His week was so good, he won Eastern League Player of the Week.

Now, let’s look at the rest of the system in its first full week back in action after the All-Star break.

Ryan Clifford. Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Triple-A

The Syracuse Mets completed a rare six-game sweep in their most recent series with the Omaha Storm Chasers, bringing their win streak to seven games. Syracuse has been on a tear in the second half, improving their record to 21-6 and 52-50 overall.

Several players had excellent weeks at the plate, including Luis De Los Santos (two home runs, 1.094 OPS) and Jared Young (one home run, 1.084 OPS). Perhaps the best offensive player of the week, though, was veteran Joey Meneses who went 9-for-19 with a double, two home runs, and a team-leading seven RBIs. Meneses also walked twice and scored two runs. His OPS is inching closer to .800 at .788.

Drew Gilbert also continued his tear at the plate, going 9-for-23 with two doubles, two home runs, and five RBIs. Gilbert also walked twice and scored three runs. Gilbert is in one of his best sustained stretches since joining the Mets organization, recording a .947 OPS over his last 36 games to bring his OPS on the season to .790.

Nolan McLean was dominant yet again for the Mets, allowing just two runs across 7 1/3 innings in his start. He allowed four hits and struck out six batters. McLean continues to be fantastic, and his ERA through 13 games in Triple-A is 3.01.

Brandon Sproat had another solid start, allowing two runs in five innings while striking out three. Sproat now has a 0.64 ERA in his last five starts and a 4.30 season ERA.

Sproat and McLean are making cases for late-season call-ups.

Paul Blackburn also looked excellent in two rehab starts, combining to throw 11 1/3 innings with just two runs allowed. He also struck out 11 as he looks to make his way back to the major league team.

Carson Benge. Photo via Brooklyn Cyclones

Double-A

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies completed a dominant series against the Reading Fightin Phils, winning five of six games and outscoring their opponent 54-22. The Rumble Ponies are now 19-8 in the second half and 64-30 overall.

In addition to what Ryan Clifford did at the plate, Carson Benge looks like a superstar in the making, and he had another fantastic week. Benge went 9-for-25 with three home runs, six RBIs, a walk, and seven runs scored. Benge is crushing Double-A pitching, owning a 1.046 OPS through 21 games at the level.

Nick Lorusso stood out behind Clifford and Benge, going 7-for-18 with two doubles, two home runs, and eight RBIs. Lorusso also walked four times, scored five runs, and stole a base. The third baseman now owns a .762 OPS on the year.

The best start of the week from a Rumble Ponies pitcher was Jonathan Santucci, who fell just one out away from a quality start. Santucci allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings to give him a 2.03 ERA through three starts since being promoted.

Jonah Tong also had a good start, allowing a run over five innings while striking out six. Tong’s ERA through 17 starts is now 1.72.

Boston Baro

High-A

The Brooklyn Cyclones barely avoided a sweep last week, winning just the final game of their six-game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The second half of the season has not been kind to the Cyclones, who have a 13-17 record. Their record on the entire season is 59-37.

Corey Collins, a slugging first baseman drafted in 2024, had arguably his best week in pro baseball by going 6-for-20 with a triple, a home run, and two RBIs. He also walked three times and scored four runs. Collins has dealt with injuries and lack of production when healthy since being drafted, and he has just a .678 OPS in 17 games with the Cyclones.

Boston Baro, another recent draft pick (2023) who has struggled, also had a good week, going 8-for-24 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs. Baro also stole two bases and scored two runs. He owns just a .615 OPS on the season.

Noah Hall delivered two great starts for the Cyclones, combining to allow just one run over seven innings. He allowed four hits and six walks, struggling with command, but he struck out five. Hall has a fantastic 2.32 ERA in 19 games (15 starts) this season.

Will Watson also looked solid, allowing one run over 4 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts. Watson has shined for the Cyclones, recording a 2.25 ERA in nine games (eight starts).

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Low-A

The St. Lucie Mets won five of six games against the Daytona Tortugas. It was a pretty lopsided series, with the Mets outscoring the Tortugas 43-16. The Mets are now 20-9 in the second half of the season and 54-40 overall.

Nick Roselli had an amazing week, going 9-for-15 with a double, two home runs, and a team-leading seven RBIs. Roselli also walked twice, stole a base, and scored six runs, which tied for the team lead. Roselli hasn’t had the best year, but his great week puts his OPS on the year at .726. He was the Florida State League Player of the Week.

Simon Juan also stood out, going 7-for-16 with a double, two triples, and five RBIs, also adding two walks, two stolen bases, and three runs. Juan has really struggled this year, and he now owns a .634 OPS.

Yohairo Cuevas and Yonatan Henriquez had great weeks at the plate, with Cuevas going 8-for-21 and Henriquez going 9-for-24. Cuevas recorded two doubles, while Henriquez recorded a double and a home run. Cuevas has had the better fortunes this year, owning an .809 OPS, while Henriquez owns a .682 OPS.

Franklin Gomez delivered the best start of the week for the Mets, tossing five scoreless innings with four strikeouts. He allowed two hits, a walk, and hit a batter. Gomez has been stellar all year, owning a 1.85 ERA in 14 games (seven starts) with St. Lucie.

Jose Chirinos had a lengthy outing from the bullpen (four innings), but he was great. He didn’t allow a hit, walked two, and struck out six. In eight games (five starts) with St. Lucie, Chirinos has a 3.18 ERA.

FCL Mets

The FCL Mets had multiple games canceled due to rain and thus played just two games this past week, going 1-1. The team is now 25-28 on the year and still in third base in the division.

Edward Lantigua shone in the two games, 3-for-7 with two home runs and a walk. The 18-year-old has been fantastic all year with an .832 OPS.

Yacksel Ríos was one of just two pitchers to appear in the two games to throw a scoreless inning. He hit a batter but otherwise didn’t allow a walk or a hit. It was the first appearance of the year for Ríos, who had a 3.30 ERA in Triple-A Syracuse last year.

DSL Mets

The DSL Mets Orange went 2-3 this past week, moving to 23-17 on the year. Meanwhile, the DSL Mets Blue went 1-4 to move to 16-24 on the year.

