3 Mets prospects the team needs to be ready most for Opening Day 2025

Opening Day 2025 is already where the heads of some New York Mets fans are. Don’t get too ahead of yourself. We have an entire 2024 season to break our hearts first.

Much of the joy surrounding this team has come in the form of what the future holds. A bigger offseason next winter along with the progress of some of the organization’s best prospects will keep fans from completely abandoning ship. There might be a respite for some in 2024, but those season tickets for 2025 are already looking popular.

Plenty of Mets prospects will be able to help them out this year. When Opening Day 2025 rolls around, there needs to be little question of what these three can offer. They’re the ones the Mets most need ready and prepared for next season.

1) The Mets will need Drew Gilbert ready to be a regular in the outfield mix

Drew Gilbert should make his MLB debut later this season regardless of where the Mets are in the standings. The left-handed hitting outfielder has a couple of roles to take on. In a platoon, as the replacement for an injured player, or simply a call-up candidate late after a trade deadline dismantling, everyone suspects Gilbert is nearing his major league debut.

For Opening Day 2025, it’s pretty important he’s ready. Gilbert can be a solution at any of the three outfield positions. His exact position depends on several factors. One notable being if they sign Juan Soto or not.

Even if not deemed fully ready for an everyday role on the Mets on Opening Day 2025, sharing outfield duties with one or two others could work in their favor. Imagine if the 2024 Mets had a really good left-handed hitting outfielder that could split time with Harrison Bader. They might have one whole player between the two.

Gilbert should eventually find a spot as a corner outfielder as long as all goes well with Jett Williams and his progression. Williams isn’t someone the Mets will need to be ready by Opening Day 2025. This pitching prospect, on the other hand, absolutely must show he’s prepared.

2) The Mets will need Christian Scott ready to be their fifth starter at minimum

Several Mets pitching prospects overachieved on the expectations last year. Someone who blew them out of the water was Christian Scott. Now in Triple-A, he’s one level below living the dream. Many of the same rules apply to him as they do for Gilbert. Scott could be summoned to MLB duty for all of the same reasons. First he’ll need to prove himself consistently in the minors.

Scott’s first foray into the majors could always include a relief stint. Although a starter, limiting his innings is something to expect this season. If the Mets are alive and well in a playoff chase, using him as a reliever seems far more realistic. If the Mets are cooked, a couple of starts at the end of the season is a likely scenario.

The need for Scott to be ready by Opening Day 2025 has a lot to do with all of the openings the Mets will have in their rotation. Not only will they need to find three or four big leaguers, their depth will be depleted. Joey Lucchesi’s final minor league option was already used and the same could happen with David Peterson. Scott, at the very least, needs to be in the position Tylor Megill was in at the beginning of this year. He needs to be ready to step in when one of the arms inevitably goes down in spring training.

We can’t expect the Mets to bolster the rotation with more than two big free agent arms. All we’re asking for is Scott to be in contention for the fifth starter role. And if he wins it, all the better.

3) The Mets will need Nate Lavender as a bona fide MLB lefty reliever

Getting excited about a minor league reliever is more common than you may realize. Colin Holderman. Bryce Montes de Oca. Nate Lavender. It happens every preseason. Lavender is on the rise and while he’ll never quite get noted as one of the most elite Mets prospects because of his status as a relief pitcher, it does little to pour cold water on the excitement.

Mets fans haven’t been treated to all too many homegrown relievers in recent seasons. Seth Lugo, a failed starter with an asterisk, is the best one to come up through the system and have several successful years. For the most part, homegrown Mets relievers have flamed out quickly.

The 2025 Mets will need Lavender for a couple of reasons. Having minor league options is a huge plus. A league minimum salary, too, will allow them to spend elsewhere. With the team possibly losing lefty Brooks Raley in free agency if not beforehand at the trade deadline, the obvious roster need for a southpaw is present.

Bullpens are unique. On one hand, you don’t want to put together a staff of scrubs. On the other, if you can get away without paying them all that much, you’re in a great spot.

Lavender is another Mets prospect who should get his feet wet in 2024 on the big league roster. Hopefully he shows enough and there’s no debate he belongs on the 2025 team from game one onward.

This article was originally published on risingapple.com as 3 Mets prospects the team needs to be ready most for Opening Day 2025.