TOM BRENNAN
ADJUSTED OCT. 2025 TOP 30 LIST (With my abridged comments):
1. RHP Nolan McLean
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.
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.
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. 1B Ryan Clifford
The 22 year old lefty power hitting Clifford has accelerated, starting slowly in cold, pitchers park Binghamton in early 2025, hitting just .190 on May 4, with just 3 HRs and 9 RBIs, but heating up thereafter and getting promoted to AAA. He hit just .237, but had an .356 OBP due to an high level of walks (85) that compensated for his 148 Ks.
He ended up with impressive numbers: 29 HRs and 93 RBIs in 139 games. A strong 26 HRs and 84 RBIs over his last 115 games. Project THAT over 162 games. Go ahead, reader, I dare ya. That’s roughly about 40 / 112. Part of those high RBIs, to be sure, was due to a plethora of fast base runners to for Ryan to drive in, named Jett, Morabito, D’Andre, and (briefly) Ewing.
Clifford is slow afoot, and will be a future DH/1B type, but can play in the OF. My comp for Clifford is Lucas Duda, who like Clifford hit righties a lot better than lefties, but to Clifford, I would say:
”OK, you’ve proved you can walk a lot, now ATTACK!” Be aggressive. Less walks, higher average, more HRs. Essentially: From here on out, please be the next Nick Kurtz. Attack. I bring up his need to ATTACK, because others are already inferring it, but not saying it directly. Who are those “others”? The people who put together Baseball Top 100 lists, who do not include Clifford. ATTACK!
5. 3B Jacob Reimer
By this time next season, we will know much better just how good the 21 year old former 119th overall pick is. His bad 2024 hammy injury essentially destroyed that year of development. Strong bounce-back for Jacob in 2025, who struggled but then adjusted well to AA pitching.
Some say the 6’0”, 205 Reimer is a tad slow. If so, how did he steal 15 of 18 in just 122 games in 2025? He raked 32 doubles, 2 triples, and 17 HRs, along with 77 RBIs, in those 122 games, and hit .277 despite his fairly prolonged mid-season slump. Project those power numbers over 162 games and you end up with 42 doubles, 23 HRs, and 102 RBIs. 20 steals, too. I’ll take it.
Ceiling? Close to David Wright, perhaps? Floor? Close to Zach Lutz. My prognosis is somewhere in the middle between the two, a good, solid major leaguer. MLB has him as their #2 overall third baseman.
He has played first base well, and been error-prone at 3B. I expect real glove progress in 2026, and for him to force his way somewhere into the Mets line up in 2027.
6. OF A.J. Ewing
The 5’11” Ewing was, to me, the Mets minor league hitter of the year. He is going to be a 21-year-old in 2026, and is a high-on-base, base-swiping super machine. In 2025, between St Lucie, Brooklyn, and Binghamton, he was .315/.401/.426. Swoosh! He is a no-doubt top 5 player a year from now. His lone fault to date is low power, with just 3 blasts in 2025, but he had 36 other extra base hits, which is impressive, and SEVENTY STEALS in just 124 games, which is a 90+ steals pace over 162 games. Just 105 Ks in 564 PAs.
He was an over slot 134th pick in 2024. I ask…why can’t he be a star infielder/OF in the majors?
7. SS Elian Peña
Peña hit mostly great, after his 3 for 45 DSL head scratcher start, that is. I can give you 5 million reason$ why he could be great in 2-3 years, having signed the Mets’ biggest international signing bonus ever.
After his glacial start, he ended up at .292/.421/.528, boosted his slash line immeasurably in a 3 HR, 8 RBI game against what appeared were very bad pitchers that day. Nonetheless, his 9 season HRs, in that lowly league where HRs are usually low, was truly impressive. But he did all that at age 17. My guess is, having just turned 18 in October, he will beheading to the FCL, stateside, in 2026.
He made 15 errors in 52 games in the field in 2025. I say that is GOOD for a 17 year old, playing mostly SS. The 5’10” righty stole 21 of 25. That’s good, too. Expecting VERY GOOD things for Elian when he comes stateside in 2026. Elian’s Mets debut by 2029, when it may well be time to shift Francisco Lindor, who in 2029 will be 35 years old, to 2nd or 3rd base.
