MACK - DEEP DIVE - RHSP Jack Wenninger - RHSP Will Watson - LHSP Daviel Hurtado

 

Farm To Flushing                             @FarmToFlushing

Another solid start for Jack Wenninger in Binghamton.

6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO

He brings his season ERA down to 2.72, his WHIP to 1.10, and runs his strikeout total up to 126

                A deep dive…    

                Jack Wenninger is a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher in the New York Mets organization, born March 14, 2002, in Barrington, Illinois. Standing at 6’4” and weighing 210 pounds, he bats left and throws right.

Drafted in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft from the University of Illinois,

Wenninger has emerged as a promising prospect. Wenninger’s repertoire features a fastball, changeup (splitter), slider, curveball, sweeper, cutter, and sinker. His fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s (91-94 mph, occasionally touching 96 mph) with armside run, and his changeup (82-85 mph splitter) is considered his best pitch, generating significant whiffs due to its drop and separation from the fastball. He also throws a mid-80s slider, an upper-70s curveball, an upper-80s cutter, and has been developing a sinker and gyro slider to deepen his arsenal. His large frame and high three-quarters arm slot provide good extension, enhancing his fastball’s perceived velocity.

2025 Performance:

Wenninger had a breakout season at Double-A Binghamton, posting a 2.79-2.84 ERA over 106.1 innings in 21 starts, with 118 strikeouts, a 1.14-1.15 WHIP, and a .220 opponent batting average. He reached 100 strikeouts, joining Jonah Tong as the only Mets prospects to hit that mark in 2025. A notable performance included a six-inning, 11-strikeout game against Hartford on July 6, 2025.

Career Path:

 After a 5.26 ERA at Murray State and a 4.59 ERA at Illinois, Wenninger signed with the Mets for $225,000 (below slot value). In 2024, he posted a 5.02 ERA in Single-A St. Lucie (71.2 innings, 89 strikeouts) and a 3.12 ERA in High-A Brooklyn (43.1 innings, 51 strikeouts). His 140 strikeouts in 2024 were second in the Mets system. He started 2025 in Double-A and is projected to reach Triple-A soon, with a potential MLB debut in 2026 if his development continues.

Scouting Grades (2025):

 Fastball: 50, Changeup: 55, Slider: 45, Curveball: 45, Control: 50, Overall: 40. His changeup and control stand out, with reverse splits (effective against opposite-handed hitters) adding intrigue. His deeper arsenal will be tested in Double-A and beyond.

 Outlook:

Wenninger’s strong metrics (e.g., 3.97 FIP in Single-A, 2.89 FIP in High-A) and strikeout ability suggest a bright future as a starter.

                Me?

I think Wenninger is a candidate for a back-end starter in the Mets rotation come mid-season, 2026.

Ernest Dove                       @ernestdove

Yet another Mets solid P prospect starting today in High A

RHP Will Watson through 12 app 11 starts coming into today at the level

53.2 inn    43 H    12 ER (2.01 ERA)    24 BB    66 K    .218 opp AVG    .614 opp OPS

                A deep dive…

Will Watson is a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher in the New York Mets organization, born November 7, 2002, in Mount Vernon, Washington.

Standing at 6’1” and weighing 180 pounds, he bats and throws right-handed.

Watson was selected by the Mets in the seventh round (203rd overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft from the University of Southern California (USC) and signed for $281,300, near slot value. He is ranked No. 22–30 among Mets prospects for 2025.

Repertoire:

Watson’s pitch mix includes a four-seam fastball, slider, changeup, cutter, and sinker. His fastball, averaging 2300 RPM, sits in the mid-90s (90–94 mph) and can touch 97 mph, with improved velocity attributed to weight room work and grip adjustments. His mid-80s slider is effective, boasting an 83.3% whiff-and-chase rate in limited use during his 2025 debut. The changeup, thrown like his fastball with high spin, is deceptive and a key pitch, particularly against right-handed hitters. His cutter is a newer addition, still being refined, and he occasionally uses a sinker to diversify his arsenal.

2025 Performance:

Watson began the season with Single-A St. Lucie, posting a 3.66 ERA over 39.1 innings in 10 games (8 starts), with 43 strikeouts, a 1.297 WHIP, and a 2.05 K/BB ratio. Promoted to High-A Brooklyn in June, he recorded a 2.25 ERA over 40 innings in 9 games (8 starts), with 49 strikeouts and a 1.225 WHIP. Overall, in 2025, he went 0–7 with a 2.95 ERA across 79.1 innings in 19 games (16 starts), striking out 92 batters (10.4 K/9) while allowing 5 home runs. His standout debut on April 8, 2025, saw him throw 4.1 hitless innings with 7 strikeouts and no walks against Lakeland.

