Recently released Mets prospect signs new deal with AL contender

Well before the non-tender deadline which saw the New York Mets surprise a lot of fans when they parted ways with Alex Ramirez, several others left the system. Players like Joey Lucchesi and DJ Stewart elected free agency. Without minor league options remaining going into 2025, they were bound to get released even if they miraculously were tendered new deals. This way they can have a little more say in where they end up playing.

Somewhat quietly, the Mets saw the end of what looked to at one point be the start of a promising turnaround for a former highly ranked Los Angeles Angels prospect. Jeremiah Jackson was a second round pick from the 2018 draft. In 2019, he smashed 23 home runs in only 291 plate appearances in Rookie Ball.

Things were looking up for Jackson who had another solid campaign in 2021. Unfortunately, it was when he reached the Double-A level in 2022 when things took a turn. He continued to show pop but saw his batting average dip to .215. A half-season later, he found himself traded to the Mets for reliever Dominic Leone. The fact the Mets were able to get anything at all for Leone was fantastic. Did they just pull off highway robbery?

Briefly a promising Mets prospect, Jeremiah Jackson has signed with a new team

Jackson hit well in 37 games for Binghamton in 2023, slashing .264/.344/.457 with 7 home runs in 151 trips to the plate. He spent his third straight year in Double-A this past year without the same results. A .205/.245/.373 slash line stained his season. Even while dropping his strikeout rate down to 123 from 144 the year prior in only 18 fewer plate appearances, Jackson didn’t show enough to move up a level.

Still only 24 because he was drafted out of high school, he has joined an organization that has groomed some of the best young players in the game. Jackson was one of several players to sign minor league contracts with the Baltimore Orioles this week.

Capable of playing all over the infield, there was some thought Jackson could evolve into the next utility infielder in Queens with some pop. While still young enough to advance and maybe make the big leagues one day, it won’t be as a member of the Mets.

Things didn’t work out and yet Mets fans can come away feeling good about the trade regardless. Leone was pitching to a 4.40 ERA at the time of the trade and would see it inflate to 5.54 in 13 innings for the Angels. As they did with multiple players that summer, he was placed on waivers and eventually ended up with the Seattle Mariners where he’d pitch to a 4.35 ERA. This past year, he was with the Chicago White Sox. His ERA was at 6.63.