On Wednesday, the Mets finished off their seven-game homestand with a bang.

After a Brett Baty two-run homer off of Zack Wheeler, offense was hard to come by as it was knotted at 2-2 going into the eighth. The Mets’ defense continued to keep them in the game, as Juan Soto gunned out Nick Castellanos at the plate in the eighth inning, eventually sending the game into extras. The culmination of the Mets’ perfect homestand would come with a Starling Marte bloop single into center field, scoring Pete Alonso and securing a 4-3 win for New York. For a full game recap, click here!

This win made the Mets 12-1 to start the season at Citi Field, marking their best home record to start a season in team history.

New York has an off day on Thursday as they travel down to D.C. to kick off a four-game set against the Washington Nationals. Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning are the expected starters for that series. 

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Ryne Stanek raved about the Mets pitching development under this new regime, per David Lennon of Newsday. Stanek said New York’s pitching development is is “as good as anywhere I’ve been.”

Carlos Mendoza told reporters that he expects to reinstate Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez from the 10-day IL on Friday. Click here for more on the two Mets’ expected returns.

Mets traded minor leaguer Rowdey Jordan to the Astros, per Mike Mayer of Metsmerized Online. Jordan was an 11th RD pick in 2021. and has a .683 OPS in the minors.

Mets trainers noticed that one of Edwin Díaz’s legs was longer than the other on Tuesday. They fixed the issue, says Díaz: “I was feeling better after”, per SNY. Edwin left Wednesday’s win with what he labeled as a “hip cramp.” Click here for more on Edwin’s injury.

Latest MLB News

The Atlanta Braves selected RHP Jesse Chavez to the major league roster and transferred INF Nacho Alvarez Jr. to the 60-day injured list. 

The Philadelphia Phillies reinstated INF/OF Weston Wilson from the 10-day IL and in return designated INF/OF Kody Clemens for assignment.

The Chicago Cubs signed Nicky Lopez to a one-year major league contract and transferred LHP Justin Steele to the 60-day IL.

Athletics reliever José Leclerc is going to get a second opinion when the A’s are in Texas next week after going down with a lat strain, per Martín Gallegos of MLB.com. He’s shut down for the time being with no timetable for a return.

Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell “didn’t feel great” after playing catch on Tuesday per Dave Roberts. Snell will be shut down from throwing and might go for more imaging, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Latest on MMO

Edwin Díaz left Wednesday’s win with a hip cramp.

Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez are expected to return this weekend!

The Mets finish off a perfect homestand!

On This Date in Mets History

2013: Jordany Valdespin hits a walk-off grand slam to give the Mets a 7-3 win over the Dodgers. 

2007: Pinch-hitter Damion Easley ties the Mets at one a piece with the Colorado Rockies in the 10th inning with the club down to their last strike. Endy Chávez would then win the game in the 12t inning with a walk-off drag bunt.

1986: Howard Johnson launches a two-run homer to tie the Mets and Reds in the ninth inning. George Foster then puts the Mets ahead in the 10th with an RBI single. 

1962: Casey Stengel is fined $500 by commissioner Ford Frick for appearing in a Rheingold Beer advertisement while in uniform.

Born on This Date: Tyler Naquin (1991), Carlos Beltrán (1977), Pat Zachry (1952).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Continued Historic Start at Citi Field appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets have decided to not add any eligible players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the MLB Rule 5 draft on December 11. The team’s 40-man roster remains at 34 players.

However, this means that Dom Hamel, Mike Vasil, Luke Ritters, and other players listed below are now exposed to being taken in the draft. If they are, they must remain on the active 26-man roster all season in order for the player to remain with the team that drafted him. If the team cuts said player, the original team can purchase his contract back for $50,000.

Vasil and Hamel could both be acquired and used in another team’s bullpen.

Dedniel Núñez was a recent player acquired from the Mets in the Rule 5 draft, but he got injured with the Giants and he returned to the Mets at the end of the year.

Original Post, November 18, 4:00 p.m.

Each offseason, every MLB team has to make some tough decisions. It doesn’t get easier for teams when deciding which players they should add to their 40-man rosters to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. The Mets have an extensive list of players this offseason who are Rule 5 eligible.

The 2024 Mets season proved some of their youth at the Major League level had promise, but the 2025 roster will look much different due to so many free agents expected to leave. Entering Monday, the Mets have 33 players on the 40-man roster. There is a priority for the 2025 offseason for starting pitching and bullpen help, so the Mets may be more inclined to use their available 40-man roster spots on pitchers. This list is just speculation, but it is worth getting to know some of the Rule-5 eligible players who may be protected by the Mets or be targets for other teams.

The Mets must decide whether or not to protect the following players by 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Mike Vasil. Photo by Rick Nelson

Mike Vasil, RHP (Triple-A)

Mike Vasil came into the 2024 season knocking on the door to get his shot with the big club – but nothing seemed to go according to plan for him. Vasil was hit hard in Syracuse, running a 6.04 ERA while striking out 109 batters and walking 52 in 134 innings.

While Vasil shows a decent four-pitch mix, the results weren’t there, and his control seemed to abandon him more often than not. Despite this, the Mets are looking to rebuild most of their rotation, and having Vasil as near MLB-ready depth is worth mentioning.

Prediction: Added

Dom Hamel, RHP (Triple-A)

Like Vasil, Dom Hamel had a rough 2024 season in Syracuse, with a 6.79 ERA while walking 77 batters and striking out 124 over 124 2/3 innings. Hamel also has a four-pitch mix, but his ultimate home may be in the bullpen unless he can improve his control. Yet again, with so many vacancies in Flushing, it would be hard to see the Mets not protecting a Triple-A starter who does have upside and is only a year removed from a much better 2023 season that saw him pitch to a 3.85 ERA and strike out 160 batters in 124 innings in Double-A.

Prediction: Added

Luke Ritter, UTIL (Triple-A)

“Ritter The Hitter” had a good season in Triple-A, slashing .257/.369/.480 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs while walking 73 times and striking out 174 times. Ritter saw playing time at every infield position except shortstop and played left field. While he is not spectacular in the field, he has shown power and the ability to draw walks but strikes out too much for the profile to be sustainable. Another factor working against Ritter is his age, as he will start the 2025 season as a 27-year-old.

Prediction: Not Added

JT Schwartz, 1B (Triple-A)

JT Schwartz, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft, has always hit for a solid average but has never developed any power, hitting 20 home runs over four minor league seasons. The Mets organization tried to get him some positional versatility this year, with seven starts at third base in Double-A, but a non-power-hitting first baseman isn’t something many teams are interested in.

Prediction: Not Added

Hayden Senger, C (Triple-A)

Hayden Senger was a Mets 24th-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and has climbed the ladder gradually every year, spending most of his injury-shortened 2024 season in Syracuse. Senger is a solid defender without much power to offer, but is a solid organizational catcher. He traveled with the Mets’ during their 2024 postseason run as an emergency backup catcher.

