Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2018: 5, Mark Vientos

5. Mark Vientos, SS

Height: 6’4”, Weight: 185 lbs.

DOB: 12/11/99 (18)

Acquired: 2nd round, 2017 Draft (American Heritage High School, Florida)

Bats/Throws: R/R

2017: GCL Mets (Rookie): 47 G, 193 PA, .259/.316/.397, 12 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 0/2 SB, 14 BB, 42 K / Kingsport (Rookie): 4 G, 18 PA, .294/.333/.412, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0/0 SB, 1 BB, 4 K

After making a relatively safe pick with their first pick in the 2017 Draft, the Mets selected the 17-year-old Mark Vientos, a first-round talent that dropped to the second round thanks to a quad injury and the resulting up-and-down season at American Heritage High School. The Mets were forced to sign Vientos slightly over slot value thanks to his strong commitment to the University of Miami, but his combination of youth and potential made offering him extra money a no-brainer.

Vientos has high offensive upside. From a deep hand load, his explosive hands generate plus bat speed, making loud contact and posting above-average exit velocity numbers with regularity. At 6’4”, 190 lbs., his lanky frame should fill in even more, generating additional strength. His smooth, quiet swing can get long, prompting him to swing through hittable pitches, and his timing mechanisms still are not consistent, but given his young age, these are things that can be worked on and refined. His pitch recognition and approach at the plate are advanced for a prep player, but are still developing.

As a middle infielder, Vientos is able to handle the routine plays and is even able to complete more difficult ones more often than not, but he is not expected to stay around the keystone thanks to below average range. Thanks to his above-average arm, he profiles better as a third baseman. Even there, he lacks the quick-twitch explosiveness most third basemen possess, and will likely be a below-average fielder to some degree.

Lukas Vlahos says:

There probably isn’t a player with higher offensive upside in the system right now. If Vientos can harness his long levers, there’s plenty of power potential, and eighteen year old draftees that hold their own in Rookie ball are always intriguing. Unfortunately, Vientos’s large frame will limit him to third base at best, and first base at worst, and there’s not a real role in the majors anymore for okay sluggers who can only play the cold corner.

Steve Sypa says:

Mark Vientos has gotten comparisons to Manny Machado, and while that’s all basically hyperbole at this point, I’d rather see a player get comped to one of the best than anyone else. I see Vientos turning out more like Wilmer Flores than Manny Machado, but that’s still not a bad outcome. We’ll have plenty of time to wait and see, as Vientos is still barely old enough to enter into a legally-binding contract and still can’t legally drink or buy a pack of smokes in the city.