MACK - DEEP DIVE - RP Juan Arnaud - RP Dylan Ross - 3B/1B Munetaka Murakami

 

Mets Player Development                          @MetsPlayerDev

Juan Arnaud dealt in relief this week. He struck out 6 batters across five hitless innings for the St. Lucie Mets.

He is the Florida State Pitcher of the Week! 

                A deep dive…

Name: Juan Antonio Arnaud

Position: Relief Pitcher

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Physical Stats: 6'2", 164 lbs

Age: 21 (Born June 22, 2003, in Cotui, Dominican Republic)

Team: New York Mets (minors, currently with St. Lucie Mets, Single-A)

Signed: January 15, 2021, as a free agent by the New York Mets to a minor league contract.

Career Statistics (as of 2025)

2025 Season (St. Lucie Mets, Single-A): Record: 1-0

ERA: 3.94

Games: 14

Innings Pitched: 16

Strikeouts: 24

WHIP: 1.50

Career Minors (2022–2025):        Record: 11-4

ERA: 4.67

Games: 79

Innings Pitched: 108

Strikeouts: 129

WHIP: 1.64.

Career Progression

2021: Signed by the Mets and assigned to DSL Mets 1 and DSL Mets 2 (Dominican Summer League). Spent time on the 60-day injured list.

2022: Pitched for DSL Mets 1 and DSL Mets 2, posting a combined 3-2 record with a 5.87 ERA over 18 games (1 start), 30.2 innings, and 34 strikeouts.

2023: Moved to the FCL Mets (Rookie League), with a 4-1 record and 4.71 ERA in 15 relief appearances, striking out 22 in 21 innings.

2024: Advanced to St. Lucie Mets (Single-A), recording a 3-1 record, 4.02 ERA, and 49 strikeouts in 40.1 innings over 32 appearances.

2025: Continued with St. Lucie Mets, showing improvement with a 3.94 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 16 innings.

Arnaud’s career WHIP of 1.64 and 2025 WHIP of 1.50 suggest he’s still refining his command, which is typical for a young reliever. The Mets’ pitching lab focuses on improving strike-throwing consistency, and Arnaud’s 2025 strikeout rate (24 in 16 innings) indicates he’s developing the ability to miss bats, though he may struggle with walks (87 walks in 108 career innings).

Role and Outlook

Current Role: Arnaud is a relief pitcher in Single-A with the St. Lucie Mets. His high strikeout rates (10.7 K/9 career) suggest he has the raw stuff to be effective in short bursts, fitting the profile of a middle reliever or setup man in the future.

Development Path: The Mets’ pitching lab, under the guidance of David Stearns and staff like Kris Gross and Andy Green, has been effective in refining pitchers’ arsenals. Arnaud’s progression from the Dominican Summer League to Single-A shows steady development, but he needs to improve his command and consistency to climb higher levels (e.g., High-A, Double-A).

ETA: Given his current level (Single-A) and age (21), Arnaud’s estimated time of arrival to the majors is likely 2027 or later, assuming he continues to progress. He is not listed among the Mets’ top prospects, indicating he’s a lower-tier prospect with potential to develop into a bullpen contributor.

Notes

Arnaud is not on the Mets’ 40-man roster or listed as a top prospect, suggesting he’s a developmental arm with some upside but not yet a high-priority prospect.

His slight frame (164 lbs) may raise questions about durability, but adding strength could enhance his velocity and effectiveness, as seen with other Mets prospects like Carson Benge, who added mass after focusing solely on hitting.

The Mets’ recent success in developing pitchers (e.g., Brandon Sproat) suggests Arnaud could benefit from their pitching lab, potentially refining his fastball shape or adding a new pitch to his repertoire.

Ernest Dove                       @ernestdove

Perfect 9th in AAA tonight for Mets RP prospect Dylan Ross who lowered his ERA to 1.17

Thats now 6 straight hitless appearances.  Last 3 he hasn't allowed a BB either.

                A deep dive…

Dylan Ross is a right-handed pitcher in the New York Mets organization, drafted in the 13th round (389th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft from the University of Georgia. At 6’5” and 251 pounds, Ross has a durable, workhorse build, described as “an absolute horse” by Mets senior VP of player development Andy Green. The 24-year-old from Statesboro, Georgia, has shown significant promise despite a challenging start to his professional career due to injuries.

Background and Career

Ross comes from an athletic family with deep baseball roots. His grandfather, John K. Small, was an NFL first-round draft pick, and his cousins and brother have played or are playing baseball at various levels. Ross began his college career at Eastern Kentucky University, where he posted a 2.25 ERA in three appearances as a freshman in 2020. He then transferred to Northwest Florida State College, where he went 6-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 2021, earning All-Panhandle Conference honors. At Georgia, his 2022 season was cut short by injury after two starts, where he had a 1-0 record and a 3.00 ERA.

