2025 Draft Prospect - #26 - RHP - Kyson Witherspoon - Oklahoma

 

On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for 1.1

 

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -

#26      Kyson Witherspoon

RHP     Oklahoma

20/years old

6' 2"      206

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

Scouts have followed the Witherspoon twins since high school, with the Diamondbacks trying to sign Malachi to an over-slot bonus as a 12th-rounder in 2022. Though they have similar stuff, Kyson since has surpassed him as a prospect after performing significantly better in their first two college seasons at Northwest Florida State JC and Oklahoma. He has much more of a starter look and could climb into the first round in a thin college pitching class.

Witherspoon has swing-and-miss stuff, starting with a mid-90s fastball that peaks at 99 mph and stands out more for its power than its modest life. His mid-80s slider can touch 91 mph while featuring both horizontal action and depth, and he'll occasionally turn it into a low-90s cutter. His upper-80s changeup is a work in progress that gets too firm but will show interesting fade at times.

Witherspoon uses a compact arm action to generate quality stuff with little effort. With his athleticism and mechanics, he should be able to develop at least average control and command. When he misses the strike zone, he often does so by too big a margin to induce chases, and improved ability to locate his pitches could make him even more overpowering.

 

2-26-25 –

MLB mock draft 2025: Projecting first round for 2025 MLB Draft

https://sportsnaut.com/mlb/mlb-analysis/lists/mlb-mock-draft-2025/  

19. Baltimore Orioles: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma

Kyson Witherspoon, the 20-year-old junior college transfer, had an impressive 2024 season for Oklahoma. Over 17 games (11 starts), Witherspoon had 90 strikeouts in 80 innings, averaging 10.1 whiffs per nine innings. However, he did give up 40 walks, so he needs to work on his control. He has an above-average fastball and slider which play well. The O’s have an overabundance of position player prospects, but not on the pitching side. Witherspoon could change that.

 

2-10-25

FLO Baseball - 2025 MLB Mock Draft 1.0-

https://www.flobaseball.tv/articles/13555752-2025-mlb-mock-draft-10-nats-stunner-with-the-no-1-pick  

No. 30 Baltimore Orioles: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma Baseball

There are some high school player options here, but Witherspoon is among the best college pitchers in the country entering the season with a fastball that has touched 99 mph and a solid slider.

 

1-22-25 –

Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects

https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03

20. Kyson Witherspoon – RHP

HT/WT: 6’2/206 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Oklahoma | Age: 20.11

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Witherspoon attended Northwest Florida State College before transferring to Oklahoma with his twin brother, Malachi.

While Malachi boasts the louder pitch mix, Kyson excelled in a starter’s role for the Sooners in 2024, striking out 90 batters in 80 innings to the tune of a 3.71 ERA.

This culminated in an appearance for Team USA and a stint with the Chatham Anglers, both of which produced loud appearances and cemented his status on the circuit.

Kyson’s one-two punch with his fastball and slider is utterly dynamic. The heater has sat in the mid-90s and reached upwards of 99 MPH with excellent life on the top rail of the strike zone, averaging over 17 inches of vertical carry with some arm-side run.

His mid-80s slider is a plus offering with bullet-esque shape, firming up into a cutter around the 90 MPH mark. There’s excellent bite with some late sweep, averaging close to five inches of horizontal movement.

He’s tinkered with a solid change-up with tumble and fade in the upper-80s, flashing average or better with a whiff rate over 45%.

His arm action gets inconsistent and stabby, leading to command woes, but he fills up the strike zone and has a good chance to start long-term.

 

1-16-25 -

An Early Look at the Top 30 Prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft

https://lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2025/01/15/top-30-prospects-2025-mlb-draft/#google_vignette  

26.  Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma

Working with a mid to upper-90s fastball and a power slider, he has the chance to move up boards with a strong spring. There is a lack of proven college starters in this draft, and that could help his stock.

 

Top 50 college baseball prospects for 2025 MLB draft, per D1Baseball

https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2024-12-23/top-50-college-baseball-prospects-2025-mlb-draft-d1baseball    -                 

9    Kyson Witherspoon    RHP    Oklahoma

 

12-10-24 –

Here's Pipeline's first full 2025 mock draft

https://www.mlb.com/news/first-full-2025-mlb-mock-draft?partnerID=web_article-share  –

27. Guardians: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma (No. 26)

Witherspoon's power fastball/slider combo and the lack of slam-dunk college starters could allow him to rocket up Draft boards if he has a big spring.

