MACK – Let’s Revisit - RHSP - Channing Austin

 

MACK – Let’s Revisit - RHSP - Channing Austin

Channing Austin is a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher (R/R, 6'3", 200 lbs) in the New York Mets’ minor league system, currently with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies (as of the latest available info in late August 2026). 

mlb.com

Born December 21, 2001, in New York, NY (Brooklyn native from Bedford-Stuyvesant), he grew up playing local fields near the old Ebbets Field site. He starred as a primarily infield-oriented player at Poly Prep in Brooklyn (two NYSAIS titles, All-League, All-Decade team), then focused on pitching. 

After limited time at Virginia (2021) and USC (limited appearances, redshirt junior year with a 6.28 ERA in 14.1 IP in 2024), he went undrafted in 2024, pitched well in the MLB Draft League for the Trenton Thunder, and signed with the Mets as an undrafted free agent in July 2024.

brooklynreporter.com

Career Path and 2026 Performance

• 2024: Brief debut with Low-A St. Lucie (1.1 IP).
• 2025: Mostly Low-A St. Lucie (4.31 ERA in 71 IP, 66 K), then late promotion to High-A Brooklyn; helped with the playoff run.
• 2026: Breakout at High-A Brooklyn (hometown affiliate). Through 8 starts/38.1 IP: 1.17 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 48 K, .150 opponents’ BA (ranked among MiLB leaders in ERA and BA against). He was promoted to Double-A Binghamton on May 26. 
• 2026 - AA/Binghamton - 17 decent innings, then the 60 day IL. His last outing, on August 9, he surrendered one hit, a HR, in 3 innings, and fanned six.

Brooklyn native success story with a “chip on his shoulder” after limited college opportunities; he has spoken about pitching to his strengths and working quickly into two-strike counts.

nypost.com

Repertoire / Pitch ArsenalAustin throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a long arm circle. Standard four-pitch mix (sometimes described with a sinker/4-seam variation depending on tracking):

• Fastball (primary, ~50% usage): Sits mid-90s (tops 97–98 mph). Above-average velocity and spin; can show above-average induced vertical break (ride). Plays average-to-above in a vacuum but is limited by inconsistent command.
  amazinavenue.com
• Slider (gyro-style, heavier secondary usage): Mid-to-upper 80s range (or low-to-mid 80s band overlapping curve). Sharper movement; one of his better put-away options when he has feel.
• Curveball: Low-to-mid 80s with slight 1–7 break. Can be an effective strikeout pitch on given days.
• Changeup: Mid-to-high 80s; least effective secondary. Limited velocity separation from the fastball and modest movement; works better on the edges than in the zone. Some observers have called it “nasty” in certain looks due to his delivery (quick leg kick, long stride, whip finish), but scouting grades it below-average overall.
• . He is an organizational depth/back-end starter-type prospect rather than a high-upside arm, but the 2026 High-A dominance as a hometown undrafted free agent made him a notable name in Mets prospect circles.