Minor League Mondays: Jacob Reimer Has A Chance To Be Mets' Long-Term Answer At Third

The hot corner has been a difficult spot to fill since David Wright retired after the 2018 season. Todd Frazier, Eduardo Escobar, Mark Vientos and Brett Baty all got a crack at the job but couldn't hold it for the long haul, leading the current Mets to move Bo Bichette there on a three-year deal. Bichette can opt out after any season of the deal, meaning the Mets do need to continue working for long-term solutions at the hot corner. One guy who could fit that bill is Jacob Reimer, making him the focus of this week's edition of Minor League Mondays.

Jacob Reimer is the Mets' top prospect at third base.

Reimer, 22, was the Mets' fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft. The Mets gave him a $775,000 signing bonus, well above slot value for that point in the draft, to get him to forego his college commitment and go pro. The decision showed how highly the Mets valued Reimer, but it did take him a bit of time to get used to the pro game.

A hamstring injury cost Reimer most of the 2024 season, but he made up for it with a breakthrough 2025 campaign. In 122 games evenly split between High-A Brooklyn and AA Binghamton, Reimer hit .282 with 17 homers, 77 RBI, 15 stolen bases and an .870 OPS in 522 at-bats. The Mets opted to have Reimer repeat the level to start this season and the going has been a bit slower thus far, with Reimer batting .217 with five home runs and 15 RBI in his first 44 games.

Another IL trip slowed Reimer's roll this season but he is back now and will look to continue progressing over this summer. The bat will certainly be the selling point for Reimer, who has 20-homer potential as a pro and can back it up with a solid batting average. There are swing-and-miss concerns for Reimer, particularly against off-speed stuff, but he still has room to grow in that area at age 22.

The best defensive fit for Reimer is at third, where he has the requisite arm to play the position. There are concerns about his ability to accurately throw across the diamond, but if he can clean that up he should play a passable third at the major league level.

Scouts have a solid viewpoint of Reimer, who is the Mets' fourth-best prospect according to MLB.com, but he still needs time to develop on the farm. The Mets won't want to rush him since they already have Bichette under contract, but even if he opts out they could use Baty as a stop gap for a year to see if Reimer can make another developmental leap.

The goal for Reimer should be to make his way to AAA Syracuse by the end of the year, where he would be one step away from the majors. Since this is Reimer's fifth professional season after turning 18, he will be Rule V eligible this winter, meaning the Mets will need to add him to the 40-man roster or risk losing him in the draft. The Mets have quite a few Rule V eligible prospects this winter, including Jack Wenninger and Ryan Clifford, so Reimer will need to stand out to earn protection from the Rule V draft.

That status could also make Reimer a potential trade chip if the Mets don't feel like he is going to be the long term answer at third. Either way, Reimer is one of the more intriguing prospects to watch for the Mets down the stretch of the 2026 season.