https://nypost.com/2023/07/28/who-are-the-prospects-the-mets-got-back-in-the-david-robertson-deal/

Breaking down the prospects Mets got back in David Robertson deal
Miles Schachner
4–5 minutes

The Mets are changing course.

With the trade of closer David Robertson to the Marlins for two teenage
prospects, the Mets have sent as clear a signal as any that they are
focusing on next season and the years to come after that.

Despite their league-leading $348 million payroll, the Mets sit at
48-54, 17 games out of the division lead and seven games out of a wild
card spot as their playoff hopes dwindle more every day.

So who are the prospects that the Mets acquired from Miami?
Marco Vargas

Marco Vargas, an 18-year-old lefty-hitting infielder from Mexico,
headlines the deal as the highest-ranked prospect the Mets acquired.

Vargas is ranked No. 9 in the Marlins’ system via Fangraphs and No. 18
via MLB Pipeline, but scouts agree the young infielder has “special”
potential with the bat.

“Vargas is (by a wide margin) the teenage hitter in this org most likely
to become a big league regular down the line,” the Fangraphs scouting
blurb reads.
Marco Vargas
Marco Vargas
Miami Marlins

“Vargas is an extremely advanced hitter for his age, showing the ability
to recognize pitches, control the strike zone and employ the opposite
field,” a description on MLB Pipeline says.

The Mexican infielder, who signed for $17,500 as a 17-year-old in 2022,
has hit .283/.457/.442 with two home runs while walking more than he
strikes out this year on the Marlins’ complex league team.

Though Vargas has played all around the diamond, starting games at
second base, third base and shortstop, the Mets are hopeful he will
stick as a middle-of-the-field player.

“With Vargas, a left-handed bat, middle of the diamond, shortstop
profile right now,” GM Billy Eppler told reporters on Thursday. “Elite
contact. Elite decision-making. He has above average exit velocity for
the level. He’s young, that’s another good quality, and he’s really
performing well at the level.”
The Mets traded David Robertson to the Marlins for two prospects.
The Mets traded David Robertson to the Marlins for two prospects.
Getty Images

He will land at No. 6 on the Mets’ prospect rankings, per MLB Pipeline.
Ronald Hernandez

Ronald Hernandez, a 19-year-old switch-hitting catching prospect, brings
a unique skillset to the Mets’ system.

Hernandez struggled in the complex league at the plate last year but has
hit for a .916 OPS this season with three home runs while he walks more
than he strikes out, posting above-average exit velocity numbers as well.

The catcher signed out of Venezuela for an $850,000 bonus in 2021,
labeled as a solid defensive catcher with room to grow with his bat.
Ronald Hernandez
Ronald Hernandez
Miami Marlins

Ranked No. 21 on the MLB Pipeline list of Mets prospects, his scouting
report reads: “A steady receiver, Hernandez is agile behind the plate
and does a nice job of blocking balls in the dirt… He works hard on his
craft, diligently preparing for games, displaying leadership skills and
communicating with pitchers in either English or Spanish.”

Scouts believe Hernandez has a “sound swing,” according to MLB Pipeline,
and has the opportunity to blossom into a well-rounded hitter from both
sides of the plate with the potential of hitting 12-15 homers once he
learns how to harness his power.

The Mets are adding to a system that already possesses top-of-the-line
catching talent, with 21-year-old Francisco Alvarez tearing up the
big-league level and 2022 first-round pick Kevin Parada excelling at High-A.

Hernandez will place at No. 18 on the Mets’ MLB Pipeline rankings.
Mets GM Billy Eppler pulled the trigger on the trade.
Mets GM Billy Eppler pulled the trigger on the trade.
Getty Images

Robertson, a 38-year-old veteran who has been a consistent presence in
the Mets’ bullpen this season in the absence of Edwin Diaz, holding a
2.05 ERA, was traded last season from the Cubs to the Phillies.

The Cubs acquired Ben Brown in the deal, a 23-year-old starting pitcher
who was then ranked at No. 7 in the Phillies system but has since risen
to No. 3 in Chicago’s farm system and has struck out 12.9 per nine
innings in Triple-A this year.

Evan Carter, Luisangel Acuna rise in Baseball America prospect rankings
Shawn McFarland
~3 minutes

Outfielder outfielder Evan Carter makes a catch in a defensive drill
during a Texas Rangers...
Outfielder outfielder Evan Carter makes a catch in a defensive drill
during a Texas Rangers minor league spring camp workout at the team's
training facility on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Surprise, Ariz. (Smiley
N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Texas Rangers could add a high-end prospect with
the fourth overall pick in Sunday’s MLB Draft. Until then, those already
in the organization are on the rise.

Outfielder Evan Carter (No. 6), pitcher Owen White (No. 75) and
infielder Luisangel Acuna (No. 87) each appear in Baseball America’s
updated mid-season top 100 prospects rankings, released on Saturday.

