Ronny Mauricio
| AB | 36 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .306 |
| OBP | .342 |
| SLG | .444 |
| HR | 1 |
- Full name Ronny Mauricio
- Born 04/04/2001 in San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 166 / Bats: S / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade: 50/Medium
Track Record: Power potential has been Mauricio’s selling point since the day he signed as a 16-year-old in 2017. Over time, that potential has turned into production. Mauricio hit 20 or more home runs in each of the past three seasons, and just 14 minor leaguers have hit more than his total of 69 in that time. Mauricio spent nearly a full season with Triple-A Syracuse in 2023 before making his major league debut on Sept. 1.
Scouting Report: Mauricio has a carrying tool in his plus power, but his below-average on-base ability has generally weighed down his overall offensive production. Mauricio has the electric bat speed and twitch to produce majestic drives to his pull side, and his first MLB hit was a 117.3 mph double that was the hardest hit ball by any Mets hitter in 2023. He also led the Mets with one of the highest chase rates in MLB, undone by poor swing decisions against sliders and changeups. The switch-hitting Mauricio is much stronger from the left side, hitting .284/.334/.497 with a 21% strikeout rate against righthanders in the upper minors and majors. He is an above-average runner and efficient basestealer who went 7-for-7 in his MLB debut. Mauricio is a steady defensive shortstop with a plus arm who fanned out to second base, third base and left field at Triple-A to create avenues to Queens. Playing outfield was abandoned in August, but he looked at home at second and third base in New York.
The Future: Mauricio is an exceptional athlete who has added muscle mass and mental maturity. The Mets hope that his athleticism enables him to improve his hitting ability. Mauricio stood poised to assume a large MLB role in 2024, but that was before he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the Dominican League in December. Surgery to repair it will probably cost him the season.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Mauricio headlined the Mets' 2017 international signing class and was playing full-season ball as an 18-year-old in 2019. He hit just four home runs in 116 Low-A games that season, but his fast hands and developing body suggested more power was in the tank. That turned out to be the case. When Mauricio emerged from the lost 2020 season, he hit 19 home runs for High-A Brooklyn in 2021 and 26 more for Double-A Binghamton in 2022. He also stole 20 bases in 2022, making him one of just 27 minor leaguers to go 20-20.
Scouting Report: With easy plus raw power and an average exit velocity north of 90 mph, Mauricio impacts the ball about as well as organization-mates Francisco Alvarez or Brett Baty. He just doesn't do it as frequently because of poor swing decisions. Mauricio swings too often to work favorable counts and chases too much off the plate. He has compiled a combined .296 on-base percentage in 2021 and 2022, making him one of just 12 minor leaguers with a sub-.300 mark and at least 800 plate appearances in that span. Mauricio is a reliable fielder at shortstop who made a large number of his 25 errors for Binghamton on throws. His glove could play as average at shortstop and perhaps plus at third base. His plus arm would also fit on an outfield corner as needed, though he has not appeared at a position other than shortstop as a pro.
The Future: Mauricio will be a 22-year-old at Triple-A in 2023, with a chance to earn MLB time if he makes better swing decisions or if an infielder is needed in New York. With a low-on-base, high-slugging profile, he would fit as a bottom-third-of-the-order hitter whose position value helps keep him in the lineup.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60 -
Track Record: The headliner of the Mets’ international signing class of 2017, Mauricio has wowed scouts with his bat speed and incredible raw power from day one. But that power hasn’t always played in games. Mauricio’s time in Low-A in 2019 and at the alternate training site in 2020 could best be described as uneven. His power manifested in 2021 in the form of 20 home runs, including 19 at High-A Brooklyn, a park notoriously stingy for home runs to right field.
Scouting Report: Mauricio has tantalizing power and an improving feel for the strike zone, but after hitting .248 in 2021 with a sub-.300 on-base percentage has clear areas for refinement. He’s a tall, long-levered hitter who doesn’t walk often, so that limits his OBP upside. Like most switch-hitters, Mauricio is stronger from the left side of the plate and makes more authoritative contact and chases less out of the zone from that side. Mauricio hit a wall in June, but the Mets challenged him to make better contact in the zone. His chase rate shrank from 52% in May to 33% in August, while his 90th percentile exit velocity climbed to 109.5 mph in August and 111.1 in September. Mauricio reads the ball well off the bat, has soft hands and a strong arm at shortstop. He doesn’t run well. Moving to third base or right field are possible outcomes if he outgrows shortstop.
