Sunday evening, the New York Mets made the decision to promote several of the organization’s top prospects from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse. First reported by Daniel Wexler, New York is promoting infielder/outfielder Jett Williams, outfielder Carson Benge, right-handed pitcher Jonah Tong, and first baseman/outfielder Ryan Clifford to Syracuse.

According to Metsmerized’s midseason top-50 prospect rankings, Williams, Benge, and Tong check in at No. 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Clifford ranks No. 8.

The lone pitcher of the group, right-handed starter Jonah Tong, turned in another terrific outing on Sunday, tossing five innings allowing only three hits and only one run. He did not walk any and struck out eight. With the performance, he lowered his season ERA to 1.59 and elevated his strikeout total to 162 over 102 innings.

Tong leads all of the minor leagues by a large margin in strikeouts and, entering Sunday, his xFIP (2.08) and FIP (1.75) are also the lowest in all of minor league baseball. This is among 276 qualified pitchers across every level of minor league baseball this season. There is a legit argument to be had that the former seventh-round pick is the best pitching prospect in all of baseball.

Carson Benge. Photo by Steven Wojtowicz of MMO

Carson Benge is having a terrific season in his own right and is receiving another promotion after being sent from High-A Brooklyn to Double-A Binghamton June 23. With Brooklyn, he slashed .302/.417/.480 (.897 OPS) with 27 extra-base hits and almost as many walks (41) as strikeouts (50). Benge picked up right where he left off after getting promoted to Binghamton, slashing .317/.407/.571 (.978 OPS) with 15 extra-base hits (eight homers) across only 126 at-bats. Benge has spent most of the season playing center field.

The 22-year-old, first-round pick in 2024 has an overall slash line of .308/.413/.513 (.926 OPS) with 12 homers, 60 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, and 59 walks to only 73 strikeouts this season. Benge’s 177 wRC+ ranks fifth in all of minor-league baseball (1,198 total qualified hitters).

Jett Williams is another former first-round pick, specifically 14th overall, in 2022. The speedy infielder/outfielder is slashing .281/.390/.477 (.867 OPS) on the season with 10 homers, 37 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases. Entering Sunday, his 29 doubles was 10th most in all of minor-league baseball (1,198 total qualified hitters) and his 160 wRC+ led all Double-A hitters (164 qualified). Excluding the games he was a designated hitter, Williams has played three different positions. He has spent 54 games at shortstop, 19 games in center field, and 16 games at second base.

Lastly, slugger Ryan Clifford was the second prospect acquired in the Justin Verlander trade along with recently dealt outfielder Drew Gilbert. Clifford is slashing .243/.355/.493 (.848 OPS) in Double-A this season. His power has been on full display as his 24 home runs and 75 RBIs leads the Mets’ minor-league system. Entering Sunday, his 24 homers ranked fifth in all of the minor leagues and his 75 RBIs 13th (1,198 qualified hitters). His ISO (Isolated Power) rating of .253 ranked 24th among the 1,198 qualified minor leaguers. Clifford has spent 57 games at first base this season and 32 at either corner outfield position.

A.J. Ewing. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

In a few other minor league promotions, also reported by Daniel Wexler, outfielder A.J. Ewing, right-handed pitcher Brendan Girton, and right-handed pitcher Saul Garcia are all headed from High-A Brooklyn to Double-A Binghamton. Meanwhile, according to Mike Mayer of Metsmerized, first baseman Trace Willhoite is being promoted from Single-A St. Lucie to High-A Brooklyn.

Ewing’s 58 stolen bases leads the Mets’ organization this year, he is slashing .308/.410/.429 across 364 at-bats between St. Lucie (Single-A) and Brooklyn (High-A). Girton owns a 2.59 ERA and 91 strikeouts across 76 1/3 innings and 21 games (17 starts) for Brooklyn (High-A). Garcia is having a breakout season after struggling through his first four professional seasons, as he has a 1.85 ERA and 59 strikeouts across 34 innings of relief for High-A Brooklyn. Lastly, Willhoite has been tearing it up in Single-A all season, posting a .265/.382/.470 (.852 OPS) with 14 homers and 66 RBIs in his first professional season after being signed out of Lipscomb.

Ewing ranked No. 9 and Girton No. 33 in Metsmerized midseason top-50 prospects update. Garcia and Willhoite were unranked but are knocking on the door.