Mack’s Mets – the premier site for information on the New York Mets talent pipeline and dialogue on Mets prospects, Mets news, and Mets opinions.
I have heard a few comments recently wondering about the progress of our minor league prospects. Tom has filled us in on some of his posts, and to supplement that here is one of our favorites Ernest Dove talking about guys like Christian Scott, LuisAngel Acuna, Dom Hamel, Blade Tidwell, Alex Ramirez, and more.
Watch the video HERE and enjoy!
SAVAGE VIEWS – Great Named Baseball Players
Let’s take a
walk down memory lane when baseball players had unique names. Here’s a list of ten names that come to mind.
1. George Herman “Babe” Ruth. With a name like Babe Ruth how could he not
turn out to be one of the best players ever.
2. Jerome Herman “Dizzy’ Dean was the
ace pitcher of the so-called Gashouse Gang.
Another Hall of Fame pitcher who is ranked among the greatest players
ever to play the game. Led the league in
complete games four years in a row. He once won 30 games for the Cardinals.
3. Enos “Country” Slaughter was another
player for the St. Louis Cardinals who was elected to the Hall of Fame. Country Slaughter was famous for the “Mad Dash”
from first base to home on a single that was the decisive run in the seventh
game of the 1946 World Series.
4. Granville “Granny” Hammer was one of
the “Whiz Kids” of the Philadelphia Phillies.
He debuted with the Phillies as a 17-year-old kid and spent 15 ½ years
with the team as a shortstop. I remember
listening to the game against the Dodgers in 1950 when they beat Brooklyn and made
it to the World Series.
5. Sebastian “Sibby” Sisti was a
utility player who made his MLB debut as an 18 year old. He spent his entire 15 year career with the
Braves. I’ve always loved that name.
6. Elwin “Preacher” Roe was acquired by
the Brooklyn Dodgers along with Billy Cox and Gene Mauch in exchange for Dixie
Walker and a couple of other players. It
seems that Dixie was not a fan of baseball integrating and was traded to the
Pittsburgh Pirates in 1948. Roe had a
wonderful six year run with the Dodgers, including a 22-3 record in 1951. I still remember listening to the game when
he hit a homer in Forbes Field – Roe was a notoriously bad hitter. Billy Cox was one of the best fielding third
basemen of all time.
7. Harold “Pee-Wee” Reese was another Dodger
elected to the Hall of Fame. Some feel
that Pee-Wee made the Hall primarily for his support of team-mate Jackie
Robinson. He was certainly a true “Southern
Gentleman”.
8. James “Catfish” Hunter was another
great pitcher who was elected to the Hall of Fame. Another guy who never pitched a minor league
game. He was one of the first free
agents who signed a lucrative deal with the Yankees after winning his freedom.
9. Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd pitched for
ten seasons with three different teams. It’s
been said that he got his nickname from his beer drinking days in Mississippi where
beer was often referred to as “oil”. While
pitching for the Red Sox he won 31 games in the two-year period 1985-1986. Over the other eight seasons he won a total
of 47 games.
10. Johnny “Blue Moon” Odum spent 13
years as a pitcher for four different teams.
His greatest success came as a member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty. He began his career with the A’s as a 19 year
old. In his first game he gave up a
homer to somebody by the name of Mickey Mantle.
He’s remembered for two notable clubhouse fights. One with Vida Blue and the other with Rollie
Fingers. Seems he said some stuff that ruffled
feathers.
I’m curious
as to why none of today’s ball players have memorable nick names.
Ray
April 30,
2024
BEFORE MY ARTICLE:
I hate it, and I can almost say it infuriates me. What is that? Missing Mets offense that frankly should NOT be missing. Too many good hitters.
Come on guys, hit. It’s like watching a basketball player you know can shoot going 2 for 19 from the field. Awful to watch the underperformance.
Severino was great, but we’ve seen it too often over the years, when the Mets’ bats just wilt, and the excellent starter gets the shaft.
OK, ‘nuff said - on to my article….
Well, it’s not that the guy NEVER struck out. Joe Sewell did strike out a few times, but yep, that AL Hall of Famer Joe Sewell amazingly fanned just 14 total times in his lowest 4 strikeout seasons. One of the most staggering stats in baseball history, if you ask me.
