MACK - 2026 METS AFL PLAYERS

 

Well, here they are. This year's Mets Arizona Fall League (AFL) players:

SS/2B/3B Bruin Agbayani –

Bruin Agbayani is a 19-year-old minor league baseball prospect (born March 26, 2007, in Honolulu, Hawaii), currently with the New York Mets organization.

He is the son of former MLB outfielder Benny Agbayani (a Mets fan favorite who played for the team from 1998–2001 and is remembered for his walk-off home run in the 2000 NLDS).

Position: Primarily shortstop/second base (left-handed hitter, right-handed thrower); listed at about 6'2", 185 lbs. He may eventually settle at second base, third base, or a corner outfield spot due to range considerations.

High school: Saint Louis School (Honolulu). He was the 2024–25 Gatorade Hawaii Baseball Player of the Year, Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State Player of the Year, and HHSAA Division I Tournament Most Outstanding Player. In his senior year he hit .365 with 3 HR, 15 RBI, a .512 OBP, and also pitched effectively (2-1, 1.35 ERA). He ranked as Hawaii’s top prospect and among the top ~50–130 nationally in the 2025 class.

Draft: Selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 6th round (No. 179 overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft out of high school; signed for $380,600 (slightly above slot). He had committed to the University of Michigan.

Trade to Mets: On July 31, 2026, the Mets acquired him (and Double-A infielder Billy Amick) from the Twins in exchange for left-handed reliever A.J. Minter as part of a deadline sell-off. His father expressed excitement about him “continuing the legacy” with the Mets.

He is viewed as a toolsy, athletic left-handed hitter with good plate discipline and baserunning instincts, still early in his development.

 

SS/3B/2B Boston Baro –

Boston Baro is a New York Mets minor-league infielder (primarily shortstop, also 2B/3B).Full name: Boston Shawn Baro 

Born: August 23, 2004 (age 22), Escondido/Rancho Santa Margarita, California 

Height/Weight: 6'0", 170 lbs 

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

He was named Boston because of his family’s strong New England roots and fandom for Boston sports teams (Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins).

Selected by the Mets in the 8th round (246th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Capistrano Valley High School (Mission Viejo, CA). 

Signed for a $700,000 bonus (well above the ~$193k slot value), turning down a UCLA commitment. 

Originally committed to New Mexico before switching to UCLA.

Baro is a contact-oriented left-handed hitter with solid speed, defensive versatility, and a projectable frame. Scouts have noted his smooth actions, especially turning double plays, and have drawn occasional comparisons to players like Jeff McNeil for his approach.

Recent seasons:2024: Strong year mostly at Low-A St. Lucie (.288/.368/.399 in 84 games), with a brief High-A look. 

2025: Full season at High-A Brooklyn Cyclones — .224/.282/.321, 4 HR, 28 SB in 103 games (season cut short by a lower-body injury). 

2026: Limited action due to injury (placed on the 60-day IL in March with a shoulder issue).

He has ranked as high as the Mets’ No. 13 prospect and more recently in the 19–26 range depending on the outlet (e.g., Baseball America, MLB Pipeline).

Typical scouting grades put him around a 40–45 FV (future value) prospect with potential as a utility/everyday infielder if the hit tool and defense continue to develop. ETA is generally projected around 2027–2028

He’s known for athleticism, work ethic, and positional flexibility—traits the Mets value highly in their infield prospects.

 

1B/DH/P Cole Mathis –

Minor-league infielder (primarily 3B/1B) currently in the New York Mets organization (High-A Brooklyn Cyclones as of late 2026).

Born July 25, 2003, in Columbus, GA (hometown Cataula, GA); 6'2", 210 lbs, right-handed hitter/thrower.

Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2nd round (54th overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the College of Charleston; signed for about $1.68 million. He was a two-way player (1B/RHP) in college before focusing on hitting due to elbow issues (including Tommy John surgery).

College highlights: Strong 2024 junior season (.335 AVG, 14 HR, 57 RBI); All-CAA honors; previously All-America recognition as a sophomore.

Traded to the Mets on June 25, 2026, in exchange for LHP David Peterson. He has dealt with injuries in the minors but showed power potential.

 

RHRP Irving Cota –

Irving Cota (New York Mets minor league RHP prospect, born Feb. 14, 2004, in Los Mochis, Mexico; 6'5"/175 lbs, R/R) primarily features a five-pitch mix.

From a 2025 Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Double-A) game notes listing of his pitch arsenal:4-seam fastball: 91–94 mph

2-seam fastball (sinker): 90–93 mph

Splitter: 79–82 mph

Slider: 74–77 mph

Changeup: 82–85 mph

Additional reports from 2025 (while with Single-A St. Lucie) note him throwing five pitches: fastball (FB), sinker (SI), slider (SL), sweeper (SW), and changeup (CH). He does not overpower with velocity but relies on mix, command/control, and inducing soft contact.

 

RHSP/RHRP Brendan Girton –

Brendan Girton (RHP, New York Mets prospect, currently with Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies) throws a multi-pitch mix built around a lively fastball.