Elian Peña had a decent week at the plate for the Orange squad, going 4-for-18 with a home run, three walks, and four stolen bases. He owns an .814 OPS through his first 39 professional games. On the mound, Franyel Diaz looked fantastic with 11 strikeouts over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Diaz owns a 2.93 ERA in 10 games.

For the Blue squad, Leandy Mella went 5-for-14 with a double, a triple, a walk, and two RBIs. In 23 games, he has just a .633 OPS. On the mound, Darling Perez made a start of five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a hit batsman while striking out two. Perez owns a 4.81 ERA through eight starts.

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – .314

OPS – Carson Benge (BRK/BNG) – .936

HR – Ryan Clifford (BNG) – 21

SB – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – 55

Pitching

ERA – Jonah Tong (BNG) – 1.72

SO – Jonah Tong (BNG) – 138

WHIP – Zach Thornton (BRK/BNG) – 0.812

Players of the Week

Offense – Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF Binghamton

Ryan Clifford’s best tool has always been his power, and he’s demonstrated it in a huge way lately. The 22-year-old now has 21 home runs on the year after recording 19 all of last year in 37 more games. If he can consistently mash, he could be an exciting offensive piece for the Mets in the future.

Pitching – Paul Blackburn, P Syracuse

Paul Blackburn made one great start at the major league level this year before floundering, and he’s trying to prove he still belongs. He made two great starts at the run-heavy Triple-A level and could be close to returning to the major leagues. If these two starts are any indication, he could still be a valuable back-of-the-rotation or bulk bullpen arm for the Mets down the stretch.

Upcoming Schedule – July 29 – August 3

• Triple-A Syracuse: @ Buffalo
• Double-A Binghamton: vs. Harrisburg
• High-A Brooklyn: vs. Jersey Shore
• Low-A St. Lucie: @ Jupiter

The post Minors Weekly Report: Ryan Clifford Crosses 20-Home Run Mark appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Within that 14-year span, he broke records, made seven All-Star teams, was an elite third baseman both in the field and at the plate, and was the face of a franchise that far too often didn’t come close to meeting the standards he was at. In spite of setbacks, many beyond his control, he carried himself as a true leader—a player that fans could relate to and be proud of. Wright built a legacy that has made him a Mets immortal and among the most Amazin’ to ever wear orange and blue.

Welcome to the Bigs – July 21, 2004

It was meant to be. He rooted for the Mets growing up in the Tidewater area of Virginia. After being drafted in 2001, Wright blossomed in the minor league system and never gave the organization reason to question him as a cornerstone player-in-waiting. David went hitless in his major league debut at Shea Stadium versus the Montreal Expos, but made several impressive plays in the field. The necessary tools to become the third base fixture and team leader were evident.

Although it was a small sample size of 69 games and 263 at-bats, Wright finished ’04 with a .293 batting average, 14 home runs, and 40 RBIs while carrying himself in a manner unusual for a 21-year-old. It was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal Mets season.

Glove Not Required – August 9, 2005

Easily his greatest defensive highlight occurred at Petco Park during his first full big-league season. San Diego’s Brian Giles lifted a soft fly ball over Wright’s head in the seventh inning—a certain hit (usually). It would’ve been tough enough to make the play with a mitt. So as he ran back for the ball, he tracked the trajectory and where it was headed—leaving him little choice about the next course of action.

Wright reached out with his throwing hand. While falling down, he held on to the ball before landing on the grass in shallow left. It was one of the best catches you’ll ever see, by a Met or anyone.

Subway Series Classic – May 19, 2006

What’s the lasting image of David Wright? For many, it’s him running out of the batter’s box after a drive to straightaway center field and leaping with hope multiple times before exulting after he had delivered the game-winning hit to beat Mariano Rivera and the Yankees.

He faced a legendary closer with the score sitting at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth. On a 2-2 pitch, Rivera threw his patented cutter down in the strike zone.

Johnny Damon couldn’t get it. Paul Lo Duca scored to ensure a thrilling victory in one of the best Subway Series games ever. It was also a series that carried extra significance for the Mets, as it came in the midst of their best regular season since the start of the decade, coupled with the emergence of a new face of the franchise.

A Homer Happy All-Star Debut – July 10 & 11, 2006

Ignore the fact that after the Home Run Derby, Wright’s second-half power numbers tailed off significantly. But that night (and the next) was a national coming-out party for David. He ended up second to the Phillies’ Ryan Howard in the derby. But nobody told him the contest was over.

Wright stepped up for his first All-Star Game at-bat and hit a liner off former Met Kenny Rogers in the second inning that cleared the short left-field fence. Wright was one of six Mets selected to the National League squad in a season when the East was already a runaway by the unofficial midway point. The American League’s comeback victory prevented Wright from potentially being the game’s MVP.

Welcome to the Club – September 16, 2007

His third base predecessor Howard Johnson did it three times. Darryl Strawberry accomplished it as well. Now it was Wright’s turn to enter the select 30-homer, 30-steal circle. An opposite-field homer against Philadelphia made David the first 30-30 Met since HoJo in 1991.

While September 2007 was certainly a month to forget for his team, Wright did not suffer down the stretch. In fact, he had a 1.034 OPS over the regular season’s final 27 games and would’ve made a strong case for NL MVP if the Mets hadn’t completely cratered.

Lone Walk-off Homer – August 7, 2008

He held the Mets record for walk-off hits before it was broken by Wilmer Flores, but only once did a game-ender leave the park. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the player or the club. Both Wright and the Mets were struggling. New York had lost five of six, and manager Jerry Manuel even considered sitting David for this afternoon’s contest versus the San Diego Padres. But Wright proved his worth. He singled in the first, doubled in the fifth, and punctuated his three-hit day with a two-out, two-run homer against Heath Bell.

First Mets Citi Field Blast – April 13, 2009

Who better? And how ironic also, considering the original canyon-like dimensions helped to severely limit Wright’s power numbers for years to come. After he laced a double down the right field line in the bottom of the first for the Mets’ initial hit in their new ballpark, Wright came up with two on and two out in the fifth, and the Mets down by three. He had enough lift and distance to send it about 390 feet. Back then, that was *barely* enough to get it over “The Great Wall of Flushing.” That briefly tied the score at five, but the San Diego Padres would be the home-opening spoiler.

