An important prospect has a few roads to travel with the Mets, or not
Plus, Tylor Megill struggled in his latest outing as the Mets got blanked by the Astros on Sunday in Port St. Lucie
What’s up with the Mets? 🌴
The Mets were blanked by the Astros 5-0 in Port St. Lucie on Sunday afternoon (Box | Highlights)
Meanwhile in West Palm Beach, the Mets prospects defeated the Nationals prospects 5-1 in the annual spring breakout game (Box | Highlights)
RHP Tylor Megill started for the Mets against the Astros and struggled, allowing four runs on six hits across five innings
Ryan Clifford and Boston Baro both homered against Washington in the spring breakout game
Injury Updates 🏥
Ronny Mauricio (recovery from ACL surgery) will not appear in any Grapefruit League games this spring, although the Mets insist he is progressing
Brandon Nimmo (sore knee) still expects to be ready for opening day, but isn’t sure he will be able to play defense
Today’s Games 🗓️
Match-up: Mets (8-12) vs Rays (9-10)
Where: Clover Park — Port St. Lucie, FL
Starters: RHP Griffin Canning (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Mike Vasil (0-1, 8.22 ERA)
When: 1:10 PM EST
Where to Watch: WPIX
Match-up: Mets (8-12) at Marlins (7-11)
Where: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium — Jupiter, FL
Starters: RHP Paul Blackburn (1-1, 6.23 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Weathers (1-0, 1.23 ERA)
When: 1:10 PM EST
Where to Watch: MLBN
Ryan Clifford has become one of the important prospects in the Mets system ✍️
When the Mets sent Justin Verlander back to Houston at the 2023 trade deadline, they received two highly touted Astros minor leaguers in return. Outfielder Drew Gilbert—who may well become the Mets long-term center fielder. And outfielder/first baseman Ryan Clifford, who at the time was considered the secondary piece.
After a year and a half in the Mets system, it’s fair to say Clifford has developed into much more than that.
In 129 games split between Brooklyn and Binghamton in 2024, the 21-year-old slashed .228/.372/.421 with 19 homers, 68 RBIs, and 27 doubles.
MLB.com has moved Clifford all the way up to fourth on the organization’s prospect list, and his ability to both drive the ball out of the ballpark and stay disciplined enough to draw walks and maintain a high OBP has the Mets excited about his future.
And the future is coming quickly.
Prior to being sent back to minor league camp, Clifford homered in a big-league spring training game against Houston, and yesterday he connected on a long home run in the Mets Spring Breakout game with the Nationals.
He’s slated to begin the 2025 campaign in Triple-A Syracuse, and by this time next year will almost assuredly be an important part of New York’s Major League equation.
Though right now it’s difficult to exactly predict in what role.
Clifford was a corner outfielder for the majority of his time in Houston’s system, but the Mets have begun transitioning him into more of a first baseman.
After Pete Alonso’s drawn-out free agency brought him back to Queens on a two-year deal with an opt-out, it’s entirely possible he could potentially become the Mets long-term first baseman.
In a world where Alonso secures the lucrative long-term contract he yearns for with the Mets, there’s also a clear path to the team’s DH role. Clifford’s power would make him a dangerous bat-only player who could fill in at multiple different positions if necessary.
There’s also a third option which doesn’t involve him playing home games in Queens altogether.
Roughly four months from now or perhaps sooner, it would be surprising if the Mets were not shopping for a high-end starting pitcher at the trade deadline. Clifford’s name will inevitably come up in conversations, and if he could be used to land an arm like Sandy Alcántara or Dylan Cease, New York’s brass would have to consider it.
No matter what the future holds, it’s clear Clifford’s stock is rising rapidly in the Mets system. And one way or the other, he’s going to play an important role in the organization very shortly.
Around the League 🚩
Hunter Renfroe had three hits— including a double and a triple— and drove in five runs in the Royals 10-2 win over the Rockies
Willy Adames and Wilmer Flores blasted back-to-back home runs in the 3rd inning of the Giants 7-3 win over the A’s
Sonny Gray got shelled, surrendering eight runs on six hits in the Cardinals 11-5 loss to Miami
Righty Jose Berrios fired six scoreless innings as the Blue Jays rolled to a 6-2 win over the Braves
His greatest value may be in what he can bring back in a trade. Same as Acuna.
I KNOW batting average means a lot less these days, but .228? The pitchers in the bigs will have a field day with him.