As Nolan McLean capped off a fantastic debut with the big league club, fellow top prospect Jonah Tong had a day of his own in Syracuse (Triple-A), spinning 5 2/3 shutout innings and striking out nine in his Triple-A debut.
Jonah Tong via Syracuse Mets
Triple-A
Syracuse Mets (62-57) 5, Rochester Red Wings (46-70) 0
Williams tripled and scored, continuing his hot start with a 1.031 OPS through five games in Syracuse. Clifford looked overmatched early against Kyle Luckham’s fastball-changeup mix, but in his third trip he adjusted, drilling a middle-middle fastball through the right-side hole to drive in the game’s first run.
RHP Jonah Tong: 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K (0.00 ERA)
Tong rightfully stole the spotlight in his Triple-A debut, striking out nine and showing the polish of the future big leaguer he is. He was one pitch away from six complete innings before an overturned strike three on former first-rounder Nick Schnell cut his night short. Kevin Herget and flamethrower Dylan Ross followed. Ross is a name to watch as a potential call-up for bullpen depth.
Jack Wenninger. Photo by Kylie Richelle
Double-A
Game 1: New Hampshire Fisher Cats (46-65) 8, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (74-36) 0
Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader was a struggle at the plate. The Rumble Ponies managed only one extra-base hit; a double from shortstop Wyatt Young. They failed to draw a walk, finishing 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position while leaving seven on base.
In his Double-A debut, Girton shook off two unearned runs in the first and settled in to throw five innings, striking out nine.
Game 2: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (75-36) 6, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (46-66) 1
Reimer, Smith, and William Lugo each went deep, while Nick LoRusso added his 46th RBI with a line-drive double off the right-field wall.
The 23-year-old Wenninger was dominant, allowing just one run and continuing what has been a breakout third pro season as one of the Mets’ fastest-rising arms.
High-A
Brooklyn Cyclones (65-48) 5, Hub City Spartanburgers (55-57) 3
On Star Wars night in Brooklyn, the Cyclones rallied for three runs in the sixth to top the Spartanburgers. Baro contributed with two walks, including one with the bases loaded, while catcher Perozo added two hits and crossed the plate twice.
After starter Joel DÃaz lasted just 4 2/3 innings, Hodges was outstanding in relief, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless frames in only his third appearance since his Brooklyn promotion. Across 33 appearances between Brooklyn and St. Lucie, he owns a pristine 2.44 ERA.
Daiverson Gutierrez, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Single-A
Jupiter Hammerheads (50-63) 6, St. Lucie Mets (67-45) 0
St. Lucie was blanked by the Hammerheads, managing just four hits. Gutierrez contributed with a multi-hit day, but the rest of the lineup was anemic. First-round pick Mitch Voit went hitless with two strikeouts, chasing multiple breaking balls in the dirt. St. Lucie has now been held scoreless for 19 straight innings.
Chirinos labored through 2 1/3 innings, managing just 30 strikes on 62 pitches. He was replaced by 20-year-old Christian Rodriguez, who pitched three innings, surrendering a run while recording three strikeouts.
Elian Peña.
Dominican Summer League
DSL Mets Orange (29-25) 9, DSL Rangers Blue (15-39) 3
DSL Blue Jays Red (29-25) 11, DSL Mets Blue (18-36) 6
Top prospect Elian Peña and catcher Yovanny Rodriguez (MMO’s #25-ranked prospect) both turned in strong performances at the plate. Peña went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, while Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two walks, boosting his batting average to .341 and his OPS to .970.