Mets prospects flashed their potential in Thursday's Spring Breakout game on SNY against the Tampa Bay Rays. While the Mets won their Grapefruit League matchup against the Houston Astros, 6-2, New York's rising stars faced Tampa Bay's youngsters at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Fla., but fell, 2-0.

Takeaways

Jack Wenninger showed why he is the No. 8 overall prospect -- and top pitcher behind Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong -- in Joe DeMayo's top 30 for the 2026 season. The 24-year-old right-hander threw 42 strikes on 65 pitches, including 12 swings and misses, while touching 97.1 mph on his fastball. Wenninger fanned six, walked one and allowed one run on two hits in 3.2 IP. He showcased his full arsenal, hitting 95 mph into the fourth inning while mixing in a nasty changeup and devastating sweeper. From striking out the side in the first inning to retiring five straight through the third and fourth, Wenninger's outing should keep the Mets excited.
Not to be overlooked, Jonathan Santucci was impressive in his own right. The left-hander got the ball to start the fifth inning and did not disappoint, allowing one run (unearned) on one hit while striking out five and walking two in 3.2 IP. He pounded the zone, throwing 35 strikes on 50 pitches with a fastball that hit 95-96 mph. DeMayo's No. 9 overall prospect and top southpaw had a 1-2-3 fifth inning on an economical 10 pitches before mixing in a devious slider that was some of the electric stuff that led to those four strikeouts.
DeMayo's No. 3 overall prospect, A.J. Ewing, was aggressive out of the gate in the first inning when he Jose Urbina's second-pitch fastball back up the middle for a leadoff single. A third-inning strikeout swinging and fifth-inning flyout to right field followed, ending Ewing's 1-for-3 evening, but he ultimately flashed before Yonatan Henriquez replaced the 22-year-old center fielder in the sixth.
Third baseman Jacob Reimer, DeMayo's No. 5 overall prospect, followed Ewing -- picking up Elian Peña's flyout to center field -- with a one-out single up the middle to put runners on first and second base. Reimer's 1-for-3 effort included a third-inning lineout to shortstop and fifth-inning flyout to left field before his night ended with Antonio Jimenez replacing him in the sixth.

Who's the MVP?

Wenninger, who made the most of his start, put the Mets' team of prospects in a position to win.

Takeaways

Who's the MVP?

Highlights

Popular in the Community