Billy Amick’s power bat has run into a tougher test, and the early returns in Triple-A have been rough.
After tearing through Double-A in just 12 games, the Mets prospect earned a quick bump with a line that turned heads: 7 home runs in only 54 plate appearances and a .304 batting average. That burst made him look like a hitter who might force his way into the conversation fast, especially for a player who was unranked on many prospect lists.
But there were warning signs baked into the profile. His strikeout rate was already a concern, and even that .217 batting average in Double-A left some questions hanging.
Now the challenge has sharpened. In 5 games and 22 trips to the plate at Triple-A, Amick is hitting .100 with a double and a home run. He has struck out 10 times in 20 total at-bats, including 3 strikeouts on Sunday to close out his first week.
The 23-year-old right-hander has mostly played first base since joining the Mets organization. Ryan Clifford was recently moved to the developmental list for a breather to sort things out, and the two players fit a similar mold. Clifford brings the left-handed version of the same kind of power profile, with outfield work in his background, while Amick has some third base experience of his own.
That overlap makes for a familiar-looking lane in the Mets’ system, especially when it comes to power-first corner bats.
For now, Amick isn’t facing any immediate roster pressure. Clifford becomes Rule 5 eligible this offseason and could be exposed if he isn’t protected, but his .175 batting average and 164 strikeouts in 431 plate appearances make it difficult to see him sticking on a major league roster for a full season. A short-term bench role is one thing; sustained development without regular at-bats is another.
The Rule 5 players who tend to survive are usually pitchers who can be tucked away down the depth chart, or position players who bring defense and/or speed. That’s not really the lane Amick or Clifford lives in.
So the Mets are still waiting to find out how much more these bats have in them. Amick, and perhaps Clifford to a lesser extent, remain in the mix for the near future.
But if either is going to make a real push, they’ll have to solve Triple-A pitching first. So far, both have topped out in Double-A.
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