Steve Sica - The Next Pitchers in the Mets Pipeline

By, Steve Sica

This last month, Mets fans have been treated to a couple of spectacular pitching debuts. None more so than Nolan McLean, who in his first three starts has an ERA of 0.89 and has shut down arch rival Atlanta and Philly’s offense. Jonah Tong made his debut to much fanfare and lived up to the hype, pitching five innings and allowing just one run in a win over Miami.

The Mets' system is still loaded with pitching talent across all levels. Brandon Sproat is the last of the big three pitchers that remain in Triple-A Syracuse, and he’ll likely have his chance before the end of this season. Here’s a look at some other pitchers further down the Met pipeline.

RHP Jack Wenninger (Double-A Binghamton)

Wenninger was the Mets’ sixth-round draft pick back in 2023 and has enjoyed a career year during his first season in Double-A Binghamton. In 24 starts, Wenninger has an ERA of 2.98 and currently leads the team in strikeouts with 138. While Tong was with the Rumble Ponies, Wenninger was not far behind him in most pitching stat leaders. 

August might have been Wennniger’s best month of the season. Pitching in 28 innings to the tune of a 2.86 ERA and totaled 28 strikeouts, including an eight-strikeout performance in six innings in a win over New Hampshire on August 16th. His control is impeccable for his experience level, as he’s only allowed 38 walks in 123 innings pitched. That control has allowed him to stretch out his starts, lasting five innings or more in his last five starts.

Wenninger has enjoyed a dominant season in the MiLB “prove it” league of Double-A. He’ll likely finish out the season there, and you can expect him with Syracuse next season, and perhaps in Queens by the end of 2026.

RHP Will Watson (Double-A Binghamton)

Drafted just last year, Will Watson has rocketed through the Minors all the way to Double-A. The 22-year-old USC product started this season in Low-A St. Lucie and, after an up-and-down couple of months, he earned a promotion to High-A Brooklyn, where his season took off.

Over 13 starts with the Cyclones, Watson put up a commanding 1.70 ERA over 63 innings pitched. He totaled 125 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.211. In his last three starts in High-A, he didn’t allow a run, and in his last start, he went a season high six innings pitched, allowing just two hits in a shutout effort over Aberdeen.

That was enough to earn his second promotion of the season to Double-A Binghamton. Watson made his Rumble Pony debut on August 29th, pitching four and one-third innings, allowing just one run with five strikeouts. 

Like Wenninger, Watson came to the Mets in the middle rounds of the MLB draft. A theme that’s carried over the last couple of drafts in the Steve Cohen era. A seventh-round pick in 2024, Watson has quietly put together some of the most dominant numbers in the Mets’ system in 2025. He’s particularly effective against left-handed batters who are hitting just .171 off Watson. Expect him to start 2026 in Double-A Binghamton, where he’ll likely spend most of 2026, with an MLB promotion expected at this pace by 2027.

Will Watson put up an ERA of 1.70 in 13 starts with High-A Brooklyn

RHP R.J. Gordon (Double-A Binghamton)

Another potential steal of a draft pick. Gordon was selected by the Mets out of Oregon University in the 13th round of the 2024 draft. 2025 was his first professional season, and he began his career with High-A Brooklyn.

Gordon started off strong in his first five starts, putting up an ERA of 2.14, a 3-0 record, and ringing up 24 strikeouts across 21 innings pitched. His most impressive start with Brooklyn came at home on June 27th, where he fired six shutout innings with six strikeouts over Jersey Shore. 

A couple of weeks after that, he was called up to Double-A Binghamton, where he continued to open eyes across the Mets system when, in his Rumble Pony debut, he pitched a career-high seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run and amassed eight strikeouts in a win over Altoona. Gordon would pitch seven innings in two more starts. He ended August on a high note with a 2.08 ERA in six starts (34.2 IP) and 42 strikeouts.

R.J. Gordon had 42 strikeouts in August with Double-A Binghamton

LHP Jonathon Santucci (Double-A Binghamton)

Drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 2024 draft (46th pick overall) out of Duke University, the 22-year-old Santucci has already found his way to Double-A Binghamton. It took Santucci about a month into his MiLB career to start to find himself as he struggled through most of April with High-A Brooklyn. His next two months were anything but a struggle. In nine starts from May 15th to July 5th, Santucci pitched to an ERA of 1.35 and struck out 54 batters in 46 innings pitched. His best High-A start was his last, where he fired six shutout innings and tallied up nine strikeouts.

After that, Santucci found himself in Double-A Binghamton, and his numbers have only improved at the next level. In 39 Double-A innings, Santucci has an ERA of 3.00, opponents are batting just .187 against him, and he has totaled 50 strikeouts, including an 11-strikeout performance on August 15th against New Hampshire.

At just 22 years old, Santucci is on the younger side for Double-A players. He’s put an ugly start to his 2025 campaign behind him and has established himself as one of the Mets’ best prospects, currently ranking at number 14 per MLB Pipeline. I’d imagine we’ll see him back with Binghamton to start the 2026 season, with a promotion to Syracuse at some point that summer.

RHP Noah Hall (High-A Brooklyn)

Another mid-draft find for the Mets. Noah Hall was drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 MLB draft out of the University of South Carolina. He spent most of 2024 on the injured list, pitching in just 13 innings. He’s been with High-A Brooklyn for all of 2025 and has bounced back nicely from injuries. 

In 108 innings pitched, Hall has an ERA of 2.42, a record of 5-6, and has 110 strikeouts. Control has been an issue for Hall as he’s also surrendered 60 walks. When Hall does have his control on point, he can be one of the best pitchers in the Met system. On July 12th, he went seven shutout innings against Wilmington, allowing just one walk while striking out four. On August 8th in Hudson Valley, he went six strong innings, striking out seven and allowing one walk.

At 24 years old, Hall is still a bit of a work in progress. The Mets seem to be in no hurry to move him through the system as he’s spent 2025 working on his craft and recovering from injury. The High-A season ends on Sunday, September 7th. The Cyclones have qualified for the postseason, which means Hall will see at least one more start after the regular season ends. Will the Mets choose to end his season once the South Atlantic League ends theirs, or will they promote him to Binghamton to get a taste of Double-A before 2026?

Honorable mentions:

Joel Diaz: 102.1 IP, 21 BB, 97 SO, 3.69 ERA, 1.182 WHIP

Zach Thornton: 6-2, 72.2 IP, 78 SO, .187 opp AVG, 1.98 ERA with High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton.

Camden Lohman: 8th round pick in 2025. High school stats: 0.80 ERA in 44 IP with 92 strikeouts