Current/Recent Arsenal (primarily from 2025–2026 MiLB notes)

4-Seam Fastball: 92–96 mph (sits mid-90s, has touched upper 90s/97–98). Features strong induced vertical break (previously measured around 17.5 inches in lower levels, which ranks well relative to big-league averages) and a relatively flat approach angle that helps it play up at the top of the zone for swing-and-miss.

2-Seam Fastball / Sinker: 91–94 mph. Added/developed with the Mets as a ground-ball and sequencing option, especially vs. right-handed hitters to complement the four-seamer.

Slider (sometimes described as a slider/cutter hybrid): 86–89 mph. Primary secondary; improved significantly in pro ball with better command and movement (short two-plane or sweeping action). He has referred to an 86–88 mph version as a “slider cutter.”

Sweeper: 82–85 mph. Glove-side breaking ball with notable horizontal sweep (examples of 15+ inches noted early in his pro career).

Splitter: 86–88 mph. Another Mets-developed pitch intended as a put-away offering usable against both lefties and righties; still progressing in confidence/usage

 

RHRP Ryan Lambert –

Ryan Lambert primarily uses a two-pitch repertoire: an elite four-seam fastball and a slider.

He is a 6'3", ~220-222 lb right-hander who throws from a high three-quarters/over-the-top arm slot. Drafted by the Mets in the 8th round (233rd overall) in 2024 out of Oklahoma, he has advanced quickly as a high-leverage bullpen arm and has spent time at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A (Syracuse) levels.

Fastball (four-seam )

Velocity: Sits mid-to-high 90s (examples include averages around 96.8 mph); regularly touches 98–100+ mph and has peaked at 100.7–102 mph.

Characteristics: High spin rates (often ~2,550–2,700 RPM) and elite induced vertical break (IVB/carry of ~18–20+ inches, with reports up to 21–23 inches in spring). This creates strong “ride” up in the zone, leading to high whiff rates (e.g., ~32–39% in available data).

Usage: Dominant pitch (around 70% in 2026 Triple-A samples). It pairs well with the Mets’ emphasis on fastball miss rates.

Slider     Velocity: Mid-to-upper 80s (examples around 86 mph; earlier reports of high-80s gyro or mid-80s versions).

Characteristics: Gyroscopic shape with sharp glove-side bite. Earlier in development it sometimes varied (slurvier or cutter-like); he has worked on refining a more consistent north-south/up-down shape to better complement the fastball. Solid whiff rates (e.g., ~39% in samples).

Usage: Secondary pitch (around 30% in 2026 Triple-A data). Effective against both lefties and righties when sharp.

 

RHRP Peyton Prescott –

Peyton Prescott (Mets RHP prospect, 2025 5th-round pick, #163 overall from Florida State) has a high-velocity fastball-led repertoire with multiple secondary pitches.

He is a 6'0", 200 lb right-hander (throws R/R) who signed for an underslot $197,500 while recovering from Tommy John surgery (performed after an elbow injury in the 2025 NCAA Super Regionals). He has limited pro experience so far (primarily rehab/minors development list as of 2026) and is projected more as a high-probability reliever, though some scouts note athletic delivery that could allow exploration of a starting role.

Pitch mix (pre-surgery / college reports)

Fastball: Primary pitch. Averaged ~96 mph in 2025 at FSU, regularly touched 99–100 mph. High-octane, with ride/carry potential; works best in the zone. (Earlier HS/college velocity was lower, in the low-to-mid 90s.)

Slider: Mid- to high-80s (reports of 86–88 mph). Average/fringe-average projection currently; one of his main secondaries.

Splitter: Mid-80s (also described as average). Key offspeed offering that pairs with the fastball.

Curveball: Low-80s “downer” type. Fringe-average to average projection.

 

RHSP Calvin Ziegler –

Calvin Ziegler (often misspelled Zeigler), New York Mets RHP prospect (drafted 2021, 2nd round/46th overall out of TNXL Academy; Canadian native), primarily features a mid-90s fastball, curveball, and changeup/splitter.

He is a 6'0", 205 lb right-hander who throws from a high three-quarters slot. He has dealt with multiple injuries (biceps tendinitis, elbow bone chips, quad, Tommy John surgery missing most of 2024–2025) and is currently pitching in the high-A Brooklyn Cyclones system (as of mid-2026), with limited recent innings and ongoing command issues.

Core repertoire (primarily from 2022 Low-A data and scouting reports)

Fastball: Sits mid-90s (typically 91–95 mph, averages ~93; has touched 96–98). Features good IVB/VAA (flatter approach angle and extension), occasional arm-side run/tail. High-whiff potential when elevated; historically low zone rate. FanGraphs grades it 55 present / 60 future.

 

Curveball (primary breaking ball; sometimes described as a power/12-6 or 11-5 “hammer” with tight bite; earlier reports occasionally labeled it a slider): Sits ~80–83 mph (avg. ~82). Strong vertical drop; above-average potential and highest whiff rate of his pitches. Command has been inconsistent (often misses below the zone); release point can telegraph it. FanGraphs: 55/55. Some evaluators see slider potential or a hybrid.

Changeup / split-finger changeup / splitter: Mid-80s (83–86 mph range, avg. ~84). Work-in-progress with fade, tumble/sink, and arm speed maintenance. He experimented with a splitter in place of (or in addition to) a traditional changeup around late 2022. Key developmental pitch for starting potential.