After a rough 2023 campaign, the Mets received yet another blow to one of their best prospects in the Dominican Winter League. Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio tore his ACL in winter ball, an injury that will keep the 22-year-old out for the start of the year and likely most of it. It’s a tough blow for the Mets, as Mauricio did shine in his first taste of the Majors. The good news, though, is that the injury can give other youngsters a chance to shine.

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A Look at Mauricio

The Mets called up INF/OF Ronny Mauricio when the rosters expanded in September 2023 after what was an impressive regular season in Triple-A Syracuse.

Mauricio put together arguably his most productive pro season last year, one that saw him record a career-high .852 OPS and 23 home runs for the Syracuse Mets. The 22-year-old also tallied 24 stolen bases and accrued time at second, third, and left field to get him ready for a utility role at the MLB level.

Once he got to New York, Mauricio proved to be a valuable contributor for the Mets late last year. Mauricio’s .643 OPS might not have been impressive on paper, but the 22-year-old did show plenty of pop and swiped seven bases for the Amazins’.

There were some expected issues with Mauricio’s first month in the Majors. The chief problem was the young infielder’s penchant for hacking at pitches out of the zone, which had been a problem for Mauricio before his MLB debut.

The 22-year-old sported a sky-high 42.4% Chase% rate and a nearly 50% total Whiff% rate on breaking balls over his brief stint in the Majors, both of which were well below league-average.

Nonetheless, the 22-year-old showed off why he was a touted prospect for years. Mauricio displayed cartoonish-like power in September, as his two home runs included a 440-foot blast off Ryne Nelson and a dinger off a Cristopher Sanchez changeup that came close to hitting the ground.

It’s still very much known as to how much Mauricio will ultimately hit at the MLB level because of his swing-and-miss problems. However, his plus power and speed still make Mauricio one of the game’s most intriguing talents. Unfortunately for the Mets, New York’s brass likely won’t be able to see Ronny Mauricio on the field in 2024 thanks to a major injury.

Analysis of Mets’ Infield Situation

Before his injury, it seemed likely that the switch-hitting Ronny Mauricio would be in line for a larger hole with the Mets provided a good Spring Training. However, a torn ACL has complicated that formula.

Generally speaking, torn ACLs take over half a year for athletes to recover from. Former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins is one example, as he tore it in Spring Training this past year and failed to make it back despite Philadelphia stretching their season to late October.

Others, however, were able to make better recoveries. Marcus Stroman is one example of that, as he came back in September 2015 after he tore it in March of that year.

No matter how one slices it, the reality is that Mauricio — who spent time with the Mets at both second and third base last year — won’t be available for the start of 2024 and will more than likely miss most of it. However, what are the Mets’ infield options for 2024?

The good news is that most of the Mets infield can be considered set provided that Pete Alonso is not traded. New York has Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Jeff McNeil, as well as newly signed utilityman Joey Wendle. But, the third base question still lingers, although the Mets have the internal options to handle it.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns stated earlier in the offseason that he liked his options at third base, which include Brett Baty and Mark Vientos. Both were going to vie for time at third regardless, but now the path has opened for the two former top prospects to take the reigns. Both have shown tools, but neither has turned into a reliable option at the MLB level to this point.

That doesn’t mean either is a bust. However, the early returns have indicated that Baty — who looked quite polished in the upper Minors — and Vientos need to make adjustments. Neither of the two have handled breaking balls well, which is critical for hitters nowadays.

The Mets could look to add another infielder in free agency, either a veteran on a Minor League deal or a low-cost MLB contract. However, the Mets do have more glaring needs to take care of in the outfield and the rotation.

New York did add one outfield option on December 13, with former Dodger Trayce Thompson. Thompson showed above-average power in his time with Los Angeles, but he did not perform well with the White Sox after he was sent to Chicago in the Joe Kelly/Lance Lynn trade.

Over the final month of 2023, Thompson hit just .170/.278/.192 with a 42.6% K% rate. That rate was second-worst among hitters with at least 50 PA, behind only Brett Phillips.