Prediction: Not Added

Nate Lavender, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Nate Lavender, LHP (Triple-A)

Lavender is the most curious case because he will likely miss the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. Lavender struck out 86 batters across two levels over 54 innings, only allowing 39 hits. A high-upside southpaw could be enticing to another team but the unknown recovery table could make the reliever less attractive.

Prediction: Not Added

Rowdey Jordan, 2B/3B (Double-A)

Rowdey Jordan repeated the 2024 season at Double-A and performed worse than he did in 2023. Jordan offers some speed, having stolen 55 bases over the last two seasons but not much in the way of power, and saw his walk rate go down and his strikeout rate go up. Jordan’s best position is second base, and the Mets seem to be set at second base both at the major league level and with some of the higher-level prospects.

Prediction: Not Added

Joander Suarez, RHP (Triple-A)

Suarez was dominant for a stretch in 2024 with Binghamton – however, that same success did not carry over to Syracuse. While Suarez doesn’t have the greatest stuff, he knows how to use it and limits walks. Suarez allowed five home runs in nine Triple-A innings, so maybe the wear and tear of a long season got the best of him. Adding him could be a bit on the fringe, but starters with a 2.1 BB/9 can be useful in any organization.

Prediction: Not Added

Jawilme Ramirez, RHP (High-A)

Ramirez is the sole person on this list who went to play in the Arizona Fall League and had an average performance. The 2024 season saw Ramirez pitch only 73 innings and strike out 61 batters against 37 walks. Ramirez will play the 2025 season as a 23-year-old, and while there is still an upside, he is far from a finished product.

Prediction: Not Added

Matt Allan, RHP

Matt Allan’s career has been derailed by injuries, and he hasn’t thrown a pitch in a professional game since 2019. Allan was a 2019 third-round pick who they signed away from a college commitment for $2.5 million. I would love nothing more than to see Allan pitch in the 2025 season at any level, but there is no need to protect him as a 23-year-old with 10 1/3 professional innings under his belt.

Prediction: Not Added

Other Rule 5 Decisions:

• Matt O’Neill, C
• Drake Osborn, C
• Vincent Perozo, C/1B
• William Lugo, INF
• Junior Tilien, INF
• Jefrey De Los Santos, INF
• Wyatt Young, INF
• Matt Rudick, OF
• Omar De Los Santos, OF
• TJ Shook, P
• Luis Moreno, P
• Felipe De La Cruz, SP
• Landon Marceaux, SP
• Douglas Orellana, SP
• Luis R. Rodriguez, SP
• Trey McLoughlin, RP
• Josh Hejka, RP
• Nolan Clenney, RP
• Joshua Cornielly, RP
• Raimon Gomez, RP
• Layonel Ovalles, RP
• Jeremy Peguero, RP

The Rule 5 Draft will take place on Dec. 11 at the Winter Meeting in Dallas. There is a major league portion and minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft. If selected in the major league portion, a player must remain on his new team’s major league roster for the entire upcoming season, or else he’s offered back to his original team. Players picked in the minor league phase aren’t forced to remain on a specific roster and can’t be offered back to their original organization.

The post Mets Don’t Protect Any Players From Rule 5 Draft appeared first on Metsmerized.

Read more about it in our roundup below.

Triple-A

Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (76-56) 10, Syracuse Mets (71-61) 8

BOX SCORE

• CF Drew Gilbert: 2-for-5, 2 R, HR (7), RBI (15) (.680 OPS)
• 3B Luke Ritter: 1-for-2, R, 3 BB (.872 OPS)
• DH Mike Brosseau: 1-for-4, R, HR (15), 2 RBIs (42), BB, K (.786 OPS)
• C Logan Porter: 3-for-4, 2 RBIs (33) (.869 OPS)

Photo Credit: James Farrance

The Syracuse offense found themselves in a 9-0 hole by the end of the third inning, but they almost found a way to complete the comeback. Gilbert continued his strong September with a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to give him three home runs in the last six games. The other home run came from Brosseau in the bottom of the fourth, which got the Mets on the board.

• RHP Blade Tidwell (0-8, 6.17 ERA): 1 2/3 IP, 7 R, 8 H, 2 BB, K (32 of 57 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Justin Jarvis (5.68): 3 1/3 IP,  2 R, 5 H, 3 K (43 of 61 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Shintaro Fujinami (6.04): 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K (8 of 10 pitches for strikes)
• LHP Joey Lucchesi (4.82): 3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, BB (23 of 41 pitches for strikes)

Wednesday was not Tidwell’s best day on the mound to say the least. The RailRiders hit home runs against him in each of the first two innings, including a two-run home run from Jasson Dominguez in the first. The seven runs allowed is the most he has given up in an outing this year.

Hitters are 1-for-29 with 13 strikeouts against Fujinami in his last six outings.

Double-A, Game 1

Somerset Patriots (67-59) 6, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (63-62) 4

BOX SCORE

• 1B Jaylen Palmer: 2-for-3, R, HR (11), 2 RBIs (28) (.753 OPS)
• DH Rowdey Jordan: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI (50) (.657 OPS)
• 3B Mateo Gil: 1-for-2, RBI (6), BB, SB, K (.408 OPS)
• SS Jett Williams: 1-for-4, K (.540 OPS)
• LF Ryan Clifford: 1-for-4, 2 K (.807 OPS)

The Rumble Ponies picked up three of their four runs in the bottom of the second. Those runs came on an RBI double by Jordan and Palmer would hit a two-run home run right after him. Jordan had an RBI in Game 2, which gives him four straight games with a run driven in.

• RHP Luis Moreno (3-7, 4.63): 4 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K (54 of 87 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Cam Robinson (3.47): 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, BB, 2 K (15 of 26 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Wilkin Ramos (1.82): 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K (25 of 41 pitches for strikes)

After Binghamton had a 3-1 lead, the Patriots scored two runs in the third and fourth innings against Moreno to end up taking the lead for good. Out of the six hits allowed by the right-hander, four of them were extra-base hits. He gave up a two-run home run and three doubles (two of them by Spencer Jones).

Game 2

Somerset Patriots (68-59) 5, Binghamton Patriots (63-63) 3

BOX SCORE

• SS Jeremiah Jackson: 1-for-3, 2 R, HR (17), RBI (56) (.604 OPS)
• 3B Jaylen Palmer: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI (29), K
• 2B Rowdey Jordan: 0-for-2, RBI (51), K
• CF Matt Rudick: 0-for-2, R, BB, SB. 2 K (.721 OPS)

Just like Game 1, Binghamton had a 3-1 lead, but they were unable to hang on in the end. Palmer kept the good momentum going with a ground-rule double in the top of the second. Two innings later, Jackson would hit a solo shot for his 17th home run of the year. The 24-year-old hit his first home run since August 28.

