Mets Minors Weekly Report: Mauricio, Vientos, Schwartz Lead Minors

Mark Vientos, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

It was a tough week all around for the Mets system, as Binghamton was the only team to win their series. Despite the overall struggles, Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos continued their scorching hot starts at the plate, while JT Schwartz carried the Binghamton offense. Here are the biggest updates from throughout the system.

Triple-A Syracuse

The Syracuse Mets dropped five of six games at home against the Durham Bulls and are currently riding a three-game losing streak. The once star-studded Syracuse lineup is definitely feeling the absence of the recently-promoted Francisco Álvarez and Brett Baty, falling to an 11-10 record on the year.

Ronny Mauricio batted sixth in the lineup in all six games, going 8-for-23 with two doubles and two RBI. He was 2-for-3 on stolen base attempts and scored three runs.

After spending all of his minor league career at shortstop, the Mets made the decision this week to start playing Mauricio at second base, where he started the final three games this week. He figures to stay at that position moving forward as the Mets look to improve his positional flexibility, perhaps with an eye to his eventual call-up to the majors.

Mark Vientos also had a strong week, going 7-for-16 with two doubles, four RBI, and four runs scored. He failed to bring up his home run tally, but his impressive 1.163 OPS is good for third in the International League.

Vientos was curiously scratched from the Syracuse lineup on Sunday. However, he appears to still be staying in Triple-A, as it was later reported that he was just receiving a routine day off.

Josh Walker picked up a win in his lone appearance, a scoreless two-inning outing during which he allowed just one hit and had three strikeouts. Walker dropped his ERA to a 1.42 mark, and the 28-year-old is certainly posturing himself well for a major league call-up at some point this season.

Grant Hartwig allowed three runs across his two outings this week after rattling off five scoreless appearances to start the year, picking up his second save of the year but also his first loss. Despite the relative struggles, Hartwig’s 1.64 ERA is still superb, and he should also be in the mix for a major league call-up this season.

Humberto Mejía had the best start of the Syracuse rotation, pitching six innings of two-run ball and striking out five batters. David Griffin was also strong in his start, firing off three scoreless innings and collecting four strikeouts.

Dylan Bundy, whom the Mets signed as potential starting pitching depth, had another rough outing. He’s allowed 20 hits–eight homers–in just 9.2 innings.

Double-A Binghamton

The Rumble Ponies won three of five games away at the Hartford Yard Goats, losing the last game of the series to a weather postponement. They improved to a 6-8 record on the season.

JT Schwartz anchored the lineup with an 8-for-21 week, launching his first two home runs of the year and driving in eight runs. He had at least one hit in all five games and raised his season OPS to an .854 mark.

Dominic Hamel was saddled with a tough-luck loss in his lone start, allowing just one run across four innings and striking out two batters. He has an 0-2 record despite posting a 1.59 ERA this year.

Mike Vasil found far less success, picking up his first loss of the campaign after allowing four runs (three earned) across five innings while striking out seven. It was the first rough start for Vasil, who has a 4.09 ERA in his three appearances on the bump.

Dedniel Núñez shoved in his one relief appearance, pitching three perfect innings and striking out five batters. Nathan Lavender picked up a save in both of his appearances, pitching two perfect innings this week and striking out three batters.

Dominic Hamel, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

High-A Brooklyn

The Cyclones lost three of five games at home against the Wilmington Sharks, with the last game of the series being postponed. The rough start to the season continues for the Cyclones, who sit at a 5-9 record.

Alex Ramírez went 6-for-22 with a double, four RBI, and a stolen base. He had at least one hit in all five games but recorded just one extra-base hit.

Kevin Parada struggled this week, going just 3-for-20 with two doubles and one RBI. He also only drew two walks after showing impressive composure at the plate to start the year, dropping his season OPS to a disappointing .694 mark.

Jordan Geber had a great performance on the mound in his lone start, allowing just two hits and one run across six strong innings and striking out five batters. Joander Suarez also pitched well, surrendering a lone unearned run across five innings and collecting five strikeouts in his start.

Low-A St. Lucie

The St. Lucie Mets lost four of six games at home against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Their season record sits at 5-10.

Jett Williams went 4-for-19 with no extra-base hits and was just 1-for-3 on stolen base attempts. He played four games at shortstop and two games as a center fielder, and despite his rough week, his season OPS is still at a commendable .779 mark.

Layonel Ovalles made two starts, picking up a loss in a four-inning, one-run outing before retiring all three batters he faced in a short one-inning appearance. He lowered his ERA to a 1.80 mark.

Javier Atencio has yet to get it going this season, and that rang true in his one start this week. He got the loss after allowing three runs in three innings, striking out three batters but also issuing five walks. He actually managed to improve his season ERA to an 11.88 mark, a telling sign of just how much he has struggled out of the gate.

Douglas Orellana has yet to allow a run across eight innings this season after a scoreless four-inning start, allowing just one hit and striking out four batters. Saul García also had a scoreless four-inning outing this week, but his came in relief.

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – Mark Vientos (SYR) – .368

OPS – Mark Vientos – 1.163

HR – Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio (SYR) – 6

SB – Omar De Los Santos (BRK) – 9

Pitching

(Among qualified players)

ERA – Dominic Hamel (BNG) – 1.59

SO – Mike Vasil (BNG) – 20

WHIP – Tyler Stuart (BRK) – 1.17

Players of the Week

Offense – JT Schwartz, 1B Binghamton

Schwartz had just six homers through his first two professional seasons with the Mets organization, but he found his power stroke this week, crushing two homers. He also racked up eight RBI in just five games, more than doubling his season tally.

Schwartz, a fourth-round pick by the Mets in the 2021 draft, is not on our top 30 prospect list. However, he commands additional attention not only for his recent power surge but also for his general approach at the plate. Schwartz has struck out just 10 times all season and has drawn six walks, an impressive split that is in line with his career numbers. That sort of patient hitting is not easily taught and will prove to be a valuable asset as he continues through the system.

Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos also deserve credit for their strong weeks, particularly Mauricio, who continued putting up big numbers at the plate while also trying to learn how to play a new position as a second baseman.

Pitching – Dedniel Núñez, P Binghamton

It was slim pickings this week, but the nod will go to Núñez for pitching three perfect innings in his one relief appearance. Núñez has transitioned to a reliever role after spending his first few professional seasons as a starter, and he has been somewhat inconsistent this year. However, this appearance was the second time this year he put together a perfect outing of at least two innings.

Núñez is our 27^th-ranked prospect in large part due to the stretches of dominance that he has the potential to settle into on the mound. He had his best professional season last year and seems to be off to a great start in 2023 after a rough first outing.

Honorable mentions go to Douglas Orellana, who extended his scoreless streak to eight innings to start the year, and Nathan Lavender, who picked up two saves while retiring all six batters he faced.