Which Mets prospects could follow Brett Baty to the big leagues soon?

Baty is sure to get a boatload of opportunities over the next month with both members of New York's third-base platoon, Luis Guillorme and Eduardo Escobar, on the injured list. Despite the organization’s decision-makers taking a stance recently that they were unlikely to bring up a top prospect in 2022, Baty’s promotion shows their position is pretty flexible based on need.

Many of the organization’s top 20 prospects are playing in Single-A or Rookie league, meaning they are not at all an option this season or even next year. However, Triple-A stars Francisco Alvarez, Mark Vientos and Jose Butto are all on the cusp of being called up. Let’s take a look at the odds of either of these players being promoted this year.

Francisco Alvarez

Alvarez is the player most Mets fans are hoping to see this season. He is not only currently ranked as the top player in the team’s system but is viewed as the top prospect in all of baseball. In 2022, the catcher has split time between Double and Triple-A and has been equally outstanding at both levels. The 20-year-old has an absurd slash line of .356/.500/.856 in 2022 and has smoked 23 home runs and has 65 RBI.

The Mets could use an upgrade at catcher and were linked to trades for Chicago Cubs star Willson Contreras at the trade deadline. In most situations, promoting Alvarez would be likely but catcher is one of the most important positions in the sport, and bringing in a 20-year-old to manage a veteran pitching staff with serious hopes of a World Series run is not advisable. It’s just too risky since the team has massive hopes for Alvarez beyond this season.

Chance of being called up: Unlikely

Mark Vientos

It was recently reported that if New York did not land a big name at the deadline — they didn’t — that Vientos would likely get called up to Queens in August. However, it was Baty, a player who was recently in Double-A, who got the call instead.

The first- and third-base talent has been in Triple-A all season and has put up some strong numbers. He has a slash line of .275/.355/.521 with 20 HR and 63 RBI. Baty may block Vientos at third; however, if recent acquisition Darin Ruf were to underperform as the righty in the designated hitter platoon, it could open the door to Vientos getting the call in September.

Chance of being called up: Possible

Jose Butto

Butto is the Mets’ highest-ranked pitcher in Triple-A. The 24-year-old is the 15th-ranked player in the farm system and was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A recently. Yet despite the promotion his stats in Double-A this season were not as strong as 2021.

Butto’s ERA increased from 3.83 to 4.07 and batters are hitting almost .020 better against him this season. In his Triple-A debut on Aug. 12, he gave up five hits and three runs over five innings and struck out just two batters. Not the sort of performance to push him ahead of schedule and on to the big leagues in high-pressure situations.

While Carlos Carrasco heading to the IL and Taijuan Walker’s back issues may open the door to the team needing a starting pitcher, the organization is more likely to send up a more proven talent from its Triple-A ranks.

Chance of being called up: Unlikely