Mets Minors Recap: Santucci Extends Eastern League Strikeout Lead

Jonathan Santucci allowed one earned run over six innings and struck out eight to earn the win in Double-A Binghamton’s 9-2 triumph Saturday over Hartford. The 23-year-old lefty leads the Eastern League in strikeouts with 101 in 80 innings. He allowed four hits, a walk and threw 57 of 88 pitches for strikes. He has given up two earned runs or less in 12 of his 17 starts.

He is the organization’s No. 3 pitching prospect after Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger. The Mets selected Santucci in the second round of the 2024 draft out of Duke.

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (46-46) 2, Norfolk Tides (33-58) 3

Box Score

SS Ronny Mauricio, 0-for-4, K (.892 OPS)
LF MJ Melendez, 1-for-2, 2B, R, 2 BB, K (.897 OPS)
3B Christopher Morel, 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, K (.803 OPS)
RF Nick Morabito, 0-for-4 (.785 OPS)

Morel is 7-for-25 with two homers and two doubles in nine games since the Mets signed him as a free agent on July 1.

RHP Jack Weisenburger (6.34 ERA) 4 IP, ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K, HR, L
RHP Joey Gerber (5.84 ERA) 1 1/3 IP, K
RHP Dedniel Núñez (6.75 ERA) 2 IP, BB

Jonathan Santucci. Photo by Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (32-54) 9, Hartford Yard Goats (46-39) 2

Box Score

SS Kevin Villavicencio, 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 K (.540 OPS)
C Chris Suero, 1-for-5, RBI, R, 3 K (.746 OPS)
3B Nick Lorusso, 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, R, BB (.803 OPS)
CF Jaylen Palmer, 1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI, R, BB, K (.645 OPS)

Lorusso, 25, has improved dramatically in his second year at Double-A. Last year he hit seven homers and posted a .680 OPS in 112 games. This season he’s hit 15 homers in 70 games. He was a ninth-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Maryland. Binghamton scored seven runs in the ninth, highlighted by Palmer’s three-run double.

LHP Jonathan Santucci (3.60 ERA) 6 IP, 2 R, (ER), 4 H, BB, 8 K
RHP Garrett Stratton (1.54 ERA) 2 IP, 2 K, W
RHP Brian Metoyer (4.09 ERA) IP, H, 3 K

Daiverson Gutierrez, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

High-A

Wilmington Blue Rocks (42-43) 1, Brooklyn Cyclones (35-49) 2

Box Score

C Daiverson Gutierrez, 1-for-4, RBI (.626 OPS)
SS Mitch Voit, 0-for-4 (.766 OPS)
DH Ronald Hernandez, 1-for-2, 2B, R, BB, K (.739 OPS)

Gutierrez won it with a walk-off single. He is a 20-year-old from Venezuela ranked the team’s No. 25 prospect on MLB Pipeline.

LHP Daviel Hurtado (1.54 ERA) 4 2/3 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K, HR
RHP Juan Arnaud (2.93 ERA) 1 1/3 IP, BB
RHP Cristofer Gomez (3.58 ERA) 2 IP, 3 H, 3 K
RHP Ryan Dollar (1.89 ERA) IP, H, K, W

Hurtado walked more than one batter for the first time this year. The 21-year-old Cuban was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month for June, per Mets Player Development. He went 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA last month, striking out 26 and walking four in 26 2/3 innings.

Trey Snyder, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Single-A

St. Lucie Mets (38-46) 4, Jupiter Hammerheads (45-41) 1

Box Score

2B Trey Snyder, 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, K (.703 OPS)
1B Julio Zayas, 1-for-4, HR (4), 2 K (.681 OPS)
SS Elian Peña, 1-for-5, R, 2 K (.722 OPS)
LF Mike Tauchman, 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, R, BB (1.167 OPS)

Tauchman got his first hit in his third rehab game, he played the first two with the Florida Complex League Mets. He was having a nice spring training when his season was derailed by a torn meniscus in his left knee. Peña committed his 20th error in 69 games at shortstop.

RHP Emilio Obispo (1.82 ERA) 5 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K, W
RHP Zack Mack (2.33 ERA) 2 1/3 IP, R, (0 ER), 3 H, K

Florida Complex League

FCL Mets (20-27) 0, FCL Cardinals (17-27) 3

Box Score

C Yovanny Rodriguez, 1-for-2, HBP, CS (.865 OPS)
LF Adolfo Miranda, 1-for-2, SB (.512 OPS)

Rodriguez, 19, of Venezuela is 7-for-18 with a double in his last six games.

RHP Jean Brito (3.24 ERA) 4 IP, ER, H, BB, 6 K, L

Dominican Summer League

DSL Mets Blue (12-18) 0, DSL Marlins (14-15) 5

Box Score

LF Henry Manrique, 1-for-3, K (.895 OPS)

Manrique’s single was the only hit for Mets Blue and it extended his hitting streak to five games.

LHP Eduardo Pina (1.88 ERA) 3 IP, ER, H, 2 BB, 5 K, L

DSL Giants Black (15-14) 6, DSL Mets Orange (16-15) 10

Box Score

DH Cleiner Ramirez, 1-for-3, 2B, SB, 2 R, 2 BB (.897 OPS)
SS Sebastian Toro, 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB (.717 OPS)
1B Yadier Fuentes, 2-for-4, RBI, R, K (.915 OPS)

MLB Pipeline ranks Ramirez, 17, the team’s No. 21 prospect and projects him to reach the majors in 2031. He’s hit five homers and 10 doubles and stolen 10 bases in 27 games.