Sunday was a day of ups and downs for the Mets’ minor league affiliates, going 2-2, with some prospects taking a step forward, and others a step back. Both Binghamton (Double-A) and St. Lucie (Single-A) were able to pick up wins in fairly close games, while Syracuse (Triple-A) and Brooklyn (High-A) each lost by two runs.
The Mets’ No. 5 prospect, RHP Jack Wenninger, lasted just 2.1 innings in his start for Syracuse (Triple-A). The early exit was due to four walks and two runs, tying his shortest outing of the season to date.
On the other hand, Binghamton’s (Double-A) Jacob Reimer (the Mets’ fourth-best prospect per MLB Pipeline) broke out, going 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. The performance was hopefully a sign of things to come for the previously struggling 22-year-old, having struck out 38 times in his 113 at-bats this season.
Jacob Reimer. Photo by Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Triple-A
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 5, Syracuse Mets 3
- CF Nick Morabito: 1-for-4, 3B, R
- 1B Ryan Clifford: 0-for-4, K
- 3B Yonny Hernández: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
- DH Jihwan Bae: 2-for-3, 2 R, BB, K
The Syracuse offense solidly started the day, scoring three runs in the first six innings. In the field, Morabito made a spectacular catch in center field in the second inning, robbing a would-be two-run home run. In the top of the sixth, Hernánez singled in a run to give the team a 3-2 lead heading into the later innings. However, after that run, the Mets (Triple-A) would fail to score for the remainder of the contest, going just 2-for-11 with RISP.
- RHP Jack Wenninger: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, K
- LHP Matt Turner: 1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 K
- RHP Ryan Lambert: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 3 K
- RHP Alex Carrillo: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, L
- LHP Cionel Pérez: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 K
- LHP Anderson Severino: 1.0 IP, 0 R
As previously mentioned, Wenninger struggled in his outing on Sunday. With talks of the Mets potentially calling up a young arm to replace the injured Clay Holmes, a strong outing may have made Wenninger’s case for a call to the big leagues. However, plagued by command issues, the young righty was pulled after raising his ERA to 1.51. The most notable performance in the loss came from Lambert, who struck out the side in the fifth inning, his fastest pitch reaching 99.8 MPH. The flamethrower will be a major league candidate if he can string together a few more dominant performances.
Double-A
Binghamton Rumble Ponies 10, Somerset Patriots 7
- 3B Jacob Reimer: 3-for-3, HR, 2 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, SB
- DH Chris Suero: 0-for-4, R, 3 K
- LF Eli Serrano III: 0-for-4, RBI, BB
- CF Jose Ramos: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
As previously mentioned, Reimer stole the show for Binghamton in Sunday’s win. The third baseman did everything at the plate, showing off his power, speed, and plate discipline, which have been an issue in the first stretch of the season. His sixth-inning, three-run home run proved to be the difference in the game. The rest of the squad joined Reimer in his power display, totaling three home runs, including Vincent Perozo‘s first at the Double-A level. Pairing the power with going 3-for-10 with RISP, the offense made up for a poor pitching performance in a high-scoring win.
- RHP Brendan Girton: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
- RHP Douglas Orellana: 2.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 3 K, W
- RHP Dan Hammer: 1.0 IP, 0 R, BB, 2 K
- RHP Saul Garcia: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 K
- RHP Ben Simon: 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, 2 K
Sunday’s game began dreadfully for the Rumble Ponies’ pitching staff. Girton, who until Sunday’s start had been very solid, allowing more than two earned runs in just one start and a 3.81 ERA, imploded. His six earned runs brought his ERA up over a point, to 5.01. However, the rest of the staff responded as well as could be expected, allowing just one run while striking out nine over the final five innings.
High-A
Rome Emperors 3, Brooklyn Cyclones 1
- 2B Yonatan Henriquez: 1-for-4, SB
- C Ronald Hernandez: 0-for-3, HBP, 2 K
- LF John Bay: 1-for-4, 2B, R, K
- 1B Trace Willhoite: 1-for-4, RBI
It is hard to find many positives in Brooklyn’s (High-A) offensive performance on Sunday, as has been the case the entire season. Accumulating just four hits while going 1-for-12 with RISP resulted in yet another losing effort for a team that now sits 18 games below .500.
- RHP Brady Miller: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 K, L
- RHP Felix Cepeda: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 2 K
- RHP Juan Arnaud: 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, K
- RHP Hunter Hodges: 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, 2 K
Brooklyn had a fine pitching performance on Sunday, only allowing two earned runs. Although he suffered the loss, Miller, who was just recently signed to the Cyclones, tallied a second consecutive 5.0 IP, two ER start.
Single-A
St. Lucie Mets 3, Jupiter Hammerheads 1
- DH JT Benson: 0-for-4, K
- 1B Jared Young: 0-for-2, BB
- LF Randy Guzman: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 R
- RF AJ Salgado: 2-for-4, R, RBI
Mets No. 7 prospect Elian Peña got the day off for St. Lucie on Sunday after a 1-for-4 performance on Saturday. However, his absence did not hold the offense back from getting the job done. Benson, who has a .292/.370/.667 slash line in May, went hitless leading off in place of Peña, while Mets’ No. 23 prospect Guzman scored two of the three runs for St. Lucie (Single-A). Young, who was recently assigned to St. Lucie for his rehab assignment, walked while not recording a hit, signaling he still has work to do before rejoining the big league club.
- RHP Emilio Obispo: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
- LHP Nicolas Carreno: 5.0 IP, 2 H, R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, W
- RHP Joe Scarborough: 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, BB, K, S
The Mets (Single-A) pitching staff was superb on Sunday. 19-year-old Carreno continued his excellent beginning to the season, lowering his ERA to 1.93 on the season in 28.0 IP with 42 strikeouts. The other 19-year-old Obispo matched Correndo’s level of play, going three scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.45, while only walking one. Hitters are batting just .209 off the young pitcher; if he can keep the walks down, he will continue to rise in the prospect rankings.