 

8/11/24 - Sports Gambling Podcast - 2025 Mock Draft

Kyson Witherspoon is an intriguing power pitcher who can pepper the high 90s. He supports the heater with a hard slider and can throw a changeup and curveball- consistent command is a work in progress, but he mowed down Big 12 competition in his Sophomore year. Witherspoon posted an 8-3 record with a 3.71 ERA, 90 K, 40 BB, and 80 innings pitched.

 

https://soonersports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyson-witherspoon/18788 -

2024: Perfect Game Midseason All-American … led OU with 3.71 ERA in 80.0 IP, 11 starts, 17 appearances and 8-3 record … 90 strikeouts to 40 walks … combined on one shutout and earned one save … had a 6-1 record in conference play with 57 strikeouts to 21 walks … struck out four in 4.1 IP, surrendering no runs and just three hits in a win over No. 9 Tennessee (2/17) … earned first win of the season in first start as a Sooner, going five innings and striking out three in a win over Wright State (2/24) … struck out eight and got the win in five innings of relief, surrendering just three hits and no runs with two walks at No. 12 TCU (3/15) … struck out a season-best 11 in longest outing of the season, going 7.2 innings vs. West Virginia, allowing one run on one hit and two walks (3/23) … fanned eight and got the win in 5.1 IP vs. Kansas State (4/13) … stuck out at least six in seven of final eight starts of the season … started the NCAA Norman Regional opener and got the win in 6.0 IP, striking out nine and surrendering just one hit and no runs in a combined shutout vs. Oral Roberts (5/31).

Prior to OU: A transfer from Northwest Florida State College ... appeared in 17 games with 69.2 innings pitched ... had a 3.10 ERA with 72 strikeouts.

High School: A right-handed pitcher from Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach, Fla. ... ranked as a top-60 shortstop and top-280 overall prospect in Florida and a top-430 shortstop and top-500 overall prospect nationally by Perfect Game ... high school coach was Michael Grillo ... has a twin brother, Malachi, who is also on the team.

2025 Draft Prospect - #27 - 3B - Gavin Fien - Great Oak HS (CA)

 

On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for 1.1

 

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -

#27       Gavin Fien

3B         Great Oak (CA)

17/years old

6' 2"      195

COMMITTED - Texas

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

In 2024, Dylan Fien was a switch-hitting catcher from Great Oak High School (Temecula, Calif.) who got an over-slot deal in the seventh round from the A’s. Now it’s his younger brother’s turn, and Gavin has the chance to go a lot earlier than his sibling, especially after a summer showcase circuit where many evaluators thought he was the best prep hitter in the class. Fien hit everywhere he went, winning MLB Develops MVP honors at Major League Baseball’s High School All-American Game with a pair of hits and RBIs and batting .400 for Team USA in the 18U World Cup qualifier in Panama.

There is some debate among scouts in California over who is the better high school bat in Fien and Brady Ebel, the left-handed hitter from Corona High. Fien is a 6-foot-2 right-handed hitter with plenty of bat speed that produces consistent line drives. While he has an unorthodox setup with high hands, he makes it work and is always on time. He’s added strength and there could be more power to come as he advances.

Fien’s added physicality has allowed him to run better, though that’s never going to be a part of his game. Committed to Texas, he has the chance to profile well at third base with plenty of arm. He could end up at first or in a corner outfield spot in the future, though it’s his bat that will get him drafted in the early rounds.

 

2-26-25 –

MLB mock draft 2025: Projecting first round for 2025 MLB Draft

https://sportsnaut.com/mlb/mlb-analysis/lists/mlb-mock-draft-2025/  

11. Sacramento Athletics: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oaks HS

The Athletics stay in-state with one of the youngest players in the 2025 MLB Draft. At 17 years old, Gavin Fien is just starting to tap into his power which has shown improvement in the last calendar year. He also could wind up sticking at third base, especially with the developments he’s already made at such a young age. There’s no All-Star upside here as of now, but he could be a solid regular for the Athletics in five years.

