NEW YORK— Ronny Mauricio, a Mets infield prospect, is “close,” president of baseball operations David Stearns announced Wednesday.
Mauricio, the Mets’ No. 9 prospect (MLB Pipeline), is finally playing minor league baseball after injuring the ACL in his right knee almost 18 months ago. Despite being “medically healthy,” he is not yet the player who was expected to breakout in 2023.
Where does Mauricio go once he’s ready?
“He’s a player who has options,” said Stearns, “so he’s going to stay in the minor leagues until we have a need.”
The Mets’ current roster does not have room for Mauricio, who can play second base, shortstop, and outfield. The current lineup allows for three players to play second (Jeff McNeil, Brett Baty, and Luisangel Acuña), two to play short (Francisco Lindor and Acuña), and seven to play outfield (Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo, Tyrone Taylor, Starling Marte, José Azocar, McNeil and Baty).
In eight games between Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton, Marucio is 3-for-24 (.125 batting average), with a double, two RBIs, and two stolen bases.
The Mets want Mauricio to continue getting at-bats and reps at three different places. Mauricio should eventually revert to the player that showed so much potential, making his debut with a 117.3 mph double in September 2023.
“I don’t think I can sit here and say, from a pure quickness of reaction standpoint, it’s exactly the same,” Stearns said of Mauricio’s progression. “But I think he’s very close at this point, and we have all indications that he will be able to get back to completely 100% from a physical standpoint.”
In 26 games with the Mets in 2023, Mauricio hit.248 with a.643 OPS and two home homers.
Mauricio, 24, was batting.292/.346/.506 with 23 home runs and 24 steals at Triple-A before being promoted when rosters expanded in September 2023.
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