Tom Brennan: Girton Perfecto; Would You Send This Guy Down? And Misfiring AAA Pitchers

Brendan Girton in College

 

I wrote this about Brendan Girton, a Brooklyn starting pitcher, on May 22:

SPOTLIGHT ON BRENDAN GIRTON: He may be a new name to you. A 10th round righty in 2024, on May 13 in Brooklyn, he threw 5 innings of one hit ball and fanned 9.  Nothing wrong with that.  

On May 20, he went 4.2 IP, 2 runs allowed and 3 more walks.

YTD, he is 2-1, 3.81, with 36 Ks in 28 IP.

Dylan Gee was a 21st rounder, and he did all right in the bigs.  51-48, 4.09.

Seth Lugo, a 34th rounder, has done much more than all right.

Girton, a 10th rounder, can do all right, or maybe more than all right, too.

His control in college frankly was bad - 88 walks in 129 innings, and so far as a pro in 2025, 17 walks in 28 IP.  Refining his control will be his ticket upwards. New York Mets bullpen arms (which he may well get a chance to become in a year or two) can't be walking hitters in bunches.

Well, on Saturday night, Girton’s control was certainly spot on.  How so?

He hurled five perfect innings, striking out six. 

Of course, in this day and age, almost no one ever gets to pitch 7+ innings, because of pitch count restrictions. He threw just 63 pitches.  So he got pulled 

25 years ago maybe he would’ve been given a chance to go for the entire complete perfect game, but those days are LONG gone. 

Still, a job very well done. Perfect, frankly. It wasn’t his fault he got an ND.

In 12 starts, 3-1, 2.91. His last 6 outings, an ERA of 2.00. 55 Ks in 46 IP this year. Declining BB rate (3 per 9 IP over his last 27 innings).

In a different year, Girton would already be in Binghamton, but Binghamton currently is extremely flush with pitchers, so he will continue to get to toil for now, in his first full year, in High A Brooklyn. 

Which isn’t the worst thing. His goal should be to improve, progress, and make the majors by 2027.  Maybe he achieves that. 

WHAT?! You’ve never heard of Girton? Never seen him?  Click on this link for…

GIRTON LIGHTNING

MINORS PITCHERS … MISFIRE WATCH

We try to be positive about some prospect hurlers. 

Then…unfortunately…they actually pitch in a way that is hard to spin positively.

Tidwell and Hamel (no, they’re not an injury attorney law firm) on Sunday?

4.2 IP, 9 hits, 2 HRs, 8 runs. Combined ERA of about 5. 

I thought we were past that sort of crapola with those two after 2024. 

Wrong.

My brother hears stuff of their continued struggles on Sunday? He is blunt: 

TRADE THEM.

Can’t say I disagree. 

They’ll likely do fine…with the White Sox.

Then…I say…if they’re traded…

Why not…promote Brendan Girton…to AAA?  

A “perfect” choice.

HEY, BUDDY, WOULD YOU SEND THIS GUY DOWN?

You have a guy on your team who has done this over his last 30 games:

Just 9 singles in 53 ABs, 2 walks: 

170/.200/.170. 2 steals.

His name? 

Luisangel Acuna.

So…would you demote him? 

I sure would.

Let him develop his offense further.

RAFAEL DEVERS IS NOT A MET

You would-be GMs…I ask you, with the utmost respect…

Should the Mets have tried to acquire Devers, instead of SFG?

Why, or why not?

METS NEXT 3 ARE AGAINST THE BRAVES….

Be careful around ticket scalpers - they always want their slice.

ELIAN PEÑA HIT A LIGHTNING BOLT…

For his first pro HR, leading off the first inning.

His 2nd at bat? The game was actually delayed due to lightning.

Suspended right there.