has posted a 2.42 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 14.9 K/9 with six saves in 17 appearances this season.

Lavender throws a lot of changeups out of the zone, which can lead to walks when hitters are not chasing, but he generates enough swings and misses with the pitch to be an impact arm out of the bullpen.

SS Ronny Mauricio

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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 11: Ronny Mauricio #2 of the New York Mets in action against the St. Louis Cardinals during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park at on March 11, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Ronny Mauricio spent the entire 2021 season as a 21-year-old playing at the Double-A level, and while he showcased intriguing power potential with 26 doubles, 26 home runs and 89 RBI in 123 games, he also hit just .259 with a .296 on-base percentage.

He seemed to have turned a corner in winter ball when he won MVP honors in the Dominican Winter League, and that has carried over to a terrific start to the 2023 season.

The 22-year-old is hitting .320/.360/.524 with 33 extra-base hits in 267 plate appearances at Triple-A, and with Francisco Lindor blocking his path at shortstop, he has started seeing regular action at second base.

Mauricio still has an aggressive approach at the plate with a walk rate below five percent, but he has trimmed his strikeout rate to 16.5 percent without sacrificing any of his extra-base pop.

All of that should add up to his first taste of MLB action before the 2023 season is over.

RHP Mike Vasil

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Mike Vasil #19 of the Peoria Javelinas poses for a photo during the 2022 Arizona Fall League Headshots at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Saturday, October 1, 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The Mets have a handful of quality pitching prospects who would likely check in somewhere in the 101-200 range on leaguewide Top 100 prospect lists, and right-hander Mike Vasil is the most MLB-ready of the bunch.

The 23-year-old was an eighth-round pick in the 2021 draft following an up-and-down college career at the University of Virginia, but he is looking more and more like a future middle-of-the-rotation option.

Assigned to Double-A Binghamton to open the 2023 season, he has a 3.71 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and a terrific 57-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 51 innings.

With a high-spin mid-90s fastball and two above-average off-speed pitches, Vasil has limited opposing hitters to a .187 batting average. And given the inconsistency shown by the MLB rotation this year, he could pitch his way into the rotation picture.