Ryan Clifford doubled in a run and three other prospects added run-scoring singles to help a team of New York Mets prospects to a 4-2 victory over Washington Nationals prospects at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The game was part of MLB’s inaugural Spring Breakout event, which is a series of 16 games that will feature minor-league stars from all 30 teams.
A 1985 Mets promo would have worked well.
Clifford (acquired from the Houston Astros in the Justin Verlander trade at last season’s deadline) lined an opposite-field double into the left-field corner to score Drew Gilbert, whom the Mets also acquired for Verlander, in the first inning after he reached second base on an error where Nationals right fielder James Wood lost a fly ball in the sun. Catcher Kevin Parada later drove home Clifford in the fourth while shortstop Jeremy Rodriguez and catcher Vincent Perozo added RBI singles in the fifth.
Credit: Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Right-hander Dominic Hamel, a 2021 third round pick from Dallas Baptist University, got the start for the Mets. The 25-year-old gave up one run on two hits and a walk in two innings while striking out two. Tyler Stuart (age 24, 2022 draft, sixth round, University of Southern Mississippi) threw a scoreless third inning as he looks to build on a stellar 2023 campaign.
Blade Tidwell (age 22, 2022 draft, second round, University of Tennessee) surrendered one run on three singles and a walk in the fourth. He was aided by a 6-4-3 double play that was nicely turned by Marco Vargas.
Nolan McLean (age 22, 2023 draft, third round, Oklahoma State University) threw a scoreless fifth with one strikeout. McLean is a two-way player who can also play third base and the outfield.
Brandon Sproat (age 23, 2023, second round, University of Florida) pitched a perfect sixth with two strikeouts. Calvin Ziegler (age 21, 2021 draft, second round, TNXL Academy High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida) fanned two in a perfect seventh for the save.
Notes
Jett Williams hit leadoff and was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. Luisangel Acuña, younger brother of Ronald Acuña Jr., went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. Vargas finished 0-for-1 with two walks and a run scored. In addition to his RBI double, Clifford walked and scored.