The Hit King – September 26, 2012

He had already become the leader in nearly every significant offensive category: RBIs, runs scored, extra-base hits, and total bases. A little more than eight years into his career, David surpassed Ed Kranepool for the most hits ever by a New York Met. But it didn’t happen in typical David Wright fashion. The record-breaker was a dribbler down the third-base line. The attempted throw to get Wright out sailed wide of first, and he advanced on the throwing error. But they all count the same. After that infield single, the count was a historic 1,419.

“Captain” Made Official – March 21, 2013

Dating back to his start in the big leagues, Wright embodied the qualities that make a team captain. Eight full seasons into his career, and having signed an extension earlier that off-season, the Mets gave him the title he deserved. Wright became the fourth player in franchise history to have the honor, joining Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and John Franco. It was the first time anyone held the title since Franco left the team in 2004. A leader by example, he exemplified professional success and personal character, which earned respect from those in the clubhouse and throughout the league.

Your All-Star Host – July 16, 2013

When the Mets hosted a Midsummer Classic for the first time in almost 50 years, the man playing in his seventh served as an unofficial ambassador. His duties included participating in the Home Run Derby and receiving the ceremonial first pitch from Tom Seaver, who not surprisingly, has the most All-Star selections of any Amazin’ with nine. Wright also won the fan balloting at third base and manager Bruce Bochy slotted him in the clean-up spot of the starting lineup. He singled in the seventh inning off Greg Holland—the last of his three at-bats in the game and, as it turned out, his final All-Star appearance.

Returning with Thunder – August 24, 2015

In the top of the second inning at Citizens Bank Park, Wright prepared to take his first swing in 133 days. Once a mainstay in the Mets lineup, he had missed over four months. First, it was a hamstring injury, and then, because of the dreaded spinal stenosis, the ailment which would ultimately cause the premature end of his career. It wasn’t a certainty he’d ever return.  Now, Wright was facing Phillies starter Adam Morgan. The 1-1 pitch went over the heart of the plate. David swung and did not miss. It wasn’t just a home run, it was a moonshot.

The Fist-Pump – September 7, 2015

This was the unleashing of stored energy. Wright ran from first base off a liner to right-center by Yoenis Céspedes in the seventh inning of the series opener with the Washington Nationals. The ball was retrieved on the warning track by Bryce Harper. Wright turned for home. With his team eying a first postseason berth since he was a rising star in 2006, the emotion of the moment came out soon after he slid safely ahead of the throw from Anthony Rendon and the tag from Wilson Ramos. The Mets won that day, the next, and ultimately completed a three-game sweep to sew up the division title.

A World Series Homer to Remember – October 30, 2015

He had spent 12 seasons waiting to make the Fall Classic. He had spent many months just hoping to be healthy. In his first World Series at-bat in New York (and the first World Series game at Citi Field) with a runner on base, he sent a towering drive over the left-center field fence and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Wright’s classic swing put the Mets on top, 2-1. New York went on to capture their lone win of the series, 9-3, with Wright tacking on two more RBIs in the sixth with a single to center.

Farewell, Captain – September 28, 2018

On the penultimate day of the regular season, Wright bid goodbye to a New York audience that watched him grow up. With setbacks that would’ve forced a less determined player to quit, Wright was too proud to go out that way. After returning the previous night for his first at-bat in more than two years, an anticipatory sellout crowd at Citi Field was there for the finale. Wright made two plate appearances: drawing a walk in the first and popping out to foul territory in the fourth. Before the fifth inning started, it was time for the final send-off and an ovation that was both long and very much deserved.

The post Captain’s Choice: The Best David Wright Moments appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Gilbert was the best among several great individual performances in the Mets’ system this past week, which we’ll recap in the latest Mets Minors Weekly Report.

Drew Gilbert, Photo by Kylie Richelle of Syracuse Mets

Triple-A

The Syracuse Mets continued their impressive start to the second half of the season, winning their latest series against the Worcester Red Sox. The Mets won four of six games, outscoring the Red Sox 27-26 in the series. Syracuse is now 9-3 in the second half of the season and 40-47 overall.

In addition to Drew Gilbert, Pablo Reyes also continues to crush the ball since recently re-joining Syracuse. Reyes went 6-for-16 and clubbed two homers with four RBIs. He also struck out just once, walking three times. Reyes owns a 1.390 OPS in 11 games in his latest Syracuse stint.

Jared Young and Francisco Alvarez also recorded two home runs each, with Young driving in four runs and Alvarez driving in three. Young has a .914 OPS in Syracuse this year, while Alvarez has four home runs in 41 at-bats but just a .795 OPS since being sent down.

Brandon Sproat followed up his best start of the year with another gem, striking out eight over five scoreless innings. Sproat is still recovering from a brutal start to the year, owning a 5.05 ERA, but his last two starts have been spectacular.

Nolan McLean had yet another strong start, allowing two runs across five innings while striking out 10. McLean has exceeded every expectation since joining Syracuse, and he has a 2.80 ERA in 10 games with the team.

David Stearns said last week he didn’t want to call up Sproat or McLean for a spot start, so it seems they’ll only get the call to MLB to get an extended look.

Nolan McLean. Photo Credit: Kylie Richelle

Double-A

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies also won four of their six games in their latest series, defeating the Hartford Yard Goats. The Rumble Ponies are 8-4 in the second half and 53-26 overall.

Like Drew Gilbert, the player he was traded to the Mets with, Ryan Clifford also had a standout week at the plate. Clifford recorded two home runs and two doubles while going 5-for-17. He also walked five times, struck out just three times, and stole a base. Clifford’s bat has been heating up lately, resulting in an .840 season OPS.

Jacob Reimer has been crushing Double-A pitching since his promotion, and he did again this previous series. Reimer went 6-for-15 with two homers and two doubles, also recording three walks. In 11 games with Binghamton, Reimer has recorded an impressive slash line of .314/.405/.629/1.034.

