McLean, Williams Highlight Mets’ Minors June Players of the Month

Another month of the minor league season is in the books, so it’s time to take a look at who in the Mets system has been the most impressive as the weather starts to really heat up.

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets

Hitter of the Month: Yonny Hernández

Stats: 21 G, .458/.549/.593/1.142, 2 3B, 4 2B, 12 R, 9 RBI, 11 BB, 6 SO

Yonny Hernández is far from a household name. The 27-year-old journeyman infielder signed a minor league deal with the Mets this offseason, his sixth organization since originally signing with the Texas Rangers in 2014. Hernández has played 69 MLB games in parts of three seasons, first with the Rangers in 2021, then with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.  He spent the first half of 2024 in Triple-A for the Milwaukee Brewers before he was released at the end of July.

Hernández played 17 games for the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies this season before moving back up to Triple-A, and in June, he took off. He’s not a power hitter—his 11 home runs in 763 career minor league games are proof enough—but he doesn’t strike out much, can draw some walks, and can play second base, third base and shortstop. It’s probably a long shot he makes the big league roster at any point this season, but if the Mets decide they want to get some of the younger infielders (most likely Ronny Mauricio) more regular playing time, Hernández is a candidate to fill a bench role.

Pitcher of the Month: Nolan McLean

Stats: 5 G (5 GS), 26.1 IP, 16 H, 10 R (9 ER), 23 SO, 12 BB, 3.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP

Nolan McLean is a bona fide top prospect, and he’s emerging as one of the most exciting pitching prospects in all of baseball. His sweeper is elite, and he has a well-rounded arsenal around it that has a real chance to play in the big leagues. June was simply more of what he’s been doing all season: turning in good outing after good outing. He was far from perfect. McLean walked at least two batters in all five games, he never struck out more than six, and he never turned in a scoreless game. However, he also never gave up more than two earned runs and averaged over five innings per game.

The most interesting thing about McLean is that he really hasn’t been a full-time pitcher for that long. This is the first full season where he’s no longer hitting. It’s very possible he’s only scratching the surface of what he can do on the mound. It wasn’t the best month anyone’s ever seen, but it was a good one, and it’s hard to imagine he doesn’t pitch in the big leagues at some point in 2025.

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Hitter of the Month: Jett Williams

Stats: 25 G, .307/.445/.534/.979, 2 HR, 3 3B, 8 2B, 19 R, 8 RBI, 21 BB, 27 SO

Jett Williams is the future at second base in Queens. He’s not there yet, and he’s not even playing too much second base right now, but if he keeps playing the way he is, he will be. Jeff McNeil will likely be a free agent after 2026, and Williams is the natural successor. Even if Williams comes up in 2026 (or, to get really crazy, in September 2025), McNeil’s versatility allows Williams to get his fair share of reps at second base. He has an elite approach, good bat-to-ball skills and more power than expected for someone who is 5-foot-7. He is the Mets’ best hitting prospect and probably the top prospect in the organization.

Williams was the best Rumble Pony in June, but everyone knows what he’s capable of already. It was a really great month for many players on that roster who deserve their flowers. Kevin Parada (yes, really) hit .328 with a .977 OPS. Ryan Clifford hit another five home runs and a .871 OPS. Nick Morabito hit .322 with a .846 OPS and 10 doubles. It’s a loaded lineup right now in Binghamton, and that doesn’t even include the recently promoted Carson Benge and Jacob Reimer. The next wave of Mets hitting prospects is really, really good, and closer than some might think.

Pitcher of the Month: Jonah Tong

Stats: 5 G (5 GS), 29 IP, 11 H, 3 R (3 ER), 43 SO, 9 BB, 0.93 ERA, 0.69 WHIP

It’s Jonah Tong—again—both here at MMO, and officially with him winning his second-straight Eastern League Pitcher of the Month. He is ridiculous. Even the walks, which have been his biggest bugaboo, have come down. His walk rate is down to 11.4% on the season, but it was just 8.4% in June. Couple that with a strikeout rate over 40%, and you have hands down maybe the most dominant pitcher in the entire minor leagues.

At this point, it’s confusing why Tong is still in Double-A. He has nothing left to prove at this level. It’s time to see what he can do at Triple-A. Or, if the Mets want to get really bold, in the big leagues. Pitchers can go straight from Double-A to the big leagues—the Mets did it with Jonathan Pintaro this month. The biggest question is if his primarily north-to-south arsenal will play as well vs more experienced hitters, but his new Vulcan change gives him a potential game-changing offering if it sticks. And, the only way to find out is by trial and error. It’s time.

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones

Hitter of the Month: Chris Suero

Stats: 23 G, .299/.421/.519/.940, 4 HR, 1 3B, 3 2B, 17 R, 17 RBI, 14 BB, 24 SO

Chris Suero is a really interesting prospect. This season, he has played 43 games at catcher, 13 games in left field and 11 games at first base. His versatility as a catcher who can also play in the infield and outfield provides serious value. He’s a legitimate plus runner, which is rare for a catcher, and isn’t afraid to use it on the basepaths. Oh, and he can hit. He has power and can draw his walks, and while his strikeout rate probably needs to come down a bit, it’s not at an alarming level.

A year ago, Suero was more of a good story. Now, he’s a legitimate top prospect in this organization, and he’s flown past some of the other catching prospects who were top draft picks or signed big deals as international free agents. Learn the name.

Pitcher of the Month: Brendan Girton

Stats: 5 G (3 GS), 20.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R (5 ER), 23 SO, 4 BB, 2.21 ERA, 0.64 WHIP

This was probably the hardest one to pick, but ultimately, it goes to Brendan Girton for the second straight month. What set him apart from the rest was the WHIP—Girton allowed 14 baserunners to reach all month. Nine hits. Four walks. One hit by a pitch. He might not have had the lowest ERA of the bunch, but he was arguably the most dominant.

