Mets Top 50 Prospects for 2026: 40-36 Features Versatility, Righty Arms
To start off my Top 50 Mets prospects for 2026 we looked at a few arms who could potentially help the Mets this season in the 50-46 group and then the 45-41 group focused mostly on young talent from the Dominican Summer League.
This time around, it’s a mixture of right-handed pitchers and versatile position players.
No. 4o: D’Andre Smith, UT
B/T: R/R, Age: 24 (5/10/2001)
Height: 5’9”, Weight: 180 lbs
Acquired: Drafted in 2022 (5th RD)
Position: RF, CF, LF, 2B, 3B
2025 Stats (A+ Brooklyn/AA Binghamton): 406 PA, .282/.345/.417, 8 HR, 31 SB, 127 wRC+
ETA: 2026
Player Profile
Staying healthy and getting a chance for significant at-bats had been a struggle for Smith before he set a career high with 101 games played last season. Smtih played all three outfield spots and played second and third base, too. Smith is known for being a hard worker with a great baseball IQ, which could explain part of the reason he was able to steal 31 bases last year with about average speed.
Smith showed a little bit of pop in 2025 with 18 doubles, four triples and eight home runs, all career highs. The combination of solid defense all over the field, being a good baserunner and the presence of a little pop in 2025 makes Smith a candidate to be a future MLB bench player.
Standout Stat
Smith’s 127 wRC+ ranked 9th among Mets minor league full season hitters in 2025.
Douglas Orellana. Photo by Ed Delany, Metsmerized
No. 39: Douglas Orellana, RHP
B/T: R/R, Age: 23 (5/1/2002)
Height: 6’1”, Weight: 196 lbs
Acquired: Signed as international free agent
Position: Right-handed reliever
2025 Stats (AA Binghamton/AAA Syracuse): 51.2 IP, 39 H, 30 BB, 63 K, 2.96 ERA (3.23 FIP)
ETA: 2026
Player Profile
The former starter flourished in 2025 once he switched to being a reliever full-time. He also stayed healthy, which allowed him to pitch 51 2/3 innings for the second highest of his career. Orellana was very good in Double-A with a 1.64 ERA and a great 35.7 K%. As many pitchers do, given its reputation as a hitter’s league, Orellana struggled a bit when he went to Triple-A Syracuse. He walked 11 and gave up 11 hits in 18 2/3 as his first taste of Triple-A.
Orellana uses a fastball in the mid-90s that has hit 98 mph. He uses an extreme overhand delivery that helps his fastball play up and get whiffs. Orellana loves to throw his slider and has outings where he throws it 50% of the time. He occasionally mixes in a curveball.
Standout Stat
He gave up only two home runs in 51 2/3 innings.
No. 38: Trey Snyder, INF
B/T: R/R, Age: 20 (9/21/2005)
Height: 6’1”, Weight: 197 lbs
Acquired: Drafted in 2024, 5th RD
Position: 2B, 3B, SS, CF
2025 Stats (A St. Lucie): 512 PA, .220/.336/.288, 41 SB, 85 wRC+
ETA: 2030
Player Profile
After playing in only six games following being drafted and given a $1.3 million bonus from the Mets in 2024, Synder played a ton for St. Lucie in 2025, but the results weren’t great. The youngster slashed .220/.336/.288 last year with an 85 wRC+ that ranked 29th our 37 qualified Florida State League hitters. On the positive side offensively, Snyder did walk 14.1% of the time and did steal 41 bases.
Defensively, Snyder struggled in the infield but looked the best at second base. The Mets also played him in center field and that looked like the better fit going forward. Despite the 41 steals and playing center field, he’s only about average speed wise. Still, he will play the entire 2026 season at 20 years old and has shown he will take a walk and has some defensive versatility and clearly a smart baserunner.
Standout Stat
His 8.5 swinging strike % was among the lowest in the FSL last year.
Irving Cota. Photo by Ed Delany, Metsmerized
No. 37: Irving Cota, RHP
B/T: R/R, Age: 22 (2/14/2006)
Height: 6’5”, Weight: 175 lbs
Acquired: Signed as international free agent
Position: Right-handed starting pitcher
2025 Stats (A St. Lucie/A+ Brooklyn/AA Binghamton): 98.2 IP, 94 H, 23 BB, 85 K, 4.20 ERA (3.41 FIP)
ETA: 2028
Player Profile
At six-foot-five, Cota is one of the taller starting pitching prospects in the Mets system. His simple mechanics bode well for him to add velo as he develops and are a big reason why he might have the best control in the Mets system. Cota had strong start on May 21 with a one-hit five scoreless outing and then was promoted up to Double-A Binghamton when they needed a spot starter. I’d say he did quite well, throwing his second straight start of five scoreless with one hit. He didn’t issue a walk in either outing. He issued more than one walk in only six of his 25 outings and his high for the season was three in his final start of the season for Brooklyn.
Cota features a fastball in the low-90s (max 96 mph), a changeup, a curveball and a slider. His changeup with above average arm-side fade is his best secondary and he uses it a lot against lefties.
Standout Stat
Among the 43 Mets minor leaguers with at least 50 innings last year, his 5.7 BB% was the fifth lowest.
No. 36: Ronald Hernandez, C/1B
B/T: B/R, Age: 22 (10/23/2003)
Height: 5’11”, Weight: 180 lbs
Acquired: Via trade (David Robertson)
Position: catcher, first base
2025 Stats (A+ Brooklyn): 393 PA, .22/.318/.335, 6 HR, 52 RBI, 23 SB, 103 wRC)
ETA: 2028
Player Profile
The Mets acquired Hernandez at the 2023 deadline when they traded veteran reliever David Robertson to the Marlins. Offensively, 2025 was a down year for Hernandez with a .224/.318/.335 slash line while he spent the entire season in Brooklyn. He did go 23-for-28 stealing bases in 2025 after entering the season with just 17 in his first four pro seasons. Hernandez is a significantly better left-handed hitter than he is right-handed but has a good knowledge of the strike zone from both sides. The 22-year-old continues to show limited power from either side and hit the ball on the ground at almost 50% last season.
Defensively, played 27 games at first base and 67 games at catcher last season. Given his lack of power, his best bet to become a big league would be as a strong defensive catcher behind the plate. At this point, I would say he’s average all around and that certainly has value behind the plate.
Standout Stat
His 23 stolen bases were tied for fourth (Mets’ prospect Chris Suero led with 35) among 452 minor leaguers who played at least 100 innings at catcher last season.
Previous rankings: 50-46, 45-41
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