The Mets’ biggest shakeup yet, amidst a heinous seven-game losing streak and a stretch in which they’ve dropped 11 of 12 games, is coming from the minors.
New York promoted their No. 1 overall prospect, infielder/outfielder Jett Williams, and No. 2 prospect, starting pitcher Jonah Tong, from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse. They are being joined by No. 4 prospect, outfielder Carson Benge, and No. 7 ranked first baseman/outfielder Ryan Clifford.
Tong has dominated Double-A hitting this season, posting a 1.58 ERA with a league-high 154 strikeouts across 19 starts.
Initial speculation suggested that his promotion could fill a Triple-A roster spot if either Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean — two other top-five prospects in the Mets’ system — were called up to the big leagues to spark a starting rotation that has gone 51 games without two different pitchers going six-plus innings in a start. It’s the longest drought since at least 1901.
As of Monday afternoon, though, the Mets have no plans on calling either up to the show, as first reported by Mike Puma of the New York Post.
Williams, whose most logical path to Queens is via center field, was batting .281 with 10 home runs and 32 stolen bases in Binghamton. Benge started the year in High-A Brooklyn before mashing Double-A pitching. In 32 games in the Eastern League, he batted .317 with a .978 OPS, eight home runs, and 23 RBI.
Clifford, who was acquired from the Houston Astros in the Justin Verlander deal two years ago, has shown prominent power, hitting 24 home runs and 75 RBI in 105 games.