Some Mets minor leaguers occasionally fan almost that much in one week.
The Hall of Fame page for SS Joe Sewell said this:
“Keep your eye on the ball. It’s one of the most basic tenets of hitting, stressed from the first time a young player picks up a bat. Joe Sewell, however, took it to another level.
“When I was a boy I’d walk around with a pocket full of rocks or a Coca-Cola top,” Sewell said, “and I can’t remember not being able to hit them with a broomstick handle.”
Sewell’s big league career was born out of one of the game’s tragedies. After Indians shortstop Ray Chapman died after being struck by a pitch from the Yankees’ Carl Mays in August 1920, Sewell was called up from the minors. The 21-year-old Sewell played in just 92 minor league games before his big league debut, yet he settled in immediately and helped the Indians win the 1920 World Series title.
Within a few seasons, Sewell had established himself as the game's toughest batter to strikeout. Sewell fanned 20 times in 558 at-bats during the 1922 season, and that would be his career high. He never even reached double-digits in strikeouts in any of his last nine seasons.
During the 1929 season, Sewell went 115 games between punchouts. He ended his career with a rate of 62.6 at-bats per strikeout.
He had seven seasons in which he recorded more than 500 at-bats while striking out less that 10 times. From September 1922 through April 1930, Sewell played in 1,103 consecutive games, the second-longest such streak in history at the time.
Sewell was also known for using only a single bat through his entire career, a 40-ouncer he dubbed “Black Betsy.””
Remarkable.
Yes, pitchers fanned a lot fewer guys in 1924 than in 2024. But a miniscule 114 career strikeouts for Sewell in 13 seasons? Really?
Focusing on today’s game, if I am a Mets minor leaguer struggling with strikeouts, I would be studying what guys like Sewell, Tony Gwynn, Matty Alou (all .300+ hitters) and others did to strike out at extraordinarily low rates.
“Can ANYTHING past stars did help bring your strikeouts down to a good level?”
Otherwise…you’ll play for peanuts for a few years, and then be shown the door.
One recent such player was Sherveyn Newton. He started at age 17 in the Mets system, and just turned 25. He had 2 at bats for Kansas City in spring training and has no minor league stats this year, so I presume his Ks finally caught up with him. He was career .232 in the minors (not terrible, at first glance), but fanned 652 times in 2,124 plate appearances, about 1 every 3.3 times up, and he never got above High A.
His K rate above DSL ball was roughly 1 every 3 times up, way too high.
- Could avidly studying ultra-low K stars of years past have helped him at all?
Another whiffer: Khalil Lee was a very athletic player who fanned far too much. He did go 2 for 20 with (naturally) 13 Ks as a Met. Now 26, he has had a handful of at bats in Mexico this year. But the ship has sailed….910 career Ks in 3,207 minors PAs was a far too high rate and did him in.
My article is not meant as criticism. It is meant to be an offered as a lifeline to scuffling, high K players.
Just to name one ranked current Mets prospect player, Jeremiah Jackson has fanned 164 times in 134 games in 2023 and 2024, That is rough 6 Ks every 5 games, too high.
He likely needs, at a minimum, to flip that, to 5 Ks every 6 games. Sounds like a minimal difference, at first, but JJ’s pace is 145 Ks over 120 games. A “5 Ks in 6 games” pace would instead be 100 Ks over 120 games, a huge difference.
Jeff McNeil (majors and minors) has just 597 Ks in 5,544 PAs, or a K every 9.3 times up. That much lower K rate has led to $60 million in current, prior and future career earnings. Limiting strikeouts can be very lucrative.
HOME AND AWAY SPLITS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
Once upon a time, in an NL city far, far away, there was a ballplayer who had 33 HRs, 116 RBIs, and had a slash line of .388/.501/.796.
Amazingly, those were only his home stats that year.
Hack Friggin' Wilson put up those numbers in 78 home games and 289 at bats. He knocked in "just" 75 runs on the road, a very pedestrian number by comparison. 33 of his 56 HRs were hit at home. (He actually hit a 57th, but the ump lost sight of the huge blow and he was not credited for it).
