Prospects Williams, Gilbert hoping for late May returns

ST. LOUIS -- Neither Jett Williams nor Drew Gilbert, the two highest-ranked players in the Mets’ farm system, has taken the field in recent weeks. Both are dealing with injuries that will continue to sideline them for some time, though both are also recovering with an eye toward returning as soon as possible.

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Here’s more on the statuses of Williams, MLB Pipeline’s top-ranked Mets prospect (No. 40 overall), and Gilbert, who rates second on that list (47 overall):

Jett Williams, SS/OF
Toward the end of last month, Williams began dealing with a bout of right wrist soreness, which has kept him off the field since April 21. To treat it, Williams received a cortisone injection at the end of last week, according to Mets senior vice president of player development Andy Green. He’s waiting for that to take effect, with plans to begin swinging a bat in the coming days and to return to games by the end of this month.

Williams was off to a slow start prior to his injury, with a .179/.360/.308 slash line in his first extended taste of Double-A ball. But that should be just a blip for the 2022 first-round Draft pick, who thrived last year during his first full Minor League season. Over 121 games, mostly at Single-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn, Williams hit 13 homers, drew 104 walks and stole 45 bases, posting an .876 OPS.

Drew Gilbert, OF
Gilbert, the top prospect the Mets acquired from the Astros in the Justin Verlander trade last summer, hasn’t played since straining his right hamstring in the second game of an April 6 doubleheader for Triple-A Syracuse.

Per Green, Gilbert is still in the “strengthening phase” of his recovery process. His timeline to return will depend in large part upon how well he responds to his running progression, but the Mets are hopeful he’ll be ready toward the end of May or beginning of June.

Gilbert was batting .240/.321/.360 in seven games prior to his injury.