This top prospect is moving up in the New York Mets' system to begin the 2024 season.
Minor league outfielder Drew Gilbert will begin the season in Triple-A Syracuse, as Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns told The New York Post's Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman on "The Show" podcast.
Gilbert, who is the Mets' No. 2 ranked prospect in their farm system, came over last summer from the Houston Astros in the trade for ace pitcher Justin Verlander.
Gilbert played for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at the Double-A level, and hit .325 with a .984 OPS in 35 games. For that, he has earned a promotion to the next level, which means he is one step away from the big-leagues.
In addition to Gilbert, Stearns mentioned Luisangel Acuna and Jett Williams as players, who can break into the major leagues in the near future. The Mets landed Acuna in the trade that sent Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline.
Not only did the Mets acquire Gilbert from the Astros, but they also received outfielder Ryan Clifford, who is the team's sixth ranked prospect.
It is clear that 2024 is a transition year for the Mets, but after they retooled their farm system at last year's trade deadline, they should be ready to contend by 2025. By then, the group of top prospects they acquired, plus the players who were already in their system, should be ready to come up to the big-leagues.
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