The hitting prospects have certainly lagged behind their pitching counterparts in the New York Mets' farm system this year. While Christian Scott has already gotten a taste of the big leagues and numerous top arms have advanced, some of the system's best bats have either dealt with injury setbacks (Drew Gilbert, Jett Williams) or slow starts to the season (Colin Houck, Kevin Parada). One name who falls outside the Mets' Top 30 prospects but has been crushing the ball is utility man Luke Ritter, who is the focus of this week's edition of Minor League Mondays.
Ritter, the Mets' seventh-round pick in 2019 out of Wichita State, has made a name for himself the past two years thanks to some strong offensive performances. 2023 saw Ritter mash across the AA and AAA levels, batting .244 with 27 home runs and 64 RBI in 107 games. After going unclaimed in the Rule V Draft, Ritter was re-assigned to AAA Syracuse this season and has continued his power binge, racking up 16 home runs and 53 RBIs in his first 67 games this year.
Ritter's best tool has been his bat, which features solid power and is paired well with a strong eye at the plate. After posting an on-base percentage of .372 across the two highest minor league levels in 2023, Ritter has followed it up with a respectable .358 mark in 2024. That figure sits nearly 100 points above his batting average, showing that Ritter has an advanced understanding of the strike zone that has helped him crush International League pitching.
Another check in Ritter's box is his defensive versatility. Despite being drafted as a second baseman, Ritter has bounced all over the diamond, logging at least one defensive inning at every defensive position besides pitcher and catcher dating back to his collegiate days. That kind of versatility can be a valuable piece for a big league club, especially in the days of a four-man bench.
The reason Ritter isn't rated highly on prospect boards is due to the fact that he is already 27 years old, meaning there isn't a ton of projection left in his game. Ritter largely is who he is, which is a solid hitting player with defensive versatility, although he offers more in the power department compared to another recent late bloomer in Jeff McNeil, who made his mark with a high batting average.
While the previous regime never gave Ritter much big league consideration, the time could be coming soon for President of Baseball Operations David Stearns to give Ritter a look at the major league level. Starling Marte has been battling knee issues for a few weeks that could require a trip to the injured list, which would open up a bench spot for Ritter to come up and see what he can do as a major leaguer.
While most fans would want to see a promotion go to a prospect like LuisAngel Acuna, it makes more sense for the Mets to let him keep developing at Syracuse than bring him up to play part time. Ritter's ability to play everywhere would give the Mets options on how to structure their lineups on a daily basis as Ritter's ability to play the infield could free up Jeff McNeil to take some reps in right field.
It's also important for the Mets to get a look at Ritter soon since he will be Rule V eligible again this winter and a second straight year of solid AAA performance could mean he gets selected by a rebuilding team with a spot to see what he can do. Ritter isn't currently on the 40-man roster but the Mets have plenty of flexibility to add him if they want. Don't be shocked if a Marte IL stint leads to Ritter's major league debut so the Mets can let Acuna keep developing at AAA and see if Brett Baty can get more defensive reps at second base.
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