He did that at age 30. At age 31, he knocked in 130 fewer runs. At age 32, he was back up to 123 RBIs.
At ages 33 and 34, he only played in 191 games, with 15 HRs and 84 RBIs in 552 at bats. He then couldn't Hack it any more and retired. His last game was 8 months before his 35th birthday. Apparently, drinking etc. got to affect his game adversely, so it is unclear how he would have done if he had lived on the straight and narrow.
Imagine today if he became a free agent after that 56 HR, 191 RBI, .356 MVP season at age 30? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Oh, and for the Mets' shorter prospects, they might be pleased to know Hack Wilson was just 5'6" tall.
He had an extremely interesting life story, filled with ups and downs, and died from injuries sustained in a fall at age 48.
LAVENDER SEASON-ENDER
The pitching injuries just never stop, do they? It has been reported that Nate the Great Lavender will likely need TJS shortly. So, instead of debuting with the Mets, it seems he will miss the rest of 2024 and likely all of 2025, if he does in fact require that dreaded surgery. Calvin Ziegler just got the despised procedure.
Geez. Quick and full recovery, gents.
MEANWHILE, AN AWARD…
Dom Hamel has been named International League Pitcher of the Week on the strength of 8 Ks in 5 1/3 shutout innings!
I’d walk a mile for a Hamel. I’m sure in those 8 Ks there were no Lucky Strikes.
You may have noticed my frustration with the fact that none of the Mets starting pitchers have been able to deliver quality starts with any consistency. As of Saturday night, the starting rotation was 4-10 with a 4.45 ERA. They had gone 26 games without throwing a pitch in the seventh inning. Suddenly, Jose Quintana comes out Sunday and gives them eight full innings with only one earned run on 99 pitches. What a great, quality start!
His reward, of course, was his lineup going 0-13 with runners in scoring position (RISP) so he left the game with no decision. This continued a trend where over the last 7 games the Mets have gone 8-58 (.138) with runners in scoring position which led to a 2-5 record.
So is this some type of curse, or are the Mets just practicing some poor tactics at the plate in these clutch situations? It is most likely the latter, as all of us superstitious fans are still wearing the same socks from the last time a late-game clutch hit was delivered.
I love to talk about the mental side of sports, because I find it fascinating how much state of mind can affect physical performance. Hitting with RISP is one of the classic cases. In close games, the competitive balance is on the line when there are runners in scoring position, which puts pressure on both the pitcher and the batter (and the fielders for that matter).
In the mind game of baseball, the batter should realize that the pitcher’s stress increases significantly with every ball and decreases with every strike. So early in the count, the hitter should have a very narrow window to trigger his swing. Pitchers that nibble get behind in the count, so pretty soon they are likely to throw something in that window.
But I see something different in the approach with Mets hitters – they seem to either anxiously leap on an early pitch, popping it up, or they stand frozen as if they are pre-determined not to swing. Both approaches have a low probability of a successful at-bat. Since it happens so often, it has to be how they are instructed, not a coincidence of multiple individual failures. They are up there thinking instead of reacting, which is bad practice against major league pitchers.
So the recommendation from my armchair is for the hitters to step to the plate full of confidence, knowing that the pitcher is under pressure, and to look for the ball in that small window where they can put a barrel on it. Don’t worry about whether you can deliver; look forward to when you can deliver.
I remember how I approached it back in my coaching days with young players. When one of those game-deciding situations would come up, I would call time, call the batter over and say, “I wish I were you. This place will go crazy when you get this hit.” It is all in the mind. Confidence leads to success, fear leads to failure. The Mets’ hitters need to stop trying so hard to do something special and embrace the joy of just hitting the ball. The rest will take care of itself.
Well, these types of reactions are what Mark Vientos likely had running through his head during this 2024 season. Who led the team in Spring Training HRs? Mark Vientos. Who led in RBIs? Also Mark Vientos. Who got a one-way ticket to Syracuse? If you said ¨Mark Vientos” then you are catching on here.
