Sad Reason Mets Prospect Played Winter Ball

Ronny Mauricio tore his ACL while playing Winter Ball in the Dominican Republic this offseason.

The New York Mets had hoped that Ronny Mauricio would be a part of their Opening-Day roster for 2024. In fact, there was hope that he could be a starter on Opening Day after showing flashes of brilliance in a call-up last year.

But that was before he tore his ACL in Winter Ball in the Dominican Winter League. Now, after surgery, he’s rehabbing the injury in the hope that he might be able to make a return late in the season.

It’s an unfortunate development for the Mets. What makes it worse is New York Post reporting on Friday that revealed that the Mets never wanted him there in the first place.

The worst part is the reason why Mauricio chose to play Winter Ball.

Per Mike Puma of the Post the Mets tried talking him out of playing at all. When he said no they hoped he would at least wait until January. He did neither.

The money in Winter Ball, as compared to Major League Baseball, is relative chump change. One source told the Post that a player like Mauricio could get $20,000 a month.

Again, that’s nothing compared to the $2.1 million signing bonus that Mauricio received from the Mets as an international free agent when he was 16.

So why do it? Well, that is the worst part. The Post wrote that, per sources, Mauricio is struggling financially because the agent and family members to whom he turned to for help with his money kept most of it.

It’s an unfortunate development for the prospect. It should be noted that Mauricio did play Winter Ball between the 2022 sand 2023 seasons went to Mets Spring Training shortly after the conclusion of Winter Ball without incident.

The Mets also couldn’t offer Mauricio any financial incentive not to go, as MLB prohibits teams from paying players not to play.

When Mauricio returns, he’ll likely continue his progress in winning a starting job with the Mets.

Last season with the Mets he batted .248 in 26 games with two home runs and nine RBI. Thanks to his work with both the Mets and Triple-A Syracuse last season, he can play second base, third base and left field.