Mets Minors Recap: Clifford Hits 20th Homer; Extends Organizational Homer Lead

Ryan Clifford, of Double-A Binghamton, launched his organizational-leading 20th home run of the season on Saturday. The power-hitter has his OPS up to .839 and is quietly having an excellent season.

Elsewhere, pitchers Jonathan Santucci and Nate Dohm continued their respective strong seasons at he Double-A and High-A levels, respectively.

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (51-50) 6, Omaha Storm Chasers (38-62) 3

Box Score

• DH Joey Meneses: 2-for-5, HR, 4 RBIs (.783 OPS)
• 1B Jared Young: 2-for-3, RBI, 2B, BB (.953 OPS)
• 3B Pablo Reyes: 2-for-5 (.976 OPS)

Joey Menses led the Syracuse offense on Saturday, launching his seventh home run of the season in the third inning. This came after he posted a two-run double in the game’s first inning. Jared Young and Pablo Reyes also continued their strong seasons, as each own a season Triple-A OPS above .950.

• RHP Dom Hamel: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO (4.38 ERA)
• RHP Douglas Orellana: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (7.71 ERA)
• RHP Kevin Herget: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER (3.16 ERA)

23-year-old Douglas Orellana quickly worked his way up through the organization and was called up to Triple-A after posting a 1.74 ERA and 44 strikeouts across 31 Double-A innings. However, he has allowed two runs in two of his five outings since being promoted. Meanwhile, Kevin Herget has continued his strong Triple-A season, posting a scoreless frame as he waits for another chance in the big leagues.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumbe Ponies (63-30) 9, Reading Fightin Phils (36-57) 2 

Box Score

• RF Ryan Clifford: 2-for-5, HR, 4 RBIs (.839 OPS)
• 3B Jacob Reimer: 2-for-4, 2 R BB (.764 OPS)
• C Kevin Parada: 1-for-4, 3 RBIs, BB (.758 OPS)

22-year-old Ryan Clifford hit his 20th home run of the season Saturday. This is tied for the most in Double-A and is the most in the Mets’ organizational minor league system. Former 11th-overall pick Kevin Parada also had an excellent day, driving in three runs via a two-run single and run-scoring groundout. After posting a .977 OPS in June, his OPS in July sits at 1.010.

• LHP Jonathan Santucci: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 7 SO (2.03 ERA)
• RHP Joshua Cornielly: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO (3.09 ERA)

Former Duke Blue Devil, Jonathan Santucci, has had a superb season after being drafted in the second round last season. Santucci has improved on a 3.46 Double-A ERA to post a 2.03 figure through three starts and 13 1/3 innings since his promotion to Binghamton.

High-A

Greensboro Grasshoppers (67-27) 6, Brooklyn Cyclones (58-37) 5

Box Score

• 3B Jesus Baez: 1-for-5, HR (.744 OPS)
• CF Eli Serrano III: 2-for-4 (.732 OPS)
• C Onix Vega: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2B (.715 OPS)

After a terrific May (.993 OPS), infielder Jesus Baez has struggled the last two months. Baez posted a .702 OPS in June and has a .594 OPS in July. He did hit his 10th homer of the season Saturday, which is encouraging. Catcher Onix Vega, the 26-year-old drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2018, is hitting .279 between Single-A and High-A this season after a two-hit Saturday.

• RHP Nate Dohm: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (2.62 ERA)
• RHP Frank Elissalt: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO (3.18 ERA)
• RHP Raimon Gomez: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 SO (5.48 ERA)

Former SEC collegiate pitcher Nate Dohm turned in another strong outing, improving his High-A ERA to 2.62. Dohm threw 28 1/3 innings in Single-A prior to his promotion. He now has 34 1/3 High-A innings under his belt, where he was struck out 43 and allowed an opposing batting average of .217. Meanwhile, 23-year-old flamethrower Raimon Gomez continued his struggles with Brooklyn, as he was only able to record one out on Saturday and saw his High-A ERA increase to 5.48. He has walked 14 in 21 1/3 innings.

Single-A

St. Lucie Mets (53-40) 9, Jupiter Hammerheads (39-54) 1

Box Score

• DH Trace Willhoite: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, BB (.864 OPS)
• 2B Nick Roselli: 3-for-5, 3 RBIs, 2B (.707 OPS)
• CF Yonatan Henriquez: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R (.664 OPS)

24-year-old Trace Willhoite hit his 13 home run of the season. That number ranks fourth in the Mets’ minor league system and leads the Florida State League. His higher strikeout rate is likely the only thing holding him back from a promotion. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Nick Roselli posted one of the better games of his minor-league career, posting three hits and driving in three runs. The 5-foot-10 infielder was an 11th-round pick in 2024.

• LHP Franklin Gomez: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO (1.85 ERA)

Left-handed starter Franklin Gomez continued his sensational season, posting five innings of scoreless, two-hit ball on Saturday. Gomez’s 1.85 season ERA is the fourth-lowest in the Mets’ minor league system.

Dominican Summer League

DSL-Mets Orange (23-16) 5, DSL-Mets Blue (16-23) 3

Box Score

• SS Elian Peña: 1-for-4, R (.829 OPS)
• CF Yunior Amparo: 2-for-4, 2B, R (1.012 OPS)

Highly-touted international free agent Elian Peña posted his 19th hit of July. The 17-year-old is slashing .311/.425/.443 (.868 OPS) in July after starting his professional career 0-for-26. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Yunior Amparo is having a very strong first professional season in the Dominican Summer League. He has a 1.012 OPS through 93 at-bats, including nine extra-base hits and 19 walks.

• LHP Osiris Calvo: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 SO (1.93 ERA)
• RHP Alvaro Carrillo: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO (3.71 ERA)

21-year-old Osiris Calvo posted another strong outing. The left-handed pitcher missed all of 2024, however, between this season and 2023, he has struck out 76 across 63 1/3 innings and a 2.84 ERA.

• C Yovanny Rodriguez: 2-for-3 (.925 OPS)
• DH Yensi Rivas: 2-for-3, RBI, 2B (.735 OPS)

At only 18 years old, catcher Yovanny Rodriguez has impressed mightily at the plate this season. Thanks to another two-hit performance on Saturday, Rodriguez has his DSL OPS up to .925.

• RHP Jose Vielma: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 SO (6.00 ERA)
• RHP Anderson Ozuna: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB (3.86 ERA)
• RHP Aurelvys Batista: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO (0.00 ERA)

Anderson Ozuna added 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball to his season on Saturday. He owns a 3.86 ERA across 18 2/3 innings in the DSL this year.

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