Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2019: 11, Ross Adolph

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ross Adolph was traded to the Houston Astros January 6, after the 2019 countdown began. As such, the decision was made not to remove Adolph, keeping him on the Amazin’ Avenue 2019 Top 25 Mets Prospects list.

11. Ross Adolph, CF

Height: 6’1”, Weight: 200 lbs.
DOB: 12/17/96 (22)
Acquired: 12th Round, 2018 Draft (University of Toledo, Ohio)
Bats/Throws: L/R
2018: 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)

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.

Adolph was assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones after signing, and the left-hander had one of the better seasons in franchise history. His .857 OPS in 61 games was the highest a qualified hitter has posted in Coney Island since Danny Muno posted a .980 OPS in 2011 after hitting .355/.466/.514 in 59 games. He 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 for the season tied him with Darrell Ceciliani for the franchise record, and he became the first player with a two two-triple games in one season in the 17-year history of the Cyclones.

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.

MiLBTV

Steve Sypa says:

At the time of his selection, Adolph felt like yet another low-ceiling, low-upside college outfielder selection designed to save money, one of many that the Mets have made over the last couple of years. Once Adolph got on the field, it quickly became apparent that he was very different from those picks, in that he had a lot more upside. NYPL stats can and should always be taken with a grain of salt, but Adolph has the physical tools and presence to move up the minor league ladder relatively quickly, and may be able to develop into a quality MLB contributor of some kind.

Lukas Vlahos says:

Adolph was a rare late pick for the Mets that’s actually worth something. Selected in the 12th round of the 2018 draft as a senior, Adolph went on to show that Brooklyn was a waste of time for him, posting a 147 wRC+, 7 HR, and 14 SB in 264 PA. Really, there was no reason to send him to the Cyclones in the first place and even less of a reason to leave him there all season, but this is the Mets. He has no plus tool, but he’s average across the board and can survive in centerfield. Even if he can’t do the latter and falls into the dreaded ‘tweener’ category, that’s still a useful fourth outfielder, which is a great result from a 12th round pick. Hopefully the Mets diverge from their typically slow development tracks and push him through the system quickly.

Kenneth Lavin says:

Ross Adolph generally impressed in his pro debut this past season. The Mets assigned Adolph to Brooklyn after drafting him in the 12th round of the 2018 draft out of the University of Toledo. While he was a little old for the level, Adolph would end up being one of the best hitters in the New York Penn League, hitting a robust .276/.348/.509 line with 7 homers in 264 plate appearances. Adolph boasts above-average speed and an above average arm, and plays a pretty good centerfield at the moment. Adolph swings and misses a bit more than you would like, and may never hit for a particularly high average, but he does project to have above average power. Adolph should probably start the season with St. Lucie.