Daniel
Wexler @WexlerRules
Brett Banks 1.1 perfect for Cyclones. Banks now
has a combined 2.22 era over 25 appearances across 3 levels
A deep dive…
Brett Banks is a right-handed relief pitcher in the New York Mets
organization, drafted in the 11th round (336th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft
from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW).
Born on October 3, 2001,
in Raleigh, North Carolina, Banks stands at 6’3” and weighs 205 pounds. He bats
left-handed but throws right-handed.
His journey to
professional baseball was marked by resilience, overcoming a ruptured disc injury in high school that nearly ended his
career. After playing at Wake Tech and
Catawba Valley junior colleges, he transferred to UNCW, where he excelled as a
reliever in 2023, posting a 4.23 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.
Minor
League Career
Banks began his
professional career in 2023 with the Mets’ Florida Complex League (FCL) team
and has since progressed through Single-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn
Cyclones. His minor league stats as of 2025 show a 4-0 record with a 2.86 ERA
across 41 appearances, 44 innings pitched, 41 strikeouts, and a 1.18 WHIP. In
2025, he recorded a 2.39 ERA over 23 appearances with 22 strikeouts in 26.1
innings. His performance has been impacted by injuries, with multiple stints on
the 7-day injured list in 2024 and 2025, followed by rehab assignments.
Pitch
Repertoire
Banks primarily relies on
a two-pitch mix:
Fastball: His primary pitch, a plus-plus
fastball, sits in the 94-96 mph range, occasionally touching 98 mph. It features
high spin and significant vertical break (approximately 20 inches), giving it
heavy carry and making it difficult for hitters to square up.
Slider: His main secondary pitch,
thrown at 80-85 mph, is considered a developing pitch with potential to become
average. It provides a breaking option to complement his fastball.
Other Pitches: There are indications Banks has experimented
with a cutter and changeup, though these are less developed. In a 2025 rehab
outing, he was credited with throwing one cutter and one changeup, but these
are not yet significant parts of his arsenal.
Pitching
Style and Outlook
As a reliever, Banks focuses on power pitching, leveraging his fastball’s velocity and movement to generate strikeouts (9.3 K/9 in his minor league career). His control is fair but inconsistent, with a walk rate of around 5.2 BB/9, which he needs to refine to succeed at higher levels. Some scouts believe he could develop an above-average cutter to enhance his repertoire, potentially making him a more versatile reliever. His injury history is a concern, but his performance when healthy—particularly his 0.87 ERA in Single-A St. Lucie in 2025—suggests potential as a middle-relief option in the Mets’ system
Daniel
Wexler @WexlerRules
Trace Willhoite 3/5 with his first A+ HR. Willhoite
has a 132 wRC+ on the season with 14 HR and 14 SB’s
Trace Terry Scott
Willhoite is a third baseman in the New York
Mets' minor league system.
Born on November 17, 2000,
in Georgetown, Kentucky, he is 24 years old, stands 6’3”, weighs 200 pounds,
and bats and throws right-handed.
Undrafted out of Lipscomb
University, Willhoite signed with the Mets as a free agent on March 8, 2025. He
has played primarily at third base, with some experience at first base and
shortstop, and is currently with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones.
2025
Minor League Performance
In 2025, Willhoite played
for Single-A St. Lucie Mets and High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, appearing in 64 games
with 257 plate appearances. He hit .257/.362/.463, with 10 home runs, 45 RBIs,
44 runs, 7 stolen bases, and an .825 OPS. His 128 wRC+ indicates above-average
offensive production for his level. A highlight was his first professional
four-hit game on April 9, 2025, capped by a bases-clearing triple for St.
Lucie.
Career
Background
Willhoite’s college career
included stints at Northwest Florida State College (2020-21) and Lipscomb
University (2022-24), where he was a standout, earning Atlantic Sun
All-Conference honors in 2023 and 2024. Over his college career, he batted .292
with 59 home runs and a .980 OPS across 246 games. In 2024, he also played
summer ball for the West Virginia Black Bears and Wilmington Sharks, hitting
.306 and .255, respectively, with 14 total home runs.