No one is expecting a hot three days will have him switching places permanently with Brett Baty. As quickly as he arrived he is just as likely ticketed back to AAA regardless of what he does on the field. It will be interesting to see if the Mets actually give him a significant number of innings, but it would seem that with Pete Alonso at 1st base and J.D. Martinez at DH the only opportunity for Vientos is at the hot corner. If several weeks of hot hitting didn´t warrant Vientos coming north with the team, a trio of days now isn´t likely to do the trick either.
Of course, if Billy Eppler was still here and Vientos was stinging the ball then it is possible that Baty would manifest some kind of injury which would enable the Mets to send him to the IL in order for the Mets to get a 10-day longer look at how often he strikes out and how challenged he is trying to man the third base position.
He is still young and it is possible that his skills can be enhanced with the top hitting instructors in the organization, but you have to be playing in order to see if what is talk can be implemented. Of course, asking a player to try a new strategy might set him back temporarily in his output which will accelerate the tens of thousands of boo birds squawking for his demotion.
Cleveland Guardians: Nick Kurtz – 1B – Wake Forest
Cincinnati Reds: Jac Caglianone – 1B/LHP – Florida
Colorado Rockies: Charlie Condon – OF/1B – Georgia
Oakland Athletics: JJ Wetherholt – SS/2B – West Virginia
Chicago White Sox: Seaver King – OF/SS – Wake Forest
Kansas City Royals: Travis Bazzana – 2B – Oregon State
St. Louis Cardinals: Chase Burns – RHP – Wake Forest
Los Angeles Angels: Konnor Griffin – OF – Jackson Prep (Mississippi)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Tommy White – 3B – LSU
Washington Nationals: Josh Hartle – LHP – Wake Forest
Detroit Tigers: Thatcher Hurd – RHP – LSU
Boston Red Sox: Mike Sirota – OF – Northeastern
San Francisco Giants: Hagen Smith – LHP – Arkansas
Chicago Cubs: Braden Montgomery – OF/RHP – Texas A&M
Seattle Mariners: Brody Brecht – RHP – Iowa
Miami Marlins: Vance Honeycutt – OF – North Carolina
Milwaukee Brewers: P.J. Morlando – OF – Summerville High School (South Carolina)
Tampa Bay Rays: Malcolm More – C -Stanford
New York Mets: Cam Caminiti – LHP – Saguaro High School (Arizona)
Draft Day Age: 17 yr 10 mo
He projects as a starter with a buttery-smooth delivery on the mound and a legitimate four-pitch mix that is led by a fastball that's already in the low-90s with life and can easily get into the mid-90s with added strength to his long and lanky frame.
Toronto Blue Jays: Slade Caldwell – OF – Valley View High School (Arkansas)
Mack - Draft Notes
(thru Friday’s results)
MLB Pipeline @MLBPipeline
Another dominant outing for Hagen Smith
7 IP
2 H
1 R (0 ER)
1 BB
11 K
ERA this season is 1.35 with 16.7 K/9
JJ Wetherholt is finding his swing with his third home run in his last 7 games. More on the No. 8 Draft prospect who may be the best pure hitter in the class
Jac Caglianone has power to ALL fields
The 2024 Draft prospect is back to his homering ways after a historic 9-game streak
UPDATE - Jac Caglianone delivers his third multihomer performance of 2024. The Draft prospect becomes just the 2nd D1 player to reach the 25-HR plateau this season.
Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB
Goodness gracious, Seaver King. 114 mph obliterated into dust.
Cedar Park Christian (Wa.) SS Adam Haight left the yard v. Liberty last night at T-Mobile Park. He’s a name who has continued to surge this spring and now could find himself selected in the Top 100 picks in July.
Kid can HIT (and pitch).
I put a ton of draft stock in FB whiff%. It's one of many reasons Hagen Smith (40%) and Chase Burns (39%) are so highly touted. But keep an eye on Florida RHP Brandon Neely. He's running a 37% whiff% on his FB. Finally starting games in Gainesville this month.
Kendall Rogers @KendallRogers
Beaver Baseball's Aiden May struck out 14, walked one and allowed just one hit in eight innings in a 2-0 win over rival Oregon.
Carlos Collazo @CarlosACollazo
Mock Draft 2.0: - “It’s definitely below average,” said one scout. “No brainer below average. I guess if you cut the draft off after the top 10 picks it would be a good draft.”