8. LHP Jonathan Santucci
I love “Santucci the Superb”, the 46th overall pick in 2024. Doubts, if any, that others have about Santucci, I do not have. Rising like a rocket. Top 5 in late 2026 is my projection. Mets starter in 2027.
The 6’2” Santucci struggled badly in early 2025 pro debut play, allowing 19 earned runs and 7 HRs and 33 hits in his first 6 outings and 21 innings of 2025. People were wondering what the refund policy was.
He then, however, flipped the Awesome switch and ended up 9-4, allowing just 2 HRs over his last 100 innings (what!!), and just 21 earned runs in that span, while fanning 138 in 118 innings. Did great in AA, concluding with 4.2 innings of 1 run ball in the AA Championship playoffs. A great lefty starting pitcher prospect, and a great draft pick. Rated with a 55 grade fastball and 60 grade slider.
My guess is he will be a David Peterson or Sean Manaea rotation replacement by 2027. Almost better than either of them right now? One could debate that.
9. RHP Jack Wenninger
Wenninger has been terrific. Deservedly deserves # 9. The 6’4” righty, drafted in the 6th round in 2023, went 12-6, in AA Binghamton, with a 2.92 ERA and 147 Ks in 136 innings, and a 1.15 WHIP. And Jack was a post-season KILLER, going 2-0, 1.64 ERA in 11 innings, allowing just 4 hits and punching out TWENTY.
He has a terrific 311 pro Ks in 264 innings in 2024 and 2025. He sometimes hits 96, but is not a flame thrower. However, he has an awesome change up and good slider. AAA awaits, and my wish? May he crush it in 2026. Jack could make his Mets debut some time during 2026.
10. OF Nick Morabito
Morabito started 2025 frigidly in 2025 in the Frigidaire known as Binghamton in spring time, but then scorched for a few months, before heating back up. He has not hit many HRs, but surely knows that is a competitive negative and therefore WILL add in-game power, as he has the strength to do so. Steals bushels-full of bases.
In the Arizona Fall league, through Thursday November 6, he was simply smoking at .377/.472/.492, with 15 runs in 15 games along with 14 thefts. WOOSH!! The righty hit .273 in AA, and hit just .239 in Bingo, while hitting .305 on the friendlier road. .291 career in 1,122 at bats for the 5’10” righty smacked, with a terrific 130 career steals. He hit just .136 in the post season.
He is my # 10, even though he got passed over for a promotion when Jett, Benge, Clifford, and Parada were jumped up to Syracuse. So, he stayed in Binghamton, where they won a championship instead. Future 4th outfielder for Mets, if not dealt away. If you want to take the 5th, Nick will raise his right hand. ATHLETE!
11. RHP Will Watson
Very, very promising righty. I promise. A 22 year old 6’1” righty, with a 60 rated FB, he threw 3 brief innings of toe-dipping in 2024, then went just 3-9 in 2025, but with a dazzling 2.60 ERA and 142 Ks in 121 IP. W/L records in the minors don’t mean a lot, as starters often get pulled after 4 innings or in the 5th, denying them the chance to pick up a W.
In the second half of 2025, Watson had a 2.10 ERA. Pitching at 3 levels, 18 of his 2025 innings were in his 3rd destination in Binghamton. Could very well be a 2027 Mets starter. A “Sherlock” for a rotation spot, some might say, eh, Watson?
12. 2B Mitch Voit
Voit was the Mets first pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and I give deference to that in ranking him over Chris Suero, even with Voit’s early slow start in St. Lucie. He started his pro career in St Lucie going just 13-70, but ignited in September in going 7 for 15 with 4 walks, to boost him to .235.
He incredibly stole 20 bases in 22 games, but had just 3 XBHs in his debut mini-season. He is rated 55 for hit, and 50 for power. Listed as a 2B, but with the speed and arm to play anywhere. Voit will play 2026 as a 21 year old, and is 60 rated for speed and arm. The 6’0, 200 righty hitting speedster should be seeing a lot of time in Brooklyn next year. ATHLETE!
13. C/1B/OF Chris Suero
Bronx-born Suero has almost the whole package. He has speed, power, clutch hitting, and versatility including catching, but capable in the outfield and first base, too. Can he hit high caliber pitching? Probably eventually well enough.
