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Mets Minor League Roundup: RHP Mike Vasil records double-digit strikeouts, OF Drew Gilbert impresses at the plate

Colin Martin
·5 min read
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Oct 7, 2022; Peoria, Arizona, USA; New York Mets pitcher Mike Vasil plays for the Peoria Javelinas during an Arizona Fall League baseball game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Here's the latest on some of the Mets' top prospects...

RHP Mike Vasil, Triple-A Syracuse

After being promoted to Triple-A in mid-June, Vasil took a bit of time to get settled with Syracuse and had things figured out by August. He put together a streak of four straight good outings, allowing just five runs on 15 hits over 25.2 innings for a 1.75 ERA.

The right-hander struggled in his last two starts before Friday's game, allowing 11 runs over 6.2 innings. But the 23-year-old bounced back against the Worcester Red Sox, striking out 10 batters over six innings with just two runs allowed.

Vasil, the No. 9 prospect in the organization, has pitched to a 4.73 ERA over 120.0 innings in 25 starts across Double-A and Triple-A this year.

SS Luisangel Acuna, Double-A Binghamton

The month of September has been good, but not great for the Mets’ top prospect. In 11 games this month, Acuna has gone 11-for-45 (.244) with a double, two home runs, six RBI, and 14 strikeouts.

The 21-year-old went just 1-for-12 over three games against the Reading Fightin Phils this past week with six strikeouts, including back-to-back 0-for-4 games on Thursday and Friday.

Acuna, the 38th-ranked prospect in all of baseball, has 28 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 63 RBI with 56 steals and a .295/.361/.412 slashline and .773 OPS across Double-A with Frisco and Binghamton

OF Drew Gilbert, Double-A Binghamton

Since he arrived in a trade with Houston, Gilbert has been a solid addition to the Rumble Ponies lineup. The Mets’ No. 2 prospect continued that trend in September as he has 12 hits in 34 at-bats over 10 games this month, including four doubles and two homers.

Gilbert crushed it against Reading pitching this week, going 5-for-9 over three games with three doubles, a triple, and two RBI. The 52nd-ranked prospect MLB has turned it on since coming to the Mets organization, recording seven doubles, two triples, six home runs and 21 RBI with a .333/.426/.581 slashline for a 1.007 OPS in 33 games.

Across the High-A and Double-A this year, he has 26 doubles, three triples, and 18 home runs with 59 RBI while batting .290 and posting a .873 OPS in 114 games.

C Kevin Parada, Double-A Binghamton

Parada took a little bit of time to get settled after his promotion from High-A Brooklyn on Aug. 29 – he went 1-for-14 in his first four games.

It's been an up and down September for the backstop, going 9-for-40 (.225) over 10 games with two doubles, three home runs, and 10 RBI. Parada opened the series against Reading with a 2-for-5 performance, including a double and one RBI. He'll look to pick it up again on Saturday after going 0-for-7 with six strikeouts in his last two games.

Overall, the No. 5 prospect in the organization and No. 89 in baseball, has slashed .249/.324/.430 for a .754 OPS in 104 games this season with 23 doubles, four triples and 14 home runs with 54 RBI. He has struck out 125 times to just 36 walks.

RHP Dominic Hamel, Double-A Binghamton

The 24-year-old pitching prospect is putting together a very solid second half of the season and is now the 16th prospect in the Mets' system.

Hamel hasn't allowed a run so far in September, going 1-0 over three starts and 14.0 IP with 24 strikeouts and just five hits allowed. On Friday night against Reading, he struck out eight over five innings with only two hits and two walks.

Hamel, a third-round pick in 2021 (No. 81 overall), has now posted a 3.85 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 160 strikeouts over 124.0 innings in 26 outings (25 starts) on the year.

SS/OF Jett Williams, Double-A Binghamton

Williams, the No. 78 prospect in baseball, was promoted to Double-A earlier this week following High-A Brooklyn's season coming to an end.

The 19-year-old started off strong on Sept. 12, going 2-for-4 with a double and then followed that up with another 2-for-4 performance on Friday night, plus a stolen base.

Overall this season across three levels and 119 games, Williams owns a slashline of .267/.430/.458 for a .888 OPS with 22 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs, and 54 RBI. He's walked 103 times to 114 strikeouts, and has shown off his speed with 45 stolen bases (seven times caught stealing)

OF/1B Ryan Clifford, High-A Brooklyn

The move to Brooklyn from Asheville after coming over in the Justin Verlander trade has been a bit difficult on Clifford.

In 32 games, the 20-year-old hit .188 with a .683 OPS with 51 strikeouts. September was a bit better as he finished the season strong. Clifford had seven hits in 30 at-bats (.233) with two home runs and seven RBI over eight games, including an RBI double in the team's second to last game on Sept. 9.

In 115 games this season across the two organizations and two levels, Clifford, the Mets’ No. 6 prospect, finished with 20 doubles and 24 home runs with 81 RBI and a .262/.374/.480 slashline and a .854 OPS. The slugger has struck out 140 times to 64 walks.