Carson Benge had a respectable week at the plate, going 4-for-17 and recording his first Double-A home run. Benge has not adjusted as quickly as Reimer has to Double-A, but he still has a decent .739 OPS in 10 games.

Jonah Tong was outshone this week by Jack Wenninger, who put together a brilliant performance on the mound. Wenninger tossed six scoreless innings with just two hits and two walks allowed while striking out 11. Wenninger has not had the same kind of season Tong has had, but he deserves more attention than he’s gotten. In 16 starts, he has a 2.76 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP.

Tong, meanwhile, still had a fantastic outing. He allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings while striking out 10, allowing four hits and two walks in the process. Tong’s ERA raised slightly to 1.83.

The Syracuse rotation could look nice at year’s end with Sproat, McLean, Tong, and Wenninger.

Joander Suarez, for his part, had his best start of the season, allowing just two hits in six scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Suarez has looked great with the Rumble Ponies this year, owning a 3.29 ERA through 12 appearances.

Jack Wenninger. Photo by Kylie Richelle

High-A

The Brooklyn Cyclones had a tough series against the Hudson Valley Renegades, dropping five of the six games in the series. The Cyclones are now just 8-7 in the second half but still 54-27 overall.

Colin Houck had the best week of any Cyclones batter, going 5-for-16 with two doubles and a triple. Houck struggled immediately after his promotion, so he has just a .678 OPS in 11 games with Brooklyn, but he’s getting more acclimated and looking to build off a strong week.

Jesus Baez also looked good at the plate, going 4-for-16 with two doubles and a homer. Baez now owns a .769 OPS on the year.

Jonathan Santucci continues to shove, meaning his dreadful start to the season may have been a fluke. His latest start of six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts earned him a promotion to Double-A Binghamton. He ends his time with the Cyclones with a 3.46 ERA, including a 1.35 ERA in his last nine games.

Noah Hall and Will Watson had decent weeks on the mound, recording similar lines. They each went five innings and allowed two runs, with Hall striking out five and Watson striking out four. Hall now owns a 2.65 ERA, while Watson owns a 2.31 ERA since joining Brooklyn.

Jonathan Santucci. Photo by James Villani, MMO

Low-A

The St. Lucie Mets played just a five-game series against the Daytona Tortugas due to rain, and the Mets earned the series win by taking three games and dropping two. The Mets are now 9-5 in the second half of the season and 43-36 overall.

Yohairo Cuevas had an excellent series at the plate, going 5-for-13 with two doubles, a home run, five walks, and a stolen base. Cuevas has turned it on lately with the bat, owning a .925 OPS over his last 26 games to improve his season OPS to .813.

Trace Willhoite also shined, going 4-for-14 with a double, a triple, and a home run while leading the club with four RBIs in the series. Willhoite’s season OPS improved to .848 with the effort.

Frank Elissalt didn’t start, but he threw a gem with a one-hit, five-inning appearance out of the bullpen. Elissalt didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven. In 16 games on the year, he owns a 2.76 ERA.

The best start of the week came from Daviel Hurtado, who started the year with the FCL Mets. Despite tossing just three innings, Hurtado allowed just two hits and struck out five. He owns a 1.45 ERA on the year, including a 3.00 ERA in four appearances with St. Lucie.

FCL Mets

The FCL Mets had a great week, going 4-0 to improve to 18-24 on the year. They are no longer in last place in their division, now sitting in third after surpassing two teams.

Randy Guzman was the standout batter at the plate, going 4-for-14 with two home runs and seven RBIs. Guzman has been the FCL Mets’ best offensive player on the season, owning an .822 OPS.

Jace Hampson was brilliant in two starts, recording a total of 10 strikeouts over 10 scoreless innings. Hampson has been phenomenal this year, owning a 1.80 ERA over seven starts and 10 appearances.

DSL Mets

The DSL Mets Orange went 4-1 on the week to improve to 16-9 on the season. The DSL Mets Blue, meanwhile, went 2-3 to move to 11-15 on the season.

Elian Peña had another strong week at the plate for DSL Mets Orange, going 6-for-16 with two doubles, four RBIs, four walks, two stolen bases, and five runs scored. He has improved his OPS on the season to an even .800. In addition to Peña, Adolfo Miranda went 8-for-18 with three homers and 10 RBIs. He owns a 1.015 OPS for the year. On the mound, Franyel Diaz allowed one run over seven innings. He has a 4.41 ERA in six games.

For the DSL Mets Blue squad, Jonnhan Sanchez went 5-for-8 with a home run, two walks, and a stolen base. He has a .790 OPS for the year. On the mound, Anthony Reynoso struck out three over six scoreless innings. He has a 3.72 ERA in nine appearances.

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – .320

OPS – Jacob Reimer (BRK/BNG) – .906

HR – Ryan Clifford (BNG) – 15

SB – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – 52

Pitching

ERA – Jonah Tong (BNG) – 1.83

SO – Jonah Tong (BNG) – 125

WHIP – Zach Thornton (BRK/BNG) – 0.812

Players of the Week

Offense – Drew Gilbert, OF Syracuse

Drew Gilbert has broken out in a way that should make Mets fans excited. Whether or not he plays a role on the major league team in 2025 remains to be seen, but lately we’ve been seeing flashes from him that show he can still be a very good player at the next level. His three home runs this past week were the apex of what has been a really good stretch.

Pitching – Jack Wenninger, P Binghamton

Jack Wenninger gave the best pitching performance among a number of fantastic ones this week across the Mets’ system. The 2023 sixth-round pick has broken out in a big way and has thrust himself into the conversation of Mets’ premium pitching prospects.

Upcoming Schedule – July 8-13

• Triple-A Syracuse: vs. Lehigh Valley
• Double-A Binghamton: vs. Altoona
• High-A Brooklyn: vs. Wilmington
• Low-A St. Lucie: @ Bradenton

The post Minors Weekly Report: Drew Gilbert Flashes Power appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Lindor is on some run right now, as he has hit four home runs in his last four games. His first homer of Monday’s game came in the first inning, giving him his second straight game with a leadoff home run. His second of the game was a three-run shot in the seventh inning, extending the Mets’ lead from 2-0 to 5-0. Jesse Winker also hit a home run in the victory, his first of the year.

