Tom Brennan - Guys That I Barely Left Out of My Top 30…31 Thru 40

 

So, here are ten dudes who barely missed my of my minors top 30… 

And even a few more.

Part of my philosophy in a top 30 ranking determination, when it comes to just drafted pitchers who have not pitched, is to wait and see how they do in their rookie campaign - in this case in 2026. 

Frankly, I’ve seen too many pitchers get drafted who end up needing surgery before they even start throwing innings. So, there’s plenty of time in 2026, God willing, to rank a few guys that I stuck in 31 through 40 as pitchers. And other wannabes with bats, too.

Anyway, given that, here’s my 31 through 40.

31. IF/OF D’Andre Smith

He had a very fine bounce back year in 2025, hitting .282/.345/.417, mostly in AA, with 31 of 34 in steals. As I wrote this on October 29, the Mets’ 2022 fifth rounder was just 5 for 27 in Arizona Fall ball, but was also on base 7 more times via BB/HBP, and added 6 steals in 6 tries. His .353 OBP there was nothing to sneeze at.

I listed him at # 31 and not higher, frankly, because I wanted to highlight him as first in today’s article, so you would not miss him.  Ridiculous logic on my part, I know.

I sense he gets overlooked a lot.  He shouldn’t. He just looks HUNGRY!

He could make his MLB debut in 2026 if the circumstances fall his way.

32. OF Edward Lantigua

Lantigua has much competition from some DSL hitters not named Peña or Yovanny, but I like him at # 31.  He may vault well up into the top 30 in 2026.  Playing in the FCL as an 18 year old, the 6’1”, 175 OF got in 49 games and hit .288/.433/.399.  What, exactly, is not to like? 

33. C Ronald Hernandez

I should have him higher, really, since he has a bona fide chance to be a back up MLB catcher in a few years. He hit .224 as a 21 year old in Brooklyn, but was 23 of 28 in steals in just 393 PAs, and had an OBP of .318.  Oddly, he hit .250 in Brooklyn, but just .199 on the road.  He hit just .180 in June and July, but rebounded to hit .261 in August. His 86 Ks were surprisingly high.  Power is modest.

But I bet he rebounds with a better performance, in AA, next year.  My advice? Hit like Keith Hernandez.

34. INF Trey Snyder

Trey Snyder is 19, 6’1”, 200. The St Lucie righty hitting 5th rounder hit just .220/.336/.288.  So far, just Buddy Harrelson level power.

But Snyder added 72 walks and racked up 41 of 49 in steals in 115 games in his first full season - as such, this makes a solid first season for Snyder.  

Clearly, much power must be added, but I liked the steals and walks enough to have him just outside my Top 30.  He fanned 96 times in 512 PAs, a good ratio.  He played 2B, 3B, SS, and CF, making his normal share of errors, but I imagine that in 2026 at age 20, the errors will substantially lessen. 

Brooklyn next year will be his likely next challenge.  This off season, his first challenge should be hanging out profusely in the weight room.  

Buddy Harrelson power doesn’t cut it in today’s game.

35. C Julio Zayas

So far, so good. He hit .284/.400/.369 in 48 games in the FCL at age 19. 5”11, 190 hitter. A fine season.  Projection: St Lucie in 2026, and a heavier workload.

Any other year, he is in my Top 30.

36. RHP Peter Kussow

Kussow was a fourth round pick out of high school.  Over slot. He did not pitch in any games yet. 55 rated FB and slider. Stay healthy, and why not top 20 next year?

37. RHP Douglas Orellana

Orellana is a 23 year old righty who had (according to Frank Sinatra) a very good year, going 4-1, 2.96, and fanning 63 in 52 IP.  Great in AA, but 2-1, 5.30 in Syracuse AAA ball. Most of that was one bad outing in late August (0.1 innings, 4 runs).  Any other year, he is in my Top 30. He likely gets Mets innings at some point in 2026.

38. LHP Franklin Gomez

A 20 y/o lefty, 3-3, 2.76 ERA. One bad outing in late August (6 runs in 1.2 IP) rocketed the season ERA up.

Now, finally, 2 guys from the DSL at co-number 38. 

