Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Every Monday, we'll be taking a look at how the Mets' top prospects (their MLB.com Mets Top 10 rankings are in parenthesis) are faring.

Andres Gimenez, SS, Double-A Binghamton (No. 2) -- ETA 2020

The 20-year-old Gimenez -- who is the Mets' No. 2 prospect by default (MLB.com has not yet removed Pete Alonso's No. 1 prospect status) -- is viewed by most minor league experts as one of the best 50 or so prospects in baseball. Gimenez has been one of the youngest players in each league he's played in during his climb to Double-A. He hit .282/.348/.432 with 28 stolen bases in 85 games last season for High-A St. Lucie before being promoted to Double-A, where he has opened this season with three hits in 18 at-bats spanning three games. Binghamton has had eight of their last nine games either postponed or suspended, so Gimenez and his teammates haven't had a chance to do much since April 7.

Ronny Mauricio, SS, Low-A Columbia (No. 3) -- ETA 2022

The 18-year-old Mauricio, a switch-hitter who the Mets gave $2.1 million in 2017 as an international free agent, started his professional career on a 20-game hitting streak in 2018 and finished the season hitting .273/.304/.410 with three homers, three triples, and 16 doubles across two rookie-ball levels.

Mauricio has been on fire since April 5, with 14 hits in his last 34 at-bats, including a 4-for-6 day on Sunday. Overall, he is hitting .368/.400/.395 in nine games.

His assignment to Low-A means a potential promotion to High-A St. Lucie at some point this season. If Mauricio performs well this season, look out for his name on Top 100 lists as soon as this summer.

Ronny Mauricio's first RBI of the season gets Columbia on the board tonight. Mature approach for the 18-year-old. #Mets pic.twitter.com/vtMLSTvWdm
- Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) April 6, 2019

Mark Vientos, 3B, Low-A Columbia (No. 4) -- ETA 2021

Vientos, 19, had a very strong 2018 season for Kingsport in Rookie ball, hitting .287/.389/.489 with 11 homers, 12 doubles, and 52 RBI in 60 games. He has been solid so far this season for Columbia, hitting .241/.378/.379 with one homer (an absolute missile, video below) and one double in 29 at-bats over nine games.

"With bat speed and strength, Vientos produces exit velocities that are among the best in the system, up there with the likes of slugger Peter Alonso," MLB.com notes in their scouting report.

Sheesh 👀 .@MarkVientos_5 #LetsGlow pic.twitter.com/LPg2wARdLd
- Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) April 13, 2019

Shervyen Newton, SS, Low-A Columbia (No. 5) -- ETA 2022

The 19-year-old Newton shows "a very advanced approach at the plate for a prospect his age," according to MLB.com's scouting report. He hit .280/.408/.449 with with five homers, 16 doubles, and two triples in 56 games last season for Rookie level Kingsport. Newton has begun this season on the IL with a minor shoulder injury.

David Peterson, LHP, Double-A Binghamton (No. 6) -- ETA 2020

Peterson allowed one run on three hits while walking three and striking out five in 3.1 innings in his first start this season. He hasn't pitched since then as Binghamton has only played once due to awful weather leading to postponements. The 23-year-old, who profiles as a mid-rotation starter, excelled in 2018, posting a 3.16 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 115 strikeouts in 128 innings (22 starts) between High-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton.

Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, Low-A Columbia (No. 7) -- ETA 2022

The Mets' second-round pick (No. 48) in the 2018 draft, Woods Richardson has one of the most electric arms in the system, with a fastball that reaches as high as 97 MPH and had Mickey Callaway raving during Spring Training. Woods Richardson allowed two runs on three hits while walking none and striking out four in 1.2 innings in his 2019 debut. In his second start, he tossed 3.0 scoreless innings (41 pitches) while allowing two hits, walking none and striking out two. Similar to Ronny Mauricio, look for Woods Richardson to get some love on Top 100 Prospect lists later this season if he excels.

Anthony Kay, LHP, Double-A Binghamton (No. 8) -- ETA 2020

The 24-year-old Kay has moved up the ladder along with David Peterson. And like Peterson, he profiles as a mid-rotation starter. After posting a 4.26 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 123 strikeouts in 122.2 innings (23 starts) with Low-A Columbia and High-A St. Lucie in 2018, Kay allowed one run on three hits in 4.2 innings in his Double-A debut while walking two and striking out four. He tossed 3.2 hitless and scoreless innings in his second start, walking three and striking out four.

Thomas Szapucki, LHP, Low-A Columbia (No. 9) -- ETA 2021

Szapucki was on the rise in 2017, following up a 2016 season where he had a 1.38 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with a ridiculous 86 strikeouts in 52.0 innings for Rookie level Kingsport and Short-Season A Brooklyn with a 2.79 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 27 strikeouts in 29 innings for Columbia. It was at that point that he needed Tommy John surgery.

Now recovered, the 22-year-old Szapucki -- whose innings are being increased very slowly -- has thrown 3.0 scoreless frames over two starts while allowing two hits, walking one and striking out one. If he continues to perform well, a relatively quick promotion to High-A St. Lucie should be in order. Szapucki is further away than David Peterson or Anthony Kay because of the delay due to Tommy John surgery, but he has far more upside than either.

"His explosive fastball is electric with plus life, and he throws it in the 92-97 mph range," according to MLB.com's scouting report. "His power breaking ball can be a second plus pitch which freezes hitters and misses bats."

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