Luke Ritter. Photo by Kylie Richelle of the Syracuse Mets

Triple-A

Buffalo Bisons (5-12) 6 vs. Syracuse Mets (9-10) 1

BOX SCORE

• RF Luke Ritter 1-for-4, 2B, (.609 OPS)
• 1B Joey Meneses 1-for-3, 2B, (.896 OPS)
• 2B Donovan Walton 2-for-3, (.641 OPS)

Syracuse’s offense struggled to generate much offense, mustering only six hits with just one run to show for it, featuring doubles from Luke Ritter and Joey Meneses.

• RHP Brandon Waddell  6 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 5 K  (1.40 ERA)
• RHP Dedniel Núñez  1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 K (5.14 ERA)
• RHP Kevin Herget 1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K (6.35 ERA)
• RHP Austin Warren 1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 BB (4.70 ERA)

Brandon Waddell threw strong innings, allowing one earned run, but the bullpen struggled to keep the Bisons off the scoreboard, allowing a combined three earned runs.

Nolan McLean. Photo by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Double-A 

Reading Fightin Phils (5-9) 1, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (6-6) 6

BOX SCORE

• 2B McNeil 2-for-5, 2 H, HR, RBI (1.400 OPS)
• 1B Ryan Clifford 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI (.713 OPS)
• LF Nick Morabito 1-for-3, HR, RBI (.586 OPS)
• C Alvarez 1-for-5, BB (.507 OPS)

The Rumble Ponies broke out the bats on Saturday, combining for three home runs from the torpedo bat-wielding Jeff McNeil, Ryan Clifford, and Nick Morabito.

• LHP McLean  6.0 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 8 K  (0.60 ERA)
• LHP Daniel Juarez  2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 H, 2 K (9.00 ERA)
• RHP Luis Moreno   1 IP, 1 K (20.25 ERA)

Nolan McLean continued his brilliant start to the season, tossing six scoreless innings, followed by a strong bullpen performance.

Eli Serrano III. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

High-A

Aberdeen IronBirds (6-8) 3, Brooklyn Cyclones (10-4) 4

BOX SCORE

• CF Eli Serrano III 1-for-3, RBI (.804 OPS)
• C Chris Suero 0-for-4, RBI (1.153 OPS)
• 2B Diego Mosquera  1-for-4, RBI  (.651 OPS)
• SS Jesus Baez  2-for-4 (.229 OPS)

The Cyclones pulled out a win against the IronBirds on  Saturday with clutch hits from Eli Serrano and Jesus Baez, both collecting key hits leading Brooklyn to victory.

• RHP Paul Blackburn 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K (4.50 ERA)
• RHP Eduardo Herrera 1.0 IP , 1 H (0.00 ERA)
• RHP R.J. Gordon  4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K (3.09 ERA)
• RHP Jace Beck   2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K (5.79 ERA)

Paul Blackburn looked a bit shaky in his first rehab start since being placed on the injured list with knee inflammation, but was backed up by a strong showing from the pen featuring a combined two earned runs over seven innings.

A.J. Ewing. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Single-A

St. Lucie Mets (7-7) 4,  Tampa Tarpons (7-7) 3

BOX SCORE

• 2B A.J. Ewing  3-for-4 , RBI , 2 BB (1.150)
• CF Yonatan Henriquez 1-for-4, RBI, BB (.421 OPS)
• RF Simon Juan 1-for-5, RBI, 2 R  (.325 OPS)

St. Lucie clinched Saturday’s win with a walk-off single by A.J. Ewing, backed by key hits from Simon Juan and Yonatan Henriquez.

• RHP Will Watson 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 4 K (0.71 ERA)
• RHP Dylan Tebrake 1.0 IP, 1 K (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Edgar Moreta 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 5 K (8.22)
• RHP Chandler Marsh 2.0 IP, 5 K (0.00)

2024 draftee and rising prospect Will Watson threw five innings of one-run ball alongside Edgar Moreta, who allowed just one run over four innings in relief. Chandler Marsh also dazzled, tossing two scoreless innings while striking out five in the process.

The post Mets Minors Recap: McNeil, Alvarez Have Big Days As Rehab Continues appeared first on Metsmerized.

Note, all statistics as of before play on April 13.

