New York Mets 2026 Top Prospects Rankings: Nos. 11-15

The New York Mets are seeing results from owner Steve Cohen's commitment to improving the farm system. Homegrown players such as Nolan McLean and Carson Benge have already made it to Flushing, and the next wave of prospects is not far behind. Grand Central Mets is profiling that up-and-coming group in this series.

You can find Part 1 (Nos. 16-20) here.

Here's a look at the second set of prospects in our 2026 Top 20 ranking --- the players ranked 11th through 15th. Four of these prospects are teammates to begin 2026. The fifth player hasn't yet begun his pro career, but he may have the highest ceiling of this group.

15. Will Watson, RHP (Binghamton Rumble Ponies)

Watson, 23, was a two-way player in junior college but switched to full-time pitching after transferring to USC in 2024. The move paid off, as the Mets took him in the seventh round of the 2024 MLB Draft and then promoted him to Double-A late last year. He got a look in major-league spring training before going back to Binghamton for the start of the 2026 season.

Watson throws a four-seamer, two-seamer, cutter, changeup and slider. Per MLB.com, his pitch speeds last year ranged from the mid-90s with his fastballs to the mid-80s with the slider. The horizontal movement on his changeup gives Watson reverse-splits potential. Left-handers compiled a .561 OPS and hit three home runs against him last season, while righties put up a .623 OPS with five homers.

His ground-ball rate jumped after the promotion to Double-A -- 57.1 percent at Binghamton compared to 44.8 percent at High-A Brooklyn. Control was an issue, however, with an 11.6 percent overall walk rate. Watson issued four free passes in his first seven innings of 2026.

14. Wandy Asigen, SS (DSL Mets)

The 16-year-old Asigen caused a stir during this year's January international signing period when he backed out of an agreement with the Yankees at the last minute to sign with the Mets for $3.9 million. Subway Series rivalry aside, Asigen's decision was significant because of his prospect status; he's ranked No. 2 overall in the January class by MLB Pipeline.

Asigen's ranking is based on high-end tools. He has both 60-grade power and 60-grade speed according to MLB.com's scouting report. He has drawn raves for his bat speed (exit velocities in the 110s), his ability to lift the ball, and his ability to barrel up pitches. One concern is how he'll handle fastballs up and away, but that's a skill he can develop over time. He already has decent size, listed at 6-0 and 180 pounds.

Asigen is not coming into the pro game as a raw prospect, either. He is already a seasoned international player, including representing the Dominican Republic in the 2024 WBSC U-15 World Cup. He'll debut in the Dominican Summer League, but he has the tools to move through the organization quickly.

13. Zach Thornton, LHP (Binghamton Rumble Ponies)

Thornton, 24, took a big step forward last year before suffering a season-ending oblique injury in June. He posted a 1.98 ERA, 28.5 percent strikeout rate, 4.0 percent walk rate and 1.8 percent home run rate in 14 starts and 72 2/3 innings between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton. He made a good impression in spring training this year, allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings.

The 2023 fifth-round draft pick out of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix relies on his ability to pitch. He complements a deceptive low-to-mid-90s fastball with a plus two-plane slider in the mid-80s and a cutter in the upper 80s. He also throws a changeup and a slow curveball. He attacks hitters in the strike zone, as evidenced by the walk rate. 

Thornton is back in Binghamton's rotation to begin 2026. Being left-handed with funk will give him an advantage as he works toward a promotion.

12. Chris Suero, C/OF/1B (Binghamton Rumble Ponies)

The New York-born Suero, 22, signed with the Mets as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2022. Four seasons later, he's a power-speed prospect who can play multiple positions. He had a breakthrough at High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton last year with 16 home runs and 35 stolen bases in 115 games. He caught in 73 games, played first base in 16 and played left field in 21. 

The Mets assigned him to the Arizona Fall League after the end of the minor-league season, and his numbers in 15 games there were excellent as well: a .283/.353/.567 slash line, five home runs and eight steals in as many attempts. He reached a maximum exit velocity of 112.5 mph.

Suero is squat at 5-11 and 205 pounds, but he moves well enough behind the plate. According to MLB.com, his pop time to second base last season was 1.8 to 1.9 seconds. The raw throwing numbers were not exciting; Suero threw out 23.2 percent of base stealers (23-for-99). He'll get to work on that part of the game as he catches a prospect-laden staff at Binghamton.

11. Jonathan Santucci, LHP (Binghamton Rumble Ponies)

Santucci, 23, was a two-way player for most of his college career, but he was strictly a pitcher when the Mets selected him in the second round of the 2024 draft out of Duke. He made his pro debut last year, and by mid-July he was at Double-A. He was terrific for the Rumble Ponies, too, with a 2.52 ERA and 32.0 percent strikeout rate in 50 innings. He allowed just two home runs.

Santucci relies on a low-to-mid-90s fastball that has good ride up in the zone and a high-80s slider that has excellent late bite. He comes at hitters from a high arm angle, which enhances the differences in eye level. His changeup and curveball are still in development, and he still needs to throw more strikes (8.5 percent walk rate). Left-handed batters fared better against him than did right-handers last year, but the overall numbers were still low: a .647 OPS for lefties, a .618 OPS for righties.

Durability was an issue at Duke -- Santucci was sidelined by elbow surgery and a rib injury. He got through 2025 healthy, and he's taking a regular turn at Double-A to begin 2026. Continued health and another string of good starts should earn him a move up one or two levels.