Kevin Parada is still with the Mets.
That wasn’t a given in 2026. The Mets left Parada off of the 40-man roster in December, leaving him vulnerable in the Rule V draft. Even though Parada hasn’t developed in the way that a lot of scouts originally projected, leaving a former first round pick vulnerable in the Rule V draft is a risky move. Ultimately other teams passed on Parada and he enters camp battling to get on the Mets roster as their third catching option.
The Mets drafted Parada 11th overall in 2022 out of Georgia Tech. Parada was coming off of an absurd collegiate season slashing .360/.452/.709 over 305 plate appearances. He then played 13 games in the Mets system, split between rookie and low-A ball slashing .275/.455/.425. His ability to get on based turned heads with the major baseball publications naming him a top-100 prospect before the 2023 season:
- Baseball America #50
- Major League Baseball #36
- Baseball Prospectus #64
With Francisco Alvarez making his major league debut in 2022, the Mets didn’t have to rush Parada’s development. Parada was largely successful the next season at Brooklyn (High A) slashing .265/.340/.447. Not as head turning as his previous season, but still solid hitting for a catcher. A late season promotion to Binghamton became a harbinger. Parada only hit .185/.250/.389 over 60 plate appearances. He spent all of 2024 in Binghamton and did a bit better hitting .214/.304/.359.
Two things happened in 2025 that set the stage for Parada to have an opportunity in 2026. Parada had a largely successful stint with Binghamton slashing .254/.326/.429. Meanwhile, the Mets had their catching depth tested and needed to rely on Hayden Senger. Senger, drafted in 2018, filled a need for the Mets, but fell short with his bat. Senger ended the season playing in 33 games getting 78 plate appearances with a 20 OPS+. He is currently on the 40-man roster as the Mets third catcher.
If Parada can get off to a hot start in spring, and put together a solid campaign in Syracuse, he could make a case to eventually get on the 40-man roster. After Alvarez and Torrens the Mets depth chart right now is probably Senger, Austin Barnes (NRI) then Kevin Parada. Injuries to catching depth across the league will dictate if Austin Barnes stays with the Mets by the end of spring training, but that’s a conversation for a future NRI preview.
Behind Parada on the depth chart is 21-year old Chris Suero who made it to Binghamton last season after putting up an .837 OPS in 301 plate appearances in Brooklyn. Suero is too far away from the majors right now to leap frog Parada in a short term 40-man roster stint. It feels like the conditions are set for Parada to make it on the 40-man roster at some point this season. Can the former top prospect seize the opportunity when it arrives?