 

2-25-25 - 2025 MLB Draft: A closer look at the top 20 high school prospects entering the spring

https://www.usatodayhss.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/02/25/2025-mlb-draft-top-20-high-school-prospects/80279242007/  

11. Gavin Fien, 3B/OF, Temecula (California)

Fine went 10-for-25 in eight games with the 18U National team and is considered one of the draft’s most polished hitters. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds he might be destined for a corner infield or outfield spot and will depend heavily on his bat to advance.

 

2-15-25 –

CBS Sports - 2025 MLB Draft prospect rankings

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2025-mlb-draft-prospect-rankings-top-30-players-in-class-with-fsu-lefty-at-no-1-ethan-holliday-in-top-five/  

19. Gavin Fien, SS/3B, Great Oak HS (CA)

The quick hook: Left-side infielder with thump

There are two infielders named Gavin in this class who could penetrate the first round: the California prepster Fien, and Tennessee's Kilen. Here's a little saying that'll keep them straight in your head: if ceiling's on your mind, your Gavin be Fien; if floor's your feelin', your Gavin be Kilen. Indeed, Fien is an angular right-handed batter with above-average strength and some feel for hitting. The scouts I spoke with believe he'll outgrow shortstop and move to third, but a club who views him as this class's answer to Aidan Miller could pop him as early as the middle of the first round.

 

2-10-25

FLO Baseball - 2025 MLB Mock Draft 1.0-

https://www.flobaseball.tv/articles/13555752-2025-mlb-mock-draft-10-nats-stunner-with-the-no-1-pick  

No. 35 Seattle Mariners: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak, California

Seattle was the biggest winner of the draft, landing third, considering the Mariners have World Series expectations.

This seems like a spot, after lucking into LaViolette at No. 3, they take a prep player in Fien, who some have going about 20 spots earlier.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound corner outfielder and infielder was one Team USA’s best hitters on the 18U national team, where he hit .400 with three doubles and two triples.

 

1-27-25  -  Just Baseball –

2025 MLB Draft - Top 80 High School Prospects

https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-high-school-prep-prospects/

11. Gavin Fien – 3B

HT/WT: 6’3/200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Great Oak (CA) | Commitment: Texas | Age: 18.4

This is no hyperbole: Gavin Fien had the loudest summer showing of any player on this list.

The brother of A’s farmhand Dylan Fien, Gavin had the loudest showing of any bat during USA Baseball’s 18U Trials and that continued into the 18U World Cup, becoming a prominent offensive threat during their gold medal run.

Fien is a physical specimen with huge offensive upside in the future. He keeps it simple with a balanced stance at the plate with low-effort mechanics and extension through the baseball.

There’s a bit of stiffness to his swing, but that hasn’t stopped his offensive output. His plate coverage is exceptional and he manipulates the barrel well, plus he handled higher-end velocity very well.

His power has trended up in the past year, as his bat speed has gotten better and he has solid leverage in his swing. As he fills out his frame, the expectation is that Fien’s power can reach above-average or better.

While his footwork and range are limited at the hot corner, Fien has the arm strength and instincts to be a reliable defender at the position. He won’t wow people with his play, but he’ll be a consistent force. His arm could play well in right field, too. If he makes it to campus, he’ll attend the University of Texas.

 

1-16-25 -

An Early Look at the Top 30 Prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft

https://lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2025/01/15/top-30-prospects-2025-mlb-draft/#google_vignette  

7.  Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS, Temecula, Calif.

Arguably the best pure prep hitter on the circuit last year, shined with Team USA and showed ability to hit at all times. There is promising power in the bat as well. He’s athletic but unlikely to stick at SS long term and appears to have the tools to play 3B. Teams that covet a high contact rate will seek him out, and a strong spring could propel him higher than this.

 

12-31-24 -      Joe Doyle       @JoeDoyleMiLB

Great Oak 3B Gavin Fien is the top right-handed high school bat in the 2025 Draft. Period. Coming off a mammoth summer, Fien still has work to do and he’s hardly stopped grinding. He believes there’s more in store this spring. SUPER impressive kid.

 

12-10-24 –

Here's Pipeline's first full 2025 mock draft

https://www.mlb.com/news/first-full-2025-mlb-mock-draft?partnerID=web_article-share  –

18. Diamondbacks: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS, Temecula, Calif. (No. 27)

Fien has a long track record of hitting against quality pitching and some evaluators believe he's the best high school bat in the Draft.

