The Binghamton Rumble Ponies came from behind on Tuesday night in their 5-4 win over the Erie SeaWolves to force a winner-take-all game on Wednesday in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, they started early with two runs in the first inning, then three more in the sixth and three more in the top of the ninth in their 8-2 win to capture their fourth Eastern League title and their first since 2014.
The Rumble Ponies had 14 hits as a team, and all nine batters reached base. The biggest blows in the game for Binghamton came in the top of the sixth with prospects third baseman Jacob Reimer and catcher Chris Suero both homering to give the Rumble Ponies a 5-2 lead. Right fielder D’Andre Smith knocked in two with a single in the ninth and Suero added the final run with a sac fly. Smith and Suero combined to knock in seven runs on five hits and they scored three runs total.
Center fielder A.J. Ewing had two hits and scored two runs out of the leadoff spot. Designated hitter Nick Lorusso and second baseman Wyatt Young each had two hits for the Rumble Ponies. Young went 8-for-15 with four walks in the Binghamton championship run.
Photo by Matt Kipp/Binghamton Rumble Ponies
On the mound for Binghamton, the story was right-hander Jack Wenninger. The 23-year-old struck 11 batters over five innings of two-run ball. The 2023 sixth round pick isn’t a guy necessarily known for his velocity, but was sitting 96/97 mph on Wednesday and topped out at 98. Wenninger was recently named an Eastern League All-Star after finishing the season with a 2.92 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 135 2/3 innings for Binghamton this year.
Right-handers Joander Suarez (1 IP), TJ Shook (2 IP) and Carlos Guzman (2 IP) combined for five scoreless innings of relief to close out the Binghamton win.
Former big leaguer Reid Brignac was recently named EL Manager of the Year and now leads Binghamton to the title. His championship coaching staff includes Dan Kinney (pitching coach), Nate Irving (hitting coach), Aaron Bray (asst. hitting coach) and Mariano Duncan (bench coach).
Binghamton became the second Mets affiliate to win a league title this season, following the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones winning the South Atlantic League last week. That wraps up the 2025 minor league season, one of the best in recent memory in terms of winning and developing prospects. The Mets will have a group of prospects participating in the Arizona Fall League, which begins on October 6.