But his Ks are high, and lefties so far have mystified him. In 2025, between High A and AA, he hit .233 with 16 HRs and 68 RBIs in 475 PAs AND stole 35 bases. But he fanned 139 times, and that has to come way down. Of course, he was just 21 this season, and clearly on the learning curve.
He walked at a very high rate (70 times), giving him a .379 OBP, and I think that my prescription of greater aggression on strike one may lower the K rate somewhat, but will help drive down the Ks. Get those Ks down, and he is Top 5. At 5’11”, 205, he seems to be built much like a former Met: Yoenis Cespedes.
SUERO. Such a high ceiling, if those Ks can only COME DOWN. ATHLETE! In the Arizona Fall League, Suero, through Thursday November 6, was hitting a potent .286/.359/.571, and was 2nd in AFL HRs with 5 bombs in 14 games, with 14 RBIs and 7 for 7 in steals. Dynamite!
14. RHP Dylan Ross
Ross is a high power reliever. K Machine. In his first 3 pro years, in 2022-2024, the hulking fireballing righty threw one inning, total, and fanned the side. In 2025, he made up for lost time, finishing up in AAA. 54 innings, 80 Ks, 2.17 ERA. 7 of 9 in saves, 9 holds. Clocked at over 100 MPH. Control needs tightening, but it is hard to envision him not being a major bullpen piece in 2026.
15. RHP Ryan Lambert
Lambert, another fireballing reliever with toughness, will be a real factor in the Mets pen in 2026. In his first full season, he had 81 Ks in 50 innings, and a 1.62 ERA between High A and AA. 7 of 9 in saves, and 12 holds. Typically sits in the high 90s. Fearless. Hungry. 23 years old and 6’3” 225.
He has to start out in AAA, and most likely will be added to the Mets pen during 2026. It seems unlikely he will make the Mets opening day roster with no AAA innings to date. But I’d like to be wrong.
(Thru Friday this spring, in 3 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, EIGHT Ks. Wow!)
16. LHP Zach Thornton
He pitched great as a lefty in AA, until he badly strained his left oblique a la Manaea, and the LEFTY’S season abruptly ended in late June. His numbers to that point were dazzling: 6-2, 1.98, 78 Ks in 72 IP, and an 0.81 WHIP. WOW! I would have him higher, but let’s see how he returns from his injury in 2026 first. Yes, Gus, he is a quality lefty. Great control, can hit 95, but more of a Viola type crafty lefty. One to Watch In 2026.
17. RHP Saul Garcia
This Saul guy here was a hard throwing wild man pre-2025. Would he harness it in 2025? YES! Still on the wild side, but improving, righty Saul Garcia was 5-2 in AA and High A, with a 1.70 ERA and a .173 BAA. He walked 28, but fanned 76 in 48 innings, and 6 of 7 in saves. The 22 year old 6’0, 180 Garcia from Venezuela has fanned 325 in 236 career innings. The Mets always need pen arms, and he should debut with the Mets some time in 2026, one would think.
18. OF Eli Serrano III
The 6’5” Eli (2024, Round: 4, Overall Pick: 111) could ultimately be very good, but 2025 has been a bit of a struggle. More pop than Nick Morabito, but Nick is faster and hits better, so far.
Eli ended up at .222/.332/.358, and his last game was August 24. He is a lefty bat in the Brooklyn hellhole for lefty hitters, and so it is no surprise that he hit .189 at home and .255 on the road. To me, he is perhaps a bit too reminiscent of lefty hitting JT Schwartz, who struggled badly in 2025 and remarkably was also the 111th overall pick in his respective draft year.Eli has a lot to prove in 2025, and I would start him out in hitter-friendlier Binghamton, sink or swim.
19. Kevin Parada
The former first round catcher had completely fallen out of my top 30 last year, due to terrible hitting and high Ks. Early in 2025, I felt entirely justified in that non-ranking, since in 2025, he was “hitting” just .157 in AA on May 25! I delisted KP from the Brennan Stock Exchange right then.
I also suggested then that the Mets consider a TWO LEVEL DEMOTION, to allow Kevin to start over with the bat. Suddenly, though, he proved me wrong…he started to hit in AA. A lot. He ended up hitting .254 in 315 AA at bats, with 50 RBIs, so he hit great in AA for his last 3 months there. He was then promoted to AAA, and while hitting just .196 in 56 at bats, his AAA K rate (which was stubbornly too high in 2024) was a much improved K per every 5 PAs. So I re-listed him on my Brennan Prospect Exchange and immediately rated him a “BUY”.