• RHP Cameron Foster (3.52): 3 1/3 IP, 3 R (1 ER), H, 3 BB, 7 K (43 of 64 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Joshua Cornielly (0.75): 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, H, 2 K (14 of 21 pitches for strikes)
• RHP TJ Shook (2-3, 2.70): 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, K (11 of 17 pitches for strikes)

The only hit Foster gave up in Game 2 was a solo home run in the bottom of the first. The 25-year-old tied his season-high with seven strikeouts (June 8). After the home run, Foster struck out the next six batters he faced. Cornielly had another scoreless appearance out of the bullpen. He has not allowed a run in six of his last seven outings in Double-A.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (63-65) 1, Wilmington Blue Rocks (55-73) 0

BOX SCORE

• DH Estarling Mercado: 1-for-3, RBI (5), K (.568 OPS)
• CF Nick Morabito: 1-for-3, BB (.731 OPS)
• LF Christopher Suero: 1-for-4, K, SB (.688 OPS)
• C Ronald Hernandez: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, SB (.592 OPS)
• 2B Kevin Villavicencio: 1-for-3, 2B (.442 OPS)

Offense was hard to come by in Coney Island in Wednesday, but Brooklyn found a way to do just enough for the win. The lone run in this game came on an RBI single by Mercado in the bottom of the second.

• RHP Saul Garcia (0.00): 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, BB, 7 K (51 of 82 pitches for strikes)
• LHP Ryan Ammons (1.33): 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 K (16 of 34 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Eduardo Herrera (3.32, 4th save): 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, K (16 of 24 pitches for strikes)

Garcia made his Brooklyn 2024 debut on Wednesday and pitched very well. Two of the three hits he allowed were doubles, but he was able to keep Wilmington off the scoreboard when he needed to. The seven strikeouts are the second-most he has had in any start this year. Despite the three walks, Ammons struck out three batters for the third consecutive outing.

Low-A

The St. Lucie Mets (44-81) had their game against the Clearwater Threshers (61-62) canceled due to rain. The two teams concluded their suspended game from September 3, with the Mets picking up a 4-3 win in seven innings. Their bullpen trio of Channing Austin, Hoss Brewer, and Frank Elissalt combined to not allow a run in the final 3 2/3 innings to preserve the win.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Drew Gilbert Stays Hot For Syracuse appeared first on Metsmerized.

Simón Juan. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (44-26) 8, Rochester Red Wings (36-33) 2

BOX SCORE

• 3B Brett Baty: 1-for-4, R, HR (4), 2 RBIs (13), BB, K (1.188 OPS)
• 2B Rylan Bannon: 2-for-5, R, 2B, 2 RBIs (49), K (.883 OPS)
• SS Luisangel Acuña: 1-for-2, R, RBI (23), 2 BB, SB (.686 OPS)
• RF Ben Gamel: 2-for-5, RBI (24), K (.962 OPS)
• 1B Mike Brosseau: 1-for-4, R, HR (8), RBI (22) (.879 OPS)

In Wednesday night’s win, Syracuse got at least one hit from seven of the nine hitters in their starting lineup. Acuña had an RBI single in the bottom of the second to extend his hit streak to seven games. Baty continues to swing the bat well since being sent down to Triple-A. His two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth gave him a hit in nine of the last 11 games he has played in Syracuse.

• RHP Mike Vasil (6.75 ERA): 5 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, BB, 3 K (58 of 88 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Yacksel Ríos (3-1, 2.76): 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, K (15 of 20 pitches for strikes)
• LHP Josh Walker (1.77): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, 2 K (10 of 20 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Cole Sulser (2,11): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB (11 of 23 pitches for strikes)

Vasil got off to a rough start as he allowed a pair of runs in the third inning, including the first home run of the Triple-A career of Dylan Crews. However, the 24-year-old right-hander was able to go five innings in an outing for the first time since May 30. The Syracuse bullpen combined to not allowed a single hit over the final four innings as the Mets offense was able to break the game open.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (33-30) 4, Akron Rubberducks (35-30) 1

BOX SCORE

• 3B Rowdey Jordan: 3-for-5, R, HR (6), 4 RBIs (28), SB, 2 K (.744 OPS)
• SS Jeremiah Jackson: 1-for-5, 2B, 2 K (.624 OPS)
• 1B JT Schwartz: 1-for-4, 2B, BB (.783 OPS)
• CF Alex Ramírez: 1-for-2, 3 BB, SB (.675 OPS)

The Rumble Ponies offense was stifled for the first six innings, but Jordan found a way to get the big hit with a grand slam in the top of the seventh. Jordan has homered in back-to-back games and has seven RBIs over the last three games.

https://twitter.com/RumblePoniesBB/status/1803586921202856008

• RHP Joander Suarez (4-4, 4.39): 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 5 K (64 of 94 pitches for strikes)
• LHP Daniel Juarez (4.50): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 K (11 of 16 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Paul Gervase (3.86, 4th save): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 K (10 of 13 pitches for strikes)

Suarez was able to go deep into his start on Wednesday as he only allowed one extra-base hit and the only run that Akron scored came on a caught stealing in the bottom of the first. The 24-year-old right-hander had his longest outing of the season and he has pitched into the seventh inning in two of his last three starts. Gervase picked up the save and he has 11 strikeouts to 2 walks over his last four relief appearances (5.1 innings).

High-A

Jersey Shore BlueClaws (38-27) 2, Brooklyn Cyclones (32-33) 0

BOX SCORE

• 1B Christopher Suero: 1-for-4, 3 K (.741 OPS)
• DH Nick Lorusso: 1-for-4 (.831 OPS)
• CF Stanley Consuegra: 1-for-2, 2 BB, SB (.746 OPS)
• LF Karell Paz: 1-for-4, 2 K (.554 OPS)

As a team, the Cyclones ended up going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, had only one extra-base hit, and they struck out 12 times against three Jersey Shore pitchers. That lone extra-base hit came on a double by Paz in the bottom of the seventh.

• RHP Jonathan Pintaro (0-2, 3.60): 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K (52 of 78 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Henry Henry (0.00): 1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K (14 of 18 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Justin Lawson (3.82): 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H (15 of 23 pitches for strikes)

Although Pintaro has lost both of his starts since signing with the Mets organization, the 26-year-old was able to have his first quality start. Jersey Shore scored its only runs of the game on a two-run single in the top of the fourth. Henry came in after Pintaro for his first relief appearance with the Cyclones and the 25-year-old struck out two of the four batters he faced.

Low-A

St. Lucie Mets (22-43) 7, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (30-34) 3

BOX SCORE

• LF Willy Fañas: 2-for-5, 3 RBIs (8), SB, 2 K (.645 OPS)
• SS Jesus Baez: 1-for-4, R, HR (10), RBI (38), BB (.793 OPS)
• 2B Kevin Villavicencio: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 3B, RBI (11), K (.668 OPS)
• DH Ronald Hernandez: 1-for-4, RBI (11), SB, K (.761 OPS)
• SS Colin Houck: 0-for-4, 3 K (.620 OPS)

St. Lucie was down 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but they scored three runs and never gave the lead back from there in that inning. Fañas hit a two-run single to give them a 2-1 lead.  He added another run with a base hit in the eighth. The 20-year-old drove in a run in a game for the first time since June 9.

