No. 18 Boston Baro, SS B/T: L/R Age: 8/23/2004 (19) Ht: 6’0” Wt: 170 lb. Acquired: Selected in the 8th Round by the Mets in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Capistrano Valley High School (Mission Viejo, California) ETA: 2027 Previous Rank: NR Stats (FCL): 7 games, .316/.458/.421, […]
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B/T: L/R Age: 8/23/2004 (19)
Ht: 6’0” Wt: 170 lb.
Acquired: Selected in the 8th Round by the Mets in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Capistrano Valley High School (Mission Viejo, California)
ETA: 2027 Previous Rank: NR
Stats (FCL): 7 games, .316/.458/.421, 2 RBIs, .879 OPS
Last summer, the New York Mets selected three shortstops within the first ten rounds of the MLB Draft, including Boston Baro in Round 8. Although Baro did not get a lot of professional experience over the summer, he is a player who has the potential to make noise in the Mets’ farm system.
The Mets valued him highly enough to offer him more than $500,000 above slot value at $700,000 in order for Baro to forego his commitment to UCLA. While he does not have the power numbers just yet, MLB Pipeline projects him to have a solid hit tool that will only get better as he develops.
“His offense is aided by his excellent approach, and while the power only plays to the gaps now, he might still make enough contact to be a solid overall hitter at peak,” the site said.
Michael Mayer caught up with Baro during this offseason and he mentioned how much pride he takes in trying to put the ball in play on a consistent basis. This is evident by the fact that he did not record his first professional strikeout until the last game he played in 2023.
“I definitely take pride in my bat-to-ball skills and my approach when I am down in the count with two strikes and being picky early in the count with 0 or 1 strike,” he said. “Working on picking up what pitch is coming early helps a lot with it. For example, knowing whether the slider has more sweep or depth, I know where I need to look for it to start.”
Even though the Mets have a strong amount of shortstop depth at the professional level, Baro has the ability to play second base and third base as well. His defensive versatility should allow him to continue to progress through the Mets’ system.
Baro also reportedly gained about 15-20 pounds of muscle over the offseason, so he should come in closer to 190 pounds at his next official measurement as he rounds out his frame. He had been assigned to the FCL Mets in Florida Complex League in 2023, when he played seven games in 2023, posting a .879 OPS. Once he recovers from a hamate fracture suffered early in spring, he should join Low-A St. Lucie.
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