Aaron Nola pitched into the seventh inning despite giving up the early home runs to Lindor and Winker, taking control of the game after giving up the lead. He nearly let the game slip away earlier than it did, as it appeared Juan Soto crushed a three-run homer in the third inning, but the ball was ruled foul by mere inches. Nola rebounded, getting Soto to ground out, but the Phillies offense gave him no help.

LINDSANITY pic.twitter.com/BTT81qdlvq

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) April 22, 2025

Tylor Megill pitched for the Mets and delivered his best start of the year, going into the sixth inning and tying his career high in strikeouts. He did all this without allowing a run, keeping the Phillies’ offensive star power from doing any damage. His final line was 5 1/3 innings with no runs allowed on a hit, four walks, and 10 strikeouts. His ERA dropped to 1.09, a stellar mark through his first five starts of the year.

Reed Garrett followed Megill out of the bullpen and got two crucial outs with runners on base in the sixth inning to keep the shutout intact. Max Kranick was then called upon to start the seventh inning and pitched a clean two innings. He remained on for the ninth, looking for the rare three-inning save, but a double and a base hit with no outs brought the Phillies’ first run home to make it a 5-1 game. Another base hit after that was enough for Carlos Mendoza, who lifted Kranick in favor of Edwin Díaz.

Díaz, who has struggled with command immediately after entering games this year, threw strikes upon his entrance and recorded a one-pitch out but subsequently allowed a three-run homer to Bryson Stott to all of a sudden bring the Phillies within a run. Trea Turner and Bryce Harper loomed with just one out, putting the Mets in jeopardy of blowing their five-run lead.

Díaz remained composed, striking out Turner on a center-cut fastball before fooling Harper on three pitches, all sliders, to end the game. It was easy until it wasn’t, but a win is a win. The Mets have now won five straight and are 16-7, tied with the Dodgers and Padres for MLB’s best record. The Mets’ lead atop the NL East is now three games.

Stat of the Game: 20 Multi-Homer Games

Francisco Lindor now has 20 multi-home run games in his career, which puts him in sole possession of third place for players who achieved multiple home runs in a game while playing shortstop. He passes Trevor Story (19) and trails Alex Rodriguez (33) and Ernie Banks (24).

Player of the Game: Francisco Lindor

Tylor Megill did everything he could to earn player of the game honors, and he was certainly deserving, but Lindor is simply on another level right now. He hit two home runs, drove in four, and raised his OPS on the year to .840, bringing it up nearly .100 points in a single game.

On Deck

The Mets will continue their series with the Phillies Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m. ET. Griffin Canning (2-1, 3.43 ERA) will look to build off his best start of the year, while Cristopher Sánchez will take the mound for the Phillies, also coming off his best start of the year. The game will air on SNY and TBS.

The post Lindor Records Two Homers, Mets Defeat Phillies 5-4 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Edwin Díaz officially returns from his 10-game suspension on Saturday. It’s amazing news for Mets fans, who have seen some brutal performances from the team’s bullpen during his absence. Díaz won’t solve all the bullpen’s problems, but the impact of getting that extra man back and having an actual closer can’t be overstated. The Mets went 5-5 during Díaz’s absence but certainly could have and should have won more.

Latest Mets News

The Mets (42-44) lost to the Pirates (42-45) 14-2 in the series opener in Pittsburgh on Friday. As indicated by the final score, it was a difficult watch for any Mets fan. The team tied the all-time franchise record by allowing seven home runs including two grand slams, while the Pirates themselves tied their franchise record with seven long balls. Luis Severino allowed seven runs in six innings while Jake Diekman and Ty Adcock combined to allow seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Syracuse Mets manager Dick Scott and pitching prospect Mike Vasil spoke to the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast about the impact that Jose Iglesias had while he was in Syracuse.

Reliever Matt Festa elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Mets on Wednesday. Festa made one appearance for the Mets and allowed five runs (four earned) in one inning.

Latest MLB News

MLB announced that Alec Bohm will participate in this year’s Home Run Derby. Bohm is the second player so far, along with Gunnar Henderson, to agree to be in this year’s event.

Per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves signed Eddie Rosario to a minor league contract. Rosario spent time with the Braves from 2021 to 2023 and was a huge piece of their World Series team. He was recently released from the Nationals, where he had a .555 OPS in 67 games this season.

Robert Murray of FanSided reported that Carl Edwards Jr. signed a minor league deal with the Padres. Edwards Jr. had a 3.69 ERA in 32 games with the Nationals last year and was pitching really well in Triple-A this year with the Cubs organization.

Kumar Rocker began a rehab assignment on Friday night. The former Mets draft pick and current Rangers prospect underwent Tommy John surgery last year after posting a 3.86 ERA in High-A.

Latest on MMO

In the latest Mets Minors Recap, Michael Mayer highlights dominant performances from Brandon Sproat and Ryan Clifford for Double-A Binghamton.

Michael Famulari recaps Jose Quintana‘s brilliant performance against the Nationals on Thursday.

Jack Ramsey previews the 2024 trade deadline including potential targets for the Mets.

Metsmerized is partnering with FOCO to give away a pair of their New York Mets Pinstripe Summer Chef Sets. To enter for a chance to win, like and retweet this post and follow both Metsmerized and FOCO on X. The winner will be chosen on Tuesday.

On This Date in Mets History

1962: Rod Kanehl hit the first grand slam in Mets history on this day in 1962 in the team’s 79th game of the year. Kanehl’s long ball helped the Mets to a 10-3 victory over the Cardinals.

Birthdays: Lance Johnson (61), Willie Randolph (70)

The post Morning Briefing: Edwin Díaz Returns From Suspension Today appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The team began the year with a formidable group of top prospects in Brett Baty, Francisco Álvarez, Mark Vientos, and Ronny Mauricio, and ended the year with just two of MMO’s top 30 prospects (Mike Vasil, Justin Jarvis), neither of whom started the season on the Syracuse Mets’ roster. That roster transformation, along with Syracuse becoming a home for older guys unable to obtain roles on big league clubs, might explain why it was another disappointing year for the Triple-A team.

