NY Mets seem inclined to pass on promoting standout prospect Peter Alonso

Show Caption Hide Caption Mets assistant general manager John Ricco on Peter Alonso Mets assistant general manager John Ricco on Peter Alonso

NEW YORK – As the Mets use Wilmer Flores and Jose Bautista at first base, the first player in professional baseball to reach 100 RBIs sits in the minors.

Peter Alonso, ranked the 63rd-best prospect by MLB.com, continues to hit dingers and await his time for a promotion that may not come until next year.

The plan is to keep Alonso in the minors until Class AAA Las Vegas' season ends, and he may then head to the instructional league rather than Flushing. While no decision has been made yet, sources indicated Alonso may not be promoted.

"First and foremost it’s about his development. Coming into the year, the offense was something we felt pretty confident about. The defense he had to work on and continues to be something he needs to be working on," Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said regarding why Alonso is in the minors. "Right now, it’s as much about his development as anything to keep working on the defense. It’s a lot harder to do it here. In theory, the speed of the game, it’s harder to work on things. You have to perform.”

Defense, defense, defense

A lost season is the perfect time for a team to get a look at a promising player, especially one who may factor into their plans. Just last season, the Mets promoted top prospects Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith for the stretch run. Smith's struggles in the final two months played a role in the team signing veteran Adrian Gonzalez in the offseason.

Several factors are influencing the team's decision to let Alonso develop in the minors rather than the majors, and his defense is at the forefront.

The Mets have not valued defense in building their teams, but the sense is they do not feel Alonso's defense is ready for this level. By all accounts, Alonso has improved from the start of the season to now, but there is still work to be done.

"There are certain things you have to be able to do at a minimum," Ricco said. "We got to make sure we’re checking those boxes as well.”

Ian Levin, the Mets' director of player development, noted that Alonso had "made a lot of progress" but "still has ways to go." Alonso benefited from working with minor league infield coordinator Tim Teufel last season, and the benefit of individualized instruction may lead him to instructional league in September rather than the Mets.

It's harder for players to receive daily one-on-one time in the majors.

One scout who saw Alonso earlier in the year regarded his defense as OK, but there are those who believe Alonso is best suited as a designated hitter.

"His bat is his calling card and his defense is something he’s going to have to work at," Levin said. "He’s definitely made strides in that area.”

Ricco also noted the Mets tend to be conservative with their prospects, waiting until they feel they are truly ready to allow them to stick at this level.

"We want them to come up and succeed, not just come up and survive," Ricco said "We’ll send guys back, we prefer not to."

Keeping the spot

Beyond the defensive reservations, the Mets are weighing whether it is worth using a 40-man roster spot on Alonso for what would likely be no more than 100 at-bats. The Mets only have 25 games left after Las Vegas' season ends Sept. 3.

Alonso is not on the 40-man roster, and the Mets do not have to add him to the roster this offseason. If they add him, though, that means they carry him all offseason and potentially lose a player that they have to protect from the Rule 5 Draft.

By keeping him off the roster, the Mets can delay any decision on Alonso until their opening roster next season. The 40-man roster is full, and the Mets may have to create a spot for David Wright, who is working toward a possible return.

"You’re weighing the value of (the roster spot) against seeing him in a limited role for a few weeks," Ricco said Friday at Citizens Bank Park. "If you add him next spring, you’ve got through the winter and don’t have to do that until opening day.”

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There also might not be that many available at-bats for Alonso since the Mets want to give Jay Bruce a look at first, and Flores and Smith will also be in the mix. It seems unlikely the Mets would promote Alonso and make him the everyday starter.

"I hate to bring a guy up and just have him sit," Ricco said.

What's the value of the minors?

While Alonso's bat has certainly warranted a promotion, Mets officials believe that the 23-year-old can still benefit from facing Class AAA pitching.

"He’ll get pitched in a way he’ll get pitched here except the caliber is better (in MLB)," Levin said while noting Alonso is seeing first-pitch breaking balls. "He’s learning how to face the kinds of pitchers that can exploit his holes better than (Class) AA.”

Alonso crushed Class AA pitching before starting slow with Las Vegas. He responded well to his struggles although he's currently in a funk. He entered Monday hitting .237 with an .862 OPS for Las Vegas, and had 30 homers and 107 RBIs for the season.

Including his time in Class AA, Alonso was batting .287 with a .922 OPS.

"He seems to be answering the questions. I don’t think he’s all the way there yet," Levin said. "He has to be a little more consistent with things.”

So, what does it all mean?

Whether Alonso is promoted or not, he figures to be in the mix for the starting job next year unless the team trades him. The Mets have multiple options at the position, although none are proven, and Alonso could net a solid piece in return.

Bruce has two years left on his deal, and the emergence of Brandon Nimmo may shift Bruce to the infield in the future.

It may be a telling sign regarding Alonso's chances to be the starter next year that he is being passed on now, but Mets officials don't believe it will hamper his career.

"It's not a definite no," Ricco said of a promotion. "But it's up for debate."

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