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3 lesser-known Mets prospects making a name for themselves in 2024
If you didn't know their names heading into 2024, you might know them now.
Most New York Mets fans brushed up on their prospects in the offseason. Guys like Luisangel Acuna, Christian Scott, and Ryan Clifford were discussed plenty. Already well-known names from last year, fans were more than eager to expect the 2024 calendar year to be more about them than the major league squad.
The major league Mets have played better than some expected. Down on the farm, several highly-touted prospects have started slowly or suffered injuries. Fortunately, like there always seems to be, a couple of more obscure Mets prospects are picking up the slack. While very early, these three guys are making a name for themselves in 2024.
1) Jonah Tong
This might be the only name on this list you’re familiar with. Jonah Tong just graduated from St. Lucie. The 20-year-old Canadian appeared in 18.2 innings without surrendering a single earned run. The one run he did give up was unearned. That’s hardly the reason why he’s gaining attention.
Just 7 hits allowed and a walk rate of 2.4 per 9, Tong is keeping runners off the bases. He’s not doing so with great defense behind him. Tong is doing the one thing he has throughout his professional career: striking guys out.
Tong wrapped up his short stint with St. Lucie this season with a strikeout rate of 17.4 per 9. The 36 strikeouts came in only 4 appearances total working as a starter and reliever. It was a positive turn for him. Tong had a 6.00 ERA last season in 21 innings. His 16.3 strikeouts per 9 were hardly noticeable because he had an atrocious walk rate of 9.4 per 9.
Not even 21 yet, he can only buy a beer for himself in his hometown of Markham, Canada. The seventh round pick of the Mets in 2022 is rising fast. If he can keep his control steady and the strikeouts coming, he should end up among the best Mets prospects the club has.
He has already started well in Brooklyn with 5 more innings without allowing an earned run. And of course, he struck out 7.
Jonah Tong was as advertised in his Cyclones debut on Thursday. The 20 year old has not allowed an earned run this season over 25.2 innings. #AmazinStartsHere #LGM #MiLB pic.twitter.com/52UHzs1lDk
— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) May 2, 2024
2) Christopher Suero
Many Mets position players have started off slowly this year both in the majors and minors. Christopher Suero is an exception. Born behind enemy lines in The Bronx, this catcher/first baseman/left fielder is someone the Mets are already looking to move out from behind the plate and find a position for.
The 20-year-old has been with the organization since 2022 when he batted just .204 in the Dominican Summer League. Suero followed it up with a .281 batting average in the Florida Complex League last year. Now with St. Lucie, he’s off to another fine start. Less games behind the plate might allow him to sustain this success.
After 25 games and 100 plate appearances, Suero finds himself batting .265/.390/.434 with a pair of home runs and 6 doubles. He has driven in 15 and stolen 5 bases in 10 attempts. The performance has gotten this undrafted free agent from March of 2022 promoted to join Tong in Brooklyn.
Welcome Home NY Native Christopher Suero
— Brooklyn Cyclones (@BKCyclones) May 5, 2024
He ranked among the Florida State League Leaders with 15 RBI and 18 runs scored with the St. Lucie Mets.#AmazinStartsHere #LGM #MiLB pic.twitter.com/eH31WOUETE
If you think Suero going undrafted and putting up these numbers is good, there’s another player who found his way to the Mets without getting picked up in the draft off to a hot start.
3) Dakota Hawkins
Dakota Hawkins isn’t a name too many Mets fans will be familiar with. It’s fine. He went undrafted and signed in July of 2023. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of Grant Hartwig and rise through the system quickly despite getting ignored in the draft, Hawkins has picked up right where he left off last season.
In 8 innings last year, Hawkins didn’t allow a run and surrendered just 2 hits. It was an incredibly small sample size for the now 24-year-old who’s a little behind his peers. Now pitching for the Brooklyn Cyclones, he’s an older player in comparison to many of his teammates. Don’t let that stop you from getting excited.
Hawkins has now logged 15.2 innings all in relief and is the proud owner of a 1.72 ERA. He has shown excellent command, walking only 2 batters along the way. He wouldn’t be a Mets pitching prospect if he wasn’t striking batters out. Currently at a career-best rate of 13.2 per 9, he’s someone well-positioned to take off.
The control is what makes the strikeouts look even more impressive. Countless young pitchers will have one or the other. So far, Hawkins has shown both.
With the increased importance of relief pitchers, we should see guys like Hawkins actually become counted on to stay in the bullpen and become a prominent member of the farm system. He has a long way to go before joining the ranks of some other Mets minor league pitchers. Considering his age and the success in multiple areas, there’s little reason to hold him back.
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