Dick Scott, Photo by James Farrance

Syracuse finished the first half of the season with a 33-41 record. The sub-.500 record was mostly a result of poor pitching, with the offense finishing the first half with an above-average 5.6 runs per game. Over the second half of the season, though, the offense worsened and the already-poor pitching did too. That led to a 28-44 second half record and a 61-85 record overall.

Pitching was undoubtedly the weak link of this Syracuse team, for a couple of reasons. First, the extremely run-friendly environment of Triple-A makes pitching in that league very tough. Second, the pitching staff was mostly comprised of fringe major leaguers and lower-level prospects.

Leading the Syracuse Mets pitching staff in innings in 2023 was Denyi Reyes with 91 2/3 innings pitched. Reyes spent some time with the big league club, appearing in nine games with them, but spent the bulk of his year in Syracuse where he appeared in 20 games (18 starts) and posted a 2-3 record with a 5.79 ERA.

Following Reyes on the innings pitched leaderboard were José Butto and Joey Lucchesi, neither of whom pitched admirably in Triple-A. While both wound up in the majors down the stretch and pitched at a high level, Butto recorded a 3-7 record with a 5.93 ERA and Lucchesi recorded a 6-5 record with a 4.74 ERA during their times in Syracuse.

The most exciting pitcher on the staff was Mike Vasil, a midseason call-up who is currently MMO’s No. 10 prospect within the organization. While his 4-4 record and 5.30 ERA in 16 starts doesn’t appear great at first glance, Vasil flashed the potential of what the Mets are hoping he can become. He did so most notably on August 8, when he carried a no-hit bid into the ninth inning. He also pitched much better down the stretch for Syracuse than he did when he was first called up, with a 7.04 ERA and .973 OPS against in his first eight starts dropping to a 4.04 ERA and .575 OPS against in his final eight starts.

While Vasil wasn’t the only pitcher in Syracuse to pitch well, with excellent performances out of the bullpen from guys like Josh Walker (1.84 ERA) and Nate Lavender (3.27 ERA), it really was a season defined by poor pitching. There were a few more notable pitchers who contributed to that, such as David Peterson, Tylor Megill, and Justin Jarvis.

Peterson was demoted to Triple-A following a stretch of poor starts at the big league level. Peterson didn’t experience much more success in Syracuse, as he finished with a 1-2 record and a 4.86 ERA over seven starts with the team before becoming a fixture in the big league rotation down the stretch and pitching well.

Megill followed a similar path as Peterson: he was demoted from the big league team due to struggles, pitched poorly with Syracuse, but was recalled to the big league team and pitched well down the stretch. In Syracuse, he started six games and went 0-3 with an 8.67 ERA.

Jarvis was an interesting midseason acquisition, coming over from the Brewers in the Mark Canha trade. Jarvis had pitched well with Milwaukee’s Double-A affiliate, posting a 3.33 ERA over 14 starts, but struggled in 12 total starts with two Triple-A teams. With Syracuse, he started nine games and went 0-5 with an 8.04 ERA. Jarvis currently ranks as MMO’s No. 16 Mets’ prospect.

Offensively, Syracuse received massive contributions from a number of players. Most notably was Ronny Mauricio, who led the team in nearly every statistical category. Game after game, Mauricio flashed the power and speed that made him a top prospect in the organization, finishing his time in Syracuse with 23 home runs and 24 stolen bases over 116 games. His final OPS in Triple-A of .852 was dragged down by a midseason slump that doesn’t capture the fact that he finished three months with an OPS over .900.

Mark Vientos was the next biggest contributor in Syracuse despite playing in a little over half the games that Mauricio played in. In those 61 games though, Vientos shined by posting a slash line of .306/.387/.612/.999 while recording 16 home runs and 21 doubles.

Brett Baty was another top prospect who began the year in Syracuse and recorded more time with the team after struggling mightily at the big league level. Any time he was with Syracuse, however, Baty was one of the best players on the field. He played in just 26 games with the team but posted a slash line of .298/.388/.625/1.013 with 10 home runs in just 104 at-bats.

One of the better seasons by a non-top prospect at the plate was by DJ Stewart, who became somewhat of a sensation with the big league club late in the year. While in Syracuse, he accumulated 16 home runs, which tied Vientos for second on the team behind Mauricio. He also posted a .516 slugging percentage during his 51 games in Triple-A.

Outside of those performances, Syracuse received middling contributions from a number of fringe major leaguers. Among them were Danny Mendick (.793 OPS in 373 at-bats), Tomás Nido (.728 OPS in 135 at-bats), Abraham Almonte (.776 OPS in 134 at-bats), José Peraza (.681 OPS in 134 at-bats) and Rafael Ortega (.777 OPS in 113 at-bats).

The team even received cameos from two former Yankees in Luke Voit and Gary Sánchez. Both of them impressed in short stints with the club, with Voit crushing 14 homers in 129 at-bats for a fantastic 1.058 OPS and Sánchez accumulating a 1.014 OPS in just 26 at-bats.

The overall story of the offense is that it just wasn’t good enough. The bulk of the contributions came from top prospects who wound up with the big league club. Those that were left were older veterans whose subpar performances weren’t enough to carry the team. That, coupled with one of the worst pitching staffs in the International League, led to yet another disappointing year in Syracuse.

