The tides have shifted for the Mets’ minor league affiliates, with each squad winning their respective series this past week.
Jacob Reimer starred for a hot Brooklyn team, notching six extra-base hits and walking three times, raising his OPS to 1.065. The stellar week earned him a spot on MLB Pipeline’s Team of the Week.
Let’s take a look at the rest of the minor-league system, which saw multiple key MLB pieces rehabbing.
Jacob Reimer. Photo by Ed Delany of Mets Minors
Triple-A
The Syracuse Mets (10-10) had a great week at the ballpark, winning their first series of the season. They took five of six games from the Buffalo Bisons, including two shutouts. Syracuse pitchers allowed just 13 runs in the six-game set, while the offense scored 29 runs.
Two of the Mets’ recent veteran additions to the Triple-A squad were two of the standout bats from the most recent series.
- Jon Singleton played in just four games but had excellent production, recording three home runs and six RBIs in just 14 at-bats. The former Astro now leads the squad with four long balls.
- Niko Goodrum was the other veteran who shined, as he went 5-for-12 with three doubles, five walks, and a stolen base. His OPS in the five games he played in was 1.246.
Gilberto Celestino continued his hot start to the season by adding two home runs, while Jakson Reetz heated up with two home runs of his own. Both players are tied for second on the team behind Singleton with three home runs.
On the mound, Blade Tidwell had a fantastic week after getting off to a rough start to the season. The top prospect made two starts, allowing two runs in five innings in the first one and allowing no runs in 4 1/3 innings in the second one. He also struck out 13 batters across his two appearances, lowering his ERA through five starts to 4.43.
Brandon Sproat had his best outing of the year, tossing six scoreless innings. Surprisingly, he struck out just one batter. But he has now allowed just two earned runs in his last three starts (14 1/3 innings) and has a season ERA of 3.31.
Brandon Waddell was also fantastic again, allowing one run in six innings with five strikeouts. Through four starts, the lefty has a 1.40 ERA.
Brandon Sproat. Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Double-A
After dropping the first two games of their series against the Reading Fightin Phils, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (7-6) stormed back to win four straight games to clinch the series. Binghamton pitchers locked in after they allowed 19 runs in the first two games, giving up just 10 over the next four.
- Jeff McNeil played in two games for Binghamton, and he made his presence felt. He went 6-for-9 with two home runs and a double, including his most recent game in which he was 4-for-4. McNeil, who has been experimenting with the torpedo bat, should be back on the major league roster before too long.
- Francisco Alvarez also continued his rehab assignment, with his return to the major league roster coming soon as well. Alvarez didn’t have as much success as McNeil but was still productive, recording six hits, including a homer, in five games. He also caught multiple full games.
- Both players will continue rehab this week with Syracuse.
Ryan Clifford had a slow start to the season but began heating up in this series, leading the team with seven hits, including a homer and two doubles. The lefty slugger also led the team with four runs driven in, and he now owns a season OPS of .737.
Jett Williams also had a productive week, recording a double, a triple, a homer, and a stolen base in four games. His OPS for the season is .831.
The highlight of the week on the mound in Binghamton was Nolan McLean, who continues to look like a rising star. McLean tossed six shutout innings with eight strikeouts in his latest effort, moving his ERA through three starts to 0.60.
Jack Wenninger also continued his strong season, allowing just one run in five innings with six strikeouts. He has a 1.20 ERA through three starts.
High-A
The Brooklyn Cyclones (10-5) took four of six games from the Aberdeen IronBirds, with their two losses coming by a combined total of four runs. Brooklyn had a chance to rattle off four straight wins to finish off the series and remain tied atop the South Atlantic League North division, but they were unable to secure a victory in the series finale.
Two of the hottest batters in the Mets’ system continued their early-season tears this week. Chris Suero didn’t hit much, going just 3-for-17, but two of his hits were home runs and the other one was a double. He also walked four times and stole four bases. His OPS for the year dropped but still remains above 1.000 at 1.128.
Reimer is the other batter, who we mentioned in the intro, tearing the cover off the ball. He went 8-for-19 with two doubles, two triples, and two home runs. He walked three times and raised his OPS to 1.065.
Zach Thornton was brilliant once again, dominating to the tune of six shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and no other baserunners while striking out eight. The Mets’ 2023 fifth-round pick has yet to allow a run in three starts (16 innings) and has allowed just nine baserunners all year.
Noah Hall, another 2023 draft pick, also impressed by allowing one run in five innings with seven strikeouts. Hall struggled in four starts in Brooklyn a year ago but has just a 1.23 ERA through three starts in Brooklyn this year.
Marco Vargas. Photo by Ed Delany, MMO
Low-A
The St. Lucie Mets (8-7) won four of their six games against the Tampa Tarpons. The series between the two teams featured a ton of offense, including the series opener in which the Mets scored 17 runs. In all six games, the Mets scored 44 runs while the Tarpons scored 32.
Marco Vargas and A.J. Ewing were at the forefront of the offensive attack, with Vargas going 7-for-16 with a home run, four walks, and eight runs, while Ewing went 8-for-20 with a double, a triple, five RBIs, and five stolen bases. Vargas (.438) and Ewing (.429) are ranked first and second in the Florida State League in average, and both maintain an OPS eclipsing 1.150.
Colin Houck and Trace Willhoite both hit two home runs during the series, despite not hitting much otherwise. Willhoite led the team with seven RBIs in the series while Houck walked five times. Willhoite has been great, with an .861 OPS while Houck has struggled for the most part, owning a .674 OPS.
Nate Dohm and Will Watson, two of the Mets’ 2024 draft picks, each pitched five innings while allowing just a run. Dohm allowed just one hit and struck out six in his effort while Watson allowed five hits and struck out four. Both have been great so far, but Watson has especially impressed with a 0.71 ERA in three appearances.
Out of the bullpen, Chandler Marsh had a phenomenal series. In two appearances, he tossed four perfect innings and struck out seven. Marsh was signed in the middle of last season as an undrafted free agent and has looked great early in his pro career.
Organizational Leaders
Batting
AVG – Marco Vargas (STL) – .438
OPS – Marco Vargas (STL) – 1.155
HR – Chris Suero (BRK) – 5
SB – A.J. Ewing (STL) – 10
Pitching
ERA – Zach Thornton (BRK) – 0.00
SO – Blade Tidwell (SYR) – 28
WHIP – Zach Thorton (BRK) – 0.44
Players of the Week
Offense – Marco Vargas, 2B/SS St. Lucie
For the second week in a row, the minor league offensive player of the week comes from St. Lucie. Vargas had a brutal 2024 in which he was injured for most of the year and when he did play, he was unproductive. This year, he’s showing why the Mets thought so highly of him to bring him in as the centerpiece of the
David Robertson trade in 2023.
Vargas is leading the Florida State League in average and on-base percentage and is second in the league in OPS. He also has more walks than strikeouts, which is a stat that actually applies to his entire career to this point. Still just under 20 years old, there’s a bright future ahead for Vargas if he can stay healthy.
Pitching – Zach Thornton, P Brooklyn
Thornton had a so-so season in 2024 between St. Lucie and Brooklyn, compiling a 4.10 ERA in 20 games between the two squads. This year, he still has yet to allow a run and is barely allowing baserunners through three starts. His latest start was his best yet, and a promotion to Binghamton may not be too far off if he continues to pitch this way.
Upcoming Schedule – April 22-27
- Triple-A Syracuse: @ Worcester
- Double-A Binghamton: vs. New Hampshire
- High-A Brooklyn: @ Jersey Shore
- Low-A St. Lucie: vs. Daytona
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