Big hit Willy Fanas! He delivers a 2-run single to give us a 2-1 lead in the 5th! pic.twitter.com/wq7kvz0N8a

— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) June 19, 2024

Baez was able to hit the double-digit mark in home runs with a solo shot in the seventh. The 19-year-old has homered in back-to-back games and has four home runs in the month of June. As for Villavicencio, he had his second three-hit game of the month (June 1).

• LHP Franklin Gomez (2-4, 3.95): 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, BB, 4 K (61 of 86 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Eduardo Herrera (0.00): 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, BB, K (13 of 27 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Nick Bautista III (7.94): 1 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, K (15 of 27 pitches for strikes)

Aside from allowing one extra-base hit, Gomez had one of his better starts of the season. The 18-year-old southpaw had his longest outing of the year and he has now allowed two runs or fewer in four straight starts.

Florida Complex League

FCL Mets (15-16) 9, FCL Cardinals (12-19) 8

BOX SCORE

• CF Simón Juan: 2-for-4, R, HR (7), 4 RBIs (22), K (.901 OPS)
• RF Fabián Machado: 3-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBIs (11), BB, K (.745 OPS)
• DH Julio Zayas: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, K (.851 OPS)
• SS Jeremy Rodriguez: 1-for-5, 2 R, SB, K (.771 OPS)
• 2B Yonatan Henriquez: 1-for-3, R, 2 SB, BB, K (.716 OPS)

The Mets offense found themselves in a 4-0 hole before they ever came to the plate, but they found a way to work a comeback. Juan helped lead the charge. He had an RBI single in the first to start the scoring, a two-run home run in the fourth (put them up 5-4), and a game-tying sacrifice fly in the sixth. The 18-year-old has three home runs in the last two games.

• RHP Luis Alvarez (13.50): 0 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 0 H, 4 BB
• RHP Layonel Ovalles (0.00): 3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 3 K
• RHP Christian Rodriguez (6.30): 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K
• LHP Brayhans Barreto (2-0, 3.13): 2.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K

Despite Alvarez not being able to get a single out, the pitching staff was able to do enough to keep the offense in the game. Ovalles continues to throw the ball well as he has five hitless innings in two outings since going down to the Complex League (7 strikeouts, 1 walk). Rodriguez struck out six batters for the third outing this year. The 19-year-old has 25 strikeouts in eight outings on the season.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Simon Juan Helps Spark FCL Comeback appeared first on Metsmerized.

Triple-A

Rochester Red Wings (13-12) 2, Syracuse Mets (15-12) 1

BOX SCORE

• CF Ben Gamel: 3-for-4, R, 2 2B (1.045 OPS)
• 3B Rylan Bannon: 1-for-4, 3B, RBI (14) (.921 OPS)
• 2B Jose Iglesias: 2-for-4, K (.844 OPS)
• SS Luisangel Acuña: 0-for-4 (.619 OPS)

Syracuse’s lone run on Wednesday came in the first inning on an RBI triple from Bannon. The 28-year-old has driven in a run in four of his last five games. The offense was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, and it had ten strikeouts against three different Rochester pitchers. 

• LHP Joey Lucchesi (2.25 ERA): 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K (65 of 90 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Grant Hartwig (3.60): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H (8 of 12 pitches for strikes)
• LHP Josh Walker (0-2, 3.18): 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 K (21 of 28 pitches for strikes)

It was a quality outing for Lucchesi on Wednesday with the only damage against him coming via a game-tying RBI single in the fourth. The southpaw has gone six innings in three of his last four starts and has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his six starts this year. Walker ended up allowing a walk-off home run in the ninth as he took the loss. 

Double-A

Game 1

Hartford Yard Goats (13-7) 4, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (10-11) 3

BOX SCORE

• 2B Rowdey Jordan: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs (11), K (.730 OPS)
• RF Jeremiah Jackson: 1-for-3, RBI (10), K (.555 OPS)
• C Kevin Parada: 0-for-1, K (.588 OPS)
• 1B JT Schwartz: 0-for-2, R, BB, SB, K (.748 OPS)
• DH Brandon McIlwain: 1-for-3, SB, K (.701 OPS)

In Game 1 of the doubleheader, the Rumble Ponies only got five hits against three different Yard Goats pitchers. Jordan had the clutch hit in the bottom of the third as his two-run single gave the Rumble Ponies a 2-1 lead. The 25-year-old has driven in six runs in the last five games. The other run that was driven in came on a Jackson RBI single in the fourth. 

• RHP Luis Moreno (5.63): 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, BB, K (18 of 31 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Junior Santos (3.27): 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, BB, K (14 of 24 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Cam Robinson (0-1, 27.00): 0.1 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 1 H, 2 BB, K (14 of 27 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Wilkin Ramos (0.00): 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, K (16 of 19 pitches for strikes)

The Yard Goats had a lone extra-base hit on a solo home run in the top of the third, but it was the team’s three-run sixth inning that ultimately got Hartford the win, with all three coming against Robinson, who was making his Met organizational debut (errors in the inning by Jordan and Matt Rudick). 

Ramos got the final five outs for Binghamton. The 23-year-old right-hander has gone more than one inning in three of his last four relief appearances and has gone seven straight outings without allowing a run. 

Game 2

Hartford Yard Goats (14-7) 4, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (10-12) 2 

BOX SCORE

• OF Matt Rudick: 2-for-3, R, BB (.789 OPS)
• 1B JT Schwartz: 1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBIs (8), K (.777 OPS)
• DH Alex Ramirez: 1-for-4, R, K (.811 OPS)

Binghamton had their chances to erase an early 4-0 deficit in Game 2, but the offense went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Schwartz drove in the only two runs of the game for the Rumble Ponies with a double in the third and a sacrifice fly in the seventh. 

• RHP Tyler Stuart (0-1, 4.58): 4 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 K (50 of 78 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Andre Scrubb (2.25): 3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 3 K (28 of 41 pitches for strikes)

It was a rough first inning for Stuart as Hartford had four of the first five hitters reach base including a wild pitch on a strikeout to lead off the game. Eventually, a sacrifice fly and a three-run home run had Hartford up by four. However, Stuart settled in as he retired 10 of the last 13 hitters he faced. 

Nolan McLean, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

High-A

Aberdeen IronBirds (12-11) 6, Brooklyn Cyclones (12-11) 2

BOX SCORE

• DH Nolan McLean: 1-for-4, R, HR (3), RBI (7), 2 K (.922 OPS)
• 1B Nick Lorusso: 1-for-4, RBI (14), K (.916 OPS)
• LF Ryan Clifford: 1-for-4, 2 K (.770 OPS)
• CF Stanley Consuegra: 1-for-4, R, 2B, 2 K (.623 OPS)

The Cyclones had seven of the nine hitters in the starting lineup record one hit each, but nobody had a multi-hit game and the team struck out 14 times. After Brooklyn was down 3-0 early, McLean got the team on the board with a solo home run in the second inning. 

It's another McBomb from McLean. 💣🍎

Nolan sends this one 103.5 off the bat to Stillwell Avenue.

