source – The Denver Post

The Mets are giving Ronny Mauricio a shot at some September bombs.

A source confirmed to the Daily News that the club intends to call up a top prospect from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday when rosters expand.

Mauricio is having a standout season for the Syracuse Mets, slashing .295/.349/.511 with an .860 OPS and 23 home runs, which is tied for the eighth-most in Triple-A. The 22-year-old Dominican has hit 23 doubles, three triples, driven in 71 runs and stolen 24 bases.

A switch-hitter, Mauricio is a big figure in the box at 6-3 and makes a lot of hard contact. Power has long been his calling card and now the Mets can get a chance to see if he’s ready to hit for power against big-league pitchers. Mauricio will need to shrink the strike zone and learn how to take more walks, but the next month will provide a good challenge for a key part of the Mets’ future.

He was signed as a shortstop and developed as a shortstop, but with Francisco Lindor locked up long-term, the Mets moved him over to second base earlier this season. He’s also played third base in winter ball and some scouts have wondered if his future is actually at the hot corner. Mauricio played two games at third base this season in Triple-A and has also played 26 games in left field.

He doesn’t really have a position right now, but the Mets could use this time period to start to figure one out.

The infielder/outfielder is ranked the fourth-best prospect in the Mets system by MLB Pipeline and a top-100 prospect in all of baseball (No. 91). Mauricio’s presence should add some intrigue to the rest of the season and should likely bring some extra fans to Citi Field. The Mets have long since been out of postseason contention.

The Mets can call up another player from the 40-man roster to bring the total to 28. Third baseman Brett Baty is in consideration for that spot, which the Mets will decide on Thursday. Pitching options include left-handed starter/reliever Joey Lucchesi and right-handed reliever Grant Hartwig.

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