Mets Minors Recap: Thornton Fans Nine for Syracuse

Zach Thornton dominated in his second start for Triple-A Syracuse Friday night, striking out nine over six scoreless innings in an 8-2 victory over Scranton/Wilkes Barre. (You can see one of the Ks here.) The preseason No. 16 prospect on MMO gave up three hits and walked one. The 24-year-old was promoted earlier this month after pitching to a 3.60 ERA over five starts at Double-A.

Zach Thornton
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (22-20) 8, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (22-19) 2

Box Score

LF Ryan Clifford, 0-for-5, R, K (.726 OPS)
CF Nick Morabito, 3-for-5, RBI, K (.759 OPS)
3B Yonny Hernandez, 1-for-4, HR (2), 3 RBI, SB (.636 OPS)
RF Cristian Pache, 2-for-4, HR (5), 2 R, K (.802 OPS)
C Ben Rortvedt, 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 R (.544 OPS)

Morabito, 23, was hitless in his previous five contests before his first three-hit game of the season. He has stolen 14 bases in 16 attempts.

LHP Zach Thornton (2.25 ERA) 6 IP, 3 H, 9 K, BB, W
LHP A.J. Minter (1.80 ERA) IP, K

This was Minter’s first appearance since he felt pain in his left hip after a rehab outing for Syracuse on May 3. He was initially on rehab from lat surgery that he underwent last season.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (12-25) 3, Somerset Patriots (18-19) 7

Box Score

1B Chris Suero, 2-for-3, HR (7), 2 RBI, SB, HBP (.865 OPS)
CF Eli Serrano III, 1-for-4, R, 2 K (.686 OPS)
3B Jacob Reimer, 1-for-4, HR (3), 3 K (.701 OPS)

Reimer’s third homer came in his 30th game. The 22-year-old hit nine homers in 61 games for Binghamton last year and posted an .853 OPS.

RHP R.J. Gordon (24.30 ERA) 1 2/3 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, BB, K, HR, L

The 13th-round pick in 2024 out of the University of Oregon is having a rough season. He has surrendered 17 earned runs in seven innings over five appearances.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (10-26) 8, Rome Emperors (20-17) 5

Box Score

1B Corey Collins, 2-for-4, HR (3), 3B, 2 R, BB (.726 OPS)
SS Mitch Voit, 2-for-4, R, BB, 2 K (.665 OPS)
2B Colin Houck, 1-for-4, 2B, R, CS, BB, 3 K (.621 OPS)
LF Trace Willhoite, 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 RBI, SF, 3 K (.724 OPS)
C Ronald Hernandez, 2-for-5, 3 RBI (.776 OPS)

Voit, a first-round pick last year out of Michigan, had his fifth multi-hit game of the season. He has stolen 12 bases in 13 tries.

RHP Noah Hall (5.56 ERA) 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, 4 K

Hall, 25, a seventh-round pick in 2023 from the University of South Carolina, has struck out 37 in 34 innings pitched.

Low-A

Jupiter Hammerheads (23-14) 9, St. Lucie Mets (14-23) 7

Box Score

SS Elian Peña, 0-for-3, R, BB, K (.825 OPS)
DH Jared Young, 1-for-4, R, 2 K (.500 OPS)
CF JT Benson, 2-for-5, HR (5), 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R, SB, K (.969 OPS)
RF Simon Juan, 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 K (.536 OPS)
LF AJ Salgado, 3-for-5, RBI, SB (.775 OPS)

Peña has cooled off. The 18-year-old entered Friday hitting .186/.300/.302 in 11 games in May. He also committed his fifth error in 32 games at shortstop. Young made his first rehab appearance. He has been on the injured list since April 15 with a meniscus tear in his left knee.