Ross underwent Tommy John surgery on March 15, 2022, and faced a setback during rehab, requiring a second elbow procedure. Despite these challenges, he returned to game action in September 2024, striking out the side in a perfect inning for the St. Lucie Mets. In 2025, Ross has rapidly progressed through the Mets’ minor league system, moving from High-A Brooklyn to Double-A Binghamton and then to Triple-A Syracuse. In 28 1/3 innings across these levels, he has a 2.54 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 16 walks, including a 1.42 ERA in 6 1/3 innings at Triple-A.

Repertoire

Ross is known for his overpowering stuff, particularly his fastball, which is one of the hardest in the Mets’ farm system. His pitch mix includes:

Fastball:

Sits in the mid-90s, often 93-96 mph with arm-side life and ride, but can reach 102 mph, with multiple 101 mph readings recorded. During his time with the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2025, Ross threw 41 of the 43 hardest pitches by a Cyclone, including the top 31, with a peak of 101.9 mph.

Splitter:

A low-90s pitch described as “real” by evaluators, with significant potential as an out pitch. It sits in the 83-85 mph range and is a key weapon in his arsenal.

Slider:

Sits in the mid-to-high-80s, with tight break when he’s on, though it can flatten into a cutter-like pitch when command falters. It tunnels well with his fastball, adding deception.

Curveball:

A less frequently used pitch, but part of his repertoire, adding depth to his mix.

Changeup:

Occasionally thrown in the high-80s, but it’s firm and not a primary pitch.

Ross throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot with minimal effort, and his ability to repeat a sound delivery, especially for his size, is notable. He has shown a knack for making small adjustments to pitch shapes and designs, which has aided his development.

Outlook

Despite his injury history, Ross’s rapid rise through the minors in 2025 suggests he could be a candidate for a big-league promotion, potentially as a late-inning power reliever. His velocity and splitter make him a high-upside arm, though his command, which was inconsistent pre-injury, remains a point to refine. The Mets view him as a potential surprise contributor, similar to Dedniel Núñez in 2024, and his progression is a testament to his resilience and the organization’s belief in his talent.

Mets' David Stearns Scouts Japanese Star Munetaka Murakami Ahead of Possible MLB Move

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25234402-mets-david-stearns-scouts-japanese-star-munetaka-murakami-ahead-possible-mlb-move

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns was spotted in Japan on Tuesday to scout highly touted corner infielder Munetaka Murakami.

A photo of Stearns was taken outside Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo, which is where Murakami's Tokyo Yakult Swallows play their home games:

SNY's Danny Abriano confirmed that Stearns was on hand to watch Murakami face the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, noting that the superstar slugger could make the move to Major League Baseball as soon as this coming offseason.

While injuries have limited Murakami to just 14 Central League games this season, he came to play on Tuesday with Stearns in attendance, clubbing a walk-off two-run home run:

Entering the 2025 campaign, Murakami had established himself as the most consistent power threat in Japan.

                A deep dive…

Full Name: Munetaka Murakami (村上 宗隆, Murakami Munetaka)

Born: February 2, 2000, Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

Age: 25 (as of August 12, 2025)

Height/Weight: 6’2” (188 cm), 213-214 lbs (96-97 kg)

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

Position: Infielder (primarily Third Baseman, also plays First Base and occasionally Outfield)

Team: Tokyo Yakult Swallows (NPB, Japan Central League)

Early Life and Amateur Career:

Munetaka Murakami began playing baseball at age five. He attended Kyushu Gakuin High School in Kumamoto, where he was a standout player. As a freshman, he became the regular first baseman and cleanup hitter, leading his team to the 2015 Koshien national tournament (though they lost in the first round). In his second and third years, he switched to catcher but didn’t return to national tournaments. Murakami hit 52 home runs in high school, earning the nickname “Babe Ruth of Higo” (Higo being the historical name for Kumamoto Prefecture).

Professional Career with Tokyo Yakult Swallows:

Draft and Debut: Murakami was selected in the first round of the 2017 NPB Draft by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, who won a lottery against the Yomiuri Giants and Rakuten Golden Eagles. He signed for 80 million yen with a 7.2 million yen annual salary and was assigned jersey number 55. He debuted on September 16, 2018, hitting a home run in his first at-bat, becoming the seventh NPB high school rookie to achieve this feat.