That said, the entire staff shoved. The Brooklyn Cyclones had seven pitchers throw at least 15 innings in June. The highest ERA among them was 2.49. That’s a level of dominance from a staff that’s almost unheard of. The other six besides Girton:

• Jonathan Santucci, 25 1/3 innings with a 2.13 ERA and 0.99 WHIP
• R.J. Gordon, 23 innings with a 2.35 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP
• Joel Díaz, 21 2/3 innings with a 2.49 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP
• Noah Hall, 18 1/3 innings with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP
• Will Watson, 18 1/3 innings with a 1.96 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP
• Nate Dohm, 16 2/3 innings with a 1.08 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP.

Girton is the Pitcher of the Month, but really, the whole staff gets a gold star.

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets

Hitter of the Month: Colin Houck

Stats: 16 G, .317/.411/.524/.935, 2 HR, 1 3B, 5 2B, 12 R, 10 RBI, 10 BB, 22 SO

Former first-round pick turned struggling minor leaguer Kevin Parada nearly took home Hitter of the Month honors in Double-A, and while he fell just a little short, fellow struggling former first-round pick Colin Houck wins it in Single-A. After a dreadful first full season in the minor leagues in 2024 that saw Houck hit just .206 with a .610 OPS in 112 games at Single-A, he returned to the level to start 2025. Initially, it was more of the same, hitting under the Mendoza line in April, but he turned a corner in May and fully figured things out in June.

The next step is High-A, which Houck was promoted to on June 23. He’s had a mixed start, and the strikeout woes are still very much an issue, but he also has a handful of extra-base hits. Houck still has a long way to go before he recaptures some of the prospect shine that he had coming out of the 2023 MLB Draft, but this is a positive step in the right direction.

Pitcher of the Month: Wellington Aracena

Stats: 5 G (2 GS), 24 IP, 8 H, 4 R (3 ER), 29 SO, 11 BB, 1.13 ERA, 0.79 WHIP

Wellington Aracena might be the next true breakout pitching prospect in the Mets system. The 20-year-old right-hander was absolutely dealing in June, and it was really just an extension of what has been a true standout season. In 55 2/3 innings, Aracena has a 2.75 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 73 strikeouts. Like many young pitchers, he can struggle with walks, but there’s plenty of time to try and iron that out.

As of now, he leans heavily on his 4-seam fastball and his cutter, but his slider and curveball have shown serious promise. He’s raw. Most young pitchers are. But the Mets have a flamethrower in Single-A who, with the right development, could turn into a serious, serious prospect.

Florida Complex League: FCL Mets

Hitter of the Month: Haniel German

Stats: 16 G, .286/.367/.381/.748, 4 2B, 5 R, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 17 SO

It wasn’t a great month for the Florida Complex League Mets hitters. Haniel German takes the top spot with the highest OPS of the bunch, and he’s the only Mets hitter with at least 10 games played to post a batting average above .225.

A 19-year-old outfielder, German had a solid showing in the Dominican Summer League in 2024, hitting .269 with a .751 OPS. He struggled in his first month of 2025, but turned it around in June. He wasn’t outstanding, but he was good, and good was good enough to be the top dog in the FCL Mets’ June offense.

Pitcher of the Month: Jonathan Jimenez

Stats: 4 G (2 GS), 13 IP, 8 H, 6 R (4 ER), 15 SO, 6 BB, 2.77 ERA, 1.08 WHIP

Where the offense struggled, the pitching shone. Jonathan Jimenez, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher, was one of four Mets arms to throw double-digit innings, and while he didn’t have the best ERA of the bunch, he was the most effective in keeping runners off the bases.

Jimenez was just one of many pitchers to have strong Junes. Jace Hampson, Omar Victorino, Joel Lara, Nicolas Carreno, Jermayne Verdu, Yuhi Sako, Gregori Louis and others all impressed, but Jimenez’s combination of sample size and success earned him top marks.

Dominican Summer League: DSL Mets

Hitter of the Month: Yunior Amparo

Stats: 16 G, .432/.532/.784/1.316, 3 HR, 1 3B, 2 2B, 15 R, 10 RBI, 7 BB, 5 SO

Dominican Summer League play began in June, and the DSL Mets had a handful of standout players. All eyes are naturally on Elian Peña, but his 0-for-26 start cost him big time here. Instead, it goes to Yunior Amparo, who slugged three home runs along with three other extra-base hits in June.

Amparo has the second-highest slugging percentage and OPS among all DSL players with at least 50 plate appearances this season. He’s not striking out much, walking some, making a ton of contact and hammering the ball when he does. He’s someone to monitor as the season progresses.

Pitcher of the Month: Osiris Calvo

Stats: 5 G (3 GS), 19.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R (2 ER), 26 SO, 4 BB, 0.92 ERA, 0.71 WHIP

It’s not often there’s a pitcher in the Dominican Summer League who really stands out, but Osiris Calvo is doing just that. He dominated hitters. He’s 21 years old—old for a pitcher in the DSL—so he’s probably too old for the level, but he also missed all of 2024 due to injury. You can only play who’s in front of you, and Calvo is dominating who’s in front of him.

Calvo has the second-best ERA among all qualified pitchers in the DSL, the best FIP, the second-best batting average against, the second-best swinging strike percentage, the second-best strikeout rate and the seventh-best walk rate. He’s been one of the best pitchers at the level, and easily the best pitcher on the Mets. He will probably head stateside at some point this season.

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