Mets Minors Recap: Nolan McLean, Drew Gilbert Shine for Syracuse

Drew Gilbert had two home runs and Nolan McLean struck out a career-high ten batters in a Syracuse win, Binghamton won behind big days from Ryan Clifford and the rehabbing Jesse Winker, Brooklyn took the loss on a day where Brendan Girton failed to get out of the third inning, and St. Lucie did not play due to rain on Thursday.

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (38-46) 7, Worcester Red Sox (43-40) 4

BOX SCORE

• CF Drew Gilbert – 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 HR (9), 3 RBI (35) (.745 OPS)
• 2B Luisangel Acuña – 1-for-5, 1 R, SB (4), 1 K (.669 OPS)
• C Francisco Alvarez – 1-for-4, 1 K (.789 OPS)
• 3B Pablo Reyes – 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, HR (4), 3 RBI (10), 1 BB (1.568 OPS)

The Syracuse bats erupted in the third inning behind a Gilbert home run. He has hit five homers in his last five games, hopefully serving as evidence that he’s coming out of a season-long power drought. Alvarez continues to work it out in the minors with a hit and a strikeout.

• RHP Nolan McLean (2.80 ERA) 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K (58 of 89 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Alex Carrillo (0.00 ERA) 1 IP, 3 K
• RHP Douglas Orellana (18.00 ERA) 1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB
• RHP Dom Hamel (4.23 ERA) 2 IP, 1 H, 5 K

McLean was spectacular, striking out a career-high ten batters all while dancing around traffic with seven hits allowed to a powerful Woo Sox lineup. Orellana, after dominating in Double-A, had a rough outing in his first appearance in Triple-A, giving up two runs on one hit and two walks.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (51-25) 6, Hartford Yard Goats (42-36) 2

BOX SCORE 

• 1B Ryan Clifford – 1-for-3, 2 R, HR (14), 3 RBI, 1 BB (.820 OPS)
• DH Jesse Winker – 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI (4), 2 BB (1.333 OPS)
• CF Jett Williams – 0-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB (.862 OPS)
• LF Carson Benge – 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB (.878 OPS)
• RF Nick Morabito – 0-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K (.802 OPS)

Clifford tied for the Eastern League home run lead with his 14th of the season, and he was robbed of recording his 15th. Benge has adapted well to Double-A, continuing to show a solid approach. Binghamton turned four hits and nine walks into six runs.

• RHP Joshua Cornielly (4.18 ERA) 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 HR allowed
• RHP Cameron Foster (1.25 ERA) 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K

Thursday was a bullpen day, with three pitchers being used in the game. Foster has been outstanding all season, and his ability to strike out batters as well as limiting walks has to have him on the radar of the big league club.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (53-25) 1, Hudson Valley Renegades (45-31) 4

BOX SCORE

• DH Corey Collins – 2-for-4, 1 RBI (1), 1 K (.858 OPS)
• 1B Ronald Hernandez – 0-for-2, SB (16) BB (.661 OPS)
• SS Jesus Baez – 1-for-4, 2B (.752 OPS)
• 2B Marco Vargas – 1-for-4, 2B, 1 R (.646 OPS)
• 3B Colin Houck – 0-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K (.457 OPS)

The Cyclones only managed four hits on the day, with two of them going for extra bases. Collins has acclimated himself well to Brooklyn so far with three hits in seven at-bats. Hernandez stole his 16th base of the season, giving the Cyclones two catchers with 15-plus steals (Chris Suero has 24 thus far).

• RHP Brendan Girton (2.89 ERA) 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 2 K (28 of 60 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Joel Díaz (3.56 ERA) 4 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 4 K

Girton had his shakiest outing of 2025, throwing less than 50 percent of his pitches for strikes and walking five batters. Díaz was hit hard in his four innings of work, though he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in an appearance since May 25.

Low-A

St. Lucie Mets (41-35) vs. Daytona Tortugas (36-41) POSTPONED

The St. Lucie vs. Daytona game was postponed due to inclement weather. The make-up game will be announced at a later date.

Florida Coast League

FCL Mets (16-24) 3, FCL Nationals (23-17) 2

Shortstop Branny De Oleo went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Third baseman Bohan Adderley went 0-for-3 with a strikeout, continuing his rough start to 2025 that has his OPS at .486. Left-hander Nicolas Carreno went four innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run while striking out two.

Dominican Summer League

DSL Mets Blue (10-13) 4, DSL Yankees Blue (9-12) 5

Catcher Yovanny Rodriguez went 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs, a walk and a strikeout. Center fielder Yunior Amparo went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.

DSL Mets Orange (13-9) 11, DSL Rockies 5

Elian Peña went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk to bring his OPS to .786. After an early adjustment period, Peña has looked the part of a potential star. Designated hitter Adolfo Miranda went 3-for-4 on the day with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored.

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