The Mets signed Mauricio for $2.1 million in July 2017 and he has bristled with potential in the Minors, including three straight 20+ homer seasons between 2021-23. The switch-hitting infielder was named the 2022-23 LIDOM MVP and then built on that performance by hitting .292/.346/.506 with 23 homers and 24 steals over 116 games at Triple-A Syracuse last summer. He was called up to New York at the beginning of September but took his lumps over 26 games. Returning to the Dominican Republic for more offseason ball, Mauricio suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and underwent surgery in early January that is expected to keep him out for 8-12 months.
Standing out for his size at 6-foot-3, Mauricio flashed great power potential, especially from the left side, where he hit 21 of his 25 total homers in 2023. His strength enabled him to post a 117.3 mph exit velocity for a double in his first Major League at-bat, marking the highest EV by any Met in 2023, and there’s enough power there for 30+ homers in time. But Mauricio’s approach seems likely to keep him from meeting that ceiling. He can expand the zone and chase pitches of all types. Sometimes that leads to loud contact from his A swing. Oftentimes, it keeps his walk rate and OBP (career .311 in the Minors) low, dulling his overall offensive impact.
Before the injury, Mauricio showed solid speed in his first taste of the Majors, but the presence of Francisco Lindor always meant he was going to move around. He got the majority of his looks at second base but also tried third and left. The injury will delay Mauricio from finding a full-time spot in 2024 and will keep him from much-needed at-bats that could otherwise improve his approach issues.
Mauricio has been brimming with potential since signing out of the Dominican Republic for $2.1 million in July 2017. But now entering his age-22 season (and second on New York’s 40-man roster), the rubber is meeting the road. The switch-hitting infielder put up back-to-back seasons with a .296 on-base percentage in 2021 and 2022, the latter coming entirely at Double-A Binghamton. He did set career highs in homers (26), extra-base hits (54) and stolen bases (20) during his 123-game stay in the Eastern League. He’s also coming off an MVP campaign in LIDOM this winter after hitting .287/.335/.468 in 46 games for Licey.
Mauricio looms large in the box at 6-foot-3 and can make loud impact upon contact from an open stance, especially when hitting from the left side, where he has better slugging numbers. It’s that contact part that’s been a major issue. Mauricio can get aggressive and expand the strike zone with his massive cuts, particularly against spin, leading to a 4.4 percent walk rate, lowest among Mets Minor League qualifiers. Now facing advanced pitching in the upper Minors, he’ll have to make adjustments quickly to prove he’s capable of being more than all-power, little-hit.
It's long been assumed that the three-time MiLB.com Organization All-Star would move off shortstop eventually because of his size and below-average speed, especially as he bumps up against Francisco Lindor in Queens. That change has come in 2023 with Mauricio getting looks at second base and left field with Triple-A Syracuse. He might be a better fit in the corner outfield spot, where he's gotten more and more time in July and August.
The Dominican Republic native was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 11 international prospect during the 2017-18 signing period, and he signed for $2.1 million that July. Mauricio looked toolsy but raw in his opening turns at Rookie-level Kingsport and Class A Columbia. After experiencing the alternate training site in 2020, Mauricio saw his power projection turn into performance when he crossed the 20-homer threshold for the first time last season. He struggled to put up other impressive offensive numbers (a .242 average and .290 OBP at High-A Brooklyn), but the Mets did reward him with a short trip to Double-A and a 40-man roster spot.
At 6-foot-3 and much bigger than his listed 166 pounds, Mauricio stands out on any baseball diamond he steps foot. A switch-hitter, he shows the most raw power from the left side, and there should be more pop coming. The Mets tried to work with Mauricio on improving his chase rate and making better swing decisions. His strikeout rate did drop month to month, but he still didn’t take a ton of walks, leading to questions about his offensive ceiling that have lingered into 2022.
Mauricio’s speed is fringe-average, but he does a better job at shortstop than a first glance might provide. He makes the right instinctive plays and uses good reactions to make up for what he may lose in speed. His arm gets the best grades of his defensive tools, and it might be useful if he needs to move over to third someday. Mauricio is not in Francisco Lindor’s shadow just yet, and the Mets seem keen to leave him at short for as long as they can.
Mauricio commanded the seventh-highest bonus of any international amateur during the 2017-18 period, signing with the Mets for $2.1 million. The Dominican native made his pro debut in ‘18, finishing his age-17 season in the Appalachian League, then put himself on the map with a solid full-season debut at Class A Columbia in ‘19. Mauricio was among the first Mets prospect additions at the alternate training site in ‘20, receiving an assignment on Aug. 16.
Mauricio’s game is all about projection. He’s struggled to drive the ball consistently early in his career, with some swing-length and pitch-selection issues mitigating his production, but it’s easy to envision the switch-hitter eventually doing damage from both sides of the plate as he fills out his impressive 6-foot-3 frame. Mauricio’s power, especially as a left-handed hitter, should emerge with those physical gains, and he may even be able to unlock more pop by merely improving upon his high ground-ball rate from 2019 (53.6%). He’s less advanced as a righty and will need to do a better job controlling the strike zone as he works his way through the Minors.