Career Path:

Watson attended Burlington-Edison High School, then pitched at California Lutheran University (2022: 1.82 ERA, 34.2 innings, 40 strikeouts), San Joaquin Delta College (2023: 2.97 ERA, 57.2 innings, 82 strikeouts), and USC (2024: 3.93 ERA, 50.1 innings, 46 strikeouts). Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, he opted not to sign and transferred to USC. After signing with the Mets in 2024, he made two brief appearances with St. Lucie (2.2 innings, 3.38 ERA). His 2025 season reflects a transition from a hybrid starter/reliever role to a full-time starter, though some project him as a reliever long-term due to his command (4.1 BB/9 in 2025) and pitch mix. 

Scouting Grades (2025, FanGraphs):

Fastball: 55, Slider: 55 (future 60), Changeup: 50, Cutter: 40, Command: 30 (future 40). His fastball and slider are his strongest offerings, but his command needs improvement to reach his ceiling.

Outlook:

Watson’s high-velocity fastball and developing secondaries give him upside as a potential mid-rotation starter or high-leverage reliever. His ability to generate strikeouts (10.4 K/9 in 2025) and limit home runs (0.6 HR/9) is promising, but his walk rate (4.1 BB/9) remains a challenge. He’s likely to spend most of 2026 in High-A or Double-A, with an estimated MLB ETA of 2027. Watson’s focus on mental growth and pitch development, combined with the Mets’ strong pitching development program, positions him as a prospect to watch.

Ernest Dove                       @ernestdove

Mets 20 yr old LHP prospect Daviel Hurtado continues to be one of my new favorite prospects in system. His line today in Low A

4 inn    3 H    0 ER    1 BB    5 K

Low A season ERA down to 2.34

Looks to have sat at 92-94 topping 95 mixing in a slider & curve

                A deep dive…

Profile: Daviel Hurtado

Position: Starting Pitcher

Bats/Throws: Left/Left

Height/Weight: 6'1", 166 lbs

Age: 20 (Born January 26, 2005, in Havana, Cuba)

Team: St. Lucie Mets (Single-A Affiliate of the New York Mets)

Signed: January 15, 2023, as a free agent to a minor league contract

Career Overview

Daviel Hurtado is a young, promising left-handed pitcher currently playing in the Mets' minor league system. He began his professional career in 2023 after signing with the Mets and has progressed through their rookie and Single-A levels. His career has been marked by a strong strikeout ability, though he faced challenges with injuries early on.2023: Started with the DSL Mets Orange (Dominican Summer League) before being assigned to the FCL Mets (Florida Complex League). He was placed on the 60-day injured list in July 2023 but was activated in November 2023.

2024:     Pitched for the FCL Mets, where he had a 0-5 record with a 6.32 ERA over 8 starts, throwing 15.2 innings with 23 strikeouts and a 1.60 WHIP. Despite the rough record, he showed strikeout potential, with a notable performance of 25 strikeouts in 18 innings, including a suspended game where he threw two scoreless innings with five strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 0.47 at that point.

2025:     Assigned to the St. Lucie Mets (Single-A) on June 17, 2025. In 2025, he has shown improvement, posting a 1-1 record with a 1.80 ERA over 13 games (10 starts), throwing 45.0 innings with 49 strikeouts and a 1.04 WHIP. His minor league career totals as of 2025 are 1-6 with a 2.97 ERA, 60.2 innings, 72 strikeouts, and a 1.19 WHIP.

Development Focus:

The Mets’ pitching lab, known for developing pitchers like Brandon Sproat, may be helping Hurtado refine his pitch mix, potentially adding a new pitch or improving command to complement his raw stuff.

Prospect Status:

 Hurtado is not currently listed among the Mets' top prospects, but his youth and strikeout ability make him a player to watch. His Rule 5 eligibility is not until December 2027, giving him time to develop.

Injury History:       His time on the 60-day injured list in 2023 suggests he may have dealt with an injury, but his activation and performance in 2024 and 2025 indicate recovery.

Recent Performance:     His 2025 stats at St. Lucie (1.80 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) show significant improvement, suggesting he’s adapting well to Single-A competition.

Sources

For more detailed stats and updates, you can check:

Baseball-Reference.com

MiLB.com for his 2025 St. Lucie Mets stats

FanGraphs for career pitching statistics

Mack's Mets blog for prospect insights