Luisangel Acuña and Drew Gilbert: Up close with Mets' new prospects as they talk future

BRIDGEWATER — The Mets are hoping Tuesday night at TD Bank Ballpark provided a peek at how the major-league product will look in the next two or three seasons.

Luisangel Acuña was setting the tone with his blistering speed out of the leadoff spot. The 21-year-old infielder was flying from base to base with ease, swiping three stolen bases and scoring a pair of runs. The 23-year-old Drew Gilbert was patrolling center field and driving in a pair of runs from the heart of Double-A Binghamton's lineup.

At last week's trade deadline, the Mets front office traded off a pair of Cy Young award winners in Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander with the hope that Acuña and Gilbert, along with Ryan Clifford at High-A Brooklyn, will provide the foundation toward success over the next decade.

"We’re excited from a player development standpoint that we added some top prospects from different organizations," Rumble Ponies manager Reid Brignac said. "I know it was a hefty price for those guys and they understand that. We want them to come and do what they’ve been doing and help our farm system get better, but eventually help our big league team and win more games at the major league."

As Acuña and Gilbert, the Mets' No. 2 and 4 prospects, respectively, work toward attaining their dreams of playing in the major leagues, they also have lofty goals of what they hope to achieve once they get there.

"Ideally, I’d love to say that we’re winning the World Series at the end of October," Gilbert said. "Obviously that’s probably an incredibly hard thing to do and I’ve never experienced a major league game just to say off the rip. If you’re not playing for that, I don’t really know what your goals are."

Luisangel Acuña : Following in his brother's footsteps

The name recognition of Acuña has Mets fans excited about what the future could hold.

When the 21-year-old shortstop steps to the plate, you can't miss him. Just like his brother, Ronald Acuña Jr., who is the frontrunner for National League MVP with 26 home runs and 53 stolen bases, Acuña dons a bright yellow elbow guard, shin guard and batting gloves.

"I look up to my brother," Acuña said through translator Alan Suriel. "I obviously learned a lot from him, him being a superstar in the game. I consider him being a part of my career because he's always been there for me."

Acuña said he talks with his brother every day. They discuss how the other performed in their latest game and then might play Call of Duty together online. Two weeks ago, the brothers hatched a $5,000 bet to see who would steal more bases this season. With 46 stolen bases after Tuesday's win, the younger brother has to make up some ground.

Michael said the speed and quickness of Acuña and Gilbert is "the separator" for the Mets' top two additions.

In 91 games at Double-A this season, Acuña is slashing .308/.374/.440 with seven home runs, 52 RBI and 73 runs. Teammate Dominic Hamel said Acuña's supreme bat speed makes him look like he's swinging a toothpick.

"I played against him about a month, month and a half ago when he was with Texas when I was in Houston, we were both in the same league," Gilbert said. "He stood out back then. Obviously he impacts the game on the bases and in the field. He’s a pretty electric player, fun to watch for sure."

In his short stay with Binghamton, Michael said Acuña has been a quiet guy. He lets his play do the talking as he did on Aug. 5 when he delivered a walk-off hit and showed off his personality by leaping into JT Schwartz's arms between first and second base.

But with Francisco Lindor penciled in at shortstop for the next eight seasons, Acuña may have to slide to the other middle infield spot, which he is comfortable doing.

"I’m starting to feel very, very comfortable there because I’ve been able to do it consistently," Acuña said. "I have to continue following my routine to continue to be the best player that I can be."

Drew Gilbert: Playing with fire

Right-handed pitcher Blade Tidwell, Gilbert's teammate at Tennessee and now in Binghamton, echoed the same sentiments as Billy Eppler when explaining Gilbert's talents.

The 23-year-old "plays with his hair on fire."

"I've always played hard and I always will," Gilbert said. "It's something that I've kind of had to learn to manage when it comes to making that transition from college to pro ball and playing every day. Just trying to stay on the field every single day, but I want to win."

In the early going, Michael said that Gilbert's defensive acumen in center field have impressed him most. He has already put together highlight-reel plays going back toward the wall and diving forward toward the diamond.

And Gilbert's background as a pitcher - he pitched some during his freshman and sophomore season with the Volunteers - helps him bring a big arm to the outfield.

"When it comes to improvement, everything honestly, as corny of an answer as that sounds, it’s true," Gilbert said. "There’s always ways you can get better: defensively, baserunning, hitting. Honestly, everything’s always a work in progress, which is exciting for sure."

While Gilbert has played center field for most of his baseball career, he understands the value of sliding into one of the corner spots, as well.

In 60 games at Double-A Corpus Christi, Gilbert was slashing .241/.342/.371 with six home runs, 20 RBI and 36 runs. It's Gilbert's first full professional season after he dislocated his elbow colliding with the wall six games into his tenure with Single-A Fayetteville late last season.

"I think that injury kind of just taught me how important it is to be out there every single day because 160 games is a lot," Gilbert said. "Let’s say you miss two weeks, that’s 12 games. That’s a lot of games. I try to take pride in being able to show up every day being able to go."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Drew Gilbert, Luisangel Acuña: NY Mets prospects discuss their future