He seems to be positioned to overtake Hayden Senger as the # 3 catcher behind Alvarez and Torrens. Senger’s glove is better, but Parada’s bat is now finally better. Hopefully, in 2026, his bat will be much better.
A remarkable mid-season hitting turn-around story. As such, I deservedly let him OUT of my doghouse, and list him at # 19. Could he possibly ascend all the way back up into the Mets’ top 10 in 2026? It is not impossible. Keep improving the hitting.
20. Antonio Jimenez
A high Mets pick in 2025, the 102nd overall dude in the 2025 MLB draft is a 21 year old 6’1, 200 (what else?) shortstop. He hit .263 in 26 games in St Lucie, with a low K (15 in 110 PAs) rate. Very nice. Just one double in those 110 PAs, but he had a .575 slug % in college in 2025, so the pop is there, and will show up. He is listed with “50” power.
I like that he pursued contact over power in his pro debut. He added 8 steals, and 19 of 25 in steals between college and the pros this year in 81 games. “Just” 5 errors in 22 games at SS/3B, a good sign. My guess is he will move fast into High A. Interestingly, in grading the Mets’ 2025 draft players against one another, a reader noted that Baseball America ranked Jimenez as best in power and best in defense.
21. Yovanny Rodriguez
“Yo Rod” at age 18 hit better than Elian Pena in the DSL: .331/.446/.493. The catcher, like Elian, also got a huge bonus. Not just quite as huge. I want to see him crush stateside ball in 2026 as a 19 year old. Yo, Yo.
22. INF Boston Baro
Boston the player (listed at 6’1”, 170) was an 8th round over-slotter in 2023. He could be very good, but 2025 was a bit of an inclining struggle. Playing SS, 2B, and 3B, the speedster stole 28 of 30, but hit just .224, after hitting .278 the prior year. He bats lefty and Brooklyn is a lefty hitter’s nightmare, as he no doubt learned the hard way. He missed the Brooklyn playoffs, as his season ended with an injury in late August, a bummer since in his final 2025 game, he went 3 for 5.
I see him getting assigned to Binghamton and its somewhat friendlier environs. He played most of 2025 at age 20. Time to add some Boston beef and pop for 2026.
Why? Because, man oh man, there is so much friggin’ infield competition in this organization right now, and so few ultimate slots in Queens. Time for him, frankly, to prove he is not the next Alex Ramirez, who also hit around .280 before he slipped to .220. I think Boston, the player, will have a solid 2026. Fingers crossed.
23. INF Marco Vargas
Joe DeMayo wrote this a while back: “Vargas was the headlining return of the David Robertson trade back in 2023. At one time he was a top 10 prospect in the system, but missed most of last year with a wrist issue and his 2025 has been just solid. He has above average bat-to-ball and pitch recognition skills but really does not impact the baseball at all. He is a solid athlete who has played around the infield and has stolen 33 bases. He probably projects more as a backup infielder type, if his hit tool carries him through the upper minors.” So…I agree with that assessment pretty entirely, and a # 23 ranking to me is a proper level for a potential future utility MLB guy.
24. Yonaton Henriquez
A 20 year old athletic switch hitter, OF Yonatan Henriquez had 35 steals, a .263 average, and a .353 OBP with 8 HRs and 52 RBIs in just 111 games, mostly with St Lucie. Second half, up-trending, with a sizzling .294/.377./441. He went 7 for 20 with 6 RBIs in the Brooklyn playoffs, too. I’d sure keep an eye on this athletic young fella. I may have him too danged low. I hope so.
25. OF Randy Guzman
The 6’4” Mets guy whose name is closest to Jerry Koosman? “The Gooz” started out the season as a complete unknown (but not like a rolling stone) in the FCL, and ended the regular season with St Lucie.
How’d he do? 252 at bats, 22 doubles, 2 triples, 10 HRs, 57 RBI’s. Yes, he killed it. I’d like to see those #s projected over 600 at bats. OK, so I did:
600 at bats, 52 doubles, 5 triples, 24 HRs, 137 RBIs. Sweet. He hit .302/.375/.524 overall in 2025.
