Playing the waiting game can be a real pain sometimes, but when it pays off it feels great. For the New York Mets waiting to call up one of their top prospects is becoming a bit of a distraction. With the Mets’ season at a crossroads, they are at a time where on-the-field changes need to be made. Especially adjustments to an inconsistent lineup that needs a spark. It’s almost August so the clock is ticking. New York already called up Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos. Now, the fourth prospect needs to join them to contribute; Ronny Mauricio.
Mets Should Stop Waiting and Call Up Ronny Mauricio
What Mauricio Could Bring to the Mets Lineup
The Mets’ offense, after being top five in runs scored a season ago, is currently ranked 19th. Keep in mind that on Opening Day they brought back virtually the same lineup from 2022. They are also 18th in RBI (436) and 21st in team batting average (.237). When you have so many players struggling except a select few, this is what you get. Mauricio could bring some pop to a Mets lineup that drastically needs more of it. Especially on the left side of the plate. So far in Triple-A this season, Mauricio has notched 16 home runs and driven in 56 RBI while batting .296. He has a slugging percentage of .505 and an OPS of .851. Which includes a walk-off 440-foot bomb he hit on July 23rd for Triple-A Syracuse against Buffalo.
With his son in the ballpark, Ronny Mauricio walks us off with this 🚀
— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) July 23, 2023
It’s our third walkoff win in our last 7 games 😎 pic.twitter.com/qNDh7vj4YI
Mauricio has displayed that kind of power all season long, and it’s the power the team simply isn’t getting from guys such as Jeff McNeil and Starling Marte. This is why adding him to the middle of the lineup would help a lot. Even to the lower part of the order as well, which has also seen little production. He’s even shown the ability to bounce back after a bad month.
Following a down month of June (.620 OPS), Ronny Mauricio has bounced back in the month of July for Triple-A Syracuse 💪 pic.twitter.com/5O1ihsm1hw
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) July 24, 2023
There’s not much he can do anymore at the plate in Triple-A that the Mets should be looking for. He’s been producing at a high rate with a lot of power. He’s been doing it since the Winter League and in Spring Training right in front of Mets front office executives, scouts, and coaches. This Mets lineup could use him not in September, but right now.
The Mets Having a Young Core Four
As previously mentioned, the three other Mets rookies are all here. Famously dubbed the “baby Mets”. If or when the Mets finally decide to call up Mauricio, they’ll have all four of their prized young prospects in the major leagues. Four guys who know each other well and came up together. New York can go from a team with one of the oldest and veteran-heavy rosters, to a club that now displays a bit of a youth movement. All four can bring something to the table. Whether it’s power, speed, or contact hitting. Plus, Mauricio’s power would go well with Álvarez and Vientos.
The question then remains will manager Buck Showalter and the Mets put all four of them in the same lineup together? Only a few times have Álvarez, Vientos, and Baty all been in the same lineup. That in itself, is unacceptable. Especially at this point of the year. The Mets have an opportunity at their own core four and use it to build around the veteran talent. Infielder and utility man Luis Guillorme and New York didn’t call up Mauricio as a corresponding move. The Mets can keep waiting and be patient with Mauricio as they continue to lose games. However, Mets fans are not the patient type. Mauricio has to join the team soon.
Main photo credits:
Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, Jeff McNeil, Starling Marte, Luis Guillorme
