Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2016: 20-16

Previously: 25-21

20. Josh Smoker, LHP

Height: 6'2", Weight: 195 lbs
DOB: 11/26/88
Acquired: minor league free agent, 2015
2015: Low-A Savannah: 6.2 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; High-A St. Lucie: 21.1 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 26 K; Double-A Binghamton: 21 IP, 16 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 11 BB, 26 K; Aggregate: 49 IP, 39 H, 19 R, 17 ER, 19 BB, 60 K

A first-round pick of the Nationals in 2007, Josh Smoker resurfaced with the Mets this season after shoulder injuries relegated him to independent leagues in 2014. Smoker was acquired towards the end of spring training and assigned to Low-A Savannah but quickly rose through the system on the back of a mid-to-high 90s fastball that allowed him to strike out 60 batters in just 49 innings coming out of the bullpen. His changeup is his primary secondary offering, but he'll also throw a splitter and an occasional slider. Smoker has the most fastball velocity of any healthy pitcher currently in the system. It's 95-98 from the left side, so there's a good chance he pitches in the majors this season as a lefty-one-out-guy at the very least, with a chance to be more than that. If you want to make the top 20 as a reliever, it helps to have a high-90s fastball.

19. Max Wotell, LHP

Height: 6'3", Weight: 180 lbs
DOB: 9/13/96
Acquired: 3rd round, 2015 draft
2015: GCL Mets: 10.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 9 BB, 16 K

Wotell was the Mets' second pick in the 2015 draft, a prep lefty who can touch 93 and has room to fill out his empty six-foot, three-inch frame. He flashes a plus curve to pair with his fastball, so the overall package is a fun one to dream on. One concern is his long, unorthodox windup that makes repeatability an issue and was perhaps evidenced in his nine walks in nine appearances in the Gulf Coast League this past summer. Wotell will likely remain in extended spring training to start 2016 followed by an assignment to Kingsport.

18. Eudor Garcia, 3B

Bats/Throws: L/R
Height: 6'0", Weight: 225 lbs
DOB: 5/17/94
Acquired: 4th round, 2014 draft
2015: Low-A Savannah: .296/.340/.442; 5.1% walk rate; 22.1% strikeout rate

It was an impressive season at the plate for Garcia, who hit nine home runs despite playing half his home games in a park that typically suppresses left-handed power. And it's a good thing, too, because the bat is the carrying tool for his profile. The reports on his glove at third are not pretty, and he spent 20 of 104 games as a designated hitter last year. Despite talk of his ending up in left field, his ultimate position may end up across the diamond on account of his 20-grade foot speed. Still, though, that's an impressive triple slash for Savannah, and it places him firmly in our top 20.

17. Ali Sanchez, C

Bats/Throws: R/R
Height: 6'0", Weight: 175 lbs
DOB: 1/20/97
Acquired: IFA, 2013
2015: GCL Mets 177 PA, .278/.339/.315; 6.8% walk rate; 14.7% strikeout rate

Reading what Ben Badler gushed about Ali Sanchez in his Gulf Coast League chat at Baseball America a couple months back, it's hard to not get excited about him. Despite average arm strength, scouts are raving about his receiving abilities, enough so that Badler thinks he will be able to stick at the position for a long time. When you couple that with above-average hand-eye coordination and an excellent strikeout rate relative to age and league, you can see why Sanchez ranks this highly despite spending the majority of the season all the way down in the GCL. It may take a while for the bat skills to catch up to the defensive skills, but with the Mets set at catcher for the foreseeable future, there's no rush here.

16. Luis Guillorme, SS

Bats/Throws: L/R
Height: 5'10", Weight: 170 lbs
DOB: 9/27/94
Acquired: 10th round, 2013 draft
2015: Low-A Savannah 523 PA, .318/.391/.354; 10.3% walk rate; 13.4% strikeout rate

Guillorme had a fantastic 2015 season; his .391 on-base percentage and plus defense at short earned him the South Atlantic League's most valuable player award. I look at the strikeout and walk rates and I hear about his plus defense and I can't help but get excited about Guillorme. The problem, though, is that he has 20-grade power and hit zero homers in 523 plate appearances. What it adds up to is a player who has a good chance to stick around for a long time, but with very little chance of having an impact at the major league level, at least according to people who have had eyes on him. Regardless, based on his reported work ethic, ability to control the strike zone, and plus shortstop defense, I remain optimistic.