Eli Serrano III. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Eli Serrano III

One of the Mets’ better prospects through the early stages of the season has been outfielder Eli Serrano. Serrano is fourth in the Mets’ system in wRC+ at 182. Through 21 at-bats, the 6-foot-5 left-handed hitter is hitting .296 to go along with a staggering 1.013 OPS. Among his eight hits with High-A Brooklyn, three are of the extra-base variety, and, to top it off, Serrano has already stolen three bases. He will have to cut down on his high strikeout rate though, as he is striking out 22.9% of the time thus far this season.

New York drafted Serrano in the fourth round of last year’s draft. The former member of the NC Wolfpack baseball team had a .778 OPS across 63 at-bats to end the season with Single-A St. Lucie last season.

A.J. Ewing

The 20-year-old outfielder has gotten off to a terrific start for Single-A St. Lucie. A.J. Ewing leads the entire Mets system with a wRC+ of 214. He is slashing .448/.514/.690 (1.204) across 35 plate appearances. That 1.204 OPS ranks 25th of 920 qualified minor leaguers thus far this season.

The 5-foot-11 Ewing was drafted by the Mets in the fourth-round back in 2023. Between the Florida Complex League and Single-A St. Lucie last season, Ewing only posted a .751 OPS. So far this season, he has improved on that number immensely.

Chris Suero. Photo by Ed Delany of Metmerized

Chris Suero

Another member of the Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A), Chris Suero, trails only Ewing in the Mets’ system with a 209 wRC+. Suerro is hitting .346 with an OPS above 1.000 (1.162). Through his 26 early season at-bats, he already has five doubles and two home runs.

The 21-year-old Suerro is in his fourth season in the organization. He only had a .730 OPS between Single-A and High-A last season. If he sustains even a bit of his current hot start, this would surely be a break out season for the versatile Bronx, New York native, who can play catcher, first base, and the outfield

Joey Meneses

Easily the most recognizable name on this list, veteran Joey Meneses has been one of the few bright points thus far this season for Triple-A Syracuse. Through 45 at-bats, Meneses is slashing .311/.380/.556, good for a .936 OPS. Specifically, his 11 doubles leads the International League (next highest is seven) and his OPS ranks 18th among 144 qualified hitters.

Meneses, a veteran of 286 major-league at-bats across parts of three season, had a decent spring training (.733 OPS). The 32-year-old likely would not factor into the Mets’ plans at the major league level unless injuries really get the best of the big club. Though, nice to see the strong start.

Jack Wenninger

Right-handed pitcher Jack Wenninger enters the season as Metsmerized No. 29 prospect. Through two starts, Wenninger has been terrific for Double-A Binghamton. Across 10 innings, he has struck out 16 while only allowing four hits and one run. That strikeout total leads the Eastern League and his xFIP of 2.19 further shows how great he has been to start the season.

Wenninger threw 115 innings split across Single-A and High-A posting a 4.30 ERA last season. However, his performances with High-A Brooklyn were much more encouraging, as he had a 3.12 ERA and 51 strikeouts across 43 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old was a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft.

The post Mets Minor Leaguers Who Have Excelled Early appeared first on Metsmerized.

Syracuse Mets (2-2) 5, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (2-3) 1

BOX SCORE

• 1B Joey Meneses: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI (2), K (1.188 OPS)
• 2B Luke Ritter: 1-for-3, R, BB, 2 K (.757 OPS)
• DH Billy McKinney: 2-for-4, 2 R (.438 OPS)
• LF Travis Swaggerty: 1-for-2, 2 RBI (2), BB (.614 OPS)
• SS Donovan Walton: 1-for-5, RBI (1) (.513 OPS)

With Syracuse decimated by injuries on the offensive side of the ball, they trotted out a lineup featuring only one Mets offensive player who was in the organization in 2024. Despite this, the bats kept it moving with Joey Meneses delivering a 2-for-4 day at the plate with two RBIs. Travis Swaggerty also added two RBIs while going 1-for-2 at the plate with a walk.

• RHP Dom Hamel (0.00 ERA) 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (38 of 57 pitches for strikes)
• LHP Anthony Gose (0.00 ERA) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB
• RHP Austin Warren (4.91 ERA) 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Hamel came out of the gate looking to improve on a poor 2024 season, and he sure did, allowing no runs on two hits in five innings while striking out three batters and walking none. He allowed a hit to his first batter of the game and a hit in the third inning and never allowed another baserunner to get beyond first base. Hamel threw 38 of his 57 pitches for strikes. The Syracuse bullpen would keep it going, with lefthander Anthony Gose going two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk, and righty Austin Warren going two innings as well, allowing a run on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts. No Mets pitcher allowed an extra base hit.

