The minor league seasons are now over for the St. Lucie Mets (low A), the Brooklyn Cyclones (A), the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (AA), and the Syracuse Mets (AAA). The St. Lucie and Syracuse teams did not have impressive won/lost records, but supplied some talented players to the levels above them. Brooklyn had a strong second half but fell just short of a playoff berth. The Rumble Ponies surged in the second half, made the playoffs, and eventually lost in the championship series to the Erie Seadogs.
Amidst these seasons, several players within the Mets system were recognized with awards for their outstanding performance.
Christian Scott and LuisAngel Acuña were named AA all-stars. Scott was named as a starting pitcher for the AA Eastern League all-star team and Acuna was named as a utility player for the Frisco RoughRiders in the AA Texas League where he played 84 games with the Texas Rangers affiliate before being traded to the Mets.
Christian Scott began the season on the 7 day Injured List, but then set out on a very successful path. He pitched to a 2.28 ERA in 23 innings in Brooklyn, got promoted to Binghamton in June and proceeded to record a 2.47 ERA in 62 innings with the Ponies. Christian led all of MiLB in WHIP (0.83) and strikeout-to-walk rate (8.67), is third in walks-per-nine innings (1.26) and opposing OPS (.537), and sixth in ERA (2.42). In addition to his MiLB accolades, Scott was named the pitcher of the year for the Mets’ system.
LuisAngel Acuña, traded to the Mets in the Max Scherzer deal at the trade deadline, played in 37 games with the Binghamton team and immediately showed some of the skills that earned him the Texas League award. Before he arrived in Binghamton, Acuña hit .315 with seven home runs and 51 RBIs for AA Frisco. In his full season in the minors, he also stole 57 bases.
Paul Gervase was named to the South Atlantic League (A) all-star team. The imposing 6’10” 230lb reliever struck out 76 batters in 47 innings on his way to a 1.72 ERA for the Brooklyn Cyclones. His outstanding work got him promoted – by the time he received the accolade, he was pitching in AA for the Binghamton team where he struck out 20 batters in 10 innings and recorded a 0.77 WHIP.
Jett Williams, last year’s first round draft pick of the Mets, won the Player of the Year award for the Mets’ system. With the Brooklyn Cyclones, Williams recorded a .299 batting average, scored 25 runs had 18 RBI, and 12 stolen bases in 36 games. The 19-year-old walked more times (33) than he struck out (32). Williams finished his time in A ball with a 1.018 OPS and headed north to play shortstop for the Binghamton Rumble ponies. Williams also led all Mets' minor leaguers in several categories. In his 2023 minor league regular season, he led all full-season players in on-base percentage (.425), OPS (.876), triples (8), walks (104), runs scored (81), and stolen bases (45).
William Lugo won the infielder Gold Glove award for the Mets’ system. Lugo played 3B, SS, and 1B in 106 games with the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Rhylan Thomas won the outfielder Gold Glove award for the Mets’ system, playing all three outfield positions this season with the St. Lucie Mets, the Cyclones and the Rumble Pones.
Hayden Senger won the Platinum Glove award for the Mets’ system for his stellar work behind the plate for AA Binghamton.
Rumble Ponies pitching coach AJ Sager was named Staff Member of the Year. Sager’s staff this season set a Binghamton franchise record with 14 shutouts and ranked first among the 30 AA clubs in strike rate and walks issued, and second in opponent on-base percentage.
The Rumble Ponies pitching staff under Sager’s tutelage were awarded several Eastern League honors, including Mike Vasil being named Eastern League Pitcher of the Month for May and Tyler Stuart, Luis Moreno, and Joander Suarez (twice) receiving Eastern League Pitcher of the Week recognition.
On September 7 at Hartford, Suarez threw the eighth no-hitter in franchise history, facing the minimum 21 batters over seven innings.
In the Dominican Summer League, Mets players had three additional awards:
DSL Player of the Year - Jeffry Rosa
DSL Pitcher of the Year - Franklin Gómez
DSL Staff Member of the Year - Diana Pérez
Some good things surely happened, as you enumerate.
ReplyDeleteGervase’s 0.77 WHIP in AA is huge. He started 2023 with some control issues. That tells me he is big-league-almost-ready.
Rhylan Thomas also had the highest average (.328) and lowest K rate (8%) of any Mets minor leaguer. He will be in my future Top 30, without a doubt.
Jett’s first full year was a doozy. Next Trea Turner? Why not?
Nice group of immediate prospects
ReplyDeleteThomas looks like he could be a future 4th Of and solid bench piece.
ReplyDeleteYes Ray, he's Locastro with a bat. Interesting that on this loaded Binghamton team he was batting 9th. Kind of a wrap-around leadoff hitter.
ReplyDeleteDoes not have Locastro's speed though.
ReplyDeletesss milb viewing the last month. The top 3 appears Gilbert the closest. Line drive bat. Solid at bats against lefties!! Will see MLB sometime in2024. Williams impressive in all aspects .on base skills amazing for 19yr old. Future cf? Start 2024 in aa.
ReplyDeleteAcuna smooth in field and basepaths. Bat concerns. No power long swing doesn't recognize spin. They want to push him to aaa but didn't earn it during his time at Binghamton
Jge, good observations. I think how you describe Acuna matches up with his mediocre post-trade hitting results.
ReplyDeletePaul and Ray, I have little doubt in a less-loaded line up that Rhylan Thomas would have been batting lead off for Binghamton.
ReplyDeleteMcNeil partial UCL tear in elbow. Expects to avoid suegery, but done for the season.
ReplyDeleteAcuña is the new Mauricio. Last year everybody was down on Mauricio,no position,no strike zone awareness, doesn’t walk despite him being a 20 year old shortstop still adding muscle? This year 20 year old ACina who slumps after a mid season trade. The kid has elite speed is is a good defender and has hit before the trade.
ReplyDelete