Mets Minors Recap: Williams, Clifford Homer For Syracuse

Colin Houck came through with a clutch two-run homer in the eighth to lift Brooklyn in Game 1 of the SAL North Division Final. The former first-round pick needed the breakthrough after a rough regular season in High-A (.558 OPS), following a stronger showing at Low-A St. Lucie (.812 OPS).

Ryan Clifford and Jett Williams homered in the win for Syracuse. Mets’ top pitching prospects not in the majors, Jonathan Santucci and Will Watson, combined to toss a gem for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (71-68) 3, Worcester Red Sox (69-69) 2

BOX SCORE

• SS Jett Williams – 1-for-4, R, HR (4), 2 RBI, K (.666 OPS)
• 1B Ryan Clifford – 1-for-3, R, HR (4), 1 RBI, 1 K (.797 OPS)

Ryan Clifford belted his 28th homer of the season (his fourth since joining Triple-A), while Jett Williams provided the go-ahead runs with a two-run shot in the fourth. Williams has scuffled in September, posting a .200/.277/.389 slash line (.666 OPS) over seven games.

• RHP Dom Hamel (5.32 ERA) 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Hamel, who has worked primarily out of the bullpen since April, has strung together three straight scoreless outings. Still awaiting his major league debut after a brief August call-up, he profiles as a potential depth piece for the Mets’ bullpen.

Dylan Ross tossed a scoreless inning for Syracuse to pick up the save. Ross has pitched eight straight scoreless appearances (11 1/3 innings) and has a 1.93 ERA overall in 28 Triple-A innings.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (86-45) 1, Portland Seadogs (63-67) 0

BOX SCORE

• LF Omar De Los Santos – 1-for-3, R, 2 K, SB (15) (.570 OPS)
• RF Nick Morabito – 1-for-4, RBI, SB (46) (.733 OPS)

Offense was at a premium on Tuesday, but Nick Morabito delivered a walk-off single to left in the ninth. With their win on Tuesday night, the Rumble Ponies clinched back-to-back 1st & 2nd half Northeastern League Regular Season Championships.

Morabito’s offensive production has dipped compared to the past two seasons (OPS down .68 from 2024), but he swiped his 46th base of the year.

• LHP Jonathan Santucci (2.52 ERA) 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K

Santucci continued his dominance for the Rumble Ponies, lowering his Double-A ERA to 2.52. After some early-season difficulties, the 22-year-old left-handed pitcher is emerging as another promising Mets pitching prospect on track to reach the majors by 2026. Read our recent article about him!

Will Watson piggybacked Santucci with four perfect innings of relief with five strikeouts.

High-A Postseason – SAL North Division Final

Brooklyn Cyclones (1-0) 4, Greensboro Grasshoppers (0-1) 3 

BOX SCORE

• 3B Colin Houck – 1-for-4, R, HR (1), 3 RBI (1.250 OPS)
• DH Matt Rudick – 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, K (.833 OPS)

In Game 1 of the SAL North Division Final, Colin Houck led the way with three RBIs, including a clutch two-run homer in the eighth to extend the lead. After a disappointing regular season, the former first-round pick will look to carry a strong postseason showing into 2026.

• RHP Brett Banks – 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

After quietly serving as the Cyclones’ most reliable bullpen arm, Banks has stumbled of late, allowing runs in three of his last four outings, including Tuesday. Lefty Franklin Gomez picked up the win with three scoreless innings.

Game 2 is on Thursday night with Joel Díaz starting for Brooklyn. MMO writer Matt Mancuso will be covering the game.

Low-A

The St. Lucie Mets vs. Daytona Tortugas game was cancelled due to weather. 

The two teams will try again on Wednesday and then have Game 2 on Thursday.

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