Here's where the Mets' Top 30 prospects are starting '22

With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Mets’ Top 30 prospects are projected to start:

1) Francisco Álvarez (MLB No. 10), C -- Binghamton (Double-A)
2) Brett Baty (MLB No. 27), 3B -- Binghamton (Double-A)
3) Ronny Mauricio (MLB No. 78), SS -- Binghamton (Double-A)
4) Mark Vientos, 3B -- Syracuse (Triple-A)
5) Matt Allan, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John recovery)
6) Alex Ramirez, OF -- St. Lucie (Single-A)
7) Khalil Lee, OF -- Syracuse (Triple-A)
8) Nick Plummer, OF -- Syracuse (Triple-A) -- MLB taxi squad
9) Dominic Hamel, RHP -- St. Lucie (Single-A)
10) Joel Diaz, RHP -- Extended spring training
11) Calvin Ziegler, RHP -- St. Lucie (Single-A)
12) Jose Butto, RHP -- Binghamton (Double-A)
13) Simon Juan, OF -- Extended spring training
14) Jaylen Palmer, OF -- Brooklyn (High-A)
15) Carlos Cortes, OF -- Syracuse (Triple-A)
16) Junior Santos, RHP -- Brooklyn (High-A)
17) Eric Orze, RHP -- Syracuse (Triple-A)
18) Robert Dominguez, RHP -- Extended spring training
19) JT Schwartz, 1B -- Brooklyn (High-A)
20) Hayden Senger, C -- Binghamton (Double-A)
21) Mike Vasil, RHP -- St. Lucie (Single-A)
22) Jake Mangum, OF -- Binghamton (Double-A)
23) Jordany Ventura, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John recovery)
24) Josh Walker, LHP -- Syracuse (Triple-A) -- injured list
25) Christian Scott, RHP -- Extended spring training
26) Joander Suarez, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John recovery)
27) Nick Meyer, C -- Syracuse (Triple-A)
28) Carlos Rincon, OF -- Syracuse (Triple-A)
29) Jose Peroza, 3B -- Brooklyn (High-A)
30) Brian Metoyer, RHP -- Binghamton (Double-A)

Team to watch
Don’t overthink this. Binghamton boasts each of the Mets’ top three prospects and their only Top 100 representatives as well in Álvarez, Baty and Mauricio. Baty and Mauricio have already seen the level -- the former much more than the latter -- while Álvarez is headed to the Double-A level for the first time. All three are known for their power potential, and it’s notable that they’re moving away from a pitcher-friendly environment at High-A Brooklyn. Double-A arms will bring their own challenges, but big slugging numbers aren’t out of the question for all three to begin 2022. In terms of actual watching, note that Single-A St. Lucie is on MiLB.TV for the first time, giving Mets fans around the country a chance to see the organization’s Florida State League club.

Teams on MiLB.TV
Triple-A Syracuse
Double-A Binghamton
High-A Brooklyn
Single-A St. Lucie

New faces
Plummer is coming off a breakout season in the Cardinals system, one in which he hit .280/.415/.479 with 15 homers and 13 steals in 117 games at Double-A and Triple-A. After electing free agency at the start of the offseason, the 25-year-old signed a Major League deal with the Mets in November, thus adding to New York’s outfield depth. The Mets have Plummer on their taxi squad for the opening series in Washington, an indication of just how close to the Majors they believe he is.

On the shelf
Allan remains the Mets’ top pitching prospect even after undergoing Tommy John surgery early last season. He also underwent a separate procedure to transpose his ulnar collateral nerve in the offseason, but he is still expected to come back to a Minor League mound later this summer. Fellow right-handers Jordany Ventura and Joander Suarez are continuing their own Tommy John recoveries, while southpaw Josh Walker will open the season on the Syracuse IL with an undisclosed issue.