Jaylen Palmer

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #15 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Palmer went to high school in the shadow of Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., and was a 22nd-round find by area scout John Kosciak. Palmer was moving in the right direction in Rookie ball in 2019 and kept his momentum at the alternate training site in 2020. He looked sharp at Low-A St. Lucie in the first half of 2021 but got exposed at High-A Brooklyn with a .189 average and strikeout rate bordering on 39%.
  
  Scouting Report: Palmer is a favorite of Mets coaches for his energetic style of play, athleticism and positive demeanor. He is one of the fastest players in the organization and one of the top defensive center fielders, thanks to the vacuum created by the trade of Pete Crow-Armstrong. How Palmer’s bat develops will determine his MLB future. He knows the strike zone, isn’t afraid to work deep counts and take his walks; he just needs to refine his swing decisions to offer at a higher rate of balls he can damage. Palmer shows solid-average power in batting practice and hits the ball hard consistently. His average exit velocity of 90 mph in Low-A Southeast is squarely above-average. The Mets hope that as his decisions improve that his offensive outlook will improve to near average. Drafted as a shortstop, Palmer has embraced versatility in pro ball by playing third base, second base and the outfield. His best position may be center field with his above-average range solid arm.
  
  The Future: Palmer does many things well and is driven. If he hits, there will be an MLB role for him, most likely as a multi-positional player.
  
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #15 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Palmer grew up in Flushing, N.Y. and played high school ball in the shadow of Citi Field. Drafted in the 22nd round in 2018, he hit .310 in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and put himself on the prospect map in 2019, when he ranked among the Rookie-level Appalachian League leaders with 63 hits and 31 walks.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Palmer does many things well but lacks an outstanding tool to put him over the top. His biggest area for improvement in 2020 was simply pitch recognition after striking out 39% of the time the year before. To correct that, Palmer made two adjustments. First, he made use of a portable virtual reality machine to help with pitch recognition. Second, he made his swing more effective by working through the ball rather than diving at it. Palmer hits the ball hard consistently and could grow into average power, especially if his recognition gains hold. Drafted as a shortstop, he projects more as an average third baseman. The Mets had him playing outfield at instructional league to increase his versatility. His above-average speed will play there once he becomes more practiced.
  
  THE FUTURE: Palmer has the work ethic and drive to improve, which could be his separating tool. Barring a huge surge in offensive upside, he profiles as a multi-positional player who could play infield and outfield.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #20 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Palmer grew up in Flushing and played high school ball a few miles from Citi Field. The Mets liked what they saw and signed him for an over-slot $200,000 as a 22nd-round pick in 2018. Palmer hit .310 in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and continued to surpass expectations at Rookie-level Kingsport in 2019, when he ranked among the Appalachian League leaders with 63 hits, 31 walks and 100 total bases.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Palmer is a twitchy athlete whose power potential is his most promising tool. He has grown to 6-foot-4 in the past few years, while his long limbs and broad shoulders suggest the potential for continued muscle gain. Palmer went deep seven times in the Appy League and hits the ball hard consistently when he connects. Making contact is an area for improvement after he registered a 39 percent strikeout rate and league-leading 108 whiffs. He tends to pull off the ball while trying to get to his power. Palmer split his time evenly between third base and shortstop and is projected by scouts to stay on the infield. He probably fits best at third because of his frame, average arm and fringe-average speed that figures to diminish.
  
  THE FUTURE: Palmer shares some similarities with Shervyen Newton as a physical infielder with enticing power and high strikeout totals. He should get a crack at low Class A in 2020.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked National League #10 prospect in 2019
  A 22nd-round pick in 2018 who grew up just a few miles from Citi Field, home of the Mets, Palmer exceeded expectations in the Gulf Coast League last year in his pro debut and continued plugging along this summer in the Appy League. Palmer hit .260/.344/.413 with seven home runs and 12 doubles, and his name was routinely brought up by managers. He’s a physical, righthanded hitter who split time at shortstop and third base but will likely wind up at the hot corner. Listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Palmer will get even larger and add more strength to what’s already an exciting, power-oriented offensive game. When he hits the ball, he hits it extremely hard and far, which helped him hit .434 on balls in play. Palmer has plus power potential, but he’ll have to reduce his strikeout rate—he fanned a league-leading 108 times—significantly to get to that power consistently in games. "For that size, he made some plays against us at third base like—good gracious,” one Appy League manager said. "For him to be from New York, I know they don’t play a ton of baseball there. He’s just now tapping into who he could be.”

