Mets Organizational Depth Chart: Center Field

The New York Mets had very few constants in the 2023 season – and one of them was that center field would be manned by the same player almost day in and day out. For the 2024 season, the Mets will hopefully be in the same position and possibly just be looking for some depth to back him up.

Big League Starter

Brandon Nimmo had an outstanding 2023 campaign. He played in 152 games, which is a career-high, and the second year in a row he played over 150. After securing an eight-year, 162 million dollar contract, Nimmo posted a strong .274/.363/.466 line, with a career-high 24 home runs and 68 RBIs batting out of the leadoff spot. Nimmo kept the same solid eye at the plate but struck out 30 more times in nine more plate appearances. In the field, Nimmo had another solid season, but the biggest plus was in a season marred by injuries; Nimmo was in the lineup almost every day, either in the outfield or at DH. Having stability in center field is something that allows the Mets to focus their attention elsewhere.

Big League Depth

The Mets only have Starling Marte signed in the outfield, with DJ Stewart arbitration eligible. Marte is coming off an injury-riddled campaign; it seems like a long shot the Mets will play him in center, even in an emergency.

Upper Levels Depth

At Triple-A, the Mets have Brandon McIlwain and Lorenzo Cedrola. McIlwain spent the majority of the year at Double-A but finished off the last third of the season at Triple-A. Overall, he slashed .247/.356/.393 with 12 home runs and 20 stolen bases while playing the majority of his games in center field. While not the highest upside profile, he hits for some power, steals some bases and has a good batting eye. Cedrola was injured for most of the year, but when he played, he managed to slash .250/.368/.399 with six home runs and 15 stolen bases. Cedrola has much less power to offer, but in his small sample size, he ran a 27/30 BB/K ratio, a vast improvement from his 13/84 ratio in the 2022 season.

At Double-A, the Mets have top prospect Drew Gilbert waiting in the wings. After he arrived from Houston as part of the Justin Verlander trade, all Gilbert did was hit. He slashed .325/.423/.561 with Binghamton, with six home runs and two stolen bases. Overall, between the Astros and the Mets, Gilbert slashed .289/.381/.487 with 18 home runs and 12 stolen bases. Gilbert isn’t the most imposing figure at 5’9″ and 195 lbs, but when he gets a hold of a ball, his left-handed swing sends them a long way. Gilbert could wind up starting the year in Triple-A if the Mets see fit, putting him one step away from Flushing.

In addition to Gilbert, the Mets have Rowdey Jordan and Rhylan Thomas to consider in center. Jordan profiles more as a super utility player, playing every position but first base, shortstop and catcher, but having too much versatility isn’t something to be afraid of. Jordan hit .230/.344/.733 with 13 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He has a propensity for striking out but also has shown the ability to take walks. Rhylan Thomas was a fast riser in the Mets system, starting his season in Low-A St. Lucie and finishing up in Double-A. Across three levels, Thomas slashed .328/.407/.425 with three home runs and seven steals.

However, these aren’t the only prospects who may be center field options. Luisangel Acuña, acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Max Scherzer trade, played four games in center for the Rangers Double-A team and has been mentioned as getting some playing time in center field to get his bat into the lineup. Between the Rangers and Mets, Acuña slashed .294/.359/.410 with nine home runs and 57 stolen bases. He primarily played shortstop but took reps at second base as well. While the power vanished when he came to the Mets, he continued to steal bases. It would not be surprising to see him start the season in Triple-A.

Lastly, Jett Williams finished his first full season in professional baseball in Double-A after tearing through both A-ball levels. Over the entire season, Williams slashed .263/.425/.451 with 13 home runs, 45 stolen bases and 104 walks. Williams, primarily a shortstop, also played 21 games in center field. Since Williams only got 26 plate appearances in Double-A, he will likely return to Double-A to continue his ascension up the ladder with an off-chance of seeing Citi Field in the 2024 season.

Potential Acquisitions

The Mets will be in the same position they were last season – looking for a potential fourth outfielder who can spell all three outfield spots. Despite his comments saying the Mets had more talent but may not have tried as much – Tommy Pham would make sense, especially after the season he put up for both the Mets and the World Series runner-up Arizona Diamondbacks. Harrison Bader makes some sense, offering good defense with some offensive value – but has struggled to stay on the field and would probably require more than a one-year contract due to his age. Adam Duvall also could make sense in a vacuum, offering a lot of power and the ability to play all three outfield positions.

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