Despite the Mets’ minor league affiliates going 1-3 on Friday, there were some great starts across the organization. Most notable of the bunch was Jonathan Santucci, who went 6 1/3 innings, allowing only one earned run and striking out seven batters. Santucci had gotten off to a rough start this year after dominating Double-A in the second half of 2025. However, on Friday night, Santucci was not only able to pitch into the seventh inning for the first time this year, but he was also able to hold the opposition to one run for the first time. Walks have been a major issue for Santucci this year, and are becoming a key area of improvement needed before he debuts in Triple-A.
Jonathan Santucci. Photo by Binghamton Rumble Ponies
TRIPLE-A
Syracuse Mets 5 (20-16), Rochester Red Wings 7 (18-19)
BOX SCORE
- RF A.J. Ewing: 1-for-4, 2B, R, BB, K (.888 OPS)
- CF Nick Morabito: 1-for-3, 2 RBI (14), R, K (.843 OPS)
- 1B Ryan Clifford: 3-for-5, SB (3) (.768 OPS)
- LF Crisitan Pache: 0-for-4, 3K (.762 OPS)
The Mets trio of offensive prospects all produced solid days, combining for five hits and two runs scored. Morabito continues to succeed at the Triple-A level, driving in two runs with a single in the fifth, and scoring an exciting run on a run down in the first inning. Clifford continues to remain hot, with hits in six of his last seven and multi hits in three of his last four.
- RHP Jonah Tong: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K (4.46 ERA)
- RHP Carlos Guzman: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (5.57 ERA)
- RHP Dan Hammer: 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB (2.45 ERA)
Tong produced another solid start, giving up only two earned runs over five innings. Trouble came in the sixth, being pulled after allowing a leadoff home run and surrendering a walk. While walks continue to be an issue for him, the stuff is there. The Syracuse bullpen struggled behind Tong, giving up five earned runs in four innings. Both Guzman and Hammer struggled to get outs. Hammer, who had been very reliable at Triple-A, produced his first multi-run outing of the year.
DOUBLE-A
Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2 (11-20), Hartford Yard Goats 4 (14-16)
BOX SCORE
- CF Eli Serrano III: 1-for-4, 2B, K (.716 OPS)
- 3B Jacob Reimer: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI (5), R, K (.724 OPS)
- C Chris Suero 2-for-4, R, 2 2B, K (.784 OPS)
Reimer, who has gotten off to a slow start in Binghamton, swatted his second home run of the season. Suero and Serrano combined for three doubles, and that was it for the Rumble Ponies. Very slow day from the offense, producing only four hits and no walks. Suero, despite only hitting .175, raised his OPS to .784 thanks to an outstanding 19 walks in 24 games to go with his five home runs.
- LHP Jonathon Santucci: 6 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 7 K (4.61 ERA)
- RHP Ben Simon 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 K (2.92 ERA)
- RHP Zach Peek 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (4.76 ERA)
Friday night was a massive step forward for Santucci, especially in the control department. He was scoreless through six innings before surrendering a solo home run in the seventh. Rumble Ponies pitchers struggled to keep the ball in the park, allowing three home runs, accounting for all four Yard Goats runs. Simon gets the loss despite not giving up an earned run due to Lorusso’s third error of the year.
HIGH-A
Brooklyn Cyclones 7 (8-21), Bowling Green Hot Rods 2 (19-11)
BOX SCORE
- 2B Mitch Voit: 2-for-4, 2B, 4 RBI (10), SB (11), K (.699 OPS)
- 3B Colin Houck: 2-for-5, HR (2), RBI (9), R, 2 K (.671 OPS)
- SS Antonio Jimenez: 1-for-5, R, 2 K (.387 OPS)
- LF John Bay: 1-for-5, HR (3), RBI (13), R, 3 K (.807 OPS)
Brooklyn was the lone minor league affiliate to win on Friday, beating top-ranked Bowling Green. It was a big game for a pair of top draft selections. Voit, the 2025 38th overall selection, added a two-run double in the 6th, knocking in four total. Houck, the 2023 32nd overall selection, added his second home run of the year. The Cyclones produced six extra-base hits, allowing them to cruise to victory.
- RHP Channing Austin: 4 1/3 IP, 5H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K (1.69 ERA)
- LHP Gregori Louis: 1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (3.86 ERA)
- RHP Cristofer Gomez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K (1.32 ERA)
Austin dazzled on Friday, striking out a professional career high 10 batters. In his first professional season, Austin has gotten off to a great start, allowing only five earned runs over 26 2/3 IP. It was a dominating performance from the Brooklyn bullpen, who did not allow a base runner to reach over the last 4 2/3 IP, striking out eight batters over the last 14 outs. Gomez continues to dominate, striking out five of the six batters he faced, raising his total to 21 over 13 2/3 IP.
SINGLE-A
St. Lucie Mets 4 (13-18), Lakeland Flying Tigers 11 (17-14)
BOX SCORE
- SS Elian Peña: 0-for-4, K (.818 OPS)
- CF Edward Lantigua: 2-for-4, 2 2B, R (.509 OPS)
- DH Randy Guzman: 0-for-4, 2K (.875 OPS)
- 1B Chase Meggers: 2-for-4, R (.622 OPS)
- 2B Jamari Baylor: 1-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI (2), R, K (.625 OPS)
Peña’s rough May continues with another 0-for-4, bringing the first rough patch of his promising career. In May, Peña is now 3-for-27 with only one walk over that stretch. The bottom of the order had solid days for St. Lucie, with spots 5-9 producing five hits, three RBIs, and three runs. Baylor added his first home run of the year.
- RHP Cam Tilly: 2 2/3 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 K (7.13 ERA)
- RHP Miguel Mejias: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K (4.76 ERA)
- RHP Christian Rodriguez: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (2.20 ERA)
Tilly got blitzed in the third inning, giving up seven of his eight earned runs in the third. The Flying Tigers had seven consecutive hits to start the inning, scoring five runs before Tilly could record an out. Tilly has struggled to start the year, giving up three or more runs in four of his six outings this year. Despite being mop up time, the rest of the St. Lucie staff fared okay, allowing only three earned runs over the remaining 5 1/3 IP.
