Tomas Nido

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #15 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Nido opened 2018 back at Double-A Binghamton after spending the entire 2017 season there--but that didn't last long. The Mets called him up in April when catchers Travis d'Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki both went on the disabled list. Nido didn't do much with the opportunity, hitting .158 with one extra-base hit through the end of May before being demoted. He returned to New York at the end of August.
  
  Scouting Report: If Nido fashions a big league career, it will be on the strength of his defensive skill. He has above-average all-around ability behind the plate. He blocks and receives well but draws the strongest raves for his ability to frame strikes for his pitchers. He records consistent plus pop times on throws to second base and has a plus arm. At the plate, Nido has shown strong bat-to-ball skills in the minors, but major league pitchers have enticed him to expand his zone and chase breaking balls in the dirt, leading to predictably poor results. He has some power to his pull side but isn't a significant home run threat.
  
  The Future: Nido will play all of 2019 at age 25 and still has time on his side, because catchers tend to develop later. He should get plenty of reps at Triple-A Syracuse.
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  Ranked New York Mets #12 prospect in 2018
  Nido moved to the Orlando area from Puerto Rico while in high school, then signed for $250,000 as an eighth-round pick rather than attend Florida State. A slow climb up the ladder brought him to Double-A Binghamton in 2017, his sixth pro season, prior to a September callup to New York, where he started a pair of games. Nido offers above-average defensive ability at catcher but faces questions about his offensive potential. Despite winning a surprising batting title in the high Class A Florida State League in 2016, he's better known for his above-average raw power. He could tap that power more frequently with a more refined approach, but he focuses on making contact and tends to put the ball in play on the ground. Nido shines defensively with a plus arm that he used to throw out 45 percent of Eastern League basestealers to go with strong receiving and blocking skills. The Mets' internal metrics grade his pitch-framing favorably because he frequently steals strikes for his pitchers. With a fringe bat and strong defensive acumen, Nido could make for an ideal backup catcher.
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  Ranked New York Mets #10 prospect in 2017
  Born in Puerto Rico, Nido moved to the Orlando area in high school and passed on Florida State when the Mets offered him $250,000 as an eighth-round pick in 2012. He spent three years in short-season and one at low Class A before breaking out at high Class A St. Lucie in 2016, when he hit .320 to claim the Florida State League batting title. Despite hitting for a high average in 2016, Nido is better known for his above-average to plus raw power. He consistently drives the ball to his pull side with a quick swing and established career highs with seven home runs and a .140 isolated slugging percentage in 2016. Nido makes contact at high rate and doesn't walk or strike out much, but in 2016 he focused on letting the ball travel deeper into the zone and using the whole field, especially with two strikes. It paid off with a career year. Pitchers like throwing to Nido, the best defensive catcher in the system. He grades as average overall because his hands and blocking ability are sound, while his arm and game-calling ability are above-average. He needs to improve the accuracy of his throws, though he did retire 42 percent of FSL basestealers. Double-A Binghamton is the next step for Nido, whom the Mets added to the 40-man roster in November. He has the tools to be the Mets' backstop of the future.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #303 prospect in 2012 draft
  Nido isn't quite a one-tool player; the Florida State signee has average arm strength. But his calling card is plus-plus raw power, as he has strength and takes a big, powerful swing, generating above-average bat speed. He's a slow-twitch athlete, and it may be a stretch for him to stay behind the plate. He has a tendency to sell out for power, even though he doesn't need to with his strength. Nido had late helium and was doing some individual workouts for teams, and if he puts on a power display with wood, he could be drafted highly.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Florida State League #20 prospect in 2016
  Nido hopes to be a classic case of a late-blooming catcher. A 2012 draftee out of a Florida high school, the Puerto Rico native didn't make it to full-season ball until 2015 before breaking out this season, winning the FSL batting title with a .320 average. Nido makes solid contact and at least fits the backup catcher profile. He has shown plus pull power and gets to it more often now that he has improved his plate discipline. His pop is more to the gaps at this stage, and he has bat-to-ball skills. Defensively, Nido has shown good hands and blocking skills, and he continues to improve his throwing arm, which now grades as above-average, though its inconsistent. He threw out 42 percent of basestealers, ranking second in the league. "Fatigue did not show up with him," one league manager said. "He called a game well, was authoritative, didn't fall into patterns and played to his pitchers' strengths. I was very impressed."

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Born in Puerto Rico, Nido moved to the Orlando area in high school and passed on Florida State when the Mets offered him $250,000 as an eighth-round pick in 2012. He spent three years in short-season and one at low Class A before breaking out at high Class A St. Lucie in 2016, when he hit .320 to claim the Florida State League batting title. Scouting Report: Despite hitting for a high average in 2016, Nido is better known for his above-average to plus raw power. He consistently drives the ball to his pull side with a quick swing and established career highs with seven home runs and a .140 isolated slugging percentage in 2016. Nido makes contact at high rate and doesn't walk or strike out much, but in 2016 focused on letting the ball travel deeper into the zone and using the whole field, especially with two strikes. It paid off with a career year. Pitchers like throwing to Nido, the best defensive catcher in the system. He grades as average overall because his hands and blocking ability are sound, while his arm and game-calling ability are above-average. He needs to improve the accuracy of his throws, though he did retire 42 percent of FSL basestealers.
  
  The Future: Double-A Binghamton is the next step for Nido, whom the Mets added to the 40-man roster in November. He has the tools to be the Mets' backstop of the future.