We love pitchers who rake. #AmazinStartsHere #MiLB #LGM pic.twitter.com/WHlb1AlGFC

— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) May 1, 2024

Lorusso drove in the other run for Brooklyn with an RBI single in the third. The 9th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has at least one hit in eight of his last nine games and has driven in at least one run in seven of his last eight games. 

• LHP Felipe De La Cruz (0-3, 2.91): 4 IP, 3 R (1 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K (48 of 82 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Brett Banks (4.15): 1.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H. BB (17 of 35 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Justin Lawson (0.00): 2.1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 K (22 of 28 pitches for strikes)

Brooklyn’s defense did not help their pitching staff, as they ended up making four errors in Wednesday’s loss. At the same time, De La Cruz has struggled with his command recently (three walks in back-to-back starts). Two of those walks came in the second inning and both runners ended up coming around to score. 

The standout of the day in the Brooklyn bullpen was Lawson. The 15th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of NC State has yet to allow a run in the first six appearances of his career. He has provided good length in the Brooklyn bullpen by going two innings or more in three of those outings. 

Low-A

St. Lucie Mets (11-15) 7, Jupiter Hammerheads (15-8) 2

BOX SCORE

• SS Colin Houck: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, BB, K (.644 OPS)
• C Vincent Perozo: 3-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBIs (11). K (.655 OPS)
• 3B Boston Baro: 1-for-2, 3 RBIs (4), 2 SB, 2 BB (1.025 OPS)
• 1B Christopher Suero: 1-for-3, R, RBI (15), BB (.969 OPS)
• 2B Jesus Baez: 1-for-5, RBI (13), K (.676 OPS)

St. Lucie started the afternoon by scoring four runs in the bottom of the first, all of which came with two outs via RBI singles by Perozo, Suero, and Baro. Perozo had his fourth multi-hit game of the year and his first three-hit game of the season. 

In addition to Perozo, Houck had a three-hit day (his first multi-hit game of the season). Baro stole his first two bases of his professional career (his ninth career game dating back to last year). 

Boston Baro makes it a 4-0 game with a 2-run single in the 1st inning. He has 3 RBI in his first 2 games. pic.twitter.com/S8Azz5OaB9

— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) May 1, 2024

• RHP Austin Troesser (1.96): 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K (47 of 78 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Saul García (1-1, 7.71): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 K (7 of 11 pitches for strikes)
• LHP Ryan Ammons (2.57): 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K (21 of 38 pitches for strikes)

In his third career start, Troesser was dominant against the Hammerheads as he picked up 15 whiffs out of the 78 pitches he threw (Baseball Savant). The 22-year-old right-hander and 4th-round pick from a year ago tied a season-high with 4.2 innings of work and reached a new career-high with the nine strikeouts (28 in 5 starts this year). 

The post Nolan McLean Homers for Brooklyn appeared first on Metsmerized.

JT Schwartz, Photo by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies

With the final games of the Arizona Fall League behind, the Mets affiliate team, the Glendale Desert Dogs, finished the season in last place. However, some prospects faired better than others. Below is a final look at how all the Mets’ prospects performed this fall.

Hitters

Kevin Parada – In 18 games over 75 plate appearances, Parada slashed .186/.240/.371 with three home runs and nine RBI for a .611 OPS. Parada struck out 29 times, continuing his trend towards more swing-and-miss. On the defensive side, Parada allowed 36 stolen bases to five caught stealing for a 12% caught stealing rate. It’s worth noting that Parada played 120 games, almost doubling his career high. Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline had this to say about Parada:

Parada is really focused on his defense, and the Mets were pleased with the progress he’s shown to date, but he’ll be a serviceable catcher at best. If the bat develops as one hopes, he still has a good chance to be an offensive-minded starting backstop in the big leagues.

D’Andre Smith – In 15 games over 55 plate appearances, Smith slashed .235/.291/.353 with one home run and six RBI’s for a .644 OPS. Smith exclusively played second base, and while the numbers weren’t eye-popping, they could have been much worse. Smith, despite a nearly 25% strikeout rate, showed the ability to put the bat on the ball.

JT Schwartz – The strongest offensive stat line by a Mets hitter, in 20 games and 83 plate appearances, Schwartz slashed .247/.325/.411 with two home runs and 13 RBI for a .736 OPS. 33% of his hits went for extra bases, but at the cost of his plate discipline, he ran a 6/20 BB/K ratio. If Schwartz can tap into his power, he can become a viable MLB player because he has shown he can hit for average.

Rowdey Jordan – Jordan just continued to hit over his 15 games and 60 plate appearances. He had 13 hits – six of them doubles and slashed .255/.367/.373 for a .740 OPS. Jordan doesn’t offer a lot of power, but displayed his versatility yet again, playing games in left field, right field and third base. While Jordan stole 30 bases over the season, he stole one base and was caught twice in Arizona.

Pitchers

Trey McLoughlin – In nine games, McLoughlin had a 0.00 ERA over 8 2/3 innings pitched, striking out eight and walking four while allowing four hits and earning one save. McLoughlin has shown the ability to miss bats and not walk too many hitters, possibly making him a depth piece in the Mets bullpen in the future.

Nolan Clenney – In nine games, Clenney had a 1.00 ERA, running a 13 K/9. Clenney misses a lot of bats but gives up nearly a hit an inning, as he did in Arizona. At 27 years old, the leash on his continued growth will be shorter as he hasn’t shown much success in Triple-A thus far.

Tyler Thomas – In nine games, Thomas notched a 3.72 ERA with a 12 K/9. One could copy and paste the statement written about Clenney here. The older prospect, with no better track record in Syracuse than Clenney, strikes out batters but walks them and gives up hits too.

Jordan Geber – In five starts, Geber ran a 6.00 ERA. He struck out 15 batters and walked three, but allowed 22 hits, four of which were home runs over 18 innings. Geber doesn’t get a lot of strikeouts but doesn’t walk many batters.

Brendan Hardy – In seven appearances, Hardy put up a 6.35 ERA over 5 2/3 innings, striking out four, walking five, and allowing five hits. Hardy had a strong 2023 season across three levels, striking out 54 over 35 innings, so maybe his AZFL performance can be attributed to fatigue – especially since over those 35 innings in the regular season, he walked 13 batters.

The post How The Mets Prospects Performed in The Arizona Fall League appeared first on Metsmerized.

As we look ahead at 2024, left field is maybe the position that’s the most up in the air. There are three outfielders on the 40-man roster, and none of them are natural left-fielders. Let’s check out the options.

Big League Starter

Brandon Nimmo is the starting center fielder, and Starling Marte will likely be the starting right fielder provided he’s healthy. That leaves Stewart, the only remaining outfielder on the 40-man roster, the presumptive starting left fielder. A pleasant surprise for the Mets after being thrown into an everyday role over the final third of the season, Stewart played well. His .238/.328/.494 slash line with 11 home runs over 58 games was well above any expectations for him. He had just three plate appearances for the Orioles in 2022 and a .698 OPS over 100 games in 2021, so his .822 OPS for the Mets was a noticeable step up. Stewart was a first-round draft pick by the Orioles in 2015 and he could be coming into his potential now.