 

Joe Doyle         @JoeDoyleMiLB

Great Oak 3B Gavin Fien putting on a show in front of a full house at the Desert Challenge Tourney tonight. Fien ranks No. 38 overall on my current Top 250 for the 2025 Draft.

 

https://www.perfectgame.org/(S(0qbzto2unhxwl2amw3vdqg55))/Players/Playerprofile.aspx?ID=874858 –

2024 National Showcase 

Gavin Fien is a 2025 3B/SS/OF with a 6-3 200 lb. frame from Temecula, CA who attends Great Oak. Long and strong athletic build. Right handed hitter, hits from a balanced with a simple and repeatable load and trigger, fluid low effort swing with very good extension through contact, creates outstanding raw bat speed with lift and leverage, very advanced hitter. 6.86 runner in the sixty. Primary third baseman on defense, works low to the ground and stays under control and balanced, gets his glove in good position, big arm strength across the diamond. Also plays the outfield with classic right field tools and huge arm strength. Excellent student, verbal commitment to Texas. Selected to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

2025 Draft Prospect - #28 - 2B - Gavin Kilen - Tennessee

 

On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for 1.1

 

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/

#28      Gavin Kilen

2B        Tennessee

20/years old

5' 11"      180

DRAFTED - 2022, 13th (399) - BOS

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Kilen displayed some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the 2022 high school class but slid to the Red Sox in the 13th round because he was set on attending Louisville. He spent two years with the Cardinals, boosting his OPS from .659 as a freshman second baseman to .952 as a sophomore shortstop before deciding to transfer to Tennessee. He'll slide back over to second this spring as he plays alongside projected first-round shortstop Dean Curley.

With outstanding hand-eye coordination, a quick left-handed swing and feel for the barrel, Kilen continues to excel as a contact hitter. The problem is that he swings and chases too often, still putting pitches in play but without much authority and rarely drawing walks (just seven in 54 games last year). He may not have more than average raw power, and while his hitting ability should allow him to get to most of that pop, he has yet to prove he can drive balls in the air with wood bats.

Kilen's skills stand out more than his tools, with his speed and arm strength both grading as average. He has good actions and instincts but the game speeds up on him, and his arm is a bit stretched at shortstop. He's a solid defender at second base and could develop in a similar fashion to fellow Wisconsin prep product Gavin Lux.

 

2-10-25

FLO Baseball - 2025 MLB Mock Draft 1.0-

https://www.flobaseball.tv/articles/13555752-2025-mlb-mock-draft-10-nats-stunner-with-the-no-1-pick  

No. 41 Tampa Bay Rays: Gavin Kilen, IF, Tennessee Baseball

Another traded pick, this time by the Athletics in the Jeffrey Springs trade.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound second baseman hit 330/.361/.591 with 35 extra base hits for the national champions last season.

 

1-22-25 –

Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects

https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03

17. Gavin Kilen – 2B

HT/WT: 5’11/180 | Bat/Throw: L/R | School: Tennessee | Age: 21.3

A highly decorated recruit out of high school, Kilen enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign where he slashed .330/.361/.591 with nine home runs in 54 games.

His pure contact skills are exceptional, producing a contact rate of around 85% in 2024, including an astonishing 93% in-zone contact rate. Kilen feasts on heaters and seldom misses them.

Kilen’s power took a significant jump in 2024, as he now possesses average power to the pull-side and he’ll hammer the gaps for doubles on the regular. His chase rates are extremely bloated due to his aggressive swing rate, as he swings over 50% of the time.

He has the contact prowess to manage his production, but this is something to keep an eye on against SEC pitching in 2025.

Defensively, Kilen has the chops to handle shortstop long-term. He’s got average to above-average arm strength that’s paired with strong instincts, solid range, and prototypical size for the position. He’ll join a highly talented Tennessee team that is looking to repeat as national champions for the 2025 season.

 

1-16-25 -

An Early Look at the Top 30 Prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft

https://lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2025/01/15/top-30-prospects-2025-mlb-draft/#google_vignette  

28. Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee

Bat-first 2B with excellent feel to hit and the ability to use the whole field. Showed solid promise with some pop at Louisville, his previous school, and now more eyes will be on him paired up with his double play-mate in Curley.