MMO Top 30

• 10. Mike Vasil, SP
• 16. Justin Jarvis, SP

Coaching Staff

• Manager — Dick Scott
• Bench Coach — J.P. Arencibia
• Pitching Coach — Kyle Driscoll
• Hitting Coach — Collin Hetzler
• Bullpen Coach — Jordan Kraus
• Athletic Trainer — Hiroto Kawamura
• Athletic Trainer — Vanessa Weisbach
• Performance Coach — Alex Tavarez

Team Batting Leaders (Minimum 50 Plate Appearances)

• G: Carlos Cortes — 118
• AB: Ronny Mauricio —490
• R: Ronny Mauricio — 76
• H: Ronny Mauricio — 143
• 2B: Ronny Mauricio — 30
• 3B: Ronny Mauricio/Jonathan Araúz — 3
• HR: Ronny Mauricio — 23
• RBI: Ronny Mauricio — 71
• SB: Ronny Mauricio — 24
• TB: Ronny Mauricio — 248
• BB: Carlos Cortes — 65
• OBP: Luke Voit — .415
• SLG: Luke Voit — .643
• OPS: Luke Voit — 1.058

Team Pitching Leaders (Minimum 20 Innings Pitched)

• W: Joey Lucchesi — 6
• ERA: Zack Muckenhirn — 0.88
• SV: Dennis Santana — 5
• G: Eric Orze — 39
• GS: José Butto — 19
• IP: Denyi Reyes — 91.2
• K: José Butto — 82
• WHIP: Josh Walker — 1.091

The post 2023 Syracuse Season Recap: Top Prospects Shine in Disappointing Season appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets took a 3-1 lead after Starling Marte hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Arizona immediately answered back with two home runs of their own, tying the game at 3-3 going into the fifth. Brandon Nimmo did not waste any time getting the lead back, continuing his recent power surge with a solo shot to right field, to put New York on top 4-3.

Max Scherzer attempted to put up a zero in the bottom of the fifth, but failed to do so. The Diamondbacks had two hits and two walks in the frame, scoring on a bases loaded walk from Corbin Carroll. So, despite all the Mets’ good at bats against Zach Davies, the game was tied at 4-4 going into the sixth inning.

Álvarez stepped up to the plate to face former Mets reliever Miguel Castro with one on and one out in the top of the seventh. The right-hander threw a 97 MPH sinker at the bottom of the strike zone and the catcher punished him for it, driving the ball to deep left center field. Álvarez hit the ball a long way, landing at 467 feet with an exit velocity of 110 MPH. That would prove to be the difference in the ballgame, as the Mets would go onto to win 8-5.

The slugger had a remarkable May, but after struggling for a large part of June, he believes he is starting to turn the corner in July. “I think I am slowly but surely getting back there,” Alvarez said. “I don’t think I am back to the same level that I was that month I was playing really well, but I think I am getting there.”

Álvarez’s home run on Tuesday was important in more ways than one, as his 14th of the season set a new record for home runs in a season by a Mets rookie catcher. He previously owned a share of the record with Travis d’Arnaud, who hit 13 home runs in 2014. It was a big day for Mets, who extended their winning streak to three for the first time in over a month. Álvarez delivered in a big spot for a group that so desperately needed a strong start to their final road trip before the All-Star break.

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First time in his career that Brandon Nimmo has hit 2 home runs in a game off the same pitcher.

pic.twitter.com/Fr92BhrRUT

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) June 28, 2023

Nimmo has now recorded multi-hit appearances in three of his last four games, and has recorded eight such games this month. The homers were Nimmo’s second and third in his last six games as well, as he also hit one in the Mets’ loss to the Phillies last Friday. Nimmo has never had a 20-homer season in the majors, but he is now on pace to do just that. Nimmo’s current career high in long balls is 17, which he hit in 2018.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Nimmo’s second homer on Tuesday was particularly impressive. The centerfielder took an off-speed pitch from Teheran on the outside corner and muscled it out to left-center field to drive home two runs. After the game, Nimmo said he was “willing it” out of the ballpark since he hadn’t hit one out to that area recently.

As of now, Nimmo has the best case of any Mets position player to nab an All-Star spot. He’s up to 11th in the NL in on-base percentage and is 15th in batting average at .282. Although he’s made some atypical mental mistakes in the field, Nimmo has also provided an excellent defensive centerfield overall, putting together a solid overall season in the first year of his eight-year deal he signed last offseason.

While pitching has undoubtedly been the bigger Mets issue in their recent slide, they also haven’t been getting enough consistency from their lineup. If they’re going to turn things around on that side, it’s going to have to star with their stars: Nimmo, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Jeff McNeil providing consistent production.

If Nimmo can continue to get on base at his usual clip while also mixing in the power that we saw from him on Tuesday night, it could kickstart a revitalization of the Mets’ offense. Few players on the Mets outside of Alonso, Lindor and Francisco Álvarez are a consistent home-run threat, but Nimmo has shown that part of his repertoire may be coming along this season, which could help elevate his game to the next level.

The post Nimmo’s Power Breakout Helps Mets Snap Losing Streak appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Pete Alonso has been clobbering the baseball in the first month of the season. Alonso has amassed 10 home runs, and is second in the majors behind Max Muncy. He is well on pace to surpass 50 homers again for the first time since his rookie season in 2019.

However, the Mets are relying far too much on Alonso to score via the long ball. The rest of the team has combined for just 16 home runs in 24 games, with only Francisco Lindor (4) hitting more than two home runs thus far this season. The Braves, meanwhile, have seven players who have hit three home runs or more. The Tampa Bay Rays, who lead the majors with 48 long balls, have 10 such players.

Despite their lack of power, the Mets have still managed to score at a decent rate (13th in the majors in runs per-game). And, if you’re looking for another reason for optimism, the Mets hit at least one home run in 9 of the 10 games on their recent West Coast road trip. Still, the team’s lack of power has made games like Tuesday night, in which they fell behind early against the Nationals, more difficult to win.

In particular, the Mets were hoping to get more pop out of this point from the likes of Starling Marte (1 home run), Daniel Vogelbach (1), and the third base spot (2 combined between Eduardo Escobar and Brett Baty, both by Escobar). Jeff McNeil has largely abandoned his power game in favor of going after base hits, while Brandon Nimmo has been in All-Star form getting on base at a .456 clip and has hit two homers of his own, but has never exceeded 17 homers in a full season.

The Mets have gotten mostly what they could have expected power wise out of the rest of the outfield (two each from Mark Canha and Tommy Pham), and, while Francisco Álvarez may one day provide a consistent home-run threat at catcher, it’s unreasonable to expect too much out of him this early in his career (Álvarez did break through with his first dinger of the year Sunday in San Francisco).

So, it largely falls to Lindor, Marte, Vogelbach, and the third baseman to try to provide more pop outside of Alonso in the cleanup spot.