Stewart is a prototypical power-hitting lefty. Almost all of his hits last year were pulled, including all of his home runs. He hits the ball hard, but he also swings and misses a lot. He was far from a qualifier, but if he were, his 30.3% strikeout rate would have been the seventh-worst in baseball, sandwiched between Eugenio Suárez and Kyle Schwarber. Players with this profile can absolutely be starting-caliber players in today’s league, but the margin for error is slimmer. Stewart only walks an average amount and is a below-average fielder and runner, so if he’s not hitting for power, he’s not bringing much else to the table. He doesn’t have a track record of success, and while he was good in 2023, it was only in a little under 200 plate appearances. He certainly earned a spot on the 2024 roster, but ideally, it’s as a fourth outfielder. As it stands right now though, he’s got the starting job.

Big League Depth

The largest source of big league depth in left field for the Mets comes from two players who are already starters at other positions — Jeff McNeil and Nimmo. McNeil will probably be the Opening Day starter at second base, but the Mets have more depth there. Ronny Mauricio probably hasn’t earned the starting job, but he’ll also probably get at least some playing time there to open up the season. McNeil’s versatility helps, as he can easily move to left field or right field when needed. He made 32 starts in left in 2023, and it’ll probably be around the same if not more in 2024.

Nimmo is another option there, having made 10 starts in left in 2023, but it’ll happen less than McNeil. The Mets don’t have a backup center fielder on their roster yet, but they’ll need one. Whoever the backup center fielder is could get a couple of starts while sliding Nimmo over to left. Aside from those two though, there aren’t many other options. There are some ideas of trying Mauricio and Brett Baty in left, and both played there a bit in the minors, but counting on them as true depth might be a bit of a stretch. 

Upper Levels Depth

There aren’t many minor league outfielders at Triple-A who could be ready soon to contribute at the major league level. One name to keep an eye on is Brandon McIlwain. He was solid in 2023, putting up a .736 OPS in 85 games in Double-A and .773 OPS in 43 games in Triple-A. The power isn’t great but there’s some there, with 12 homers between the two levels. He also hit 30 doubles, tied with Mauricio for the most among Mets minor leaguers. Lorenzo Cedrola is another option, but he spent a lot of 2023 on the injured list. He played 59 games in Triple-A and, like McIlwain, was solid but not extraordinary, putting up a .783 OPS. The most impressive part of his season? He walked 27 times with just 30 strikeouts, and his strikeout rate was one of the lowest in the organization.

The more interesting minor league depth comes in Double-A. Drew Gilbert, acquired by the Mets in the Justin Verlander trade, has a very real chance to make his MLB debut in 2024. He spent most of 2023 in Double-A and was excellent, especially after the trade. In 35 games with the Rumble Ponies, Gilbert hit .325 with a .984 OPS and a 3-4-5 slash line. He will probably start 2024 in Triple-A, and if he plays well, that could mean an opportunity in the big leagues before the season is over.

Rowdey Jordan spent all of 2023 in Double-A and could be a possible depth option. Matt Rudick did the same and posted a .849 OPS, but also spent a good amount of time on the injured list. There’s also Rhylan Thomas, who moved from Low-A to Double-A in one year and impressed along each stop, but will probably start 2024 still in Binghamton. Luisangel Acuña played 4 games in center last season when in the Rangers organization, so who knows, maybe he could be an option. The same goes for Jett Williams, who saw a lot more time in center, and Jeremiah Jackson, who is looking like a potential true utility player.

Alex Ramírez is another name fans might think of with how long he’s been in the organization and on the top prospect lists, but he’s not close to being a major league contributor. He spent all of 2023 in High-A after spending half of 2022 there as well and struggled. He has a long way to go before he gets a shot on an MLB roster.

Potential Acquisitions

There is maybe a scenario where Gilbert is the starting left fielder for the Mets on Opening Day, but it’s highly, highly unlikely. Stewart is an option, and currently the penciled-in starter, but it’s far from set in stone. It’s unknown what direction the Mets are leaning, but there’s at least a decent chance the primary left fielder in 2024 isn’t currently on the roster. When looking at options, there are three clear tiers: League-altering trade, mid-tier free agent, or short-term placeholder. 

The league-altering trade would be Juan Soto. There has been chatter all offseason about the Padres potentially moving on from Soto this offseason, and if that’s the case, the Mets should make every effort to get him. It’s almost pointless to list his numbers because at this point it doesn’t need to be said. Soto is a superstar. His plate discipline is legendary, especially in today’s offensive environment, and he set a career-high in home runs last year with 35. He also only just turned 25. It’s a rare, rare, rare opportunity to acquire a player of Soto’s caliber at his age. The Mets (and 28 other teams) have an opportunity to trade for Soto, extend him for life, and create a franchise legend. It’s not often you can go out and get someone who you know has a legitimate chance to be a Hall-of-Famer with your logo on his cap. The Mets should be all hands on deck. No one is off-limits.

While that is the best option, it’s also the most unrealistic of the three. There’s no guarantee Soto is even traded at all this offseason, and if he is, plenty of other teams will be in the mix. So, that gets us to the mid-tier free agents. In this group, it’s a trio: Teoscar Hernández, Jorge Soler, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 

Soler had the best 2023 out of the three, hitting .250 with a .853 OPS and 36 home runs for the Marlins. He simply crushed the ball, looking a lot like the version of himself that hit 48 home runs in 2019 with the Royals to lead the American League. However, aside from those two seasons, 2019 and 2023, he hasn’t had a lot of success. He’s only hit more than 20 home runs in a season once, 2021, and even then he had a .749 OPS and 99 OPS+. He did much better after a trade to the Braves at the deadline, go figure, but still wasn’t enough to boost his OPS+ above the league-average mark. He’s also more of a DH and right fielder but has over 800 innings in his career in left. He’ll get at least three years, and probably at least four years in free agency at over $20 million per year. It would likely be a deal a lot like Starling Marte’s, for a player with much less of a track record.

Hernández is the player who probably has the best track record, but he also had the worst 2023. He wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t that good, hitting .258 with a .741 OPS and 26 home runs for the Mariners. He had a lot of success with the Blue Jays, hitting .283 with a .852 OPS in over 300 games from 2020-22 before being shipped to Seattle last offseason. The most concerning thing with Hernández is he has been on a downward trajectory for the last couple of seasons. While he was still good in 2022, his OPS dropped almost 70 points from 2021. It then dropped about another 70 points from 2022 to 2023. At 31 years old, there’s no guarantee he ever hit his Toronto level of success again. Also of note — he walked 38 times and struck out 211 times in 2023. Like Soler, also more of a right fielder, but has over 1,500 innings in left. His potential contract is really up in the air. How much did his 2023 season hurt his value? Will teams be willing to bet on him getting back to the All-Star caliber player he was with the Blue Jays? Who knows, but he’s certainly a risky buy.