The Future: Mauricio’s questionable on-base ability will move him down the lineup, but his glove and power will keep him in play. He should enter the MLB picture in 2023.
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Hitting: 50.Power: 50. Run: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
TRACK RECORD: Mauricio ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2018 and No. 5 in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2019. He appeared in a pair of spring training games in 2020 before the coronavirus shutdown but didn’t get to the alternate training site until mid-August because of family issues.
SCOUTING REPORT: Mauricio is a switch-hitting shortstop with a lean, high-waisted frame and the type of looseness and bat speed that portend offensive growth. As his 6-foot-3 fame matures and he improves his pitch selection, his production should improve. Mauricio hit four home runs and had one of the highest groundball rates in the South Atlantic League in 2019, so continued strength gains and an improved attack angle are his main development objectives. His timing and efficient bat path suggest future above- average hitting ability with a chance for average power or better. Mauricio is a flashy but efficient shortstop with a quick first step and soft hands. He makes accurate throws from all angles with a plus arm.
THE FUTURE: If his physical development unfolds the way scouts think it will, Mauricio has a chance to be a first-division shortstop. He is slated for the Dominican League this offseason to gain at-bats. -
TRACK RECORD: Mauricio ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the 2017 international signing class— Rays shortstop Wander Franco was No. 1—and signed for $2.1 million. That set a franchise bonus record for a Latin American amateur that was surpassed by Venezuelan catcher Francisco Alvarez a year later. Mauricio shined in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2018. The Mets pushed him to the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2019, where he, Phillies shortstop Luis Garcia and Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez were the only 18-year-old regulars on Opening Day. Mauricio impressed scouts enough to rank as the league's No. 5 prospect.
SCOUTING REPORT: Mauricio has the potential to impact games with his bat and as a left-sideof- the-infield defender, though his rosiest outlook is predicated on projection. Mauricio is lanky and long-limbed, and it's an open question as to whether his narrow, 6-foot-3 frame will add significant mass. The good news is that he is an elite athlete who can stay on the dirt and already stands out for making loud contact with an easy swing from both sides of the plate. The bad news is that his long levers create unavoidable length to his swing that could impact his batting average down the line. Mauricio uses an all-fields hitting approach and adjusts well to breaking and offspeed stuff, but he tends to be overaggressive and puts too many pitchers' pitches in play. That contributed to him having one of the highest groundball rates in the SAL. He has no problem dropping the bat head on inside pitches for deep power to his pull side when he's locked in on a pitcher. Scouts came away pleasantly surprised by Mauricio's defensive play. He has the plus arm, body control and quick first step to make all the plays required at shortstop. He won't be a factor on the basepaths because he's a fringe runner who figures to slow down.
THE FUTURE: Scouts who like Mauricio see at least an average hitter with plus power who has the grace and hands of a major league shortstop or possibly a third baseman. The hot corner is probably the position for which he's destined with the Mets, who have pure shortstops Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez ahead of him. Mauricio should spend the bulk of 2020 at high Class A St. Lucie and begin to enter the big league picture in 2022. -
Track Record: The switch-hitting Mauricio wore down while showcasing for teams, but the Mets stuck with him and signed him for $2.1 million in 2017, when he ranked as the No. 3 prospect in his international signing class. He made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2018 and shined as the circuit's No. 2 prospect. He hit .322/.333/.510 before fading in August and then received a cameo in the Appalachian League.
Scouting Report: Mauricio is uncommonly developed--physically and at the plate--for a player who played all season at 17. He grew two inches to 6-foot-4 after signing and filled out his once-skinny frame to profile as a future impact hitter. Mauricio has all the attributes to develop a plus bat with plus power. Both his hand speed and bat speed stand out on the Mets' internal metrics, and his timing and barrel frequency are impressive. Long limbs could make him susceptible to hard stuff up and in, and his aggressive approach could cut into his on-base ability. Mauricio has below-average speed out of the batter's box but he accelerates underway with long, gliding strides. His plus athleticism and 70-grade arm suit him at shortstop, where he compensates for average range with smooth actions and quick reads.
