Mets Minors Recap: Jack Wenninger Shines as Binghamton Reaches ELCS

In a battle of top pitching prospects, Jack Wenninger out-dueled Carlos Lagrange to help Double-A Binghamton secure a spot in the Eastern League Championship Series over the Somerset Patriots, who are a New York Yankees affiliate. Wenninger, MMO’s No. 11 prospect, was fantastic Thursday night, allowing only one hit and one walk through six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. That’s par for the course in 2025 for Wenninger, who held a 2.92 ERA over 135 2/3 innings at Binghamton in the regular season.

Syracuse Mets (75-72) 2, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (85-59) 8

Box Score

• SS Jett Williams 0-for-3, RBI (12), 2K (.674 OPS)
• 1B Ryan Clifford 0-for-3, BB, 2K (.738 OPS)
• DH Jared Young 1-for-4, HR (17), RBI (50), R (.962 OPS)
• LF Carson Benge 0-for-2, BB, K (.453 OPS)
• RF Gilberto Celestino 1-for-2, BB, SB (13), K (.743 OPS)

Not much offense overall from the Syracuse lineup on Thursday, who could only muster seven baserunners. Only three players recorded hits, one of whom was Young, who slugged home run No. 17 at Triple-A this season. He continues to mash International League pitching, posting a 1.000 OPS in the second half and 1.099 OPS in September.

• RHP Kodai Senga 3 2/3 IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 4K (4.66 ERA)
• RHP Dylan Ross 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, K (1.74 ERA)

In his second start since accepting an option to Syracuse, Kodai Senga certainly didn’t make David Stearns’ decision on the playoff roster any harder. Unlike his first start, when Senga allowed only one run over an efficient six innings, Senga failed to get through the fourth inning while giving up four earned runs. Carlos Mendoza has given glimpses into the Mets’ thought process when it comes to the playoff rotation, saying, “We’ll take the bets 13 guys that we feel are going to give us the best change to win baseball games,” and that might leave Senga as the odd man out.

Everything started out okay for Senga, as he gave up no runs through three shaky innings. The fourth inning was where the damage was done, allowing three hits, two walks and a wild pitch to make it 3-1 IronPigs. Douglas Orellana entered after Senga, walking a pair of runners to close Senga’s line at 3 2/3 innings and four earned runs. Dylan Ross continues to make his case to be a right-handed reliever option for the Mets as they make a push for the playoffs, throwing another scoreless inning. He has been spectacular in the second half of the season, allowing only five earned runs over 29 1/3 innings.

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (2-0) 5, Somerset Patriots (0-2) 4

Box Score

• CF A.J. Ewing 2-for-4, 3B (1), 2RBI (2), R, K (1.111 OPS)
• SS William Lugo 1-for-2, 2B (1), BB, 2R (1.171 OPS)
• 3B Jacob Reimer 0-for-3, RBI (1), 3K (.000 OPS)
• 2B Wyatt Young 1-for-3, RBI (1), R (.821 OPS)
• C Chris Suero 0-for-3, BB, K (1.089 OPS)

Binghamton continues an incredible year by sweeping Somerset in two games to advance to the Eastern League Championship Series. Binghamton was able to generate a five-run lead off of two big innings, led by none other than A.J. Ewing. After an incredible regular season, Ewing added a pair of run-scoring hits, including an RBI triple in the third inning. The bottom of the Rumble Ponies’ order was paramount in the winning effort. Nick Lorusso, William Lugo and Wyatt Young reached base a combined five times and scored four runs to make up for an off-night from the middle of the order. Game One of the ELCS will be on Sunday.

• RHP Jack Wenninger 6IP, H, 0R, 0ER, BB, 9K, W (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Ryan Lambert 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, K, S (0.00 ERA)

Wenninger hopes to be featured amongst the next crop of young pitching talent to reach the major league level, where he’d join the likes of Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat. Lagrange, MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 Yankees prospect, allowed four earned runs in five innings against the Rumble Ponies.

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