Another former Blue Jay who was traded away this past offseason is Gurriel Jr., and he’s on the market too. He was better than Hernández in 2023, but still wasn’t anything special, hitting .261 with a .772 OPS and 26 home runs. He doesn’t walk, but he also doesn’t strike out an overwhelming amount. His 35 doubles are also noticeably more than what Soler and Hernández posted in 2023. He’s also about a year younger than the other two and is the only one who is a true left fielder. He doesn’t have a single inning in right-field in his career but does have over 600 innings in the infield. While he hasn’t played the two middle infield spots in many years, he could still serve as the emergency first baseman, similar to what Canha did when he was with the Mets. Gurriel Jr. was good enough that he’s probably going to get at least a three-year deal, maybe more, and probably for at least $15 million per year. For the right price, he could be an interesting addition. 

There is a wildcard and potential fourth name in this group, and that’s Jung Hoo Lee. A superstar in Korea, he’s expected to come to MLB for the 2024 season. In seven years in the KBO, starting at age 18, Lee has hit .340/.407/.491, which is a .898 OPS. He doesn’t have a ton of pop, but it’s coming along, hitting a career-high 23 home runs in 2022. His 2023 was cut short due to injury, but he still hit six home runs and 23 doubles in 86 games. He also walks more than he strikes out, with 383 walks and 304 strikeouts in 884 career games. He’s played mainly centerfield and not a ton of left field, but he has experience at all three outfield spots. Lee is also still just 25 years old, so he could be in line for a decent-sized contract.

Onto the third tier, there are a handful of guys who can still be productive players but probably won’t require a huge financial or time commitment. Whit Merrifield is still a good player, and while most known as a second baseman, did have almost 600 innings in left field last season. He did just decline his side of the $18 million mutual option though, so that could give some idea of the type of money he is seeking. Joc Pederson was decent for the Giants last year but mostly was a DH, and he might be redundant with what the Mets already have in Stewart. Eddie Rosario just had his option declined by the Braves, and he was about a league-average bat with below-average defense for Atlanta in 2023. Of course, there’s also Pham, who the Mets could look at bringing back. However, after the year he had, he will probably get more than the 1-year, $6 million deal the Mets gave him last offseason.

Maybe take a look at Michael Brantley and Adam Duvall, two solid veterans who would likely be available for relatively affordable 1-year deals. Even Jesse Winker, Mets’ fan-favorite, might be worth a look, but he’s coming off back-to-back rough seasons and has trouble staying healthy.

TL;DR

There are a lot of options, at a lot of different price points. Juan Soto, Teoscar Hernández, Jorge Soler, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Jung Hoo Lee, Whit Merrifield, Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario, Tommy Pham, Michael Brantley, Adam Duvall and Jesse Winker all could be in the mix.

The post Mets Organizational Depth Chart: Left Field appeared first on Metsmerized.

Big League Starter

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Nimmo had an outstanding 2023 campaign. He played in 152 games, which is a career-high, and the second year in a row he played over 150. After securing an eight-year, 162 million dollar contract, Nimmo posted a strong .274/.363/.466 line, with a career-high 24 home runs and 68 RBIs batting out of the leadoff spot. Nimmo kept the same solid eye at the plate but struck out 30 more times in nine more plate appearances. In the field, Nimmo had another solid season, but the biggest plus was in a season marred by injuries; Nimmo was in the lineup almost every day, either in the outfield or at DH. Having stability in center field is something that allows the Mets to focus their attention elsewhere.

Big League Depth

The Mets only have Starling Marte signed in the outfield, with DJ Stewart arbitration eligible. Marte is coming off an injury-riddled campaign; it seems like a long shot the Mets will play him in center, even in an emergency.

Upper Levels Depth

At Triple-A, the Mets have Brandon McIlwain and Lorenzo Cedrola. McIlwain spent the majority of the year at Double-A but finished off the last third of the season at Triple-A. Overall, he slashed .247/.356/.393 with 12 home runs and 20 stolen bases while playing the majority of his games in center field. While not the highest upside profile, he hits for some power, steals some bases and has a good batting eye. Cedrola was injured for most of the year, but when he played, he managed to slash .250/.368/.399 with six home runs and 15 stolen bases. Cedrola has much less power to offer, but in his small sample size, he ran a 27/30 BB/K ratio, a vast improvement from his 13/84 ratio in the 2022 season.

At Double-A, the Mets have top prospect Drew Gilbert waiting in the wings. After he arrived from Houston as part of the Justin Verlander trade, all Gilbert did was hit. He slashed .325/.423/.561 with Binghamton, with six home runs and two stolen bases. Overall, between the Astros and the Mets, Gilbert slashed .289/.381/.487 with 18 home runs and 12 stolen bases. Gilbert isn’t the most imposing figure at 5’9″ and 195 lbs, but when he gets a hold of a ball, his left-handed swing sends them a long way. Gilbert could wind up starting the year in Triple-A if the Mets see fit, putting him one step away from Flushing.

Drew Gilbert. Photo by Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso of NorthJersey/USA TODAY NETWORK

In addition to Gilbert, the Mets have Rowdey Jordan and Rhylan Thomas to consider in center. Jordan profiles more as a super utility player, playing every position but first base, shortstop and catcher, but having too much versatility isn’t something to be afraid of. Jordan hit .230/.344/.733 with 13 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He has a propensity for striking out but also has shown the ability to take walks. Rhylan Thomas was a fast riser in the Mets system, starting his season in Low-A St. Lucie and finishing up in Double-A. Across three levels, Thomas slashed .328/.407/.425 with three home runs and seven steals.

However, these aren’t the only prospects who may be center field options. Luisangel Acuña, acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Max Scherzer trade, played four games in center for the Rangers Double-A team and has been mentioned as getting some playing time in center field to get his bat into the lineup. Between the Rangers and Mets, Acuña slashed .294/.359/.410 with nine home runs and 57 stolen bases. He primarily played shortstop but took reps at second base as well. While the power vanished when he came to the Mets, he continued to steal bases. It would not be surprising to see him start the season in Triple-A.

Jett Williams, Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Lastly, Jett Williams finished his first full season in professional baseball in Double-A after tearing through both A-ball levels. Over the entire season, Williams slashed .263/.425/.451 with 13 home runs, 45 stolen bases and 104 walks. Williams, primarily a shortstop, also played 21 games in center field. Since Williams only got 26 plate appearances in Double-A, he will likely return to Double-A to continue his ascension up the ladder with an off-chance of seeing Citi Field in the 2024 season.

Potential Acquisitions

The Mets will be in the same position they were last season – looking for a potential fourth outfielder who can spell all three outfield spots. Despite his comments saying the Mets had more talent but may not have tried as much – Tommy Pham would make sense, especially after the season he put up for both the Mets and the World Series runner-up Arizona Diamondbacks. Harrison Bader makes some sense, offering good defense with some offensive value – but has struggled to stay on the field and would probably require more than a one-year contract due to his age. Adam Duvall also could make sense in a vacuum, offering a lot of power and the ability to play all three outfield positions.

The post Mets Organizational Depth Chart: Center Field appeared first on Metsmerized.

It was another Met prospect that got the scoring started for Glendale in the bottom of the first when JT Schwartz had a two-out RBI single to right. The first baseman had another base hit in the fourth and would later walk to complete a 2-for-3 night.

