The 10 best Mets minor league hitters I saw this year: 8, Ross Adolph

Disclaimer: This is a ranking of the best players that I saw during the 2018 season. I saw a wide cross-section of teams in 2018, seeing the Kingsport Mets, Brooklyn Cyclones, Columbia Fireflies, and Binghamton Rumble Ponies, but I did not see the GCL Mets, St. Lucie Mets, or Las Vegas 51s, nor did I attend every single game of the teams that I did see. As such, this is not a comprehensive Mets prospect list. If a player is not on the list, I either did not see him, or considered the listed ten players better.

Name: Ross Adolph

Team: Brooklyn Cyclones

Position: OF

Born: 12/17/96 (21)

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 200 lbs.

Bats/Throws: L/R

Acquired: 2018 Draft, Round 12 (University of Toledo)

2018 Season: 61 G, 232 AB, .276/.348/.509, 64 H, 9 2B, 12 3B, 7 HR, 21 BB, 52 K, 14/17 SB, .322 BABIP (Short-A)

Date(s) Seen: June 15 @ Staten Island (0-3, K), June 16 @ Brooklyn (0-4, 3 K), July 2 @ Staten Island (2-4, R, HR, 3 RBI), July 7 @ Staten Island (0-2 BB, 2 SB, CS), August 25 @ Brooklyn (2-5, 2 R, K), September 2 @ Staten Island (1-4, R, 2B)

The Man

Ross Adolph was a multi-sport star in high school, winning letters in baseball, football, and basketball. He enrolled at the University of Toledo after graduating and was a solid contributor to the Rockets in his three years there. As a freshman, he hit .268/.366/.317 in 45 games. As a sophomore, he improved in the power department and hit .272/.354/.484 in 58 games. This past season, the outfielder continued displaying his burgeoning power and hit .322/.445/.654 in 55 games, tying the record for most home runs in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Conference with 15. The Mets drafted him with their 12th round pick during the 2018 MLB Draft, and the two sides agreed to a slot-value $125,000 bonus.

The Mets thus far have gotten their money’s worth from Adolph, who in addition to hitting .276/.348/.509 with 7 home runs and 14 stolen bases, was named a NYPL All-Star and was named All-Star Game MVP after going 2-3 with a triple and home run. His 12 triples tied the franchise record, he became the first Cyclones player with a two two-triple games in one season.

The Hitter

Adolph does not currently have a single loud tool, but he is average or better across the board. He stands tall at the plate, with a quiet swing that has some angle. There is some swing-and-miss there, but he also has a selective eye. While his ability to hit for average projects to be fringe-average-to-average, his ability to hit for power is average-to-above-average. In the field, his above-average speed and an above-average arm let him cover a lot of ground and get the ball back into the infield quickly. As long as he does not add bad mass to his 6’1” frame, he should be able to remain in center for the near future.

Looking to 2019

Adolph exceeded all expectations in 2018, perhaps even finding his name near the end of Top 25 Mets prospect lists. Adolph will begin the 2019 season in full-season ball, Columbia if the Mets are conservative or St. Lucie if they are aggressive. Maintaining a solid average against more advanced pitching will be the big test for the outfielder.

The Countdown

9. Zach Rheams

10. Juan Uriarte