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Palmer went to high school in the shadow of Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., and was a 22nd-round find by area scout John Kosciak. Palmer was moving in the right direction in Rookie ball in 2019 and kept his momentum at the alternate training site in 2020. He looked sharp at Low-A St. Lucie in the first half of 2021 but got exposed at High-A Brooklyn with a .189 average and strikeout rate bordering on 39%.
  
  Scouting Report: Palmer is a favorite of Mets coaches for his energetic style of play, athleticism and positive demeanor. He is one of the fastest players in the organization and one of the top defensive center fielders, thanks to the vacuum created by the trade of Pete Crow-Armstrong. How Palmer’s bat develops will determine his MLB future. He knows the strike zone, isn’t afraid to work deep counts and take his walks; he just needs to refine his swing decisions to offer at a higher rate of balls he can damage. Palmer shows solid-average power in batting practice and hits the ball hard consistently. His average exit velocity of 90 mph in Low-A Southeast is squarely above-average. The Mets hope that as his decisions improve that his offensive outlook will improve to near average. Drafted as a shortstop, Palmer has embraced versatility in pro ball by playing third base, second base and the outfield. His best position may be center field with his above-average range solid arm.
  
  The Future: Palmer does many things well and is driven. If he hits, there will be an MLB role for him, most likely as a multi-positional player.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Palmer grew up in Flushing, N.Y. and played high school ball in the shadow of Citi Field. Drafted in the 22nd round in 2018, he hit .310 in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and put himself on the prospect map in 2019, when he ranked among the Rookie-level Appalachian League leaders with 63 hits and 31 walks.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Palmer does many things well but lacks an outstanding tool to put him over the top. His biggest area for improvement in 2020 was simply pitch recognition after striking out 39% of the time the year before. To correct that, Palmer made two adjustments. First, he made use of a portable virtual reality machine to help with pitch recognition. Second, he made his swing more effective by working through the ball rather than diving at it. Palmer hits the ball hard consistently and could grow into average power, especially if his recognition gains hold. Drafted as a shortstop, he projects more as an average third baseman. The Mets had him playing outfield at instructional league to increase his versatility. His above-average speed will play there once he becomes more practiced.
  
  THE FUTURE: Palmer has the work ethic and drive to improve, which could be his separating tool. Barring a huge surge in offensive upside, he profiles as a multi-positional player who could play infield and outfield.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Palmer grew up in Flushing, N.Y. and played high school ball in the shadow of Citi Field. Drafted in the 22nd round in 2018, he hit .310 in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and put himself on the prospect map in 2019, when he ranked among the Rookie-level Appalachian League leaders with 63 hits and 31 walks.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Palmer does many things well but lacks an outstanding tool to put him over the top. His biggest area for improvement in 2020 was simply pitch recognition after striking out 39% of the time the year before. To correct that, Palmer made two adjustments. First, he made use of a portable virtual reality machine to help with pitch recognition. Second, he made his swing more effective by working through the ball rather than diving at it. Palmer hits the ball hard consistently and could grow into average power, especially if his recognition gains hold. Drafted as a shortstop, he projects more as an average third baseman. The Mets had him playing outfield at instructional league to increase his versatility. His above-average speed will play there once he becomes more practiced.
  