 

12-23-24  -  Top 50 college baseball prospects for 2025 MLB draft, per D1Baseball

https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2024-12-23/top-50-college-baseball-prospects-2025-mlb-draft-d1baseball       -             

40    Gavin Kilen    SS/2B    Tennessee

 

12-10-24 - FSS PLUS:  2025 MLB Mock Draft: So it begins…

https://futurestarsseries.com/2025-mlb-mock-draft/  

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Gavin Kilen, SS — Tennessee

HOMETOWN: Milton, Wisconsin

HEIGHT: 5-11

WEIGHT: 180

BAT/THROW: L-R

Kilen’s brand is that of a sound hitter with impact still coming. He is extremely aggressive in the box and tends to swing at more pitches than he probably should resulting in well-below average chase rates. Still, he battles, draws long counts, and has largely avoided bloating his strikeout rates. There’s real feel to hit with elite bat-to-ball skills and a willingness to use all fields.

 

Kilen saw his exit velocities make huge strides in 2024 highlighted by a peak batted-ball event north of 111 mph. He’s growing into average raw power and could be a threat to hit north of 15 homers in 2025. He’s also arguably the top defensive shortstop available in the class.

A good bat and a good get for the Buccos.

 

9/22/24

2025 Draft Prospect - IF - Gavin Kilen - Tennessee

link–

SS GAVIN KILEN (LOUISVILLE TO TENNESSEE)

The Volunteers lost a ton of bats in the MLB Draft, but hit the transfer portal hard and should be able to stave off some of those missing pieces. Kilen will play a major role in that.

He produced some of the best contact rates in the NCAA last year, posting some insane contact and in-zone contact rates. He’s a bit aggressive, which led to a high chase rate, but that didn’t lead to significant Whiff or an increase in strikeouts, he has put up pretty good numbers in both categories.

The big thing about Kilen’s offensive game is he saw a rise in pull-side power, with his max exit velocity getting up to 111 mph. Defensively, Killen has solid range at shortstop and enough arm strength to stick at the position. His quick reaction time helps him get to the ball with ease. He should be a solid contributor to the Volunteers looking to be repeat National Champions.

 

link -

Gavin Kilen

B/T: L/R

Ht./Wt.: 5-11 / 180

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: Milton, Wis.

High School:Milton

Prev School: Milton HS

CAREER HONORS

• 2024 All-ACC Third Team

• 2023 All-ACC Academic Team

 

2024: Started 54 of 56 games at shortstop ... Earned third team All-ACC honors finishing with a .330 average, 23 doubles, three triples and nine home runs ... Drove in 41 and scored 39 times ... Led the Cardinals in hits, doubles and total bases ... His 23 doubles were tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history ... Set career highs in RBIs (3) and runs (4) in the win over St. Bonaventure on Feb. 23 ... Tallied five hits in the three-game series against Youngstown State ...

Had a career night against Morehead State on March 6, hitting his first career home run and adding three doubles as part of a 4-for-5 game ... Homered in three consecutive games with home runs in each of the first two games against Northwestern ... Went 2-for-4 with a home run and a career-high four RBIs against Lipscomb on March 12 ... Became the seventh player in Louisville history to hit for the cycle, going 4-for-5 against Virginia Tech on March 16 ...

Notched his third four-hit game of the year, driving in two against Kentucky on April 16 ... Hit a solo homer in the win over Miami on April 19 ... Went 2-for-4, including a first inning grand slam against WKU on April 23 ... Hit a two-run homer in the win over NKU on April 30 ... Hit a ninth inning two-run walkoff homer in the series opener against Notre Dame on May 16.

 

link -

Kilen led Milton High to its first-ever Division I state title this year, scoring the winning run in the championship game. The left-handed hitter has also seen some time with Team USA’s Under 18 squad, batting .231 with two RBIs over seven games.

“We’ve liked him for a long time now,” Red Sox amateur scouting director Paul Toboni said. “He’s obviously a premium position player, being a shortstop, but then he’s got a really advanced feel in the box. The game moves pretty slowly for him.”

Contact skills and hand-eye coordination are Kilen’s main characteristics at the plate, traits that could make up for a current lack of power. The 18-year-old is a ground-ball hitter with the ability to send line drives all over the field.