Syracuse will continue its series against the RailRiders on Thursday at 6:35 P.M. The RailRiders will send out LHP Brandon Leibrandt (0-0, 2.25 ERA), and Syracuse will send out RHP Blade Tidwell (0-0, 1.80 ERA).

The post Hamel Delivers Strong Start In Syracuse Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

Blade Tidwell. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Triple-A
Syracuse Mets (1-o) 4, Worcester Red Sox (0-1) 3

Box Score

Blade Tidwell was sharp for Syracuse on Opening Day in Worcester, hurling five innings of one-run ball against the Red Sox affiliate. He struck out five, walked one, and gave up one hit, throwing 41 of his 62 pitches for strikes. The 23-year-old righty went 1-9 with a 5.93 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 85 innings pitched at Syracuse last season.

• Joey Meneses 1B: 3-4, 2 2B, R, K
• Luke Ritter 3B: 3-4, SB, R, K
• Jakson Reetz C: 1-4, HR, K
• Donovan Walton 2B: 1-4, RBI BB, K
• Gilberto Celestino RF: 2-4, RBI, R, SB, K

Joey Meneses and Luke Ritter both went 3-for-4 to lead the offense. Meneses, who hit .231/.291/.302 in 313 plate appearances with the Washington Nationals last year, had two doubles. Jakson Reetz hit a solo homer in the seventh inning to give Syracuse to a 2-1 lead.

• RHP Blade Tidwell (0-0, 1.80 ERA) 5 IP, H, ER, BB, 5 K
• LHP Anthony Gose 1 IP, 2 BB
• RHP Austin Warren 1.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K, W
• LHP Génesis Cabrera 1.1 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 K, SV

Diego Castillo broke a 2-2 tie with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. Celestino added an insurance run with an RBI single. Génesis Cabrera gave up a solo home run to Abraham Toro in the ninth, but held on for the save.

The post Minor League Recap: Tidwell Sharp for Syracuse appeared first on Metsmerized.

Meneses originally signed with the Braves back in 2011 and never broke into the majors with them. He became a free agent in 2017 and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent the 2021 campaign in the Boston Red Sox system and then joined the Nationals in 2022.

Photo Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

He made his major league debut at 30 years old with Washington against the Mets on Aug. 2, 2022. He notched his first hit, a solo home run, in that game and went on to have an excellent rookie season, hitting .324/.367/.563 with a 164 OPS+ and 1.0 bWAR.

Meneses played a full season in 2023 and was by most metrics almost exactly a league-average batter, as he slashed .275/.321/.401 with a 100 OPS+ and a 0.5 bWAR. Last season was his first down year in the majors with his OPS dropping to .593.

Meneses had some visa issues, which have delayed his arrival to Mets camp. Things have been cleared, however, and the first thing he did was face Brandon Sproat in live batting practice. Menses went on to strikeout in three pitches, but we also saw what Sproat did to the Nationals, so maybe this is just Sproat’s thing (picking on current and former National players).

As of Saturday afternoon, Meneses has registered seven at-bats this spring. He went 0-for-2 in his Mets’ spring debut March 3, but is 2-for-5 with a double through his last two games.

Meneses will be competing to be the backup first baseman on the Mets. The main person in front of him right now on the depth chart is Jared Young, who has seen a lot of early action this spring. Beyond Young, there is Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, and Jesse Winker. There’s a lot that Joey needs to cut through.

Now that Joey is here, we’ll be looking to see how much playing time he gets, if he’s hitting more like his 2022, 2023 self, and honestly if he wants to stay with the Mets after spring training if he doesn’t get a roster spot. Meneses gives the Mets valuable depth that is very familiar with the NL East, and we’re hoping he has a great camp!

The post 2025 NRI Preview: Joey Meneses appeared first on Metsmerized.

Previous NL East Position Rankings:

• First Base
• Second Base
• Third Base
• Shortstop
• Starting Pitching
• Left Field
• Right Field

No. 5: Avisaíl García – MIA

A season out from having one of the best-designated hitters in the league in Jorge Soler, the Marlins find themselves searching for a new solution at the role. Avisaíl García makes the most sense heading into the season as of now. Fleshing out the infield was the top priority heading into the offseason for the Fish, and in doing so, they sacrificed a bit of power.