2018 (Rookie Season):   Spent most of the year in the minors (Eastern League), batting .288 with 17 HRs and 70 RBIs. He played six games in the Central League, hitting .083 with one home run. Earned Eastern League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards.

2019 (Breakout):              Became the youngest Swallows player to start on Opening Day (age 19). Played all 143 games, hitting .231 with 36 HRs (tying the NPB second-year rookie record) and 96 RBIs. Set an NPB record for most strikeouts by a Japanese player (184) but won the Central League Rookie of the Year Award.

2020-2021:          In 2020, hit .307 with 28 HRs and a 1.012 OPS in 120 games. In 2021, led the Central League with 39 HRs, 112 RBIs, and a .974 OPS, slashing .278/.408/.566. Helped the Swallows win the 2021 Japan Series with two home runs and earned the Central League MVP.

2022 (Historic Season):     Achieved one of the greatest NPB seasons ever, hitting .318 with 56 HRs (breaking Sadaharu Oh’s Japanese-born player record of 55) and 134 RBIs, winning the NPB Triple Crown (first since 2004, youngest ever at 22). Unanimously voted Central League MVP, with a 1.168 OPS and 11.0 WAR, comparable to Aaron Judge’s 2022 MLB season.

2023-2024:         In 2023, hit .256 with 31 HRs and an .875 OPS. In 2024, batted .244 with 33 HRs and an .851 OPS. Continued to play primarily third base, with some first base and outfield appearances.

2025 (Partial): Through June 16, 2025, hit .333 with 3 HRs in 8 games (limited data).

Career Stats (NPB, through June 16, 2025):

Games: 844

Batting Average: .271

Home Runs: 227

RBIs: 606

OBP/SLG/OPS: .395/.551/.945

Stolen Bases: 55

Walks/Strikeouts: 585 BBs, 926 SOs

Fielding: .943 FLD% at 3B (708 games), .994 FLD% at 1B (259 games).

International Career:

2019: Played exhibition games for Japan against Mexico.

2020 Tokyo Olympics:     Won a gold medal with Team Japan.

2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC):     Key contributor to Japan’s championship win. Hit a 115.1 mph, 432-foot home run off Merrill Kelly in the final against the USA (hardest HR in the tournament) and a 111.0 mph walk-off double against Mexico in the semifinals. Also hit a 112.4 mph RBI double against Italy.

Awards and Achievements:

2× Central League MVP (2021, 2022)

NPB Triple Crown (2022, youngest ever)

4× NPB All-Star (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024)

2019 Central League Rookie of the Year

2× Central League Home Run Leader (2021, 2022)

3× Best Nine Award (2020, 2021, 2022)

Japan Series Champion (2021)

Interleague Play MVP (2022)

Youngest NPB player to hit a walk-off HR (2019, age 19)

Youngest NPB player to 100 career HRs

NPB record for most HRs by an Asian-born player in a season (56, 2022).

Playing Style:

Murakami is renowned for his elite power, with 224 HRs before age 25, surpassing any MLB player’s total in that age range (Eddie Mathews’ 190 is the MLB record). His 115.1 mph WBC home run and multiple 110+ mph hits demonstrate exit velocities comparable to MLB stars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. He’s a patient hitter, drawing 70+ walks in most seasons, but his strikeout rate is high (e.g., 184 in 2019, 180 in 2024). His wRC+ of 228 in 2022 indicates he was over twice as productive as the average NPB hitter. Defensively, he’s solid at third base (.943 FLD%) and excellent at first base (.994 FLD%).

MLB Prospects:

Murakami signed a three-year contract extension with the Swallows in 2022 (600 million yen/year, ~$4.4M), which mandates his posting to MLB after the 2025 season. He’s confirmed 2025 will be his final NPB season, with a planned MLB move in 2026 at age 26. Teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, with their history of signing Japanese stars (e.g., Ohtani, Yamamoto), are speculated as potential suitors. His power and Statcast metrics suggest he could thrive in MLB, though his high strikeout rate (e.g., 168 in 2023, 180 in 2024) is a concern to address.

Why He Matters:

Munetaka Murakami is one of Japan’s brightest baseball stars, often compared to Aaron Judge for his 2022 season’s dominance and power. His 56-HR season, Triple Crown, and WBC heroics have made him a global name. As he prepares for MLB in 2026, he’s poised to follow in the footsteps of Japanese stars like Ohtani, potentially becoming a cornerstone for an MLB franchise

                Me?

I spent most of my baseball life believing that Asian baseball players, especially the Japanese ones, just wasn’t major league caliber. And then came this crew.

Murakami looks like Oh when he steps in and may just be the real deal.