Mets Top Prospect Makes Bold Prediction; Could He Join New York In 2024?
The New York Mets have a bright future, despite a down year in 2023.
New York's farm system took a major step forward this season -- especially because the club traded star duo Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline. The Mets have plenty of money to spend and also some intriguing prospects knocking on the big league door who could help the club in the not-so-distant future.
One player Mets fans should be excited about is No. 3 prospect Jett Williams. The 19-year-old was drafted in the first round of the 2022 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and quickly has shot up the organization's rankings. Williams rose up the ranks in 2023 and saw time with the Class-A St. Lucie Mets, High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, and Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies en route to earning the organization's Minor League Player of the Year Award.
Williams even made a bold prediction about the 2024 campaign, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon.
"From a distance, Jett Williams saw Citi Field," Sammon said. "On the night before the New York Mets presented him with the organization’s player of the year award, Williams stood near the balcony of the hotel where he was staying and studied the outside of the stadium. Then, while using a calm and direct tone, he said to his agent, Craig Rose, who was standing nearby, 'Hey, I am going to be here next year, just so you know.'
Without averting his eyes on that late September day, Williams, 19, continued to share his vision, telling his agent, 'I just see myself playing here. Obviously, there’s a lot of work to do. That’s what we’re going to do this offseason. But just know that I can see it. If I prepare and do what I need to do in the offseason, I’m gonna be there next year.' Williams’ track record suggests his words should be taken seriously."
While it may not be likely that Williams will make his big league debut in 2024, it certainly is a possibility. Williams likely will begin the 2024 season with the Rumble Ponies but if he can continue to impress, a promotion could be a possibility. Who knows, maybe he even could make his way to the big leagues by the end of the season.