Schwartz’s single gave Glendale two runners on with one out in the fourth when Jordan drove them both in with a two-run double to put the Desert Dogs ahead, 4-1. Later in the game, Jordan would have his second double of the night as he drove in Alejandro Osuna to cap off the scoring Wednesday night.

Rowdey Jordan, Photo by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies

The 24-year-old switch-hitter went 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs. While at Double-A Binghamton this year, Jordan drove in three or more runs in a game on eight different occasions. In 119 games this year, Jordan had 23 doubles, which was tied for the 11th most in the Eastern League.

On Wednesday, Jordan was starting at the hot corner, which is a position that he played in only four games this year with the Rumble Ponies, but it can only add to the position versatility that he has had, along with being able to play second base and all three outfield spots.

While D’Andre Smith did not record a hit in this game (0-for-4, 2 K, caught stealing), he did drive in a run of his own on a groundout in the fourth to end Glendale’s four-run fourth.

Out of the six pitchers who appeared in Wednesday’s win, the only Met prospect to pitch was right-hander Nolan Clenney. Clenney came in for the ninth inning and threw a 1-2-3 inning, ending his night and the game with a strikeout of Eric Brown Jr. (7 of 11 pitches for strikes).

The Desert Dogs are back in action on Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. ET against the Scottsdale Scorpions.

The post AFL Recap: Jordan, Schwartz Shine in Desert Dogs Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

Kevin Parada, Photos by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies

C Kevin Parada

Parada is the Mets’ fifth overall prospect and the 89 overall prospect in baseball. He is also the lone representative from the Mets in the top 30 prospects to participate in the Fall League. At just 22 years old, Parada reached Double-A in his first full professional season and hit 14 round-trippers as a catcher. While the power is there, Parada needs to cut down on his strikeouts. In 16 games in Binghamton, he posted high swing and miss rates and an alarming 37.7 K%. If he cuts down on the strikeouts he’ll be able to take advantage of his high exit velocities, which have reached above 110 mph. All eyes will be on Parada due to his status in the Mets organization as 2022’s first rounder and this experience could be a telling stint for his project ability moving forward.

2B/OF Rowdey Jordan

Rowdey drastically improved his versatility with more reps at second base this season. He had a miserable start to the season but went on a tear in the middle of the season and ended with league-average numbers. His 13 homers, 64 RBIs, .743 OPS, 65 BBs, and 20 Ks were all within 10% of the Double-A league average. He did swipe 31 bases and has above-average, top-end exit velocities but needs to hit the ball harder in the air more often to really make strides moving forward. The Fall League will be a good opportunity for him to continue to leverage his strengths and separate himself from the pack.

1B JT Schwartz

JT was a no-brainer to send to the fall league after an injury-riddled 2023 season that saw him miss two months of action between May and July. He put up a .881 OPS in Double-A after his return from injury in July and finished with a .801 OPS on the season. While he has posted great strikeout rates and just slightly below average walk rates, he’ll need to up power production to project as a first baseman. His path to the majors with the Mets won’t be easy, as Pete Alonso is blocking him at first, and Schwartz only has 10 homers in 741 MiLB at-bats. He has, however, gotten reps in the outfield to make himself more versatile. Schwartz does have great bat-to-ball skills, nearly reaching a .300 average this season, and can hopefully keep developing bat speed to add exit velocity.

2B D’Andre Smith

Smith was a fifth-rounder out of USC in 2022 and is another prospect in the group that needs more reps this fall. He played in just 64 games this season, all in Brooklyn, and posted a pedestrian .237 average and .674 OPS. Smith is just 22 years old and will look to use his fall league opportunity to show the organization that he is deserving of prospect status and not simply an organizational filler.

RHP Jordan Geber

Geber just completed his first full season in the Mets organization on a high note. He earned a promotion to Binghamton in August and in his 20 Double-A innings, he did not walk a batter or allow a run. While his strikeout rate was a bit low at 17.6%, his command led to a 0.00 ERA. The free agent sign saw his status soar after this run with the Rumble Ponies despite below-average stuff on the mound. He averages 91-92 on the fastball with average movement but has a solid slider at 82 with good glove-side movement and an above-average change-up. He will likely need to throw slightly fewer fastballs against better competition, however, but his command will take him far.

RHP Trey McLoughlin

McLoughlin posted a breakout 2023 season between his stints in Brooklyn and Binghamton. In each destination, he posted better than average walk (8.7% in High-A; 6.8% in Double-A) and strikeout rates (37.7% in High-A, 26.5% in Double-A). He spent the bulk of the season with the Rumble Ponies, throwing 36.2 innings out of the bullpen and finishing with a 3.19 ERA for Reid Brignac’s team. He throws a high-vertical break four-seam that averages 92 mph and touches 95, a gyro slider at 82 mph, and a splitter that also has some gyro action with slight arm side movement and low spin at 85 mph. He works vertically in the zone and has a platoon-neutral arsenal. Trey will look to start 2024 in Triple-A and use the Fall League to boost his stock in the organization.

RHP Brendan Hardy

As recently detailed, Hardy is the perfect player to send to the Fall League. After missing the first month of the season, he put up a second consecutive fantastic campaign heading into minor league free agency. He struck out 46 hitters in just 32 innings between Brooklyn and Binghamton and boasts outlier characteristics on the mound. He debatably has the best extension in the minors, averages 92.5 on his fastball but touches 95+, and has a nasty sweeper. He likely will be left off of the 40-man roster and reach minor league free agency, but if all goes well he could get resigned on a minor league deal and compete to start 2024 in Syracuse.

RHP Nolan Clenney

Clenney’s peripherals don’t necessarily indicate prospect, as the 27-year-old is a bit on the old side and had a bit higher ERA than one would expect heading into Fall League competition. However, those characteristics do not tell the whole story. Clenney has a big-league slider averaging 86 mph. He throws this gyro slider as his primary pitch at 50% usage and recently added a two-seam to go along with his four-seam fastball which averages north of 94 mph. While he finished with a 5.36 ERA in Double-A and a 6.08 ERA in Triple-A, Clenney boasted better-than-average walk rates with each affiliate and put up a blistering 35.6 K% in Syracuse. With several major league caliber pitchers, Clenney could put together a strong Fall League campaign and look to turn heads in big league spring training.

LHP Tyler Thomas

Thomas was first drafted by the Cubs in 2017 and traded for Jesse Chavez to the Rangers in 2018. He was released from the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate in August of 2022 and started the 2023 season with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League. He got off to a dominant start of the season, pitching to a 0.90 ERA in 20 innings of work before the Mets purchased his contract. He then posted nearly identical numbers in Binghamton in 22 innings of work, sporting a 0.79 ERA. He shuttled back and forth between Binghamton and Syracuse at the end of the season, posting a 6.75 ERA in Triple-A. Thomas is a lefty with a solid fastball averaging 92 mph, a plus change-up used to strike out right-handed hitters, and a sweeper. The Mets are clearly excited about their potential diamond in the rough.

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