Mets Minors Recap: Will Watson Strikes Out Nine

Will Watson proved on Sunday why he’s another Mets’ pitching prospect on the rise. The 22-year-old struck out nine batters in just five ⅔ innings pitched for Binghamton. The right-hander, Metsmerized’s No. 15 prospect, has quickly climbed the ranks in 2025. He began the season with St. Lucie, pitching to a 3.66 ERA through 10 games before earning a promotion to Brooklyn. He shone there, sporting a dazzling 1.70 ERA in 14 games, which boosted him to Binghamton.

In 2025, Watson posted a 2.60 ERA across three levels and 28 games (23 started). The seventh-round pick in 2024 has punched out 142 batters across 121.1 innings of work and walked 58. He’s allowed just eight home runs and 88 hits.

Triple-A

Worcester Red Sox (72-71) 2, Syracuse Mets (73-71), 7

Box Score

• CF Carson Benge 1-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R (.385 OPS)
• 2B Jett Williams 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R (.665 OPS)
• LF Ryan Clifford 1-for-2, H, 2 BB, R (.762 OPS)

Mets hitters went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position, with OF José Azocar coming up clutch with four RBIs on the day. The team had three batters drive in runners with two outs. Clifford leads the team in walks over the past two weeks (12).

• RHP Justin Hagenman 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 K, 0 BB (6.02 ERA)
• RHP Chris Devenski 1.0 IP, 1 H (3.35 ERA)

The rollercoaster that is 2025 continued for Justin Hagenman. After last appearing for the Mets in early September, the righty returned to Syracuse and put up solid numbers. He fared better than his two previous MLB appearances, where he gave up a combined five runs and eight hits in just over four innings of work.

Double-A

Portland Sea Dogs (64-71) 0, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (90-46), 1

Box Score

• 2B A.J. Ewing 1-for-4, H, R (.801 OPS)
• CF Nick Morabito 0-for-4, BB (.733 OPS)
• 3B Jacob Reimer 1-for-4 (.853 OPS)

There wasn’t much offense for the Rumble Ponies, who struck out 10 times, but Reimer grounded into a double play to drive in the sole run of the game. Binghamton took all but one game of their series with Portland, with each game decided by one run. Nick Morabito swiped his 49th base of the season, leading the team, good for second-best in the Eastern League behind Phillies top prospect Aidan Miller (52).

• RHP Will Watson 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K (3.44 ERA)
• RHP Carlos Guzman 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K (2.95 ERA)

Watson followed his previous scoreless outing with another one. He struggled since being promoted to Double-A (7.27 ERA) through his first two starts, but has settled in, not allowing a run since those first two outings. In four outings with Binghamton, batters are hitting .200 against Watson after hitting just .199 against him in Brooklyn.

High-A

Hub City Spartanburgers (0-1) 1, Brooklyn Cyclones (1-0), 13

Game 1 of SAL Championship

Box Score

• SS Marco Vargas 5-for-5, 3 R (1.025 OPS)
• CF Yonatan Henriquez 4-for-6, HR, 6 RBI, SB, 2 R (1.126 OPS)
• C Ronald Hernandez 2-for-3, RBI, R, 3 BB (1.143 OPS)
• 3B Colin Houck 1-for-2, H, 3B, RBI, 4 BB, 2 R (1.129 OPS)

The Cyclones’ offense went off in Game 1 of the Championship Series, combing for 16 hits and 11 walks. Amazingly, only two of the 16 hits went for extra-bases, but small ball put the game to rest. While the team left 14 runners on base, they were 7-for-21 with runners in scoring position. Vargas finished September on a low (2-for-17 on the month) but came out of the gates hot.

• RHP Noah Hall 4.1 IP, 3 H, R, 3 BB, 4 K (2.08 ERA)
• RHP Juan Arnaud 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R (0.00 ERA)

Besides Hall’s one earned run allowed, the bullpen was stellar. Walks were an issue (they allowed seven while striking out eight), however, they were able to work around trouble. Brooklyn did issue the fifth-most walks (537) during the season in the South Atlantic League. While Hall ended the regular season on a down (12 earned runs in his last four games), he looked sharper in Game 1. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday September 16.

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