Marte hasn’t quite looked right thus far this season and has been dealing with some lingering health issues, which is likely effecting his ability to drive the ball.  Vogelbach has been getting on base at a much higher rate the last few weeks, but his power just has not been there. Baty has rightfully been getting the majority of third base reps since he was called up, and while he hit 5 homers in 35 at bats in Triple-A, he managed only one XBH thus far in his 24 big-league at-bats.

Unless they’re going to make an unlikely trade this early in the season, the only other options for generating more power to the lineup are calling up either Mark Vientos or Ronny Mauricio, who have combined for 12 home runs in Syracuse thus far. However, as we’ve seen with Baty and Álvarez, it’s not exactly reasonable to expect prospects to come up and rake right away at the big-league level.

The Mets can likely get by just fine for now with Alonso providing the majority of the team’s power, but long-term, it was an issue that hurt them down the stretch a season ago that they failed to really address in the offseason. For now, they’ll need to hope some of their everyday players find their power stroke as the weather continues to heat up.

The post Mets’ Lineup Continues to Lack Power Outside of Pete Alonso appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The 2022 season was filled with plenty of memorable moments for the Mets, especially in terms of the long ball. However, a few stand above the rest, and today we are going to go over the top 5 home runs of the season.

5). Brett Baty Solo HR vs. ATL (8/17/22)

Unbelievable! Baty Homers in First Big League At-Bat – YouTube

On August 17, 2022, the Mets No. 2 prospect in Brett Baty made his long-awaited MLB debut at third base in Atlanta against the Braves. Going into the game, the Mets had lost the first two meetings of the series between the two teams and saw their division lead dwindle from 5.5 games to 3.5 games.

Baty, batting eighth, came to the plate for his first at-bat in the top of the 2nd inning against Jake Odorizzi. Odorizzi had already squandered back-to-back home runs to Starling Marte and Francisco Lindor in the 1st to make it 2-0 Mets while also giving up a double to Mark Canha to open the 2nd.

On the second pitch of the AB, Odorizzi hung a 72 MPH curveball and Baty ripped it 377 feet to right field for the first hit and homer of his career to make it 4-0. He became the fifth Met to ever record a home run in their first at-bat, and it also ended up being the difference in the game as the Mets would go on to win by a score of 9-7.

4). Nick Plummer Solo HR vs. PHI (5/29/22)

Nick Plummer First Career Hit is a 9th Inning Game-Tying Home Run – YouTube

In just the fourth game of his career, Nick Plummer became a cult hero in New York.

On May 29, 2022, the Mets were looking to complete a sweep of the Phillies on Sunday Night Baseball. They held a 3-1 lead into the top of the eighth before Nick Castellanos flipped the script and blasted a three-run homer off of Adam Ottavino to give Philadelphia the 4-3 advantage.

In the bottom of the ninth, Plummer led off against Corey Knebel and provided one of the more improbable instances of the Mets season, as he sent the first pitch of the inning 389 feet out to the Coca-Cola Corner to tie things up at 4-4. The homer also represented the first hit of his career, further adding to the elation of his storybook moment.

The Mets would go on to defeat the Phillies 5-4 in extras after an Eduardo Escobar walk-off double off of Knebel.

3). Francisco Lindor Grand Slam vs. MIL (9/20/22)

Lindor Slugs Go-Ahead Grand Slam – YouTube

A day after clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2016, Francisco Lindor gave the Mets another reason to celebrate.

New York fell down 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth but was able to cut into that deficit in a big way after Pete Alonso hit a three-run bomb to center in the top of the 6th to make it 4-3.

In the top of the seventh, the Mets drew three-straight one-out walks against Taylor Rogers to set the table. After Canha struck out, Lindor came up and immediately made Rogers pay on the first pitch as he sent his 93.9 MPH sinker out to left center for his first, and only, grand slam of the year and 25th total to make it 7-4 Mets.

The Mets would go on to defeat Milwaukee 7-5.

2). Mark Canha Two-Run HR vs. PHI (8/21/22)

MARK CANHA IS INSANE! UNLOADS ANOTHER HOMERUN! 8/21/22 – YouTube

When you think of Mark Canha’s time in a Mets uniform 10 years from now, August 21, 2022, should immediately come to mind.

In somewhat of a back-and-forth affair, the Phillies jumped all over José Butto in his MLB debut and scored four runs in the bottom of the first. The Mets mounted a comeback and tied it by the top of the fourth inning, but an Alec Bohm three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth for his second of the day gave the Phils a 7-4 lead.

Canha’s heroics began in the top of the seventh when he drove an up-and-in fastball from Connor Brogdon out to left field to tie the game up at 7-7.

Notorious Met killer Jean Segura homered off of Trevor May in the bottom of the 8th to repossess the lead for Philadelphia by a score of 8-7, but Canha would soon come up clutch yet again to save the day.

David Robertson, having pitched two innings the day before, was tasked with closing things out for the Phillies in the ninth inning. With Jeff McNeil on second after a lead-off double, Canha invoked a bit of déjà vu as he yet again drove an up-and-in pitch out to left for his 10th of the year while giving the Mets an 8-7 lead.

New York would go on to win 10-9.

1). Pete Alonso Walk-off Solo HR vs. STL (5/19/22)

Pete Alonso crushes a walk-off home run – YouTube

For a player who’s universally known for his power, Pete Alonso’s second-longest home run of the 2022 season couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

The Mets held a 5-4 lead entering the top of the ninth inning against the Cardinals and had Edwin Díaz coming in to shut them down. Any time Díaz entered a game in 2022, there was a good chance he wouldn’t allow a base runner, let alone a run.

However, he turned in one of his few bad outings this game, giving up two walks and hits while also allowing St. Louis to tie the game at 5-5.

After the Mets couldn’t get anything going in the bottom of the ninth, the game went to extras where the Cardinals were able to push just a single run across on an Albert Pujols double-play to make it 6-5. That meant that Alonso would be coming up with a chance to end things quickly, and that’s exactly what transpired.

Facing Giovanny Gallegos, Alonso demolished his second pitch of the inning 447 feet to straight-away left field to give the Mets a 7-6 walk-off win, which would go on to stand as the team’s only walk-off home run of the season.

The post Top Five Home Runs Of Mets’ 2022 Season appeared first on Metsmerized Online.