Mets Minors Recap: Justin Verlander Impresses in Rehab Start

Photo by Harry Weis

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (14-11) 2, Toledo MudHens (15-9) 0 BOX SCORE

1B Mark Vientos: 3-for-4, 2 2B, BB, RBI (20) (1.153 OPS)
2B Ronny Mauricio: 1-for-5, 2B (.984 OPS)
RF DJ Stewart: 1-for-4, BB, 2B, 2 K (.664 OPS)
LF José Peraza: 1-for-4, K (.606 OPS)
SS Jonathan Araúz: 1-for-5, K (.752 OPS)

Syracuse’s offense was 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position in the win, but they got just enough offense in the top of the first when Mark Vientos drove in a run on an RBI single for his 20^th RBI of the season. The 23-year-old has driven in a run in three of the four games in this series.

RHP Dennis Santana (4.91 ERA): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, K
RHP David Griffin (1-0, 0.00 ERa): 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 6 K, balk
RHP Bubby Rossman (3.00 ERA): 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, K
RHP Grant Hartwig (1.50 ERA, 3^rd save): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, K

Santana only threw one inning due to a one-hour rain delay, but Griffin was efficient in throwing strikes as the 26-year-old had a season-high six strikeouts. It was the most K’s he has had in an outing since May 7, 2022 at Double-A Binghamton. He also made a great play defensively:

Someone call the Harlem Globetrotters…

David Griffin is just showing off. pic.twitter.com/h1xaXAw3yT

— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) April 29, 2023

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (9-9) 6, Akron Rubberducks (9-10) 1 BOX SCORE

LF Matt Rudick: 3-for-5, 2 RBIs (11) (1.000 OPS)
DH JT Schwartz: 1-for-5, R, RBI (16) (.723 OPS)
RF Tanner Murphy: 2-for-5, R, RBI (2), SB, 2 K (.587 OPS)
CF Rowdey Jordan: 2-for-5, R, 3B, 2 RBIs (5), SB, K (.463 OPS)

On a day where Justin Verlander’s rehab start stole the show, Rudick was the star on offense as he got the scoring started with an RBI single in the bottom of the third. He also added another RBI single in the seventh. It is the second time this year that Rudick has had three hits in a game

Matt Rudick’s RBI single gets @RumblePoniesBB on the board! pic.twitter.com/9YqmIbA5zu

— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) April 28, 2023

RHP Justin Verlander (rehab): 4 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, BB, 6 K
RHP Hunter Parsons (4.15 ERA): 2 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, BB, 4 K
RHP Manuel Alvarez (2.00 ERA): 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, 2 wild pitches
RHP Dylan Hall (0.00 ERA): 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, K

You can read more about Verlander’s rehab from Michael Mayer’s piece from Friday afternoon, and here is what he had to say after his start as he preps for his Mets debut:

Verlander on his rehab start in Binghamton: “I feel good.. should be ready to go whenever they say I’m ready to pitch.” pic.twitter.com/9Py4TlgCSb

— NewsChannel 34 (@NewsChannel34) April 28, 2023

On the minor league side, Parsons has not allowed a run in four straight outing after a rough opening appearance of the season. It is also the third time this season he has gone more than two innings in an appearance.

High-A: Jersey Shore BlueClaws (8-9) vs. Brooklyn Cyclones (6-11) POSTPONED

The matchup between the Brooklyn Cyclones (6-11) and Jersey Shore BlueClaws (8-9) was postponed due to rain. They will makeup the game later in the year.

Low-A: Clearwater Threshers (13-6) 7, St. Lucie Mets (5-14) 2 BOX SCORE

CF Blaine McIntosh: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, SB, RBI (2), 2 K (.742 OPS)
DH Adrian Hernandez: 1-for-4, RBI (4), 2 K (.496 OPS)
C Vincent Perozo: 1-for-4, R, 2B, K (.701 OPS)
LF Rhylan Thomas: 1-for-4, BB, K (.673 OPS)

On offense, the Mets managed just four hits as they suffered their fourth straight loss. Since making his season debut on April 22, McIntosh has recorded a hit in three of the five games he’s played in. He was the Mets’ 13^th Round pick back in 2019.

LHP Felipe De La Cruz (4.50 ERA): 6 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K, Balk, HBP
LHP Javier Atencio (11.32 ERA): 2 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 4 BB, K, Balk, HBP, WP

It was a rough start for De La Cruz as he allowed three runs in the bottom of the first. The left-hander completed six innings for the first time in his professional career. As for Atencio, his command issues continued as he now has more walks (13) than strikeouts (11) this year. He has allowed at least two runs in each of his four appearances.