Top 400 college hitters by 90th EV:
-Charlie Condon, 112.3
-Dakota Jordan, 112.1
-Jared Jones, 111.5
-Cam Smith, 111.3
-Blake Burke, 111
-Jeremiah Jenkins, 111
-Braden Montgomery, 110.8
-Zack Stewart, 110.7
-Nick Kurtz, 110.6
-Jac Caglianone, 110.4
Among the 115 college hitters we have data on ranked inside the top 400 Charlie Condon ranks...
-4th in avg EV (98)
-1st in 90th EV (112.3)
-2nd in peak EV (118.2)
-26th in Contact% (82.7%)
-51st in Chase% (21.6%)
No. 7 Nick Kurtz ranks...
-16th in avg EV (94.1)
-9th in 90th EV (110.6)
-11th in peak EV (114.6)
-28th in Contact% (82.5%)
-10th in Chase% (14.4%)
No. 5 Braden Montgomery ranks...
-3rd in avg EV (98.3)
-7th in 90th EV (110.8)
-13th in peak EV (114.4)
-68th in Contact% (77%)
-47th in Chase% (20.8%)
Teddy Cahill @tedcahill
Chase Burns struck out 14 today in a win at Notre Dame, raising his season total to 127 in 69 innings and 11 starts. He's 16 shy of Rhett Lowder's single-season program record.
Georgia Baseball @BaseballUGA
Everything is bigger in Texas...including Charlie Condon 14 homers!
Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB
27.
Jake Bargery @JakeBarg
Dylan Hansen
24 RHP, Downingtown East,
PA Coastal Baseball commit
FB: 91-93 T94 (LIFE)
SL: 76-80 (Slurvy)
CH: 82-84
6'3" 205 lbs.
Hansen was in constant attack mode all game. He's a strike thrower with a breaking ball able to generate tons of swings and misses
Brian Recca @brian_recca
Ryan Dromboski '24
Penn Baseball
FB: 91-93 t94
SI: 90-92
SL: 80-93
CH: 81-83
Best start of the spring for Dromboski v Princeton. Durable build w/a no-nonsense mentality on the mound. Showed off 4 pitch mix highlighted by a filthy slider that racked up 15 whiffs.
Braden Quinn '24 U Conn
Big, lefty RP works from 3rd base side of rubber, showing back to hitters before hip turn. Stuff plays up from a high, over-the-top release point. FB sat low 90s w/ big ride. Gets depth and sharp bite on '+' SL. Currently up to 50 Ks in 29 IP
Ben Badler @BenBadler
Saw 6-foot-9 RHP Mavrick Rizy on Saturday. Up to 96 mph in this outing, whiffs on the slider and the splitter for Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. LSU commit and name to know for the 2024 MLB draft
Stephen Schoch @bigdonkey47
On Sunday Lyle Miller-Green went 6-for-6 at the plate. Last night he hit 3 home runs, his third was 111 mph of the bat and 458 ft. Dude can mash
BA (sub only) - 2024 Top MLB Draft Prospects
https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2024-top-mlb-draft-prospects/
MLB Mock Draft 2024 Version 2.0: Updated Picks For Every Team -
The Arkansas ace has steadily improved over three seasons with the Razorbacks. Hagen Smith has cut his walk rate, increased his strikeout rate while limiting hard contact.
MLB Pipeline - Prospect Rankings 2024
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/
1.19 Slade Caldwell OF Valley View HS (AR)
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Arm: 45 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55
Gatorade's Arkansas high school Player of the Year as a junior in 2023, Caldwell continued to play well on the showcase circuit before he broke a fibula during the USA Baseball 18-and-under trials in August. Though he lacks size, he's a dynamic player who's an outfield version of the Mets' Jett Williams. Williams played his way into the first round in 2022 and Caldwell could do the same in 2024.
Caldwell is an advanced hitter with a mature approach who makes consistent line-drive contact to all fields. His 5-foot-8 frame means he has shorter levers and a smaller strike zone than most prospects, and he parlays them into a quick left-handed stroke and on-base ability. While he won't be a slugger, he has impressive bat speed and enough strength to provide 15 or more homers per season.
