Ronny Mauricio, Photo by Rick Nelson

Binghamton’s lineup, featuring three of the MLB’s top-100 prospects is as star-studded as any in the minors. That trio of top prospects put on quite the display of power on Sunday afternoon, as Ronny Mauricio and Francisco Álvarez combined for three home runs while Brett Baty added two hits of his own.

AAA: Syracuse Mets (18-34) 6, Worcester Red Sox (26-29) 4  Box Score

The Mets offense rode a three-true-outcomes approach to victory on Sunday afternoon: they struck out 17 times and scored all of the their runs on four home runs. Lee blasted his fourth home run, a 468-foot shot to right field, in 12 games since his return to Syracuse, but struggled to put the ball in play in his four other at bats of the game. He is hitting .381/.480/.857 with 10 extra base hits since his return to Syracuse. Dominic Smith went 1-for-5 in Sunday’s game, with his one hit being a long double to the warning track in left-center field.

  • RHP Connor Grey (3-1, 4.40 ERA) 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
  • RHP Trey Cobb (W, 2-0, 4.82 ERA) 2.0 IP, 2 H, ER, K
  • RHP Eric Orze (S, 0-2, 6.33 ERA) 1.0 IP, H, ER, 2 K

Grey struggled with his command in this start, throwing 82 pitches through just four innings pitched, but his six strikeouts were just one shy of his previous season high. Home runs continue to be the one flaw in Orze’s game. His 14.77 K/9 is excellent, but his 2.95 HR/9 is absurdly high. To put this number into context, he has given up as many home runs (7) as walks so far this season.

AA: Somerset Patriots (32-18) 5, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (19-31) 4  Box Score

Binghamton’s trio of top prospects provided the entirety of the teams offense on Sunday afternoon. They had five of the team’s eight hits, and a combined three home runs by Mauricio and Álvarez brought home all four runs. Among all Eastern League shortstops, Mauricio ranks third in doubles, home runs, and slugging percentage. Although the on-base percentage could still use a significant boost, it is still promising to see Mauricio maintaining, and even improving upon, his impressive power numbers from a year ago. Álvarez seems to have completely recovered from his lengthy slump, as he now has a seven-game hitting streak and is hitting .316/.300/.737 to start June.

Megill had a successful first start in his rehab from biceps tendonitis. He threw 53 pitches, and his fastball was up to 97 MPH. The main blemish on his line was a first inning home run, but he settled in after that and would end up striking out five batters without walking anyone.

A+: Jersey Shore BlueClaws (19-30) 3, Brooklyn Cyclones (22-26) 2  Box Score

The Cyclones struggled offensively in Sunday’s game, as they recorded only eight hits and went just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Jordan’s two-run double in the top of the fifth inning constituted the entirety of their scoring for the day. Jordan, having been drafted in the 11th round of the 2021 draft, was a relatively unheralded prospect heading into the season, but he has put together a very nice season for himself. His 16 doubles rank second in the South Atlantic League.

  • LHP Nick Zwack (0-1, 2.84 ERA) 4.0 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 K
  • RHP Oscar Rojas (L, 4-2, 3.41 ERA) 1.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K
  • LHP Cam Opp (0-0, 1.32 ERA) 2.0 IP, H, 2 K

Zwack continued his very successful first full professional season by tossing four scoreless innings. Zwack gave up four runs in each of his first two starts of the season but has nothing short of dominant since then: he has given up two earned runs or less in each of his seven outings since then. For the season, Zwack has a 41:6 K:BB ratio in 31 2/3 innings pitched.

Calvin Ziegler, Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

A (Game 1): St. Lucie Mets (33-16) 2, Dayton Tortugas (19-30) 0  Box Score

St. Lucie’s offense could not get anything going in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader. They had just three hits in the game, and their only runs both scored on an error in the fifth inning. Fortunately, that was more than enough of a lead for their pitching staff. Ramirez has found himself in the first slump of his season: he is just 7-for-46 over his last twelve games.

Ziegler returned from his brief, two-week stint on the injured list to start this dominant outing for the St. Lucie pitching staff. His velocity was a bit down in this outing – sitting at 92 MPH and topping out at 93.6 MPH – but he did not need to be sitting in the mid-90s to carve up the opposing batters. Núñez has allowed just one hit and has struck out six batters in his first 4 2/3 innings back from Tommy John surgery. Scott had his best appearance of the season, as his four innings pitched and seven strikeouts are both professional career highs. He averaged 94.5 MPH on his sinker (topped out at 96 MPH) and had a 46% whiff rate on all his pitches.

A (Game Two): St. Lucie Mets (34-16) 5, Dayton Tortugas (19-31) 1  Box Score

The Mets only had four hits in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader and went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, but still managed to scratch across five runs over six innings. Only one of their runs scored on a hit; the other four scored on a wild pitch, an error, a walk, and a force out, respectively. Tilien, just 19 years old, continues to be incredibly impressive with his bat, as he reached base three times in the second game of the double header and had St. Lucie’s only extra base hit.

Atencio continues to impress for St. Lucie; he has given up just one earned run over the course of three starts (10.0 innings pitched). His fastball topped out at 95 MPH on Sunday. Gomez has been quite wild this season, but he has electric stuff. His fastball averaged 97 MPH on Sunday, and topped out at 98.6 MPH, while batters swung through his cutter the two times that they offered at it in his one inning of work.