Ernest
Dove @ernestdove
Mets LHP
prospect Eli Ankeney is finally healthy & it
shows. Made his High A season debut
going 1.2 inn scoreless w/ 4 Ks.
The former
20th rd pick over his last 4 app combined, 3 of which in Low A
4.2 inn 2 H 0 ER
2 BB 9 K
Has been
flashing his highest FB velo in pros
A deep dive…
Eli
Christian Ankeney is a left-handed pitcher
in the New York Mets minor league system.
Born on January 10, 2001,
in Phoenix, Arizona, he stands at 6'0" and weighs 200 pounds.
Drafted by the Mets in the
20th round of the 2022 MLB Draft from Grand Canyon University,
Ankeney has primarily
served as a relief pitcher across various minor league levels.
Career
Overview
Ankeney’s professional
career began in 2022 with the FCL Mets (Rookie League), where he pitched 3.1
scoreless innings across three appearances. In 2023, he split time between the
St. Lucie Mets (Single-A) and Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A), posting a combined
3.07 ERA over 41 innings with 51 strikeouts.
His 2025 season has been
limited due to injuries, with a 7.27 ERA over 8.2 innings in nine relief
appearances for the Brooklyn Cyclones and St. Lucie Mets. His career minor
league stats show a 3.57 ERA, 71 strikeouts, and a 1.23 WHIP over 53 innings.
Ankeney has faced
recurring injury setbacks, including stints on the 7-day injured list in 2023
and 2025, and a full-season injured list placement in 2024. Despite these
challenges, he’s shown resilience, returning to action with notable
performances like two scoreless innings in his 2023 home debut for St. Lucie.
Background
and Context
Before going pro, Ankeney
pitched at Grand Canyon University, where he recorded a 2.61 ERA over 41.1
innings in 2021–2022, striking out 62 batters. He also played in the West Coast
League (Bend Elks) and MLB Draft League (Mahoning Valley Scrappers), showing
versatility as a pitcher and occasional right fielder in college and summer
leagues
Ankeney’s injury history
and limited 2025 sample size make it hard to project his future, but his
college and early minor league strikeout numbers indicate potential as a
bullpen arm if he can stay healthy.
Ernest
Dove @ernestdove
One Mets P
prospect we are apparently not talking about enough is 23 yr old former 2024
10th rd pick RHP Brendan Girton
Today
final line in AA
5 inn 3 H
3 R (1 ER) 1 BB 9 K
51 of 71 for strikes
Season ERA
is 1.80
A
deep dive…
Brendan
Conner Girton is a right-handed pitcher in
the New York Mets minor league system.
Born
on November 10, 2001, in Shattuck, Oklahoma, he stands at 6'1" and weighs
217 pounds.
Drafted
by the Mets in the 10th round (293rd overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft from the
University of Oklahoma, Girton has quickly made a name for himself in the Mets’
system, particularly at the High-A level with the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Career Overview
Girton’s
professional career began in 2024 with the St. Lucie Mets (Single-A), where he
struggled in limited action, posting a 12.00 ERA over 3 innings. In 2025, he
excelled with the Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A), recording a 2.59 ERA over 76.1
innings in 21 games (17 starts), with 91 strikeouts and a 1.11 WHIP. His
standout performances include a perfect 5-inning outing against Asheville on
June 15, 2025, earning him the South Atlantic League (SAL) Pitcher of the Week
award, and a career-high nine strikeouts over 4.2 hitless innings on July 18,
2025. He was promoted to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A) on August 11,
2025.
Before
turning pro, Girton pitched at Texas Tech University (2021–2023) and the
University of Oklahoma (2024), compiling a 5.79 ERA over 129 collegiate innings
with 124 strikeouts. He also played in the Cape Cod League in 2021, posting a
4.38 ERA. His college career showed durability but inconsistent results, with a
high walk rate (6.14 BB/9).
Pitching Repertoire
Girton’s
repertoire centers on a fastball-slider combination, with a changeup as a
developing pitch. His fastball is his primary weapon, paired with a sharp
slider that generates significant swing-and-miss, contributing to his high
strikeout rates (29.1% K% in 2025, 10.89 K/9). He began working on his changeup
during summer ball in 2022, which has added depth to his arsenal, though it
remains a work in progress. His approach emphasizes getting ahead in counts
(0-2) to set up his “nasty” breaking stuff, particularly the slider, which he
credits for his success. Statcast data highlights his ability to limit hard
contact, with a .169 batting average against in the SAL since May 2025, ranking
him among league leaders.
Context and Outlook
Girton’s
2025 season marks him as a rising prospect in the Mets’ system, with one of the
highest strikeout rates among their minor leaguers. His ability to dominate at
High-A, evidenced by a 2.36 ERA and 0.96 WHIP since May 1, 2025, suggests
potential as a future bullpen arm or back-end starter, though his control (4.18
BB/9) needs refinement. His recent promotion to Double-A will test his ability
to handle advanced hitters
Ernest
Dove @ernestdove
Like
seemingly everyone in the Mets farm system right now, RP Ryan Lambert continues to dominate minor leagues as a potential 8th/9th inning pen
arm but with a high BB rate
His
updated season totals between High A/AA this season
37 gm 40.1 inn 26 H 9 ER (2.01 ERA) 24 BB 63 K
A deep dive…
Ryan
Lambert, a 22-year-old relief pitcher in the
New York Mets' minor league system, has shown promise as a hard-throwing
prospect with a limited but high-impact pitch repertoire.
Drafted
in the 8th round of the 2024 MLB Draft from the University of Oklahoma, Lambert
has quickly gained attention for his electric arm. Here’s an overview of his
pitching repertoire based on available data:
Fourseam Fastball: Lambert’s primary pitch is a
high-velocity fourseam fastball, averaging 97 mph in 2024, with reports of it
reaching up to 102 mph during his college career at Oklahoma. This pitch is
noted for its "ample riding life through the zone," making it a
dominant offering, particularly in high-leverage situations.
Slider: His secondary pitch is a power
sweeping slider, thrown at approximately 87 mph in 2024. While effective, it’s
considered a work in progress, with room for refinement to improve consistency
and effectiveness.
Command and Mechanics: Lambert’s command is graded as
needing improvement (30/35 on FanGraphs’ scale), and he has struggled with
repeating his mechanics, leading to a walk rate of 7.3 per nine innings in
college and 5.7 BB/9 in his 2025 minor league stint. His focus on fine-tuning
his delivery is critical for his development as a potential MLB closer.
Lambert
has no MLB experience yet but has excelled in the minors, posting a 1.83 ERA
across 34.1 innings in 2024 and 2025, with a 12.3 K/9 rate and a 1.14 WHIP. His
fastball-slider combination, paired with his self-described "adrenaline
guy" mentality, positions him as a potential future closer, with some
analysts suggesting he could factor into the Mets’ bullpen as early as this
season
5 comments:
Lambert and Girton are high on my pitchers’ list. ANKENEY, we’ll see.
I guess matt Allan is shut down for the year?
Allan and Calvin Zeigler were last seen opening up their new rehab clinic in the Azores
Lambert has a high BB rate - not someone I want on the hill in the late innings. I watched Girton last week - on a sample of one he did not appear to have any better control, but maybe it was just a bad day. He recorded very few first pitch strikes.
Why haven’t the Mets focused on bringing more LHP into the system? Is it because they see them as being higher risk?
Mike, in 2015, they drafted lefties Max Wotell and Tom Szapucki in early rounds. They are still in therapy after those two picks.
I am hoping they struck gold with Jon Santucci. Looks great.
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