An aggressive player who delivers constant energy, Caldwell has well-above-average speed and makes things happen on the bases. The Mississippi recruit is a quality defender who covers a lot of ground in center field and will have no problems remaining there in pro ball. His fringy arm strength is fine for center.
Mack - Sunday Morning Observations
(thru Friday’s results)
Mack’s Observations -
We are done with the March-April portion of this season and it’s time to award the first Mackie Awards for 2024:
Shit, It Looks Like I Was Wrong About This Guy Award goes to Binghamton outfielder Alex Ramirez. He is really impressing the hell out of me so far this young season. He will easily finish the season in Syracuse if he keeps this up and will put himself in position for a 2025 call-up, along with the other top outfield prospects. Drew Gilbert. Both now line-up as future replacements for Starlin Marte and Harrison Bader.
Shit, It Looks Like I Was Wrong About This Guy, But For The Wrong Reasons. Award go to Syracuse starter, Mike Vasil. Whether Texas Gus agrees or not, Vasil has been a major disappointment this season. His excellent 2023 AA season made me dream of more here. Sorry. Just me telling you how I feel.
Runner-up for this award goes out to Binghamton catcher, Kevin Parada. This guy was suppose to mature one year behind Francisco Alvarez and this just isn’t happening, either offensively or behind the plate. Frankly, right now, both of the catchers named Hernandez (Jose at A+, Ronald at A) are not killin’ it the number one catcher prospect in the chain may be one of the two current DSL catchers, Julio Zayas or Yovany Rodriguez.
What Does A Guy Have To Do Around Here To Keep A Job Award goes to Syracuse ex-relievers, Tyler Jay. The former early first round pick threw 5.2 scoreless innings… that’s a 0.00 ERA for those of you from Ohio… with four walks, NO WALKS, and a 0.88 WHIP… and this didn’t get his cut once. Nope. So far (sic), HE HAS BEEN CUT TWICE.
My Pure Helium Award goes out to St. Lucie starter, Jonah Tong. It’s hard not to get excited about this guy, even though it is very early in his professional career. The 20-year old was drafted in the 7th round of the 202 draft and pitched to a 6.00-ERA last year for the combined FCL-Lucy teams, but his 38 strikeouts in 21 innings showed early promise. Still, the 22-BB showed worked was still needed maybe the new lab helped here.So far this season: 18.2-IP, 36-K, only 5-BB. Oh. And 0-ER. GTFOH.
The Yeah, I Can Hit At AAA, So What? award goes to DH/3B Mark Vientos. So this guy is told he’s not good enough to be the everyday DH against all pitchers, and is sent back to Syracuse to prove again he can dominate at this level by playing everyday against all pitchers. He hits beaucoup dingers and hits 300+ this season playing… still with me here?…. and just when he begins once again he can hit against pitchers left or right… the Mets call up J.D.Martinez to do that job. Jeez… Mark has become the Seth Lugo with a bat in his hands.
The How Many Times Do I Need To Tell You That This Guy Goes Both Ways award goes to the Cyclones SP/DH, Nolan McLean. No one believed me when I touted this guy. Not even a writer here that will remain anonymous (cough, Tom, cough).Yes, it is early but the dude is hitting in the .350/1.200-OPS range plus tossed five scoreless innings (6-K) this past Tuesday night. But hey. What the hell do I know.
Lucy newbie -
RHRP Candido Cuevas
6-1 200 19/yrs old Bahamas
2022 - DSL/FCL: 1-3 5.09 35-1-IP 42-K 21-BB
2023 - St. Lucie: 2-2 4.56 23.2-IP 33-K 17-BB
Signed 8-26-2021
Twice injured in 2023
2-pitch pitcher in 2023 - mid-90s FB above average 2350 spin
FB generates good % whiffs + weak contract & ground balls
Low-80s 12-6 curve
Cyclone newbie -
RHRP Justin Lawson
23/yrs old 6-3 200
2023 round 15/456 from NC State
2022: NC St 19/apps 2/starts 5-3
3.82 37.2/IP 41/K 18/BB
2023 NC St 27/apps 5-0 3.96
52/1/IP 67/K 17/BB
Low 3/4 slot with simple repeatable mechanics
Low-mid 90s fastball
Sharp late bite slider low-mid 80s
Could develop into a quality reliever
FCL returnee -
C Andriel Lantigua
20/yrs old 6-0 190 D/R
2022 - FCL: 56-AB .125/.269/.161/429
2023 - FCL: 35-AB .257/.429/.314/743
Above average bat speed
Softer body potential up-the-middle guy
Roster Moves -
Mets:
LHRP Kolton Igram claimed by Texas
RHP Grant Hartwig optioned to AAA
RHP Michael Tonkin DFA’d
LHRP Josh Walker recalled
LHP Brooks Raley 15-Day IL with left elbow inflammation.