  THE FUTURE: Palmer has the work ethic and drive to improve, which could be his separating tool. Barring a huge surge in offensive upside, he profiles as a multi-positional player who could play infield and outfield.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Palmer grew up in Flushing, N.Y. and played high school ball in the shadow of Citi Field. Drafted in the 22nd round in 2018, he hit .310 in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and put himself on the prospect map in 2019, when he ranked among the Rookie-level Appalachian League leaders with 63 hits and 31 walks.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Palmer does many things well but lacks an outstanding tool to put him over the top. His biggest area for improvement in 2020 was simply pitch recognition after striking out 39% of the time the year before. To correct that, Palmer made two adjustments. First, he made use of a portable virtual reality machine to help with pitch recognition. Second, he made his swing more effective by working through the ball rather than diving at it. Palmer hits the ball hard consistently and could grow into average power, especially if his recognition gains hold. Drafted as a shortstop, he projects more as an average third baseman. The Mets had him playing outfield at instructional league to increase his versatility. His above-average speed will play there once he becomes more practiced.
  
  THE FUTURE: Palmer has the work ethic and drive to improve, which could be his separating tool. Barring a huge surge in offensive upside, he profiles as a multi-positional player who could play infield and outfield.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Palmer grew up in Flushing and played high school ball a few miles from Citi Field. The Mets liked what they saw and signed him for an over-slot $200,000 as a 22nd-round pick in 2018. Palmer BA GRADE 50 Risk: Very High BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme hit .310 in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and continued to surpass expectations at Rookie-level Kingsport in 2019, when he ranked among the Appalachian League leaders with 63 hits, 31 walks and 100 total bases.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Palmer is a twitchy athlete whose power potential is his most promising tool. He has grown to 6-foot-4 in the past few years, while his long limbs and broad shoulders suggest the potential for continued muscle gain. Palmer went deep seven times in the Appy League and hits the ball hard consistently when he connects. Making contact is an area for improvement after he registered a 39 percent strikeout rate and league-leading 108 whiffs. He tends to pull off the ball while trying to get to his power. Palmer split his time evenly between third base and shortstop and is projected by scouts to stay on the infield. He probably fits best at third because of his frame, average arm and fringe-average speed that figures to diminish.
  
  THE FUTURE: Palmer shares some similarities with Shervyen Newton as a physical infielder with enticing power and high strikeout totals. He should get a crack at low Class A in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Palmer grew up in Flushing and played high school ball a few miles from Citi Field. The Mets liked what they saw and signed him for an over-slot $200,000 as a 22nd-round pick in 2018. Palmer hit .310 in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and continued to surpass expectations at Rookie-level Kingsport in 2019, when he ranked among the Appalachian League leaders with 63 hits, 31 walks and 100 total bases.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Palmer is a twitchy athlete whose power potential is his most promising tool. He has grown to 6-foot-4 in the past few years, while his long limbs and broad shoulders suggest the potential for continued muscle gain. Palmer went deep seven times in the Appy League and hits the ball hard consistently when he connects. Making contact is an area for improvement after he registered a 39 percent strikeout rate and league-leading 108 whiffs. He tends to pull off the ball while trying to get to his power. Palmer split his time evenly between third base and shortstop and is projected by scouts to stay on the infield. He probably fits best at third because of his frame, average arm and fringe-average speed that figures to diminish.
  
  THE FUTURE: Palmer shares some similarities with Shervyen Newton as a physical infielder with enticing power and high strikeout totals. He should get a crack at low Class A in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A 22nd-round pick in 2018 who grew up just a few miles from Citi Field, home of the Mets, Palmer exceeded expectations in the Gulf Coast League last year in his pro debut and continued plugging along this summer in the Appy League. Palmer hit .260/.344/.413 with seven home runs and 12 doubles, and his name was routinely brought up by managers. He’s a physical, righthanded hitter who split time at shortstop and third base but will likely wind up at the hot corner. Listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Palmer will get even larger and add more strength to what’s already an exciting, power-oriented offensive game. When he hits the ball, he hits it extremely hard and far, which helped him hit .434 on balls in play. Palmer has plus power potential, but he’ll have to reduce his strikeout rate—he fanned a league-leading 108 times—significantly to get to that power consistently in games. "For that size, he made some plays against us at third base like—good gracious,” one Appy League manager said. "For him to be from New York, I know they don’t play a ton of baseball there. He’s just now tapping into who he could be.”