The Future: Mauricio could jump to low Class A Columbia in 2019, along with the other high-end prospects from a loaded Rookie-level Kingsport team. His ability on both sides of the ball should make him a first-division regular, if not at shortstop then at third base. -
Mets international scouts first set eyes on Mauricio at a Dominican Prospect League event. They stuck with him in the months leading up to the 2017 signing period, when the 16-year-old ranked as the No. 3 prospect on the international market but appeared fatigued at times as he showcased daily for teams. The Mets ultimately signed Mauricio for $2.1 million, a franchise record for an international amateur, surpassing Amed Rosario in 2012. A switch-hitter from a young age with plenty of room to fill out his 6-foot-2 frame, Mauricio could develop into a power-hitting shortstop with the fluid actions to stick there. Direct to the ball despite long limbs, he projects for plus power once he fills out his skinny frame. His effortless stroke is compact, particularly from the left side, and he has good bat-to-ball skills. A below-average runner, Mauricio has smooth actions and good range at shortstop to go with a plus arm. He has solid body control and a strong internal clock, though some scouts project him to third base because of his size and lack of pure speed. Mauricio will make his pro debut in 2018, possibly at a U.S. affiliate.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Mauricio added strength to his frame, which helped him take a step forward at High-A this season. He set career highs in home runs, RBIs, walks, slugging percentage and OPS while standing out on both sides of the ball for Brooklyn. The toolsy 20-year-old shortstop was voted the league’s most exciting player, as well as the best defensive shortstop and the infielder with the best arm. Mauricio earned positive reviews from league managers for his big-time power from both sides of the plate, hitting ability and defensive acumen, in addition to impressive maturity for his age. “His maturity from pre-Covid to now, handling the ups and downs of offensive baseball and his hitting and not letting it affect his ability to defend has become, to me, a consistency in his game,” Brooklyn manager Ed Blankmeyer said. He will need to cut down on his chase rate, but there’s little doubt Mauricio is a future big leaguer with a lofty ceiling. -
Two divergent paths seem equally possible for Mauricio as he matures from the 18-year-old he is now into the 25-year-old physically mature big leaguer he will be one day. Some evaluators believe Mauricio’s narrow hips will help him remain long, lean and athletic. He has the body control and twitchiness to be an impact defender at shortstop with the plus arm that the position demands. Others see the long limbs and sneaky present power and expect that he’ll end up filling out and sliding over to third base as he slows down. Whichever way his body turns out, Mauricio impressed despite modest offensive numbers. The switch-hitter hit better from the left side. For a teenager he showed an advanced understanding of hitting, recognizing offspeed pitches well, but his swing has some length and he projects as a slugger more than a hitter. -
The Mets signed Mauricio last year for $2.1 million, the most money the franchise has ever given a Dominican amateur player. At the time, Mauricio was a highly-regarded shortstop with a high waist and long arms on an extremely skinny body at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds. Since then, Mauricio has grown two inches and filled out with considerable strength gains, driving the ball with impact and making a strong impression with his defense. Mauricio was batting .322/.333/.510 at the end of July before tailing off in the final month when he looked run down at the end of the season. Mauricio whips the barrel through the zone with a loose, easy swing from both sides of the plate, keeping his long arms inside the ball well to make frequent contact with impact. Mauricio already shows the ability to hammer the ball from both sides of the plate, and with plenty more room to fill out, he could develop plus or better future power. Mauricio is a below-average runner with some risk he could move off the position depending how big he gets, but he handles himself well at shortstop. He gets quick reads off the bat and good body control with a knack for slowing the game down. He has smooth hands, transfers the ball quickly and has a 70-grade arm.
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Athlete in the New York Mets in 2020
- Rated Best Athlete in the New York Mets in 2019
Scouting Reports
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BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Mauricio headlined the Mets' 2017 international signing class and was playing full-season ball as an 18-year-old in 2019. He hit just four home runs in 116 Low-A games that season, but his fast hands and developing body suggested more power was in the tank. That turned out to be the case. When Mauricio emerged from the lost 2020 season, he hit 19 home runs for High-A Brooklyn in 2021 and 26 more for Double-A Binghamton in 2022. He also stole 20 bases in 2022, making him one of just 27 minor leaguers to go 20-20.
Scouting Report: With easy plus raw power and an average exit velocity north of 90 mph, Mauricio impacts the ball about as well as organization-mates Francisco Alvarez or Brett Baty. He just doesn't do it as frequently because of poor swing decisions. Mauricio swings too often to work favorable counts and chases too much off the plate. He has compiled a combined .296 on-base percentage in 2021 and 2022, making him one of just 12 minor leaguers with a sub-.300 mark and at least 800 plate appearances in that span. Mauricio is a reliable fielder at shortstop who made a large number of his 25 errors for Binghamton on throws. His glove could play as average at shortstop and perhaps plus at third base. His plus arm would also fit on an outfield corner as needed, though he has not appeared at a position other than shortstop as a pro.
