Ronny Mauricio's Future is Exciting But Intriguing
Where the 19-year-old fits into the Mets' plans moving forward is debatable
Image via Anthony DiComo, MLB.com
Following his go-ahead two-run base hit in Tuesday’s win over the Cardinals in Port St. Lucie, New York Mets manager Luis Rojas spoke briefly on Ronny Mauricio’s time spent in big-league camp this spring.
“Ronny’s been great,” Rojas said. “His at-bats have been great — on time, making adjustments — just looks really good. Very mature, at the plate and on the field.”
We’re getting similar vibes, albeit from an outside perspective. Here’s Ronny’s big knock from Tuesday.
Mauricio, 19, has raked this spring, going 5-for-11 before his — as well as many other Mets top prospects’ — reassignment to minor league camp (whatever that means, as there is no minor league camp until major league camp breaks) on Tuesday evening.
According to Tim Britton of The Athletic, all of these players could continue to take part in Grapefruit League games, though to what extent is unknown. In any case, Mauricio’s evident progress this spring is wholly encouraging.
Though, how Mauricio’s tenure with the Mets shakes out is very much yet to be determined.
After receiving a $2.1 million signing bonus from New York in 2017 — 10th-highest among all international signings that winter — the Dominican product immediately got to work, hitting .273/.304/.410 in 247 plate appearances between St. Lucie and Kingsport (both Rookie Ball) in 2018 as a 17-year-old.
In 2019, playing at an average age of three-and-a-half years below his Single-A counterparts, Mauricio hit .268/.307/.357 with 20 doubles and 99 strikeouts in 504 plate appearances.
His performance certainly didn’t catapult Mauricio to the top of anyone’s MLB prospect rankings (no. 62 via MLB Pipeline heading into 2020 from no. 98 in 2019), but heads were turned, no doubt.
For a while, most with a rooting interest assumed the Mets would let the Amed Rosario project play out (or Andres Gimenez; however that cookie might have crumbled) while Mauricio developed on the farm.
This winter, that landscape shifted dramatically when Rosario and Gimenez were traded to Cleveland for All-World shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Lindor, 27, is a franchise cornerstone-type player, and the Mets plan on treating him as such. On Monday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network confirmed the Mets would be starting contract extension talks with Lindor this week.
While locking up a player of Lindor’s caliber long-term would be a boon for this organization, one has to wonder, where does Ronny Mauricio fit into the Mets’ future plans?
Over his 159-game MiLB career, he’s only played one position — shortstop. We’ve seen many players shift positions to accommodate organizational plans, but at what point does this shift in approach need to be made?
You’d hate to see Mauricio’s prime development years being wasted at a position he’ll arguably never play in Queens. A position switch — occurring sooner rather than later — seems to be the play.
The Mets have two viable third base options bubbling through their system in Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, both of whom have spent time in Mets camp this spring (Baty, 2-for-8, double, two RBIs; Vientos, 3-for-4, two doubles, four walks).
Whether Mauricio out-projects or outperforms Baty or Vientos sufficiently enough to usurp either on the depth chart at third is unknown and likely way too early to predict.
Though, with a universal designated hitter all but an inevitable wrinkle in the next collective bargaining agreement, there could theoretically be room for everyone.
A shift to the outfield is also a possibility. The last Mets outfielder to win a Gold Glove — Juan Lagares — was originally a shortstop, so there is a successful precedent there.
Even Fernando Tatis Jr. — presumably MLB’s next transcendent star, if he’s not already — was mentioned as a candidate for (and was publicly open to) a move to the outfield as recently as last winter.
However the situation plays out, after his performance (and appearance; dude filled out) this spring, it’s become undoubtedly clear that Ronny Mauricio has an extremely bright future with the Mets.
Just gotta figure out what future that is.
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I've also wondered a lot about where Mauricio could fit in on the field long-term. Assuming Lindor signs an extension and is the Mets long-term answer at shortstop, I've thought of two possibilities for where Mauricio may land. Let's assume Mauricio is ready for a full-time role in 2023 or 2024 (other assumptions: Nimmo isn't brought back after hitting free agency following 2022, Conforto stays in right field long-term, and Khalil Lee may be the 2023 centerfielder until Pete Crow-Armstrong is ready).
Scenario 1: Dom Smith and Pete Alonso share 1B/DH duties, Brett Baty is at 3B, Jeff McNeil moves back to LF, and Ronny Mauricio plays 2B (or if Mauricio really can adjust to the outfield, Mauricio could go to LF with McNeil staying at 2B).
Scenario 2: Dom Smith in LF, Pete Alonso at 1B, Brett Baty is the DH, Jeff McNeil at 2B, and Ronny Mauricio plays 3B.
Mets prospects all look like players. Exciting times ahead. Wish we could watch them play as they are fun to watch.