3 lesser-known Mets prospects making a name for themselves in 2024

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.