Tom Brennan: Top 30 Prospects: #1 through #5

So, here are the top 5 of my post-season minors top 30… 

To complete my Top 30 Mets prospects list, here are my #1 through #5.  Three of the five are already major leaguers who still qualify as rookies.  Best starter group in the Mets Top 10 in almost 15 years.  And the best hitting prospects since Pete and Jeff in 2018. I like this top 5.

 1. RHP Nolan McLean

WOW.  HE REALLY IS OURS. I JUST PINCHED MYSELF.

As I see it, McLean, had he not tried to be a two-way player in the first half of 2024, which likely slightly slowed his pitching development, would have been in the majors even earlier than he arrived at his accelerated pace. 

Outstanding Mets starter after his MLB debut, and a heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year in 2026 - and in my opinion a real future Cy Young candidate.  

Awesome stuff that the entire league was raving about.  

Very mature, and hitters hated facing him.  One ranking site had him as the top pitching prospect in all of baseball. Who am I to argue?

I only wish that in these no-DH times, he could still hit, too.  

Huge power, averaging a HR every 20 minor league PAs, but his high K rate precluded him from being a two-way player.  If he had not been a pitcher, too, I think it would have taken 4 or 5 years, but he would have fixed his whiff rate problem and emerged as a top tier power hitter.

2. RHP Jonah Tong

Tong is my number 2. He is simply terrific.  

Absolutely incredible pitching stats in the minors, with all (but two AAA games) in AA.  The youthful righty showed some good signs amidst a few rough outings after being rushed to the majors in September in Mets’ hopes that he could plug a hole in the hull of the Mets sinking pitching ship.  

But the real positive is that he actually gained high pressure MLB experienced in his 18.2 inning sometimes-rocky MLB debut, in which he fanned 22.  

I think there is every chance that, because that trial by fire is behind him, Tong will be ready to be in the Mets opening day rotation in 2026.  It was a tough adjustment, in large part because MLB hitters are infinitely more dangerous than AA hitters., especially when playoffs positioning is on the line.

A 2026 NL Rookie of the Year candidate? I sure think so. Nolan and Tong. Seaver and Koosman.

Many forget that Jerry Koosman didn’t debut in 1968 with his 19-12, 2.08 best Mets pitcher rookie year ever, besides Doc Gooden circa 1984 dazzler.  

Koosman actually debuted briefly in 1967, going an ugly 0-2, 6.04.  

My guess is it was a wonderful learning experience for Jerry in 1967 that led to his 1968 season being so fantastic.  I see the same thing happening with Tong in 2026.

3. OF Carson Benge

Benge, the Mets’ 2024 first rounder, was incredible in High A and AA in his first full season.  He struggled in his late call up in AAA, but finished 8 for 25.  He feels to me like a May/June 2026 call up to the big leagues.  

Of course, if the Mets go for a short rebuild in 2026 instead, Benge could be a Mets opening day outfielder. 

Hits very well, good power, a solidly muted strikeout rate, good speed, and a truly great arm.  What’s not to like?  Future MLB All Star?  I think so.

4. INF/CF Jett Williams

The Jett Man is (due to no fault on his part) short, at a listed 5’7”, and I therefore just found it hard to be effusive enough to rank him at #1, where some might have him.  But he is my second highest ranked Mets hitting prospect, and that ain’t bad. 

Jett the future Met showed excellent power with 34 doubles, 7 triples, and 17 HRs in 572 PAs, and while he hit just .263 and fanned 131 times, both a bit high, he played 2025 as a 21 year old and managed to get in 34 AAA games, a great kickstart going into 2026.

His walking 76 times in 130 games is impressive, and his 34 of 43 in steals was a real positive (I am glad he did not try to steal more, as he stayed healthy throughout 2025).

After an injury-riddled 2024, yes, indeed, he was healthy in 2025. 

I expect him to make his MLB debut early in 2026, as the opportunity presents itself. Opening day is possible if the Mets feel comfortable accelerating him. More likely towards mid-season.

His 13 errors in 98 games at SS and 2B were a real improvement and he also got a bunch of games in CF, so I think that defensively, he is very close to “MLB-competent” at SS, 2B, and CF. A sure solid major leaguer, with perhaps a shot at an All Star game or two.  But, I can’t help but imagine what he would be as a player if he was 5’11”.

 I have him therefore at # 4.

5. RHP Brandon Sproat

The twice-drafted Sproat re-emerged in AAA with a vengeance over his last several AAA starts, after sputtering for the first 3 months. In his 4 start promotion to the Mets late in 2025, he was good…21 innings, 0-2, 4.79 ERA in a high pressure situation.  No HRs allowed, and just one HR every 10 innings in AAA in 2025.  Feels like a future 3/4 MLB starter for me, perhaps higher should he fully harness his stuff, which is very good.

Right now, I have Sproat behind McLean and Tong in terms of my sense as to their future success.  Sproat I would rank more closely to Christian Scott, who went 0-3, 4.56 in 9 hard-luck Mets starts in 2024 before needing Tommy John surgery in September 2024. I also think that Jon Santucci and Jack Wenninger could become higher quality starter prospects than Sproat with further development for each in 2026, but that is purely a subjective take on my part. 

When I see Sproat, I think of a Ron Darling, potentially. NOT BAD.

Darling was another great 1980s trade where the Mets gave up Lee Mazzilli and Walt Terrell. After the trade, Ronny spent two years in Mets AAA before emerging as a Mets star, going 99-70, 3.50 as a Met.

No, the Brennan Prospects series is not yet over.  

I list my #31 thru #40 (plus a few more) in my next Top Prospects article.

BUT, BEFORE I CHECK OUT...

We all want our top Mets prospects to win rookie of the year. 

Well, Nick Kurtz just won the AL rookie of the year award, unanimously.

His minor league tutelage lasted a mere 151 plate appearances, then he got promoted to the bigs and he hit like Babe Ruth.

“How nice. I’ll take two of those and, oh, the apple turnovers look nice, too, so please give me a few of those, too. In a separate box, please. Thank you.”

And…

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END

Wednesday was to be the last “regular season” Arizona Fall League game… but all Wednesday games were cancelled.  WEATHER? Anyway…

The AFL playoffs start TODAY.  Don’t blink.  They will be over quickly.

Four of the six teams, including 18-10 Scottsdale, the team that the Mets players are on, are playing in a win-or-go-home game.  

If they win, they play a one game championship game on Saturday.

Hopefully, Nick and Chris get two games in, here. 

And a ring.