The Future: Mauricio will be a 22-year-old at Triple-A in 2023, with a chance to earn MLB time if he makes better swing decisions or if an infielder is needed in New York. With a low-on-base, high-slugging profile, he would fit as a bottom-third-of-the-order hitter whose position value helps keep him in the lineup.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60 -
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Track Record: Mauricio headlined the Mets' 2017 international signing class and was playing full-season ball as an 18-year-old in 2019. He hit just four home runs in 116 Low-A games that season, but his fast hands and developing body suggested more power was in the tank. That turned out to be the case. When Mauricio emerged from the lost 2020 season, he hit 19 home runs for High-A Brooklyn in 2021 and 26 more for Double-A Binghamton in 2022. He also stole 20 bases in 2022, making him one of just 27 minor leaguers to go 20-20.
Scouting Report: With easy plus raw power and an average exit velocity north of 90 mph, Mauricio impacts the ball about as well as organization-mates Francisco Alvarez or Brett Baty. He just doesn't do it as frequently because of poor swing decisions. Mauricio swings too often to work favorable counts and chases too much off the plate. He has compiled a combined .296 on-base percentage in 2021 and 2022, making him one of just 12 minor leaguers with a sub-.300 mark and at least 800 plate appearances in that span. Mauricio is a reliable fielder at shortstop who made a large number of his 25 errors for Binghamton on throws. His glove could play as average at shortstop and perhaps plus at third base. His plus arm would also fit on an outfield corner as needed, though he has not appeared at a position other than shortstop as a pro.
The Future: Mauricio will be a 22-year-old at Triple-A in 2023, with a chance to earn MLB time if he makes better swing decisions or if an infielder is needed in New York. With a low-on-base, high-slugging profile, he would fit as a bottom-third-of-the-order hitter whose position value helps keep him in the lineup.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60 -
BA Grade: 50/High
Track Record: The headliner of the Mets' international signing class of 2017, Mauricio has wowed scouts with his bat speed and incredible raw power from day one. But that power hasn't always played in games. Mauricio's time in Low-A in 2019 and at the alternate training site in 2020 could best be described as uneven. His power manifested in 2021 in the form of 20 home runs, including 19 at High-A Brooklyn, a stingy park for home runs.
Scouting Report: Mauricio has tantalizing power and an improving feel for the strike zone, but after hitting .248 in 2021 with a sub-.300 on-base percentage has clear areas for refinement. He's a tall, long-levered hitter who doesn't walk often, so that limits his OBP upside. Like most switch-hitters, Mauricio is stronger from the left side of the plate and makes more authoritative contact and chases less out of the zone from that side. Mauricio hit a wall in June, but the Mets challenged him to make better contact in the zone. His chase rate shrank from 52% in May to 33% in August, while his 90th percentile exit velocity climbed to 109.5 mph in August and 111.1 in September. Mauricio reads the ball well off the bat, has soft hands and a strong arm at shortstop. He doesn't run well. Moving to third base or right field are possible outcomes if he outgrows shortstop.
The Future: Mauricio's questionable on-base ability will move him down the lineup, but his glove and power will keep him in the lineup. He should enter the MLB picture in 2023.
Scouting Grades:
Hit: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60. -
Track Record: The headliner of the Mets’ international signing class of 2017, Mauricio has wowed scouts with his bat speed and incredible raw power from day one. But that power hasn’t always played in games. Mauricio’s time in Low-A in 2019 and at the alternate training site in 2020 could best be described as uneven. His power manifested in 2021 in the form of 20 home runs, including 19 at High-A Brooklyn, a park notoriously stingy for home runs to right field.
Scouting Report: Mauricio has tantalizing power and an improving feel for the strike zone, but after hitting .248 in 2021 with a sub-.300 on-base percentage has clear areas for refinement. He’s a tall, long-levered hitter who doesn’t walk often, so that limits his OBP upside. Like most switch-hitters, Mauricio is stronger from the left side of the plate and makes more authoritative contact and chases less out of the zone from that side. Mauricio hit a wall in June, but the Mets challenged him to make better contact in the zone. His chase rate shrank from 52% in May to 33% in August, while his 90th percentile exit velocity climbed to 109.5 mph in August and 111.1 in September. Mauricio reads the ball well off the bat, has soft hands and a strong arm at shortstop. He doesn’t run well. Moving to third base or right field are possible outcomes if he outgrows shortstop.
The Future: Mauricio’s questionable on-base ability will move him down the lineup, but his glove and power will keep him in play. He should enter the MLB picture in 2023.