Skillset
and Outlook
Willhoite is a power-hitting infielder with a strong arm suited for third base. His 2025 stats show solid plate discipline (12.45% walk rate) but a high strikeout rate (24.90%), suggesting contact issues to address. His power (10 HRs in 2025) and extra-base hit ability (23 XBH) are his calling cards, with a .206 ISO reflecting his slugging potential. Defensively, he’s primarily a third baseman but has versatility to play first base.
While not a top prospect, his offensive
upside makes him a player to watch in the Mets’ system, particularly if he can
reduce strikeouts.
Daniel
Wexler @WexlerRules
Joel Diaz may not have overpowering stuff but
he's having an outstanding season. He's 2nd in the organization in FIP, 1st in
BB/9 and 1st in K/BB
Joel
Grafanino Díaz is a right-handed starting
pitcher in the New York Mets' minor league system.
Born
on February 26, 2004, in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, he is 21 years old,
stands 6’2”, weighs 208 pounds, and bats and throws right-handed.
Signed
as an international free agent in January 2021, Díaz is a promising prospect,
ranked No. 11 in the Mets’ system by MLB Pipeline in 2023.
He
underwent Tommy John surgery in spring 2023, missing the entire season, but made a strong recovery,
returning to pitch in 2024.
In
2025, he has been with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, showcasing his potential
as a future rotation piece.
2025 Minor League Performance
In
2025, Díaz has pitched for High-A Brooklyn, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.90
ERA over 21 appearances (14 starts), 85.1 innings, 82 strikeouts, and a 1.24
WHIP. His season included a standout performance on July 31, 2025, tossing four
shutout innings against Jersey Shore, demonstrating his ability to dominate
when healthy.
Across
his minor league career (2021-2025), he has a 9-13 record, 3.83 ERA, 267
strikeouts in 265.1 innings, and a 1.26 WHIP. His 2024 season was split between
Single-A St. Lucie and the Florida Complex League (FCL) Mets, where he went 2-6
with a 4.48 ERA in 20 appearances.
Pitch
Repertoire
Díaz’s repertoire, as
noted by FanGraphs, consists of three primary pitches:
Fastball: His primary pitch, sitting at 92-94
mph and touching 96 mph, with good movement due to high spin rates. It
generates significant swing-and-miss and is his go-to pitch for strikeouts.
Slider: A mid-80s offering with sharp break,
considered his best secondary pitch. It’s effective against both right- and
left-handed hitters, with potential to develop into a plus pitch as he refines
command.
Changeup: Thrown in the mid-80s, this pitch is
still developing but shows promise with fade and depth. It’s used primarily to
keep hitters off-balance, though it lags behind his fastball and slider in
consistency.
Pitching
Style and Outlook
Díaz is a power pitcher
with a live arm, generating a 9.3 K/9 rate in 2025, reflecting his ability to
miss bats. His command has improved post-surgery, with a 1.9 BB/9 rate in 2025,
down from 3.4 in 2024, indicating better control. His fastball-slider combination
is his strength, with the changeup adding depth to his arsenal. However, his
injury history (Tommy John in 2023) and occasional command struggles are areas
of concern.
Scouts project him as a
potential mid-rotation starter if he continues to develop his secondary pitches
and maintains health.
His Rule 5 eligibility in
December 2025 could push the Mets to protect him on the 40-man roster.
4 comments:
Willhoite has been a very pleasant surprise. Joel Diaz is doing OK, but not keeping up with the Joneses. I see him as a possible future bullpen piece.
Banks might be good. So far, so good. Willhoite? Love those 72 RBIs in 308 at bats. He must have real drive.
Trace Willhoite also an 80 grade human who helps everyone.
Joel Diaz low BB rate is outstanding
A healthy Brett Banks can become really interesting
Off topic on these guys, Dom Hamel got killed yesterday and for those of us that dread a possible loss after Vasil’s breakout it is concerning to see that this whole class may go to waste.
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