Mets Minors Recap: Vientos Hits 20th Homer, Jett Hits First Pro Dinger

Jett Williams, Photos by Ed Delany of MMO

Mark Vientos hit his 20th blast of the season while recent first rounder Jett Williams knocked his first blast out of the park.

AAA: Syracuse (49-63) 9, Charlotte (43-69) 8 Box Score

C Francisco Alvarez 0-for-4, BB, R, .168/.325/.368 (AAA numbers)
1B Dominic Smith 0-for-4, BB, 2 R, .247/.340/.376
3B Mark Vientos 2-for-4, HR (20th), 3 RBI, BB, 2 R, .277/.358/.527
LF Daniel Palka 2-for-4, RBI, BB, .264/.343/.508

The big news from the Mets minor leagues on Tuesday was prospect, Brett Baty getting ready to join the team in Atlanta on Wednesday, but Mark Vientos wanted to make sure evaluators didn’t forget about him. Vientos, playing third base again, hit his 20th home run of the season and he now has 59 RBIs this year.

LHP Phillip Diehl (5.08 ERA) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Diehl stranded three runners in the eighth inning and then tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his first save with the Mets. Diehl was also the only Mets pitcher not to allow a run on Tuesday. Syracuse closer Bryce Montes de Oca didn’t pitch in his normal closer role, so you have to wonder if he’s a fresh arm the Mets have come to Atlanta. Lefty Sam Clay didn’t pitch in the game as well, and unlike Montes de Oca, he’s on the 40-man roster.

AA: Binghamton (41-67) 8, Richmond (52-56) 2 Box Score

SS Ronny Mauricio 2-for-4, HR (22nd), 2 R, .247/.282/.474
C Nick Meyer 2-for-4, 2 HR (3), 4 RBI, 239/.376/.360

Mauricio continues to stretch his career-high in home runs, but also has seen his struggles to get on base persist as well. Meyer came into the night with only three home runs combined this season between Double-A and Triple-A.

RHP Garrison Bryant (8.27 ERA) 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Jesus Vargas (6.63 ERA) 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, Save

Vargas hasn’t allowed an earned run over his last three appearances spanning 9 2/3 innings for Binghamton.

High-A: Hudson Valley (58-50) 7, Brooklyn (54-55) 4 Box Score

LF Matt Rudick 3-for-5, .234/.362/.364
CF Alex Ramirez 0-for-4, BB, .262/.322/.438
SS Shervyen Newton 2-for-4, RBI, R, .190/.287/.302

Ramirez has struggled to the tune of a .479 OPS and 16 strikeouts in August.

RHP Dominic Hamel (2.86 ERA) 4.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 7 K
RHP Tommy Hunter IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Sammy Tavarez (2.59 ERA) IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
LHP Nathan Lavender (3.20 ERA) IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Hamel was continuing his recent dominant stretch until he hit a wall in the fifth inning on Tuesday. All five of the runs he gave up came in the fifth inning that he was unable to finish.

Hunter was making his second rehab appearance and is expected to re-join the Mets bullpen soon.

Low-A: St. Lucie (65-43) 7, Lakeland (51-56) 3 Box Score

3B Chase Estep 2-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R, .389/.522/.611
C Fernando Villalobos 1-for-4, HR (4th), 3 RBI, .187/.408/.360

Estep, the Mets 2022 9th rounder, is 7-for-18 with five walks and a home run to begin his full season career with St. Lucie.

RHP Blade Tidwell (Low-A debut) 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 0 K
RHP Raimon Gomez (4.42 ERA) 4 IP, H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K

Tidwell, the Mets 2022 second rounder, was making his full season debut after throwing one scoreless inning for the FCL Mets in his pro debut last week. Tidwell didn’t allow a run, but did walk one and hit two. His fastball was up to 97 mph and he got four whiffs on 11 swings with the pitch. He also mixed in a slider in the mid-80s and two changeups in the mid-80s.

As usual for Gomez, his fastball was up to 99 mph though he struggled to get swings and misses on the pitch.

Florida Complex League: FCL Mets 2, FCL Marlins 1 Box Score

CF Jake Mangum 0-for-2 (rehab)
SS Jett Williams 1-for-4, HR (1st), .286/.385/.524
3B Jacob Reimer 1-for-3, BB, R, .364/.462/.818
DH Nick Morabito 1-for-3, BB, 2B, .167/.231/.250

Mangum was playing in his first game since injuring his back in early June. Williams, the Mets first rounder his year, hit his first pro home run. Reimer, the Mets fourth rounder from this year, continues the terrific start to his pro career.

RHP Connor Brandon (pro debut) IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Dylan Tebrake (pro debut) IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, K
RHP Manny Rodriguez (6.75 ERA) IP, 0 R, BB, 0 K

Brandon (17th RD) and Tebrake (8th RD) were both making their pro debuts after being drafted this year. Rodriguez is making the switch from slick-fielding infielder to a pitcher during the season, this was his third outing and second straight scoreless appearance. Former outfielder Quinn Brodey is also at the Mets complex in Port St. Lucie working on making the switch to pitching.