After his promotion to St Lucie, no adjustment period necessary - he demolished it at .333/.381/.604 in 26 games. DANG! And just 54 Ks in 283 PAs. And he doesn’t turn 21 until April. And, as Ernest Dove told us, he is a great clubhouse presence already.
I cautiously expect him to be a 2026 minors beast. I simply had to get him in my top 30.
26. RJ Gordon
The 23 year old 13th round righty had some heck of a heckuva year, spanning 2 levels up to AA, going 11-3, 3.36, with 147 Ks in 129 IP.
Keep that up! I hesitated a bit in putting him higher, due to his 13th round draft status. Next year, if he is strong again, he will RISE!
Might he even debut with the Mets in relief in 2026? If so, call him Flash Gordon.
27. Brendan Girton
The 10th rounder righty was super in Brooklyn in 2025, and got promoted to Binghamton. He ended up 3-4, 3.10, ERA, the same exact ERA that the great Carlton Willey put up for the 1963 Mets when he went 9-14 as the ace of their staff during that tough season. Girton’s ERA sadly jumped above 3.00 in his final outing, where he gave up 4 earned runs in 2 IP. Girton ended up with 110 Ks in 87 innings,and a 1.16 WHIP. He threw 2 gems in Brooklyn that spanned 10 innings, in which he allowed just 1 hit, walked 2 and fanned 15. The Dominator. The Girtonator.
Given the level of bullpen churn in Metsville each year, it would not at all surprise me to see Mr. Girton make his Mets’ debut out of the bullpen in late 2026. But first, he needs more AA (and then AAA) seasoning. Still, for me to have guy this talented as low as # 29 says great things about the system.
28. C Daiverson Gutierrez
Bonus baby Davey Gutierrez, still 19, played all season in St Lucie. Not the DSL. Not the FCL. BUT Low A St Lucie. Sweet! His power output is limited so far, with a Buddy Harrelson-like 14 extra base hits in 395 plate appearances, but he walked 53 times, as compared to just 58 Ks. A fine rate. Result? A solid OBP. His catching defense is of concern - let’s call it a work in progress, with 24 errors and 17 passed balls in 86 games catching and a 17% (late-in-season up trending) caught-stealing rate.
He should add power, as he is listed at 5’11”, 210. He has used the HBP as a tool to get on base, too, with 33 career HBPs in 748 PAs. My motto: Get on base however you can, but avoid injury.
I believe his high catcher errors are in part due to this being an extremely high steal attempt league. So he is a long ways off, but he is 19, with a promising bat. Probably a 2028 Citi arrival? Late 2027, maybe?
29. 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 # 29, 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.
30. OF Edward Lantigua
Lantigua has much competition from some other DSL hitters not named Peña or Yovanny, but I like him at # 30. 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?
Honorable Mention:
Five more:
31 thru 35:
RHP Nathan Hall, C Ronald Hernandez, INF Trey Snyder, C Julio Zayas, RHP Peter Kussow
So, there ya have it.
Our lists are quite similar, but I generally hesitate to put the latest draftees, especially pitchers, like a Cam Tilly (5.76 college ERA, no pro innings in 2025) in my Top 30 until they’ve thrown at least a few pro innings.
Hey, and someone please let me know how Jett and Sproat are doing, will ya? Thanks.
THE LAD FROM LEVITTOWN NY
In the early 1980s, I lived for a while in a small apartment in Levittown on Long Island, at 22 Bucket Ln.
About 20 years later, Nick Roselli, Mets 11th rounder, was born. Where?
In Levittown.
Long Island dudes? They’re clutch, baby.
Roselli as a pro and now at age 22 has hit just .211 in the minors in 106 games, but has 56 RBIs. Not bad.
In spring training 2025 and 2026, he is clutch, too.
3 for 7, with 2 doubles and 5 RBIs. Love that RBI per at bat ratio.
Keep it up, my Levittown “brother”! I think he will surprise to the upside.
OH, AND IN CASE YA DID NOT NOTICE…
Ex-Met Drew Smith signed with the Nationals. He has logged 3 innings, one base runner, and no runs allowed. Good for Drew.
And on Friday, great pitching from current Mets Kodai, Holmes, Lambert…and from 34 year old Carl Edwards, Jr., who threw 4 hitless innings in a split squad game in which minor leaguer Nick Roselli had a key bases-clearing pinch hit double.
That one hit gives him a better spring than some guys in my Top 30.
