Here’s the latest from some of the Mets’ top prospects at Double-A media day…
Jett the Met is 100 percent
Last season didn’t quite go as planned forJett Williams.
The No. 2 ranked prospect on SNY’s Top 30 list had his development slowed down a bit as he was limited to just 33 games after undergoing a wrist procedure that kept him sidelined for a little over four months.
Williams was able to make his way back down the stretch and then participated in both the Arizona Fall League and big-league spring training -- so now he’s feeling 100 percent heading into the Double-A season.
The versatile youngster will continue receiving reps at all three positions up the middle -- but he told reporters on Tuesday at Binghamton Media Day that the team is planning on giving him more time in center field this year.
“It doesn't matter to me, as long as I’m on the field whether that’s at short, second, center. They told me I was going to be getting more reps in center, but at the end of the day, it’s just going out there, and just being on the field and staying healthy.”
Williams has appeared in 33 games in center to this point in his career -- but if he can master the position and regain his dominant form at the plate while staying healthy, he just might be able to continue cruising his way through the system.
Clifford looking to be more consistent, will play some OF
Ryan Clifford is another one of the Mets’ top prospects who will start the year on a loaded Binghamton squad.
The young slugger had gotten off to a slow start last year in the pitcher-friendly confines of Single-A Brooklyn -- but after receiving a promotion to Double-A, he returned to his power-hitting form and finished the season on a high note.
He popped 18 homers, 21 doubles, and recorded a .359 on-base percentage in 99 games.
After working on some things this offseason and being around some of the Mets’ top sluggers throughout big-league camp, Clifford is looking to add more consistency to his game this year in Binghamton.
"If I can do my best to put the bat on the ball, good things happen," he said.
Defensively, the plan is for him to spend the majority of his time at first base for the first month of the season and then to get some reps in the outfield from there in an effort to continue increasing his versatility.
Clifford played 60 of his 130 games in the outfield last season.
Morabito ready for opportunity
Nick Morabito is one of the newcomers for this Double-A squad.
The second-round pick is making the leap up from Brooklyn after putting together a tremendous campaign in which he took home the Mets' Minor League Player of the Year award after leading the organization in batting average (.312), on-base percentage (.403), stolen bases (59), and hits (142).
The jump from Single-A to Double-A is usually a big one, but he feels ready for the promotion.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity to be here in Binghamton,” he said. “I’m ready for the opportunity and ready to take it on -- I'm going to embrace it, and I just want to be on the field as much as possible and allow my game to play itself.”
For those of you not familiar with his game --