Mauricio has impressed evaluators with his athleticism, actions and plus arm strength as a shortstop. Those tools could also make him a plus defender elsewhere on the infield if he’s ever forced off the position, with the hot corner representing Mauricio’s likely destination on account of his below-average speed and larger frame.
The Mets landed two of the top international prospects during the 2017-18 period, signing both Adrian Hernandez and Mauricio to six-figure deals. Mauricio received the higher bonus of the two, signing for $2.1 million, and the Mets felt he was advanced enough that they sent him stateside for his 2018 pro debut. He performed well, advancing from the Gulf Coast League to the Appalachian League at age 17, then put himself on the map in 2019 with a solid full-season debut at Class A Columbia despite being 3.5 years younger than the circuit's average player.
A switch-hitter, Mauricio is more advanced from the left side of the plate. Though he doesn't drive the ball consistently yet due to a lack of strength and because the length in his swing yields a lot of weakly-hit, ground-ball contact (53.6 percent in '19), Mauricio does have an ultra-projectable frame that makes it easy to envision him tacking on considerable muscle as he matures. His power, especially as a left-handed hitter, should emerge in lockstep with those physical gains, and he already shows plus raw pop to his pull-side. Mauricio's right-handed swing is less advanced, and he'll need to do a better overall job controlling the strike zone as he works his way through the Minors.
On the other side of the ball, Mauricio has impressed evaluators with his athleticism, actions and plus arm strength at shortstop. His speed is below-average, however, and given his remaining physical projection, it's possible that Mauricio will be forced to move off the position, with many pegging him for the hot corner long term. While such a move would put even more pressure on Mauricio's bat, he has the type of power ceiling needed to profile there at the highest level.
The Mets were aggressive in the 2017 international market, using their money to sign two of MLB Pipeline's Top 30 prospects. One was outfielder Adrian Hernandez, the other was Mauricio, who was ranked No. 10 on the international list and signed for $2.1 million. He was deemed advanced enough to make the jump straight to the United States for his 2018 professional debut, and he continued to surpass expectations by earning a promotion to the Appalachian League at age 17. The Mets continued to push Mauricio in 2019 with an Opening Day assignment to Class A Columbia, and he responded to the challenge by garnering midseason All-Star honors in the South Atlantic League.
A switch-hitting shortstop, Mauricio projects better as a left-handed hitter. He's impressed evaluators with his combination of bat speed and raw power from a swing that works really well and should allow him to hit for both average and power. Mauricio's raw pop is already showing, and he's only going to add strength and tap into it more as he matures. His outstanding defensive actions, soft hands and plus arm strength will give him a chance to stick at shortstop, where he stands to offer the most value with his bat. And if his 6-foot-3 frame fills out and he needs to move off the position, Mauricio should have the offensive profile to fit at third base.
Mauricio looks a lot like former big leaguer Alfonso Soriano in terms of body type, though he profiles as a different type of player. Overall, he has as much upside as anyone in the organization, with a real chance to become an impact player on both sides of the ball. The Mets haven't been this excited about an international signee since Amed Rosario joined the organization.
The Mets were aggressive in the 2017 international market, using their money to sign two of MLB Pipeline's Top 30 prospects. One was outfielder Adrian Hernandez, the other was Mauricio, who was ranked No. 10 on the international list and signed for $2.1 million.
Right now, the switch-hitting shortstop is better from the left side as a hitter, something the Mets will want him to work on as he begins his pro career. He's already showing bat speed and raw power impressive for his age, with a swing that works really well. The raw pop was showing up in the Dominican Republic during offseason workouts and he's likely to grow into more and tap into it as he matures. He has outstanding defensive actions, with soft hands, with an above-average arm and the chance to be a plus defender overall. Even if his 6-foot-3 frame fills out and he needs to move, he could have the offensive profile to fit at third or an outfield corner.
While he won't be the same type of player, Mauricio looks a lot like former big leaguer Alfonso Soriano in terms of body type. Mauricio has the chance to be an impact player on both sides of the ball and he has as much upside as anyone in the organization. The Mets haven't been this excited about an international signee since Amed Rosario joined the organization.
The Mets love aggressively pursuing up-the-middle talent, with top prospect Amed Rosario the shining example in the system right now. The Mets were excited to add Mauricio, ranked No. 10 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 30 International prospects list, at the start of the 2017 signing period, giving him $2.1 million to sign.
There's a lot to like about Mauricio's long, lean and athletic frame, with tons of physical projection to come. He has easy actions on defense, showing off soft hands and range in all directions. A steady defender with outstanding instincts, he should be given every opportunity to stick at short. There is the chance he'll outgrow the position, so a move to third could be in his future, and he's athletic enough to potentially handle an outfield corner.
A switch-hitter, Mauricio is a contact hitter with bat speed and a good feel to hit from both sides. He may never be a big power guy, but should grow into more extra-base ability as he matures.
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's home runs would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
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HR
2023
2
1
1
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2
2
2
1
2
2
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1
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
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2
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2
2
2
2
2
2
Player
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's home runs would have been out of other stadiums. The "Standard" view here accounts for different wall heights and distances but excludes environmental effects. It is based purely on the observed trajectory of the hit.
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift: three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about how positioning is defined here