Carter began the season ranked No. 25, White at No. 59. All-Star third
baseman Josh Jung was ranked No. 66 before the season but has since
graduated out of Baseball America’s list. Acuña, the younger brother of
Atlanta Braves All-Star Ronald Acuña Jr., was unranked in the preseason.

In The Dallas Morning News’ top 30 prospects list, Carter ranks No. 1,
White ranks No. 2 and Acuña ranks No. 5.

The Dirt

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Carter, 20, has slashed .312/.423/.471 with 8 home runs, 39 RBIs and 39
runs scored in 56 games with Double-A Frisco this season. He spent two
weeks on the injured list in June with wrist soreness, but finished the
month with a .429 batting average in 35 at bats. He’s hit .333 with two
home runs in July.

White, who will start for the American League in the All-Star Futures
Game on Saturday, made his MLB debut on June 13 vs. the Los Angeles
Angels. He gave up three earned runs in two relief innings. The
23-year-old right-hander had a 3.51 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 56 and
one-third Double-A innings this season. He was promoted to Triple-A
Round Rock on June 20.

Acuña, 21, has slashed .316/.372/.450 with 6 home runs, 44 RBIs and 34
stolen bases this season at Double-A Frisco.

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Prospect Report: Luisangel Acuna Leads The Charge In Wichita — College
Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America
Geoff Pontes
3–4 minutes

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Image credit: Luisangel Acuna (Photo by Ben Ludeman/Texas Rangers/Getty
Images)

Luisangel Acuña, CF, Rangers: There were more fireworks in Wichita on
Wednesday night than New York City on the Fourth of July. The two teams
combined for 29 runs over nine innings. Acuña was arguably the standout
of the game, going 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, a walk and two
stolen bases. Other performers for Frisco included Evan Carter, who had
multiple hits, including his 11th home run of the season, and Thomas
Saggese, who went 3-for-5 with his 15th home run of the season. Acuña
has experienced an excellent season—he’s hitting .315/.379/.452 with
seven home runs and 41 stolen bases. He boasts an excellent combination
of feel to hit, power, speed and positional versatility.

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Acuña's brother carving own path with Rangers
Kennedi Landry
3–4 minutes

March 4th, 2022

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- When Luisangel Acuña is at the plate, it’s easy to
recognize the stance and the swing. That's because it’s all strikingly
similar to his famous sibling, Ronald.

The two are alike in a few ways, especially their approach at the plate.
Even their stutter-step home run celebrations are alike.

But that’s about where the similarities end. Luisangel, the Rangers' No.
8 prospect, is a lot smaller (5-foot-10 compared to the 6-foot Braves
star) and hasn’t yet filled out his frame for power. Positionally,
Luisangel is a middle infielder instead of an outfielder.

Regardless of the difference or similarities between the two, Luisangel
Acuña is working his way through the Rangers’ Minor League system hoping
to follow in his brother’s big league footsteps.

At just 19 years old in 2021, Acuña was assigned to Low-A Down East,
where he experienced his first taste of professional ball stateside. In
111 games, he slashed .266/.345/.404 with a .749 OPS.

Though he had just 12 homers, Acuña has demonstrated an advanced control
of the strike zone that will no doubt help him succeed down the line.

“I think the power is coming,” said Wood Ducks manager Carlos Cardoza.
“If you talk to hitting guys, the power is a lot of the time the last
thing that develops. I think because he has the control of the zone,
everything else is going to come. It's in there, and it's gonna come out.”

The Rangers signed Acuña out of Venezuela in 2018 for $425,000, and he’s
been up to the challenge ever since.

Acuña dominated the pitching in the Dominican in 2019, slashing
..342/.438/.455 with a .893 OPS in his professional debut. But like many
Minor Leaguers, he missed out on a year of development with the pandemic
in ‘20. Acuña said he prepared through that entire year so he would be
ready when Minor League baseball returned.

Cardoza said 2021 with the Wood Ducks was a year of growth for Acuña as
he watched the prospect deal with the ups and downs of a full
professional season in a new country.

“I think he learned a lot about himself,” Cardoza explained. “He talked
about the importance of a routine and staying steadfast to that routine.
I think he’s made some great strides both defensively and offensively.
It was just a year of a lot of growth and a lot of success. The most
important thing I see is what he learned and what he can take into this
next year, hopefully playing at a higher level.”

Acuña, like many of the Rangers’ middle-infield prospects, finds himself
at a roadblock with the club committing to shortstop Corey Seager on a
10-year deal and second baseman Marcus Semien to a seven-year deal.

While Acuña is still years from the big leagues, he is still up for the
challenge and competing at the position day in and day out.

“2021 was a season of highs and lows,” Acuña said with Cardoza
interpreting. “I was working and controlling the things I could control
and ultimately felt like I had a good year. ... I’m going to keep doing
what I’ve been doing. Just working hard, focusing on my work, and I’m
going to keep putting my best foot forward and the rest is in God's hands.”