When they signed García to a four-year deal in the 2021 offseason, he was coming off a .262/.330/.490 season and had his second-best OPS+ season with 119. His time in Miami, however, has been disastrous, with a lingering hamstring injury forcing him on and off the IL list. In two years with the Marlins, he’s played less than 150 games and has only hit 11 home runs, 12 doubles and struck out 148 times.

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Mark Vientos – NYM

While DJ Stewart will see time at the role, the DH spot is Mark Vientos‘ to lose in 2024. The “will they, won’t they” saga of signing a DH has been one of the hottest stories of the offseason for the Mets. With options dwindling, they might be waiting for the prices to drop for J.D. Martinez, but as of now, Vientos is their guy.

He played 65 games in 2023, and it doesn’t feel like he did. The biggest issue with Vientos was playing time, and he hasn’t gotten a chance to show what he’s got. The Mets are high on him and need to see what he’s got. His 10 career home runs in 274 plate appearances should be taken with a grain of salt.

One positive has been his exit velocity. According to Statcast, Vientos landed in the top five percent of the league in max exit velocity, averaging 114.9 mph. His 51.0% hard-hit percent also lands him in the top percentiles in the league. While the DH position isn’t set in stone for the Mets, expect Vientos to be the guy as of now.

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: Joey Meneses – WSH

There were doubts whether Joey Meneses would sustain the type of success he displayed when he debuted in 2022. After hitting .324/.367/.563/.930 in 56 games in 2022, Meneses followed his sensational debut with a .275/.321/.401/.722 slashline in his first full year in the majors. He led all designated hitters in hits (168), games (154) and doubles (36). He also ranked fourth in batting average behind Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper and Justin Turner. 

With the Nationals in the middle of a rebuild, Meneses, who cracked the big league roster after a decade-long stint in the minors, looks to be a long-term fixture in Washington. Of concern is his ground ball rate. It leaped up from 2022, going from 44.8% to 48.6%. For a guy lacking in speed, that can turn into trouble when in key situations down the road.

No. 2: Marcell Ozuna – ATL

Hate him or love him, there’s no denying that Marcell Ozuna put up one of the best performances of 2023. He ranked in the 98th percentile in xSLG (.581) and barrel percentage (16.6%), 96th percentile in xwOBA (.396), 91st percentile in batting run value (25) and 89th percentile in xBA (.283). Simply put, Ozuna had a monstrous 2023. He finished the year with 40 homers, third best on the Braves, 29 doubles and 100 RBIs. Ozuna’s 139 wRC+ was 11th best in all of baseball.

However, it’s not the first time the power-hitter saw an outage when it came to the postseason. In the Braves’ single-game series, Ozuna’s postseason struggles continued when he only managed two hits in thirteen at-bats, and both were singles. Ozuna is no stranger to cold streaks, as he’s had somewhat of an up-and-down career. He’s never been able to find consistent success at the plate, so it’ll be curious what 2024 brings him after a hot 2023.

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1: Kyle Schwarber – PHI

No surprise here. When Kyle Schwarber is on a role, he’s unstoppable. Who can forget his home run tyranny in June 2021, hitting 16 bombs in an 18-game span? Never one to hit for average, Schwarber is all about home runs and surprisingly, walks. It’s one of the most interesting stat lines in all of baseball. In 2023 Schwarber hit .197/.343/.474. To compare, Ozuna’s OBP for 2023 was .346, just a tick higher than Schwarber’s, but he hit .274.

Schwarber finished second in baseball in home runs with 47, and hit all 47 hard. He ranked in the 94th percentile in average exit velocity (92.4 mph) and the top four percent of the league in max exit velocity at 115.2 mph. When he’s not hitting homers, the next best thing about Schwarber is his ability to walk at a high rate. His 17.5% BB percentage ranked in the 99th percentile in all of baseball and was the best of his career.

With Bryce Harper taking residence at first base, it’s likely Schwarber will take up the DH role full-time after playing in the outfield. This isn’t the worst thing for the Phillies, as Schwarber was never the best defender; he had a -20 run value in 2023.

The post 2024 NL East Positional Rankings: Designated Hitter appeared first on Metsmerized.

The New York Mets have one of those guys who has led the league in home runs since his debut in 2019. Pete Alonso is a premier slugger. On MLB Network, Alonso was ranked sixth in the Shredder’s top 10 first basemans coming into the 2024 season. Here at Metsmerized Online, we will rank every National League East division position. Here, we will look at first base and see where Alonso is placed among his division peers. 

