Mets Minors Recap: Sproat Extends Earned Runless Streak To 24 Innings

Both Francisco Alvarez and Brandon Sproat stayed hot on Saturday. Alvarez, after hitting his 10th Triple-A homer of the season, walked twice in the second game of Triple-A Syracuse’s “doubleheader.” Meanwhile, Sproat increased his streak of not allowed an earned run to 24 innings.

Triple-A 

Game 1: Syracuse Mets (45-48) 16, Norfolk Tides (36-53) 7

Box Score

• C Francisco Alvarez: 2-for-5, 2 HRs (9, 10), 4 RBIs, 3 R, BB (1.085 OPS)
• DH Omar De Los Santos: 1-for-2, HR, 4 RBIs (.875 OPS)
• RF Gilberto Celestino: 3-for-4, HR, 3 R, 2 BB (.773 OPS)

In the resumption of July 18th’s unfinished game, the Syracuse Mets exploded for 16 runs and 18 hits. Leading the way was Francisco Alvarez, once again, as he hit his ninth and 10th Triple-A home runs. Omar De Los Santos came off the bench to contribute a grand slam in the ninth inning. Seven of the 10 batters in the lineup had multiple hits.

• RHP José Buttó: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 SO (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Nolan McLean: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 6 SO (3.08 ERA)

Both José Buttó and Nolan McLean appeared in the game on July 18, before its suspension. Buttó continued his rehab, as he started the game in an opener role and posted a scoreless inning, working around two hits. McLean had the roughest outing of his Triple-A career, allowing four hits and six runs over 3 2/3 innings. Between Double-A and Triple-A, the five earned runs McLean allowed was the highest in any appearance this season.

Game 2: Norfolk Tides (37-53) 6, Syracuse Mets (45-49) 

Box Score

• LF Luke Ritter: 2-for-4, RBI (.716 OPS)
• DH Francisco Alvarez: 1-for-2, 2 BB (1.098 OPS)

Despite the continuation of the previous day’s game only being a couple innings earlier in the day, Francisco Alvarez started in the designated-hitter role in Game 2 of the “doubleheader” Saturday. Alvarez walked twice and also singled, increasing his Triple-A OPS to 1.098. Luke Ritter was the lone Met with multiple hits in the loss.

• RHP Brandon Sproat: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 9 SO (4.34 ERA)
• RHP Julian Merryweather: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO (5.40 ERA)
• RHP Austin Warren: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 SO (4.31 ERA)

Brandon Sproat struggled for a large majority of the season, however, one of the top pitching prospects in the Mets’ system has been lights out his last four appearances. Thanks to five hitless innings on Saturday, Sproat has extended his stretch of not allowing an earned run to 24 innings. He struck out nine and induced 14 swing-and-misses while topping out at 100.4 mph; the hardest pitch throwing in Triple-A Saturday.

Double-A

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (36-53) 11, Binghamton Rumbe Ponies (58-29) 6

Box Score

•  CF Carson Benge: 2-for-4, BB (.979 OPS)
• LF D’Andre Smith: 2-for-4 (.735 OPS)
• SS Jett Williams: 1-for-4, BB, 2 R, SB (.894 OPS)

In a losing effort, the Rumble Ponies’ offense struck for nine hits and six runs. Carson Benge continues to lead the way as one of the top prospects within the Mets’ system, and the league as a whole, reached base three more times Saturday. His Double-A OPS is at .979 across his first 51 at-bats. Meanwhile, Jett Williams reached base twice, and also stole his 28th base of the season.

• LHP Jonathan Santucci: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 1 SO (3.52 ERA)
• RHP R.J. Gordon: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO (5.56 ERA)

It was a turbulent outing for the 22-year-old Jonathan Santucci as he walked three and allowed two hits over only 1 2/3 innings. Despite allowing four runs, only one was earned. He has now walked seven batters over his last 13 2/3 innings.

Former Oregon Duck, R.J. Gordon, had by far his worst start of the season in only his second appearance since being called up to Double-A. His first outing for the Rumble Ponies saw him strike out eight over seven innings of one-run ball. However, on Saturday, he gave up a season-high six runs across only 4 1/3 innings.

High-A

Hub City Spartanburgers (46-42) 2, Brooklyn Cyclones (57-32) 1 (10 innings)

Box Score

• CF A.J. Ewing: 2-for-4, 2B, 3B (.800 OPS)
• SS Colin Houck: 0-for-4, 2 SO (.478 OPS)

The Cyclones only mustered five hits and one run on Saturday as A.J. Ewing led the way, accounting for two of those hits, each of the extra-base variety. Colin Houck has struggled mightily since being called up, as he is now 10-for-61 (.164) with a .478 OPS with High-A Brooklyn.

• RHP Will Watson: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO (2.29 ERA)
• RHP Joel Díaz: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO (3.59 ERA)

Former seventh-round pick (2024), Will Watson, turned in another stellar outing as he posted 4 2/3 scoreless innings. His 2.29 ERA across 35 1/3 innings with High-A Brooklyn is an improvement over his 3.66 ERA across 39 2/3 innings with Single-A St. Lucie earlier this season. 21-year-old Joel Díaz threw three innings in relief, building on his best professional thus far and lowering his season ERA to 3.59.

Single-A

St. Lucie Mets (49-38) 11, Palm Beach Cardinals (41-45) 1

Box Score

• 1B Trace Willhoite: 2-for-3, HR, 4 RBIs, 2 BB (.850 OPS)
• C Daiverson Gutierrez: 2-for-4, BB (.678 OPS)
• SS Jeremy Rodriguez: 2-for-5 (.574 OPS)

One of the more underrated performers in the Mets’ system this year has been former Lipscomb Bison Trace Willhoite. Willhoite reached base four times and clubbed his 11th home run of the season in the game’s first inning. 19-year-old catcher Daiverson Gutierrez also reached base three times.

• RHP Wellington Aracena: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO (2.38 ERA)
• RHP Hunter Hodges: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 SO (2.67 ERA)

Wellington Aracena continued his under-the-radar season, posting 4 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. He struck out seven and now has 84 punch outs over 64 1/3 innings in Single-A. His .166 batting average against is an elite figure.

Florida Complex League

FCL-Mets (24-27) 4, FCL-Nationals (28-24) 0

Box Score

• 1B Randy Guzman: 3-for-4, 2 RBIs (.854 OPS)
• CF Edward Lantigua: 1-for-2, BB (.780 OPS)

Randy Guzman led the FCL-Mets by driving in two runs. The 20-year-old international free agent is breaking out this season with an .854 OPS after posting figures below .695 his first two professional seasons.

• RHP Jose Guevara: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO (5.50 ERA)
• RHP Christian Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 SO (3.26 ERA)

Jose Guevara started the game and posted three perfect innings. After struggling to begin the season, Guevara has now posted three-straight hitless outings (9.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 16 SO).

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