Emerging Mets prospect is following a trend we love to see

What has made the New York Mets pipeline a little more special is how many guys have come out of virtually nowhere to be so excellent. Christian Scott, for example, was a fifth-round pick now ranked among the top 100 in MLB. Getting drafted in the fifth round isn’t completely odd-defying yet still notable enough for someone to make such a big league.

If we’re lucky, the Mets will soon have another “later” pick joining the discussion. The club’s 2023 sixth-round pick Jack Wenninger is an emerging arm for St. Lucie. Through 18 innings as a starter and reliever, Wenninger is piling up strikeouts with 28 already in this young 2024 season.

Make Jack Wenninger the latest Mets prospect to keep an eye on

Wenninger’s mound dominance with Ks isn’t anything all that unique to the league he’s in. The Mets have multiple pitchers fanning well over a batter per 9 innings. The Florida State League is very boom or bust. Home runs don’t happen often but runs aren’t the hardest to come by. Just ask Max Kranick who was tagged for 4 earned in his 1.2 innings during his pair of rehab appearances.

Where Wenninger stands out from some of his teammates are solid numbers across the board. Now averaging 14 strikeouts per 9 innings and just 2 walks, Wenninger isn’t showing too many weaknesses. His 5 wild pitches already are about all we can quickly look at and see a need for improvement.

It was Wenninger’s most recent outing where he really showed guts. Tossing 6 shutout innings of one-hit ball, the 22-year-old righty added 10 strikeouts and didn’t issue a walk.

It’s a strong start to the year for Wenninger whose presence in the Mets farm system can be easily overlooked. Teammate Colin Houck was the club’s first rounder last year and Brandon Sproat is the far more notable pitcher in the lower minor leagues. Let’s not forget two-way player Nolan McLean whose success on both sides of the ball have people talking already.

Have the Mets stumbled on another fast-rising pitching prospect? Taken in the sixth round the year prior was Tyler Stuart whose sudden prominent rise in 2023 was noteworthy. One round later, the Mets selected pitcher Jonah Tong who is doing similar things as Wenninger for St. Lucie.

Don’t order your custom jersey yet, but keep your eyes alert. Jack Wenninger might sound like the name of a character on The Office more than a MLB starting pitcher. The only people laughing right now are Mets fans who should be delighted by how impressive he has been.