Meet the future Mets may never be more apt a phrase.

Of the 13 prospects atop MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 30 list for the 2024 season, seven weren’t in the organization at all this time last year.

The biggest additions came from New York’s blockbuster sale at last year’s Trade Deadline. No. 2 prospect Drew Gilbert and No. 4 Ryan Clifford came over as the returns in the deal that sent Justin Verlander to the Astros, while No. 3 Luisangel Acuña was brought over from the Rangers straight-up for Max Scherzer. No. 8 Marco Vargas and No. 12 Jeremy Rodriguez came over in separate deals, and No. 7 Colin Houck and No. 13 Brandon Sproat were the club’s two picks in last year’s Draft.

That isn’t to say there aren’t impressive returnees, either. Top prospect Jett Williams will build on a first full season in which he posted a .425 OBP with 45 stolen bases over 121 games and reached Double-A at just 19. No. 5 Christian Scott, No. 10 Blade Tidwell and No. 11 Mike Vasil should all play meaningful roles in the Major League club’s pitching group soon, given their performance and proximity.

Amid a disappointing season at the Major League level last year, the Mets built on their foundation with a mix of upper-level talent (Gilbert, Acuña) and long-term high-ceiling plays (Clifford, Vargas, Rodriguez), and it’s a more dynamic farm as a result heading into 2024.

Here’s a look at the Mets’ top prospects:

1. Jett Williams, SS/OF (MLB No. 45)
2. Drew Gilbert, OF (MLB No. 53)
3. Luisangel Acuña, SS/2B (MLB No. 66)
4. Ryan Clifford, OF/1B (MLB No. 97)
5. Christian Scott, RHP
   Complete Top 30 list »

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2023 preseason list to the 2024 preseason list:

Jump: Christian Scott, RHP (2023: NR | 2024: No. 5)
The 2021 fifth-rounder had only 21 1/3 innings above Single-A and was just on the outside looking in of our list last spring. Scott has benefitted from a move toward throwing mid-90s four-seamers instead of two-seamers, and his control took off in 2023 with a 3.6 percent walk rate that ranked fourth among Minor Leaguers with at least 80 innings. The former Florida Gator’s slider and changeup are also at least average pitches. He should factor into New York’s starting depth this summer.

Fall: Joel Díaz, RHP (2023: No. 12 | 2024: NR)
Shortly after last year's list dropped, Díaz underwent Tommy John surgery that knocked him out for the entire 2023 season. The 6-foot-2 right-hander absolutely dominated the Dominican Summer League in 2021 (0.54 ERA in 15 starts) but took a step back at Single-A St. Lucie a year later. Entering his age-20 season, he’s yet to throw more than 55 1/3 innings in a single campaign and will have to show how his three-pitch mix bounces back from the missed time.

Top 30s
NLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
ALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
NLC: CIN | CHC | MIL | PIT | STL
ALC: CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MIN
NLW: AZ | COL | LAD | SD | SF
ALW: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX

Best tools

Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools – 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 60 – Marco Vargas
Power: 60 – Ronny Mauricio (Ryan Clifford, Kevin Parada, Nolan McLean)
Run: 70 – Nick Morabito
Arm: 70 – Nolan McLean
Defense: 60 – Rhylan Thomas (Luisangel Acuña)
Fastball: 70 – Raimon Gomez
Curveball: 60 – Calvin Ziegler
Slider: 60 – Blade Tidwell (Raimon Gomez, Mike Vasil)
Changeup: 60 – Brandon Sproat
Control: 65 – Christian Scott

How they were built
Draft: 17 | International: 8 | Trade: 5

Breakdown by ETA
2024: 9 | 2025: 6 | 2026: 10 | 2027: 4 | 2029: 1

Breakdown by position
C: 3 | 1B: 0 | 2B: 1 | 3B: 1 | SS: 6 | INF: 1 | OF: 6 | RHP: 11 | LHP: 1