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Mauricio added strength to his frame, which helped him take a step forward at High-A this season. He set career highs in home runs, RBIs, walks, slugging percentage and OPS while standing out on both sides of the ball for Brooklyn. The toolsy 20-year-old shortstop was voted the league’s most exciting player, as well as the best defensive shortstop and the infielder with the best arm. Mauricio earned positive reviews from league managers for his big-time power from both sides of the plate, hitting ability and defensive acumen, in addition to impressive maturity for his age. “His maturity from pre-Covid to now, handling the ups and downs of offensive baseball and his hitting and not letting it affect his ability to defend has become, to me, a consistency in his game,” Brooklyn manager Ed Blankmeyer said. He will need to cut down on his chase rate, but there’s little doubt Mauricio is a future big leaguer with a lofty ceiling. -
Hitting: 50.Power: 50. Run: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
TRACK RECORD: Mauricio ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2018 and No. 5 in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2019. He appeared in a pair of spring training games in 2020 before the coronavirus shutdown but didn't get to the alternate training site until mid-August because of family issues.
SCOUTING REPORT: Mauricio is a switch-hitting shortstop with a lean, high-waisted frame and the type of looseness and bat speed that portend offensive growth. As his 6-foot-3 fame matures and he improves his pitch selection, his production should improve. Mauricio hit four home runs and had one of the highest groundball rates in the South Atlantic League in 2019, so continued strength gains and an improved attack angle are his main development objectives. His timing and efficient bat path suggest future above- average hitting ability with a chance for average power or better. Mauricio is a flashy but efficient shortstop with a quick first step and soft hands. He makes accurate throws from all angles with a plus arm.
THE FUTURE: If his physical development unfolds the way scouts think it will, Mauricio has a chance to be a first-division shortstop. He is slated for the Dominican League this offseason to gain at-bats. -
Hitting: 50.Power: 50. Run: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
TRACK RECORD: Mauricio ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2018 and No. 5 in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2019. He appeared in a pair of spring training games in 2020 before the coronavirus shutdown but didn’t get to the alternate training site until mid-August because of family issues.
SCOUTING REPORT: Mauricio is a switch-hitting shortstop with a lean, high-waisted frame and the type of looseness and bat speed that portend offensive growth. As his 6-foot-3 fame matures and he improves his pitch selection, his production should improve. Mauricio hit four home runs and had one of the highest groundball rates in the South Atlantic League in 2019, so continued strength gains and an improved attack angle are his main development objectives. His timing and efficient bat path suggest future above- average hitting ability with a chance for average power or better. Mauricio is a flashy but efficient shortstop with a quick first step and soft hands. He makes accurate throws from all angles with a plus arm.
THE FUTURE: If his physical development unfolds the way scouts think it will, Mauricio has a chance to be a first-division shortstop. He is slated for the Dominican League this offseason to gain at-bats. -
Hitting: 50.Power: 50. Run: 40. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
TRACK RECORD: Mauricio ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2018 and No. 5 in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2019. He appeared in a pair of spring training games in 2020 before the coronavirus shutdown but didn’t get to the alternate training site until mid-August because of family issues.
SCOUTING REPORT: Mauricio is a switch-hitting shortstop with a lean, high-waisted frame and the type of looseness and bat speed that portend offensive growth. As his 6-foot-3 fame matures and he improves his pitch selection, his production should improve. Mauricio hit four home runs and had one of the highest groundball rates in the South Atlantic League in 2019, so continued strength gains and an improved attack angle are his main development objectives. His timing and efficient bat path suggest future above- average hitting ability with a chance for average power or better. Mauricio is a flashy but efficient shortstop with a quick first step and soft hands. He makes accurate throws from all angles with a plus arm.
THE FUTURE: If his physical development unfolds the way scouts think it will, Mauricio has a chance to be a first-division shortstop. He is slated for the Dominican League this offseason to gain at-bats. -
TRACK RECORD: Mauricio ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the 2017 international signing class— Rays shortstop Wander Franco was No. 1—and signed for $2.1 million. That set a franchise bonus record for a Latin American amateur that was surpassed by Venezuelan catcher Francisco Alvarez a year later. Mauricio shined in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2018. The Mets pushed him to the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2019, where he, Phillies shortstop Luis Garcia and Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez were the only 18-year-old regulars on Opening Day. Mauricio impressed scouts enough to rank as the league’s No. 5 prospect.