Kilen’s future at shortstop is debatable, as MLB Pipeline rates his speed and strength at “more average than plus,” which could trigger a future move to second base. Currently committed to Louisville, it’s unclear whether Kilen will sign with Boston as a 13th-round pick, but it still made sense for Boston to try to snag a Top-100 prospect that late in the Draft

Tom Brennan - A Few Phillies/Mets Thoughts, And Other Tasty Mets Tidbits To Chew On

A SUNDAY TIDBIT

We are not playing them wicked Philistines right now. But…

The Mets and Phillies are neck-and-neck. 

Making me wonder…

Is JT Realmuto on the decline?

I looked, on Saturday morning, as to where Mark Vientos ranked in MLB RBIs. 

130th.  Bad.  Very bad.

Who was he tied with at that low threshold?

Why, JT Realmuto, who, going into Saturday’s action, was hitting just .225 with 21 RBIs in 200 PAs.

He’s 34 y/o, and catchers do accumulate a catcher’s wear and tear. 

Maybe he is in steep age+catcher decline? I guess we will find out.

Kyle Schwarber has made up for much of that decline with 19 HRs, 42 RBIs, and a .395 OBP.

I wish Juan Soto could be a Kyle Schwarber.  Is it just me?

Oddly, it is not Phillies park that causes Kyle’s uptick in hitting.

Last year, .225 at home, .270 on the road.

This year, .225 at home, .288 on the road.

SHOHEI OHTANI:

A true freak.  

22 HRs in his 1st 56 games. AND…63 runs scored. A 182 runs scored pace.

Since 1900, the most runs in a season? Babe Ruth (177) and Lou Gehrig (167).

They say Ohtani is a pretty good pitcher, too.

Mets face him again in the next series.

METS MINORS ARE MARVELOUS

St Lucie got drubbed, but Brooklyn (5 runs), Syracuse (6 runs) and Binghamton (8 runs) all won. 

Jack Wenninger was awesome again in AA.  Yay!

And the best offensive player in the Mets minors may be AJ Ewing.  

What a first 44 games for him in Brooklyn and Lucie!

37 steals!  And .373/.460/.538!

Nick Morabito has also been scorching, but his slow start dampened his stats: hitting just .193 on April 22, and just .210 on May 10, after his 3 hits last night, he is very quickly up to .281, with 19 steals in 46 games. He has hit for the last 3 weeks like he has his eyes on a CF job with the Mets in September.

METS BEAT UP AA ROCKIES 8-2

Mets are now 35-22, tied with Philly for first place.

The Yanks are 35-22, 6.5 games ahead in first place. 

Can we switch Divisions with them?

I like being 6.5 games ahead. 

Yanks outscored 27-7 by the Mets’ next opponent the LA Dodgers. 

The Bronx Bunters are a fake team in a weak division.

Colorado now 9-49? They better leave town at 9-50. 

A team finishing 40 games under .500 would be 61-101. The Rockies would have to play .500 ball over their last 104 games to win 61. 

I guess their current pace is 25 wins?  

Casey Stengel somewhere is smiling.

MACK - MY Sunday Observations - Mets Futures: SS, ISO, MVP, Jett

 We move on to the position we have a good chance of keep moving on… shortstop.

Current Mets starter, Francisco Lindor, is currently under contract through the 2031 contract. He’s currently 31/years old, so we can assume this will be his last contract with the Mets, maybe even baseball.

We all want to believe that guys like this one never get injured, but Lindor already proved that wrong last season. So, there is a good chance he could go down once, twice, who many knows how many more times, during this contract.

So, we have to address this subject seriously.

First candidate here would be current sometimes second baseman, sometimes late inning defensive relief, and sometimes pinch runner, LuisAngel Acuna. Acuna proved last season that he is more than capable, both with his glove as well as his bat, to make fans stop worrying about when Lindor was returning. He’s currently dying of old age at 23 and is team controlled into the next decade.

Next up would be the Mets #1 prospect, once in awhile centerfielder but always ready to play short, Jett Williams. Williams has all the tools to become a star in this game, but like so did so many guys, like F-Mart before him, still need to go all the way. I continue to be surprised he hasn’t played more center, which is a position currently needed to fill in earlier, but the Mets must feel keeping him at his natural position right now at the AA level. Through May 27^th, he is hitting .284/.373/.485/.858 for the Rumble Ponies, with 19-BB, 4-HR, 16-RBI, 9-SB, in 134-AB. One must assume he will finish this season at the AAA level and could be ready as a September playoff bat addition.

