Mets Minors 2024 Prospects: No. 7 Ronny Mauricio
No. 7: Ronny Mauricio, INF
B/T: S/R Age: 23 (04/04/01)
Ht: 6’3″ Weight: 166 lbs
Acquired: Signed by the Mets as an International Free Agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2017.
Debuted: 09/01/23 Previous Rank: 8
2023 MLB Stats: 26 G, .248/.296/.347/.643, 2 HR, 25 H, 9 RBIs, 7 SB
2023 Triple-A Stats: 116 G, .292/.346/.506/.852, 23 HR, 143 H, 71 RBIs, 24 SB
After crushing the ball in the minors in 2023, Ronny Mauricio earned a September call-up and made a quick impression on the Mets. His first hit, a double off Seattle’s Logan Gilbert, was the Mets’ hardest hit of the season, clocking in at 117.3 mph. Mauricio also showed off his defensive prowess, making diving, sliding and leaping plays all over the field.
117.3 mph!
Ronny Mauricio absolutely BLISTERED his first career hit. pic.twitter.com/JFNAgmVJB6
— MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2023
However, there are a few qualms regarding Mauricio and his place in the organization. First and foremost, he injured his knee in Winter Ball this past December, and he’ll likely miss the entire 2024 season. We’ve seen players like Ronald Acuña Jr. bounce back after a torn ACL, returning to play in less than a year. However, the Mets might err on the side of caution.
The next, albeit the most important besides his health, is where exactly Mauricio plays. A shortstop by trade, that position is taken for the foreseeable future by Francisco Lindor. The Mets had Mauricio take reps at second, third and even in the outfield to find a place for him. When the team called him up, he saw most of his time at second, where he looked quite comfortable.
It’s an issue the Mets have run into frequently in the past few years, with the likes of Mark Vientos and even Brett Baty at times. Without a clear pathway to consistent big-league play, Mauricio might suffer.
Mauricio, The Player
There’s plenty to love about Mauricio and there are good reasons why the Mets never pulled the plug and used him as a trade piece (although there were times they may have been tempted to). Many noted his slender frame wouldn’t produce much power, but in recent years, Mauricio’s packed on muscle. He’s always hit, but now he’s hitting for power. Combine that with his speed (he stole a career-high 24 bags with Syracuse in 2023) and he’s off to the races.
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Something to keep an eye on, however, is his strikeout rate. While his 2023 numbers in Syracuse were near career lows (18.2% K%), he got swing-happy in Queens. He amassed a 21.7% K% after being promoted over just 101 bats. To succeed, he’ll have to better his pitch selection.
Positive signs for the Mets came from Mauricio’s performance in LIDOM play. In 2022, he was named MVP after slashing .285/.335/.468 with five home runs and 31 RBI in 46 games. He started strong in 2023 as well, batting a whopping .441/.472/.706 with 15 hits, which included two triples and doubles to go with one home run. Of note, he only struck out three times in 34 at-bats. However, the injury bug came for him.
2024 Outlook:
The chances are next to nothing that Mauricio sees the field in 2024. After his ACL tear in December, he immediately had surgery, with a typical return-to-play timeline of around 8-12 months. If all goes right, Mauricio might return sometime in August, depending on where the Mets stand in the playoff race.
However, like Edwin Díaz, who felt confident he could return in 2023, the Mets will likely scrap any plans for a 2024 return for Mauricio. Instead, he’ll see Queens come 2025. What will be interesting to keep an eye on in 2024 is the progress of Baty and Vientos. Mauricio’s role on the roster, come next year, might depend on what happens for the other Baby Mets in 2024.
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