Mets farm report: Ronny Mauricio enjoying quite the power surge at Double-A
Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio at spring training on March 17 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Ronny Mauricio has never questioned his ability to produce in the power department. And as months like June prove, when Mauricio is in a strong hitting zone, few middle infielders can match his raw power.
The highly heralded shortstop had one of his best months as a minor-leaguer in June with eight home runs, 24 RBIs and an .848 OPS. It’s the most home runs Mauricio has hit in a month since joining the Mets’ organization in 2018.
Mauricio said he’s felt more confident at the plate in recent weeks, but he hasn’t made any major changes in his approach for the increased power.
“I’ve known I always have the power. I just stay with the plan and I’m playing well,” Mauricio told Newsday through an interpreter. “Just trying to have good contact with the ball.”
Mauricio was averaging a home run every 18.7 at-bats through Thursday. He’s also sporting career bests in slugging percentage (.482) and OPS (.776).
Mauricio said he’s just focusing on hard contact, and that’s leading to his increased power.
“I think I never really worked on my power,” he said. “Just worked more on my body, on bat speed trying to hit the ball hard, and that’s where the power comes. Just trying to hit the ball as hard as I can and in the zone.”
Mauricio has 15 home runs in 280 at-bats in 69 games for Double-A Binghamton this year. He had 20 home runs in 100 games between High-A and Double-A in 2021 after hitting four home runs in 116 games in 2019.
Mauricio, a 21-year-old switch-hitting shortstop from the Dominican Republic, has been in the Mets’ minor-league system since 2018. He is the organization’s No. 3-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline and was named to the Mets’ 40-man roster in November.
“I’ve grown a lot,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot just from playing and there’s more to come. I have more in the tank to learn and get better.”
Mauricio has played shortstop in Double-A and said the team hasn’t discussed any position changes with him even though Francisco Lindor is entrenched long-term at the position for the Mets. Mauricio said he’s been mostly working on his defense and plate discipline as he tries to progress through the team’s system.
“Of course them winning a lot and having the really good season they’ve had so far is really motivating me a lot,” Mauricio said. “I’m a 40-man [player], and I’m hoping when they get to the playoffs, I can be around there for them.”