Next up is current Brooklyn starter, Boston Baro. He looked like a nice 8^th round draft pick (2023), after hitting .288 last season as St. Lucie’s starter. He’s only 20, and also plays third and second. Only problem is his current slow start in Brooklyn (as of 5-27: 153-AB, .222, 2-HR, 12-RBI, 7-SB, .619-OPS). He also is playing equal times on both second and third, so his position of future choice is still up in the air. The good news is he has heated up this past week, so he might be going all Jesus Baez on us here (details on upcoming 3B analysis). For now, not a hot topic.

The current starter in St. Lucie is an exciting one. Jeremy Rodriguez is a highly regarded lower-level prospect that looks like a steal in a trade for someone named Tommy Pham. He was 17 then. He isn’t 17 now. He’s off to a slow start but I expect him to heat up when Tom’s heat… wait… it’s always hot in Florida. Hmm…

Oh. And then there is some dude named Elian Pena.  12-years old. Billion dollar signing bonus. Scheduled to open up for one of the DSL teams this year. Normally, they keep someone this young in camp for another year, but Pena must be showing him he already has the ability to play. Hopefully, his bat doesn’t fizzle some of this team’s other recent high bonus international bats. ETA is… well, wake me up when I’m dead.

Mets the best in baseball at limiting extra-base hits

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6386784/2025/05/28/mets-limit-extra-base-hits/

An even 140 pitchers entered Tuesday having thrown at least 35 innings this season. Here’s where New York’s starters rank in that list in ISO — all well ahead of the league average.

Mets' ISO for SP

Tylor Megill       0.093     12^th  

Clay Holmes      0.104    17^th

Kodai Senga      0.114    28^th

David Peterson   0.115    30^th

Griffin Canning    0.122    37^th

 

Odds to Win MLB’s 2025 MVP

https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/odds-win-mlb-mvp/

1. Shohei Ohtani/Los Angeles Dodgers                         -140          

2. Fernando Tatis Jr./San Diego Padres                         +450         

3. Pete Crow-Armstrong/Chicago Cubs                         +900         

4. Corbin Carroll/Arizona Diamondbacks                      +1200       

4. Kyle Tucker/Chicago Cubs                                             +1200       

5. Freddie Freeman/Los Angeles Dodgers                    +2000       

6. Pete Alonso/New York Mets                                        +2800

MLB top 50

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6385849/2025/05/29/mlb-top-50-prospects-2025-roman-anthony/

#33             Jett Williams                  SS

Preseason 2025 Rank: 61

Williams is fully healthy again and he’s playing a lot more like he did in 2023, drawing walks and stinging the ball with surprising pop for a fun-sized player. Injuries limited him to 33 regular-season games last year, but he’s already surpassed that, with a .284/.373/.485 line in Double A through Sunday, and the Mets have started playing him a little in center field since shortstop is rather occupied in Flushing for the foreseeable future. 

His plate discipline is truly elite; he has swung at pitches well out of the zone just 8 percent of the time this year, so those high OBPs are very likely to carry him to everyday status and beyond.

Sandy Alcantara

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6389751/2025/05/29/sandy-alcantara-marlins-trade-deadline/

All the talk that he’s not good anymore. That the Tommy John surgery broke him. That he’s lost all his trade value. That he’ll never be the same.

It’s been a brutal 2025 for Alcantara, the 2022 Cy Young winner who returned this season after missing last season rehabbing his elbow.

And while he’s confident his 8.47 ERA will improve, his first start after making those comments was a lot more of the same. Four innings pitched on Wednesday in San Diego, six earned runs, four walks, seven hits and zero strikeouts for the first time in a start since April 2019.

The 29-year-old has 29 walks and 40 strikeouts over 51 innings. Left-handed hitters have reached base against him at a prodigious clip. And his altered pitch mix hasn’t shown positive results.

The ace who authored six complete games amid a dominant season in 2022 hasn’t thrown a pitch in the seventh inning all year.

Potential trade partners are forced to wonder if he is not the same pitcher as before the surgery. Until he performs, those questions will linger. And so both the Marlins and Alcantara are both dealing with a problem they’re extremely motivated to fix.

Against left-handed hitters, Alcantara has walked 22, compared with just 17 strikeouts. It’s a major regression for a pitcher who once pitched to both sides of the plate with similar effectiveness.

If he wasn’t Sandy Alcantara, he’d probably be in the minor leagues.

