MACK - The Sunday Report - Where Will David Stearns Watch The Games?, Payton Prescott, Mike Baumann, Jett Williams, Eli Serrano III, Carson Benge

 

Where Will David Stearns Watch The Games?

Come on, you didn’t really believe that Moneyball bullshite that Billy Bean would never watch a parent baseball game, did you?

Well, it was true.

But this is about the last comparison you can make between Beane and Stearns,

Right now, Stearns may be the most hated person in New York City. At least, in Queens. Fans are, well, fans. Trade away the players they love and be ready for the backlash, no matter how much the act of trading this individual makes sense. Trade or not sign four of the key players on this team and, if the Mets were a Pirate ship, Stearns would walk the plank and tossed into the shark filled brink.

My guess, he will have his car drop him off quietly and as close as the entrance allows, until fans get wind of this and start gathering early to scream at him. He will then immediately be sent to his private box to await game time. No hanging out behind the Citi batting cage.

My other guess is his away travel with the team will increase. Other team’s parks will become his sanctuary. At least, until “his” team begins to win more than they lose.

2027 looks like a lonely year for David Stearns, but I predict, in the long run, it will be the beginning of a long and successful tenure as the Mets President of Baseball Operation (POBO).

 

                                  Peyton Prescott

 

The 5^th round pick by the Mets last year was 21/yr. old (will turn 22 in May), 6-0, 200-LB, RHP Peyton Prescott.

He was drafted out of Florida State University (FSU) and was awarded a $197,500 under-slot signing bonus. Quite the decent amount for someone who went down with an elbow injury in the 2025 NCAA Super Regionals, resulting in TJ surgery.

I currently have no update on his rehab program or any estimate when he will be able to start pitching.

Pitch Repertoire (Pre-Injury Arsenal)

Fastball:

Primary pitch, averaging ~96 mph and touching 100 mph (triple digits reported in college bullpen sessions). Features good life and ride.

Slider:

Mid-to-high 80s mph, considered average to above-average with sharp break.

Splitter:

Mid-80s mph, average grade, used as an off-speed offering with dive.

Curveball:

Low-80s mph downer breaking ball (mentioned in some reports as part of a broader secondary blend).

Scouts say his game is built entirely around high velocity pitches. They also projected him in a future relief role.

His stuff drew attention despite middling college results (e.g., 5.15 ERA in 36.1 IP at FSU in 2025), as the Mets targeted high-upside velocity in the draft.

 

(Re-checked my sources. There is nothing being muttered about this guy in camp so far. Other pitchers don’t even recall seeing him in rehab. Does he really exist? Guess we’ll find out when pitchers and catchers report.)

                                                   

                                  Mike Baumann 

The Mets signed 30-year old RHRP 6-4, 240-LBS, Mike Baumann to a minor league contract.

MLB Career -  -0.5-WAR, 15-6, 4.95

2025 -  Yakuit/JPEL-CL:   27-apps, 0-3, 4.15, 1.58, 26-IP, 17-BB, 28-K

Pitch Repertoire (Based on His Last MLB Season in 2024)

Baumann primarily relies on a five-pitch mix, though he leans heavily on three pitches:

Four-seam fastball (primary pitch, ~40-41% usage): Averaged ~96-97 mph, with high velocity (often touching triple digits in relief). It features good extension but has been hittable at times.

Knuckle curveball (secondary pitch, ~33-34% usage): Thrown hard at ~88 mph with significant 12-6 movement; often described as his best breaking pitch.

Slider (~24% usage): ~92 mph, with late bite and primarily 12-6 movement; generates whiffs but can lead to fly balls.

Changeup (occasional, ~2% usage): ~89 mph, used sparingly as an offspeed option.

Sinker (rare, <1% usage): Minimal deployment.

His arsenal is velocity-driven with power breaking balls, making him effective in short relief stints when commanding well, though control issues (high walk rates) have been a recurring challenge.