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

5. Joey Meneses – Washington Nationals

It’s been an interesting ride for the 31-year-old Joey Meneses. He was in the Atlanta Braves farm system from 2011-2017.

He signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies in 2018 before traveling to Japan to spend a year with the Orix Buffaloes. He signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2020, and in 2022, he signed a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals. So, Meneses came into D.C. with little expected as he was approaching 30. 2022, as a 30-year-old rookie, was given a chance in the big leagues after the Nationals traded Juan Soto and Josh Bell. Meneses would take advantage. 

In 2022, he batted .324 and hit 13 home runs in 56 games. He played in 154 games last year with 89 RBI and 168 hits. As Meneses continues a late-career surge, a young Nationals team that continues its rebuild, he is an interesting player to watch heading into the 2024 season for Washington.

Sep 30, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Josh Bell (9) drives in a run with a sacrifice fly against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

4. Josh Bell – Miami Marlins

Bell is a switch-hitting power hitter. When he’s on a roll, it’s hard to stop him. Bell was traded to the Marlins from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline last year.

He batted .270, hit 11 home runs, 54 hits, and a .818 OPS. While he may not be the player he was in 2019 when he slugged 37 home runs and drove in 117 runs, Bell is still a good threat in the middle of the order for the Marlins. He adds a power-hitting presence in a lineup with Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis Arráez, and Bryan De La Cruz. Bell is a rock-solid hitter.

Pete Alonso. Photo by Roberto Carlo

3. Pete Alonso – New York Mets

Alonso is a guy who continues to get better and better every season. In his five years as a Met, he’s solidified himself as one of the best players in team history and one of the best first basemen in MLB.

As mentioned before, he has led the league in home runs since he entered the league. In 2023, while the batting average was a career low at .217, he continued being a power-hitting machine. Alonso hit 46 home runs with 118 RBI and 123 hits. Entering a contract year, Alonso now looks to have another big year to earn the money he feels he deserves. 

Oct 11, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) hits a three-run home run during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves in game three of the NLDS for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

2. Bryce Harper – Philadelphia Phillies

One of the best players in the sport has changed positions. After spending his entire career in the outfield, Bryce Harper officially made a change to first base last year when he returned from Tommy John surgery.

He still hit 21 home runs for the Phillies in 2023, and for the first time since his second MVP campaign in 2021, Harper is coming back healthy after being removed from surgery for one year. A 100% Bryce Harper is a dangerous Bryce Harper, even as he nears the age of 32. Expect a big 2024 from the Phillies superstar.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

 1. Matt Olson – Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves trading for Matt Olson from Oakland looks better and better over these last two seasons. Since acquiring him, Olson has hit 88 home runs and driven in 242 RBI.

2023 was a banner year for Olson and the entire Braves offense. Olson led the way by leading the league in both home runs (54) and RBIs (139). Olson has established himself not only as the best first baseman in this division and one of the best in the game (MLB Network ranked him third only behind Freddie Freeman and Harper) but also as one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball. In 2024, Olson will continue to lead a Braves lineup that features Ronald Acuña Jr. (the 2023 NL MVP), Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, and Sean Murphy, and is in discussion with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the best lineup in baseball. 

The post 2024 NL East Position Rankings: First Base Edition appeared first on Metsmerized.

Tylor Megill. John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Tylor Megill entered Friday night without a win since April 12 and had allowed at least three runs in each of his last four starts. Facing off against the Nationals, Megill dodged traffic to allow just one earned run in the Mets’ 3-2 win in their series opener in Washington.

Megill continued the trend of the Mets’ starters struggling in the first inning – allowing a two-out RBI single to Joey Meneses. The run marked the fifth straight game in which a Mets starter allowed a run and was the 35th run the Mets have allowed in the first this year. Megill walked Dominic Smith but escaped further trouble by striking out Jeimer Candelario.

Megill got into trouble again with two outs in the second – allowing a single to Jake Alu and walking Lane Thomas. He was able to get out of the inning unscathed though on a Luis García ground out. Megill walked Keibert Ruiz to lead off the third inning, but worked around it for another scoreless inning, striking out Candelario again.

Megill allowed a lead-off double to Alex Call in the fourth inning, and he came around to score on an error by Francisco Lindor. The right-hander limited the damage again, getting García to fan to end the inning. Megill pitched the only clean inning of his night in the fifth, inducing three ground outs. Thanks to  Lindor’s bases-clearing double in the top of the sixth, Megill was able to earn his fourth win of the season.