    Mack –

    Look… we all (especially me) need to dial it back here and stop putting up packages you would send the Marlins for the services of this guy. Right now, he’s worth less than Miami would accept. Let’s all move on here.

IN FOCUS: Team ERA, FIP, OPS, Soto, Diaz

 

Thomas Nestico      @TJStats

Starters ERA vs Bullpen ERA

Mack -

These graphs are important because they remind the fan base just how great this team is pitching this season, be it as starters or out of the pen. They simply are one of the top squads in the game right now.

 

 Team FIP vs ERA

Mack –

 FIP stands for Fielding Independent Pitching. It measues a pitcher's effectiveness based on outcomes they directly control... strikeouts, walks, hit-by-pitches, and home runs. It strips away the impact of fielding and luck, focusing purely on a pitcher's performance.

For you nerds, that's:  (13 x HR) + (3 x (BB + HBP) - (2 x K) / IP + C

The formula  was either created by Elon Musk or a lifetime live-in at Creedmore.

A FIP of 3.00 is excellent. 5.00+ is fop.

 Team ERA vs OPS

Mack – 

Just another great example of where this team's pitching staff ranks this season. You can see why the Rockies and White Sox suck so much this year.

 

Team ERA

Mack –

 Another wow graph.

 Most "Unlucky" Batters

Mack –

 This one is for all you Soto haters out there. The dude is just not hitting it badly. It just is finding too many gloves. The excellent exit velocity will eventually work in his favor. Trust me here.

 Mets Analytics        @MetsAnalytics

Cue the trumpets. Not only has Edwin Díaz retired his last 30 batters, he’s been elite-of-the-elite over the course of the season!

 Leads MLB in xBA

Avoiding hard contact, but even more so hard air contact

Missing bats at a high enough rate to work around walks

Mack -

Rumor has it that Diaz's agent office put this graph together.

John From Albany: 10 Years Ago - deGrom and Murphy Beat Padres, 6/1/2015

 

Daniel Murphy, 2015 Topps Allen & Ginter Card

2015, the last year the Mets made the World Series.  This daily post will detail the game by game journey to the Fall Classic.  Click here for More Mets History and Calendar Classics.

Year: 2015; Game #52; Monday;  Jun 1, NYM 7 @ SDP 0; boxscore;   WP: deGrom; LP: Cashner; Time: 02:21; NIGHT; Attendance: 21,893; Record: 29-23; Standings: 1; Games up/behind: Tied; W;

Curtis Granderson RF  0 for 5; 3 Ks; Rubén Tejada 3B  3 for 5; 2B; 2 runs; 1 K; Daniel Murphy 2B  4 for 5; HR,2B,CS; 3 runs; 3 RBIs; Michael Cuddyer 1B  1 for 4; 2B; 1 run; 3 Ks; Wilmer Flores SS  2 for 4; 1 RBI; 2 Ks; Darrell Ceciliani LF  1 for 4; SB; 1 run; 1 RBI; 1 K; Juan Lagares CF  2 for 4; 3B; 1 RBI; 1 K; Kevin Plawecki C  0 for 3; 1 walk; 2 Ks; Jacob deGrom P  0 for 4; GDP; 3 Ks; Jacob deGrom, W (6-4)  8 innings; no runs; 2 hits; 8 Ks; Sean Gilmartin  1 inning; no runs; 1 K; 

Jacob deGrom allowed just 2 hits over 8 shutout innings while the Mets banged out 13 hits and 7 runs.  Daniel Murphy led the way going 4 for 5 with a homerun, 3 RBIs, 3 runs scored.

NY Post: Jacob deGrom filthy in two-hit gem to lift Mets past Padres. “DeGrom took a perfect game into the sixth inning, before Clint Barmes singled to give the Padres their first base runner. Over 105 pitches, deGrom struck out eight and did not walk a batter….The Mets (29-23) snapped a seven-game road losing streak and moved back into a tie with the [idle] Nationals for first place in the NL East.”

YouTube Game Highlights

NL East Standings - 6/1/25

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
WSN	28	22	.560	--	228	212	.533
NYM	29	23	.558	--	199	186	.531
ATL	26	25	.510	2.5	210	216	.487
MIA	20	32	.385	9.0	195	220	.445
PHI	19	33	.365	10.0	157	230	.332

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/1/2015.