Starting spots for Mets' Top 30 prospects

With the 2019 Minor League Baseball season getting underway, here's a look at where the Mets' Top 30 prospects are starting the year. We also identify the prospect who just missed the Top 30 list, a player who didn't make the big league Opening Day roster but should make an impact this year, a prospect who is ready to break out in 2019 and the team's best defensive prospect.

1) Pete Alonso (MLB No. 50), 1B -- New York Mets (MLB)
2) Andres Gimenez (MLB No. 57), SS -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
3) Ronny Mauricio, SS -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
4) Mark Vientos, 3B -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
5) Shervyen Newton, SS -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
6) David Peterson, LHP -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
7) Simeon Woods-Richardson, RHP -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
8) Anthony Kay, LHP -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
9) Thomas Szapucki, LHP -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
10) Franklyn Kilome, RHP -- Out for season -- Tommy John surgery
11) Desmond Lindsay, OF -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
12) Junior Santos, RHP -- Extended spring training
13) Francisco Alvarez, C -- Extended spring training
14) Freddy Valdez, OF -- Extended spring training
15) Adrian Hernandez, OF -- Extended spring training
16) Will Toffey, 3B -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
17) Jordan Humphreys, RHP -- Extended spring training -- rehab
18) Tomas Nido, C -- New York Mets (MLB)
19) Tony Dibrell, RHP -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
20) Gavin Cecchini, 2B -- Syracuse Mets (AAA)
21) Carlos Cortes, 2B -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
22) Ryley Gilliam, RHP -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
23) Ryder Ryan, RHP -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
24) Stephen Villines, RHP -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
25) Eric Hanhold, RHP -- Syracuse Mets (AAA)
26) Daniel Zamora, LHP -- Syracuse Mets (AAA)
27) Christian James, RHP -- Columbia Fireflies (A)
28) Patrick Mazeika, C -- Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA)
29) Ali Sanchez, C -- Extended spring training -- rehab
30) Quinn Brodey, OF -- St. Lucie Mets (A Adv)
Complete list »

Just missed Top 30: Quinn Brodey
A third-round pick in 2017 out of Stanford, Brodey is entering his age-23 season but still has breakout potential with his power-speed combo from center field. His high-end exit velocities are among the best in the system and underscore his raw power, but he’ll need to make gains in his approach -- he struck out in 27 percent of his 460 plate appearances in ’18 -- in order to apply it at higher levels.

Impact prospect: Andres Gimenez
The Venezuelan shortstop reached Double-A last year before he turned 20 and ultimately hit .277/.344/.385 over 37 games in the Eastern League. He saw a lot of time at second base in the Arizona Fall League and could be an option for the Mets this year in the event of an injury to either Amed Rosario or Robinson Cano.

Breakout prospect: Ronny Mauricio
After signing with the Mets for $2.1 million in July 2017, Mauricio made the jump straight to the U.S. last year for his pro debut and impressed on all fronts, eventually earning a promotion to the Appalachian League at age 17 after slashing .279/.307/.421 with 19 extra-base hits in the Gulf Coast League. An athletic shortstop who could develop both a plus hit tool and plus power, he has one of the highest ceilings in the Minors among players yet to reach full-season ball.

Best defensive prospect: Gimenez
The shortstop on our All-Defense Team, Gimenez reached Double-A in 2018 as a teenager. While he needs to add strength offensively, he has everything he needs to play shortstop defensively in the big leagues. He has plus hands, range and the internal clock to allow him to slow the game down.