Megill didn’t register a single swing and miss on his fastball, but it averaged 94.6 miles per hour, slightly above his season average of 94.3. His breaking pitches, however, were sharp. He generated 14 whiffs on 22 attempts, including seven on his curveball. Megill recorded all four of his strikeouts on breaking balls – three on his curve and one on a slider. Megill also generated nine outs via the ground ball.

While Megill hasn’t worked very deep into games, he’s kept the team in the game in every start he’s made. His walks have continued to be an issue, but he has done a solid job at limiting damage. With the current way the rotation lines up, Megill’s next start is slated for Thursday afternoon against the Rays.

The post Tylor Megill Battles Through Five Innings Against Nats appeared first on Metsmerized.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

We’re about to enter the second full season with the designated hitter in the National League. Teams are likely to use a lot of different players at the position throughout the season to rest their legs a little bit. However, each team has one or two players who are expected to get the bulk of the time at DH this season.

In the NL East, the DH spot boasts a few guys who can slug. The Mets are projected to run with the two platoon bats they picked up last summer, the Braves seem to be shifting an All-Star backstop to the role, and the Phillies have a bat that’s feared across the league. The Nationals will call upon a career minor leaguer to prove he’s more than a flash in the pan, and the Marlins will trot out two guys with huge raw power.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 Jorge Soler & Jesús Sánchez, MIA

Jorge Soler and Jesus Sanchez are similar players in the way that they both strike out a lot but have shown that they can hit the ball a long way.

Sánchez figures to get most of the starts against righties, as he hit all 13 of his homers against them. For the season, Sánchez hit .214/.280/.403 (93 wRC+) with 13 homers, 14 doubles, 3 triples, and 36 RBIs in 343 plate appearances. Sánchez made headlines when he hit a 496-foot home run at Coors Field back in May, showing off the 70-grade raw power he received from Fangraphs. He still strikes out a lot, though he cut his strikeout rate down from 31.1% in 2021 to 26.8% in 2022. However, his walk rate also dropped to 7.6% and his .226 xBA and .383 xSLG leave much to be desired. Sánchez also struggled badly against left-handed pitching, going just 8-for-55 with only one extra-base hit and 24 strikeouts against southpaws. Sánchez’s .759 OPS against righties suggests that he could be more effective in a platoon role.

Soler meanwhile failed to live up to expectations in the first year of his three-year, $33 million contract after winning World Series MVP in 2021. Soler played in just 72 games due to injury and hit just .207/.295/.400 (98 wRC+) with 13 homers and 34 RBIs in 306 plate appearances. While he still walked in 10.1% of his plate appearances, his strikeout rate jumped to 29.6%, and ISO dipped below .200 for the first time since 2017. Soler’s 43.1% ground-ball rate was the highest it’s been since 2018, and his 43.9% hard-hit rate was the lowest since that season. Soler hit just .203 against left-handers, but he belted six homers in 69 plate appearances against them, giving him a solid .820 OPS against southpaws. If Soler stays healthy, he could be in for a bounce-back season, and he and Sánchez could supply power for a Marlins team that hit the second-fewest homers in the NL in 2022.

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Joey Meneses, WAS

After spending a decade in the minor leagues, Joey Meneses finally cracked the majors after the Nationals traded Juan Soto. Meneses was fantastic after getting the call, hitting a strong .324/.367/.563 (156 wRC+) with 13 homers, 14 doubles, and 34 RBIs in 240 plate appearances. The 30-year-old had a respectable 21.7% strikeout rate and a 47.4% hard-hit rate and was particularly great against left-handed pitching, posting a 1.084 OPS with five homers and seven doubles in 76 plate appearances against lefties.

However, there are some signs that Meneses’ magic might not sustainable over the course of a full season. He only walked at a 6.3% clip, and he had a 47.7% ground-ball rate, which isn’t a great sign for a player that doesn’t have much speed. He also had a .371 BABiP, which is probably the most unsustainable aspect of his game. Meneses’ .457 xSLG and .267 xBA are signs that he’s still an above-average hitter, but likely not a .900+ OPS bat. Even if Meneses regresses though, expect to see him in the middle of the Washington lineup this season and as of right now, it wouldn’t be too surprising if he’s their representative in the All-Star Game.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 Daniel Vogelbach & Darin Ruf, NYM

The Mets acquired both Daniel Vogelbach and Darin Ruf to help bolster their lineup last summer and they produced two drastically different results.