In scouting reports, his fastball rates as plus (60 grade), slider above-average (60), and curve average-to-plus (50-60).

 

                              Jett Williams

Running From The OPS                   @OPS_BASEBALL

Jett Williams posted a 136 wRC+ while slugging 17 HR/34 2B and collecting 34 SB. We saw him increase his Pull% this season while posting an identical 9.9% SwStr% and a slightly lower K% (22.9%). The 22-year-old has proven he deserves MLB playing time in 2026.

MACK –

Frankly, I have no idea where to place this gem. Sources say that he has begun to take reps at first base this off-season. I would guess that this is a good idea, what with the Marcus Semien sign, but would you want to be an infielder across the basepaths throwing to a 5’6” first baseman?

No one has ever convinced me that this height, or lack of it, plays well in the outfield either.

I really don’t care how talented his projection is. There simply isn’t enough pop for a life as a designated hitter and his height only plays well as a middle infielder… and Semien and Francisco Lindor aren’t going anywhere.

I don’t believe you draft people as trade bait.

For these reasons, and nothing against Jett, I would not have drafted him.

Running From The OPS                       @OPS_BASEBALL

Eli Serrano III stands 6'5"/201 and was drafted in the 4th round of the 2024 draft by the Mets. He posted a .690 OPS in 88 games with 7 HR and 21 2B. While that might be underwhelming, the 22-year-old has tons of untapped raw power and generates easy bat speed with good QoC.

                      Thomas Nestico                 @TJStats

Eli Serrano III is my Mets prospect breakout pick for the 2026 season thanks to his all-around profile and solid results in his first pro season. Filling out his 6'5" could lead to significant power bump which would pair wonderfully with his sound approach and bat-to-

I really don’t know why so many people around me are excited about Serrano. He hit .234 in 2024 for St. Lucie, followed by a whopping .222 last season for Brooklyn. I’m not even sure he will turn out to be a good AAAA player for the organization. Sorry Eli. Ya gotta show me more this season before I sign on here.

Carson Benge

MLB.com

“When you have good players at the upper levels of the Minor Leagues,” Stearns said in November, “we have to find space for those players to play. Carson Benge is among them. He’s not the only one, but he’s among them. So as we build out our team, we have to ensure that, as we move forward, there is room for our young players to get to the Major Leagues when they deserve to get there -- and have a chance to really contribute to our Major League team.” – David Stearns

MLB.com

OF Carson Benge (NYM No. 2 prospect, No. 21 overall)

From the beginning of this offseason, the Mets made it clear they wanted to leave space for Benge to contribute. Coming off a standout season that saw him dominate Double-A Binghamton as he climbed multiple levels in the farm system, Benge will compete for a job on the Opening Day roster. He may not win one. But even if that happens, Benge should get every opportunity to contribute to the Major League team at some point. So long as he continues producing at the plate, the 2024 first-round Draft pick is likely to run with it. -- Anthony DiComo

 

SleeperMets                     @SleeperMets

Carson Benge- CF

Age: 22

Hit: 60 -Above Average

Power: 50 -Average

Run: 55 -Average

Arm: 60 -Above average

Field: 55 -Average

Overall: 55- Everyday MLB player, average production

 

Eric Cross                    @EricCrossMLB

Prospects in Triple-A (Min 100 PA) with a 75+% contact and 50+% Hard-Hit rate in 2025.

Chase DeLauter (CLE) 81.1% Contact/51.9% HH

Carson Benge (NYM) 79.9%/53.5%

Jacob Melton (TBR) 79.3%/57.9%

Abimelec Ortiz (TEX) 77.5%/53.8%

Ryan Ward  (LAD) 78.4%/50.2% 

MACK –

Big fan, but I need to see more before I sign off on him as a starter in the majors.

Benge needs to pick up the hitting while he is in Syracuse. Has to hit consistently above .300 at that level.

I wouldn’t rush him and, I don’t care what Stearns says… he’s not ready and, at this stage, could easily never be ready to start in the majors.