Kevin Parada, the 2022 No. 11 overall pick, has been a disappointment in the minor leagues, struggling to produce an OPS above the mid-700s in his first three full seasons. However, a recent promotion to Triple-A has sparked hope for his future in the MLB. In just 16 games at Triple-A, Parada has shown significant improvement in his contact rates, launch angle sweet-spot percentage, barrel rate, and pull air percentage. While he's not yet displaying great power, his consistent hard contact and good swing decisions make him a solid offensive profile. The small sample size of 16 games makes it difficult to draw conclusions, but the underlying data suggests that his Triple-A numbers are more than just batted ball luck. This sudden surge in performance has increased the probability of Parada becoming a big leaguer, and he has now commanded more attention than he has since his draft day. The question remains whether he can handle catcher, but his improved performance and potential as an option if other catchers are injured make him a player to watch. The Mets, as a team out of contention, may be inclined to give him a chance in the big leagues, especially if they are not forced to due to injuries. Parada's journey from a struggling minor leaguer to a potential big leaguer is an intriguing one, and it will be fascinating to see how his career unfolds.