Vogelbach was solid in 55 games after coming over from Pittsburgh, batting .255/.393/.436 (139 OPS+) with six homers, nine doubles, and 25 RBIs in 183 plate appearances. Vogelbach owned a very impressive 18% walk rate after coming over and his 20.5% chase rate ranked in the 94th percentile of MLB. However, Vogelbach’s numbers were hurt by his 45.5% zone swing percentage, 32.2% swing rate, and 12.8% first-pitch swing percentage. Vogelbach also struggled badly against lefties, going just 10-for-72 with only one extra-base hit against them. However, he was very strong against right-handed pitching, hitting .261/.382/.497 with 18 homers, 18 doubles, and 52 RBIs in 377 plate appearances against righties.

Ruf on the other hand struggled mightily after arriving in Flushing. He hit just .152/.216/.197 with only three extra-base hits and drew just five walks in 74 plate appearances. However, even after his disastrous finish to the season, Ruf finished the year with a respectable .753 OPS in 183 plate appearances against left-handed pitching, and he owns a career .891 OPS against lefties. ZiPS projects Ruf to be a 111 wRC+ bat in 2023, which would be a huge boost to a lineup that lacked a strong DH against left-handed pitching. If Ruf can return to form in some way, he could form a strong tandem with Vogelbach. If Ruf struggles again, expect to see Francisco Álvarez get more at-bats at DH.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 Travis d’Arnaud & Marcell Ozuna, ATL

It’s not often you see a Gold Glove finalist get moved to the DH spot, but with the Braves acquiring Sean Murphy, Travis d’Arnaud is expected to see a lot of time in the role. In his age-33 season, d’Arnaud had a nice bounce-back season offensively, hitting .268/.319/.472 (120 wRC+) with 18 homers, 25 doubles, and 60 RBIs in 426 plate appearances. While he walked in just 4.5% of his plate appearances, d’Arnaud’s strikeout rate dropped to 21.1%, which is the lowest it’s been since 2017. Furthermore, d’Arnaud’s ISO rose to .205, which is the highest it’s been over the course of a full season.

When d’Arnaud is behind the plate, Marcell Ozuna is slated to get some at-bats at DH. Ozuna is coming off another disappointing season on and off the field, which included an arrest for a DUI. On the field, Ozuna hit just .226/.274/.413 (89 wRC+) with 23 homers and 56 RBIs in 507 plate appearances. Ozuna struck out in a career-worst 24.1% of his plate appearances and his 89 wRC+ was the lowest mark he’s recorded in a full season. Furthermore, Ozuna’s negative-0.6 fWAR marks the first time he’s dipped below replacement level over the course of a full season. Ozuna also disappeared in the Braves’ NLDS loss to the Phillies, going 0-for-8 with four strikeouts. He did show some signs of life over the last few weeks of the regular season though, hitting .321/.368/.535 in 16 games in September and October. Even if Ozuna struggles again, the Braves have a couple of other formidable options in Sean Murphy and Vaughn Grissom to assist d’Arnaud.

Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Bryce Harper, PHI

Bryce Harper underwent Tommy John surgery in November, meaning he will likely miss most of, if not the entire first half of this season. Still, Harper is by far the most dangerous bat of the DHs in the NL East. He missed time due to injuries and played through a torn UCL in 2022, but he still posted a strong .286/.364/.519 (138 wRC+) batting line with 18 homers, 28 doubles, and 65 RBIs in 426 plate appearances. While his 10.8% walk rate is his lowest mark since 2014, Harper’s 20.4% strikeout rate is the lowest he’s had in a non-Covid shortened year since 2017.

Harper’s batted-ball data remained strong, as his .380 xwOBA, .288 xBA, and .527 xSLG all ranked in the top three percent of MLB, while he ranked in the 92nd percentile of average exit velocity. The only real knock against Harper is that his chase rate spiked to a career-high 35.7%, but his whiff rate fell to 28.2%. Harper took his dominance to another level in the postseason, hitting a scalding .349/.414/.746 with six homers, seven doubles, and 13 RBIs in 71 plate appearances, winning NLCS MVP and helping the Phillies reach the World Series. When he returns to the Phillies’ lineup this summer, it’s going to be very difficult for opponents to pitch to them.

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