SCOUTING REPORT: Mauricio has the potential to impact games with his bat and as a left-sideof- the-infield defender, though his rosiest outlook is predicated on projection. Mauricio is lanky and long-limbed, and it’s an open question as to whether his narrow, 6-foot-3 frame will add significant mass. The good news is that he is an elite athlete who can stay on the dirt and already stands out for making loud contact with an easy swing from both sides of the plate. The bad news is that his long levers create unavoidable length to his swing that could impact his batting average down the line. Mauricio uses an all-fields hitting approach and adjusts well to breaking and offspeed stuff, but he tends to be overaggressive and puts too many pitchers’ pitches in play. That contributed to him having one of the highest groundball rates in the SAL. He has no problem dropping the bat head on inside pitches for deep power to his pull side when he’s locked in on a pitcher. Scouts came away pleasantly surprised by Mauricio’s defensive play. He has the plus arm, body control and quick first step to make all the plays required at shortstop. He won’t be a factor on the basepaths because he’s a fringe runner who figures to slow down.
THE FUTURE: Scouts who like Mauricio see at least an average hitter with plus power who has the grace and hands of a major league shortstop or possibly a third baseman. The hot corner is probably the position for which he’s destined with the Mets, who have pure shortstops Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez ahead of him. Mauricio should spend the bulk of 2020 at high Class A St. Lucie and begin to enter the big league picture in 2022. SCOUTING GRADES Hit: 50. Power: 60. Run: 40. Field: 50. Arm: 60. BA GRADE 60 Risk: High -
TRACK RECORD: Mauricio ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the 2017 international signing class— Rays shortstop Wander Franco was No. 1—and signed for $2.1 million. That set a franchise bonus record for a Latin American amateur that was surpassed by Venezuelan catcher Francisco Alvarez a year later. Mauricio shined in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2018. The Mets pushed him to the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2019, where he, Phillies shortstop Luis Garcia and Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez were the only 18-year-old regulars on Opening Day. Mauricio impressed scouts enough to rank as the league's No. 5 prospect.
SCOUTING REPORT: Mauricio has the potential to impact games with his bat and as a left-sideof- the-infield defender, though his rosiest outlook is predicated on projection. Mauricio is lanky and long-limbed, and it's an open question as to whether his narrow, 6-foot-3 frame will add significant mass. The good news is that he is an elite athlete who can stay on the dirt and already stands out for making loud contact with an easy swing from both sides of the plate. The bad news is that his long levers create unavoidable length to his swing that could impact his batting average down the line. Mauricio uses an all-fields hitting approach and adjusts well to breaking and offspeed stuff, but he tends to be overaggressive and puts too many pitchers' pitches in play. That contributed to him having one of the highest groundball rates in the SAL. He has no problem dropping the bat head on inside pitches for deep power to his pull side when he's locked in on a pitcher. Scouts came away pleasantly surprised by Mauricio's defensive play. He has the plus arm, body control and quick first step to make all the plays required at shortstop. He won't be a factor on the basepaths because he's a fringe runner who figures to slow down.
THE FUTURE: Scouts who like Mauricio see at least an average hitter with plus power who has the grace and hands of a major league shortstop or possibly a third baseman. The hot corner is probably the position for which he's destined with the Mets, who have pure shortstops Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez ahead of him. Mauricio should spend the bulk of 2020 at high Class A St. Lucie and begin to enter the big league picture in 2022. -
Two divergent paths seem equally possible for Mauricio as he matures from the 18-year-old he is now into the 25-year-old physically mature big leaguer he will be one day. Some evaluators believe Mauricio’s narrow hips will help him remain long, lean and athletic. He has the body control and twitchiness to be an impact defender at shortstop with the plus arm that the position demands. Others see the long limbs and sneaky present power and expect that he’ll end up filling out and sliding over to third base as he slows down. Whichever way his body turns out, Mauricio impressed despite modest offensive numbers. The switch-hitter hit better from the left side. For a teenager he showed an advanced understanding of hitting, recognizing offspeed pitches well, but his swing has some length and he projects as a slugger more than a hitter. -
One of the top prospects on the international market in 2017, Mauricio has handled an assignment to domestic Rookie ball this year, showing plus bat speed and plus athleticism in the Gulf Coast League. The ball comes off his bat with authority because of exceptional hand speed and a swing that stays on plane through the hitting zone. Mauricio’s plus arm and body control will keep him at shortstop as he advances.
Career Transactions
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New York Mets optioned SS Ronny Mauricio and to Syracuse Mets.