RHP Grant Hartwig activated
RHRP Sean Reid-Foley activated
LHRP Kolton Ingram DFA’d
Syracuse:
RHP Max Kranick reinstated from IL - optioned to Syracuse.
LHP Nate Lavender placed on Syracuse's 7-day Injured List
LHP Tyler Jay clears waivers, is sent outright to Syracuse
C Hayden Senger transferred from AA to AAA Syracuse
Binghamton:
C Matt O'Neill transferred from AAA to AA Binghamton
RHP Luis Moreno transferred from AAA to AA Binghamton
RHP Andre Scrubb placed on Development List
St. Lucie:
Activated 2B Marco Vargas off the 7-day IL
Prospect List Changes -
St. Lucie RHRP Jack Wenninger - black to BLUE prospect
Brooklyn OF/1B Ryan Clifford RED to BLUE prospect
St. Lucie C Christopher Suero - black to BLUE prospect
Binghamton Rumble Ponies @RumblePoniesBB
Mark your calendars! The Rumble Ponies will be live on SNY, the flagship television home of the Mets, on all of the following dates!
Saturday, May 4th - 1:05 pm
Saturday, May 18th - 1:05 pm
Thursday, June 27th - 6:35 pm
Thursday, August 1st - 6:35 pm
Saturday, August 24th - 6:07 pm
Thursday, September 5th* - 6:35 pm (game may possibly air on SNY)
Florida Complex League Mets @FCLMets
RHRP Joseph Yabbour had 5 whiffs and 3 strikeouts over 2 innings in yesterday's Extended Spring Training game against the Cardinals, topping out at 98 mph with his fastball.
2B/SS/CF/LF A.J. Ewing went to the opposite field for his first home run (103 EV) of Extended Spring Training earlier today against the Astros.
Tim Britton @TimBritton
Tonight's the first of 39 games in 41 days for the Mets. They're likely to bring in a sixth starter. Could it be Christian Scott? Some intel within:
Sub only
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Kevin Pillar designated for assignment so White Sox can make room for Tommy Pham
Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComo
Michael Tonkin has really experienced the "baseball is a business" thing hard this month. When the Mets traded him to the Twins, he broke his lease in NY and shipped his belongings to Minnesota. He had to fly to LA before his stuff got there while his wife waited for it. Now DFA'd again.
SNY Mets @SNY_Mets
MLB players with at least 4 HR and 5 SB this season:
Elly De La Cruz
Mookie Betts
Shohei Ohtani
Mike Trout
Starling Marte
Soph @allidoiswinnick
Starling Marte wearing a tracksuit 2/3 unzipped w no shirt underneath is the Mets 2024 vibe and I'm so here for it
Not Gaetti @notgaetti
Not enough people talk about John Franco
• 424 SV, 90 W, 2.89 ERA, 138 ERA+
• One of 8 pitchers with 400+ saves
• Most saves by a lefty in MLB history
• Most saves in New York Mets history
• 3x NL saves leader, 30+ saves 8x
• Gave his #31 to Piazza after the trade
Baseball -
MLB's oldest living player celebrates 100th birthday
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mlbs-oldest-living-player-celebrates-100th-birthday
BP: The Splitter “Revolution” Part 1 -
(sub needed)
ROX ARROYO @ROXSystem
IMO, Trevor Bauer’s MLB demise wasn’t so much the off field allegations as it was his on field antics. Throwing the ball out of the stadium, showing up teammates, mound nonsense, and Manfred trolling can’t happen. Nobody wants to hire a liability. Professionalism is everything.
