MACK - HOT ARMS - JOE SCARBOROUGH, JOE JACQUES, CADEN WOOSTER

 

 

Thanks to John From Albany for supplying the stat lines.

 

PERIOD:  7/16 – 7/25

 

Joe Scarborough/A-St. Lucie –

    0.25-WHIP, 4.0-IP, 5-K, 1-BB, 0.00

Joe Scarborough is a right-handed relief pitcher in the New York Mets organization, drafted in the 19th round (583rd overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Jacksonville State University.

He is a 22-year-old (born April 18, 2004) from Pascagoula, Mississippi, listed at 6'3", 200 lbs, and bats left/throws right.

He was a two-way player in high school and junior college (strong bat and arm as a catcher/pitcher at Resurrection Catholic HS and East Mississippi CC) before focusing more on pitching at Jax State, where he worked primarily as a reliever/closer. The Mets signed him for $150,000.

Minor League Performance

He has pitched almost exclusively in relief for the St. Lucie Mets (Single-A Florida State League):

2025: Very limited action (1 appearance, 0.2 IP, high ERA due to small sample).

He’s a low-minors bullpen arm still developing command and consistency.

Scarborough throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a long arm action. His arm can get whippy and cross his body at times, which has hurt his command/control in the past.

Fastball: Primary pitch, sitting mid-90s (has touched 98 mph). It has arm-side life/run and good spin (2400-2500 RPM). Due to his slot and relatively flat vertical approach angle, it can generate double-digit induced vertical break (IVB) up in the zone, helping it play well as an elevation pitch.

Slider: His main secondary offering, low-to-mid-80s. It’s described as a solid strikeout pitch that he can command to both sides of the plate (inside and outside the zone). It pairs well with the fastball.

No strong mentions of a third pitch (like a changeup) at this stage—he’s primarily a fastball-slider guy in a relief role. His background as a two-way athlete and high school pitcher (where he showed command of both FB and SL) gives him some polish for a later-round draftee.

Overall profile: He has the size, arm strength, and pitch shape to project as a useful bullpen piece if he tightens up his command and stays healthy. As a 19th-rounder in A-ball, he’s a long-shot developmental prospect rather than a top-tier one, but the velocity and breaking ball give him upside in relief.

 

Joe Jacques/AAA-Syracuse –

    0.60-WHIP, 3.1-IP, 2-K, 0.00

Joe Jacques (pronounced "Jakes") is a left-handed relief pitcher in the New York Mets organization.

He was born March 11, 1995 (age 31), in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

He stands 6'4" and weighs 210 lbs.

He throws from a distinctive low sidearm/sidewinder slot.

College: Walk-on at Manhattan University (Jaspers); played there from 2014–2018.

Draft: Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 33rd round (984th overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft.

MLB Debut: June 12, 2023, with the Boston Red Sox (after being selected by them in the minor-league phase of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft). He earned his first MLB win on June 16, 2023, and his first save on July 2.

MLB Experience: Limited—25 games (mostly 2023 with BOS), 29.2 IP, 2–1 record, 5.46 ERA, 22 K, 1.65 WHIP through 2024. He had brief stints with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024.

Path Since: Bounced around organizations (Dodgers, Mariners) in 2025 with mixed Triple-A results (higher ERA but decent strikeouts and ground balls).

Signed a minor-league deal with the Mets on October 15, 2025 (with a $800K MLB salary if he makes the roster and a spring training invite). It's a homecoming for the New Jersey native.

He is viewed as a depth bullpen arm and ground-ball specialist rather than a high-upside projected star. His career has featured strong minor-league strikeout growth and ground-ball tendencies, but MLB results have been inconsistent with platoon splits (generally better vs. lefties).

Jacques is a sidearm lefty whose low arm slot creates deception, especially against same-sided hitters. He profiles as a ground-ball machine.

Primary pitches:

Sinker (primary pitch, ~60-64% usage): Averages ~90-91 mph (up to low-90s). Heavy sink induces ground balls. This is his go-to for weak contact.

Sweeper (secondary, ~26-35%): Low-80s (around 77 mph), big horizontal break. A key weapon, especially vs. lefties.

Slider (occasional, ~10%): Mid-80s, slightly different movement profile from the sweeper.

He has occasionally shown a four-seamer or changeup in smaller samples, but his core mix is sinker + breaking stuff. His low slot and movement help generate swings-and-misses on breakers while prioritizing grounders over strikeouts.

Strengths: Elite ground-ball rate in limited MLB time (~61-64% GB rate). Deceptive delivery and low release make it tough on lefties. Keeps the ball in the park relatively well.

Weaknesses: Modest velocity, platoon vulnerability (righties have hit him harder), and small MLB sample with elevated ERA. Walk rates and consistency have varied in the minors.

In short, Jacques is a classic sidearm ground-ball reliever who offers lefty matchup value and organizational depth for the Mets.

 

Caden Wooster/A-St. Lucie –

    0.64-WHIP, 4.2-IP, 9-K, 2-BB, 0.00

Caden Wooster (born September 5, 2004) is a 21-year-old right-handed relief pitcher in the New York Mets organization.

He stands 6'8" and weighs 255 lbs, giving him an imposing frame.

He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Mets in July 2025 after three seasons at Santa Clara University.

High School: Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, CA). He was a three-year varsity pitcher with strong strikeout numbers (124 K, 2.64 ERA) and showed early pro interest. Scouts noted his size, explosiveness, and pitch feel.

College (Santa Clara Broncos, 2023–2025): Primarily a reliever/closer. He made 39 appearances (1 start), going 3-4 with 5 saves and a 6.75 ERA over 52 IP (51 K, 29 BB). His best year was 2025 as the primary closer: 1-3, 7.24 ERA, 4 saves in 18 appearances (27.1 IP, 29 K, .225 BAA). He had strong outings against quality competition (e.g., shutout innings vs. Cal, Texas, Stanford).

He earned WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention honors and was a strong student (physics major with biophysics emphasis).

Fastball: Primary pitch with good life/"great life" from a longer arm stroke and downhill angle (thanks to his height). It sat mid-80s in early showcases (up to ~90 mph) and reached up to 95 mph in college. Expect velocity gains or better utilization in pro ball due to his frame and the Mets' development.

Slider: Short, biting breaker with depth. He lands it down in the zone effectively— a key pitch for a reliever.

Changeup: Good feel with tumble/fade; he maintains arm speed well, which helps sell it off the fastball.

As a tall right-hander working mostly from the stretch, he generates natural downhill plane and extension. His college role (closer) suggests he profiles as a high-leverage reliever if he improves command and consistency. The raw stuff and size give him sleeper potential in the Mets system, though his college ERA indicates refinement is needed (especially walks and overall consistency). He's still very early in his pro journey—watch for velocity, strike-throwing, and pitch refinement in the lower minors.