DSL hitters jumping to stateside often reveals an inability to keep up, so I hesitate to rank them too high until they strut their stuff in tougher stateside ball:

38a. C Josmir Reyes had 34 BBs vs. a crazy low 15 Ks, a .300 BA & .426 OBP.

38b. SS Yunior Amparo hit .312/.428/.475, with 16 steals.

Moving on…

40.  RHP BRIAN METOYER:

- except he is now a free agent, so I add Joel Diaz here instead.

Jon Pintaro’s fellow 28 year old (and about to turn 29), 6’3” Brian Metoyer, had had many years negatively impacted by injury and erratic control. But his 2025 was SPECIAL: 

33 outings, 1.70 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 59 Ks in 42 IP.  He had one bad outing in July, where he allowed 4 earned runs in one third of an inning, or his ERA would have been microscopic.  

If he seems too old, consider that effective Mets reliever Huascar Brazoban made his major league debut at age 33!  And he’s done well.

I put Metoyer at # 40 for another reason….he’s a former 40th rounder.

Joel Diaz?  His ERA in Brooklyn was relatively high…at 3.80, which was the ERA of the 7th highest ranked (out of 12) South Atlantic League teams.  His ERA in super-pitcher friendly Cyclones Park was 2.98, but on the road, a mediocre 4.47.  Good control is a plus, 8 Ks per 9 is not.  

Diaz feels like a younger (21) version of Joander Suarez, who I no longer rank in my top 40 because Suarez is solid in AA but stumbles big-time when he gets to AAA (10.53 ERA in 20 AAA innings).  Joel Diaz could be a future pen arm IMO.  How much that will turn out to be, yea and verily, I knoweth not.

And, the Mets just got TJS survivor Nate Lavender back. I wasn’t about to rewrite him into this article, other than to say he is at least a Top 40 prospect. Why?  225 minor league innings in his career - 322 Ks. 

The former 14th-round pick had internal brace surgery in May 2024.  He did not pitch in 2025.  

BRACE YOURSELF…NATE IS BACK!

OK…FORTY DOWN….TEN TO GO.  NEXT ARTICLE. BET YOU CANNOT WAIT.

Hey, I am not done…

ONCE UPON A TIME IN METSVILLE - A CAUTIONARY TALE…

The Mets are considering trading Kodai Senga, whose extended health issues essentially sabotaged their last two playoff runs.

But sometimes, guys can turn their struggles around, and do so fiercely.

One familiar guy once went 11-35 over a span of two Mets years, despite a 3.62 ERA.  

It was good they didn’t throw up their hands in exasperation and trade him.  

The next season, his ERA dropped only a smidgeon to 3.38, but he didn’t lose 3 of every 4 decisions.  Rather, he went 20-13.

His name? Jerry Koosman.

So, re: trading Kodai?  Two straight bad years.  However…

Proceed with caution.

ARIZONA AGONY

Scottsdale was eliminated Thursday, 9-4.  Our Scottie lads, Messrs. Morabito and Suero, combined to go 0 for 8, with 3 Ks, but the other squad’s catcher, named Alfredo Duno, had an entire career in one night, hitting 3 HRs and driving in 6.  Amazingly, in 47 regular season Arizona game at bats, Duno hit just .213 with no HRs.  Baseball is full of surprises, huh?

STANEK STUNNING, SERIOUS STATEMENT

I saw this on Facebook. If true, and it doesn’t feel like something the writer made up, whaddya think?  

“I get death threats all the time” 

Ryne Stanek slams MLB gambling partnerships amid player safety concerns.

“Mets pitcher Ryne Stanek has voiced his frustration with MLB’s growing relationship with gambling companies, revealing he receives “death threats all the time” due to betting-related anger from fans. 

Speaking candidly about the pressures athletes face, Stanek criticized MLB for promoting betting partnerships while leaving players vulnerable to harassment and potential danger. He emphasized that while gambling has boosted league revenue, it’s also intensified fan hostility toward players when bets go wrong. 

Stanek’s remarks shed light on a growing concern across professional sports—where legalized betting and player accessibility on social media create dangerous intersections. As leagues profit from gambling sponsorships, players like Stanek are demanding better protection and accountability. 

His statements have sparked a broader debate over the balance between business interests and athlete safety in the age of widespread sports wagering.”