What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets managed just two runs on three hits against RHP Freddy Peralta and the Rays in a 6-2 loss on Tuesday (box)
Peralta was excellent against his former club, striking out seven Mets over six innings while allowing just one run on three hits
SS Francisco Lindor brought in both of the Mets’ runs, first with a leadoff homer and then with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh; 3B Bo Bichette and RF Carson Benge provided the Mets’ other two hits of the night
LHP Sean Manaea had a tough day, allowing five runs on 11 hits (including a homer) with just two strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work - three of those runs were allowed in the sixth inning
RHP Dylan Ross had a smooth major league debut with a perfect frame; LHP Jefry Yan allowed a run on two hits with two strikeouts in his inning
Roster Moves 📰
OF Nick Morabito recalled from Triple-A Syracuse
RHP Dylan Ross recalled from Triple-A Syracuse
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
ICYMI: Rich flew solo on the latest Just Mets pod for a breakdown of Luis Robert Jr.’s departure and a recap of his time in a Mets uniform before digging into what’s next for youngsters Nick Morabito and Mark Vientos in their respective returns to the bigs.
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Down on the Farm 🌾
DH Billy Amick (Triple-A): 1-for-2, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB
C Chris Suero (No. 18 prospect, Double-A): 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 SB
CF Aiden Robbins (No. 10 prospect, High-A): 2-for-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
CF Branny De Oleo (Single-A): 1-for-2, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K, SB
BOX SCORES
Single-A SLU | High-A BRK (Gm1 / Gm2) | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (62-77) at Rays (83-55)
Where: Tropicana Field — St. Petersburg, FL
Starters: RHP Justin Hagenman (0-0, -.-- ERA) vs. RHP Griffin Jax (6-9, 3.63 ERA)
When: 6:40 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Chris Suero deserves your attention ✍️
MLB rosters have expanded, which has brought Nick Morabito and Justin Hagenman back to the big leagues and, as of last night, spurred the long-awaited debut of Dylan Ross.
With all the renewed talk of prospects and roster construction and future plans, there’s another name on the Mets’ farm that’s likely going to be a big one to watch this winter: let’s talk a bit about Chris Suero.
He’s not going to be a factor for the big league club this year — he’s not even on the 40-man roster yet — but in a league where the catching landscape is relatively barren on the free agent front, it can’t hurt to start thinking about shoring up the reserves, especially considering the immediate depth (or lack thereof) the Mets have at backstop currently and a looming Rule 5 protection deadline not all that far away.
Speaking frankly, with Hayden Senger and Shawn Ross holding down the fort at Triple-A, there’s only so much of a lineup boost the Mets can expect from a catcher call-up at present. And though Kevin Parada finally seemed to hit an offensive stride at Triple-A during his quick stint in June (.301/.798 over 24 games) before hitting .411 at Double-A in August, he also hit .153 in July and owns a .232 average with a .651 OPS over 63 games for Binghamton. If there’s any catcher in the system worth investing in, it’s Chris Suero.
At a quick glance, fans may see Suero’s .210 batting average this season and roll their eyes; understandable, given it’s the ninth-worst average at Double-A right now. But more discerning eyes will see the story worth being told here. At 22 years old, Suero is on the cusp of a 20 HR/20 2B/30 SB season in his first full season at Double-A. He’s set career highs in doubles, triples, homers, walks, and steals, all while striking out less and getting caught stealing fewer times than in 2025. That less-than-impressive average is further buoyed by a .777 OPS, a 16% walk rate, and a .211 ISO — that’ll play.
There’s a lot to like about Suero’s player profile: when have the Mets ever had a base-stealing, slugging catcher who can also man the outfield in a pinch (136.1 innings in CF/LF in 2026) and hold down first base as well (32.0); there aren’t many players like that in the big leagues, period.
Here’s where things stood with Suero last offseason:
2025 MiLB Totals: 115 G, 475 PA, .233/.379/.407, 88 H, 16 HR, 16 2B, 1 3B, 78 R, 68 RBI, 35 SB, 29.3%-14.7% K-BB%, .175 ISO, .316 BABIP, .375 wOBA, 141 wRC+
2025 Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 / Power: 50 / Run: 60 / Arm: 50 / Field: 50 / Overall: 45
Here’s where he is today:
2026 MiLB Totals: 104 G, 460 PA, .211/.357/.422, 78 H, 18 HR, 20 2B, 2 3B, 73 R, 50 RBI, 36 SB, 28.6%-16.4% K-BB%, .211 ISO, .269 BABIP, .352 wOBA, 114 wRC+
Latest Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Let’s address the most notable step(s) back right away: seeing such a heavy downturn in BABIP (and, as a result, in wOBA and wRC+) is never encouraging. However, there’s reason to believe a considerable chunk of that depletion is due to some plain bad luck, perhaps even due to mechanical changes that are still resulting in improvement where it counts.
Suero’s pulling the ball a bit less than he did last season, but that’s resulted exclusively in more straightaway contact without any opposite complement; he’s actually spread the ball to the opposite field less in 2026 than he did in 2025. His quality-of-contact data is largely the same too: his line drive rate has dropped, giving way to an uptick in fly balls while his 40%+ groundball rate has stayed steady. However, the quality of those fly balls is much better (far fewer infield flies, more homers per), and his plate discipline data is almost exactly the same year-to-year: same swing rate, same contact rate, same called-and-swinging strike rate…the biggest difference is a 1.4% uptick in first pitch strike percentage.
Ultimately, despite any changes his swing or approach may have undergone, Suero looks a lot like the hitter he was last year on paper, just with far less frequent batted-ball luck.
If Suero suits up for the rest of the Ponies’ slate, he’ll match last season’s games played total, with a chance to match last season’s hit total. And though he likely won’t eclipse his runs produced total from 2025 (130, 105 in 2026), that’s largely more an issue of circumstance: while his RBI total has dropped pretty sharply, he’s scored just five fewer runs this year than last. That Suero has maintained, and even improved, upon his baseline while reportedly making multiple approach adjustments this season is both commendable and noteworthy. It’s a testament to both his work ethic and his raw talent as a player — the ability to run out and field three positions while going 20/30 isn’t run-of-the-mill stuff.
There’s clearly plenty to still be worked on with Suero before he hits the show, most importantly the strikeouts. While they’ve improved, they’re still far too frequent. If he’s going to be a true three-outcomes hitter (which all signs point directly at), he needs to get much better at managing that side of his game. And while it’s reasonable to expect a batting average bounceback in 2027, Suero’s never exactly been a guy to hit for average — he’s been a consistent ~.230 guy since he entered pro ball. If he’s going to remain a pull-heavy power bat that makes his money in extra-base hits, he has to find a way to ensure he keeps getting on base at a functional clip. Zone awareness and plate discipline are the key to that recipe.
But even considering the holes in his game that still need to be patched, Suero presents a type of player that Mets fans have never gotten to see in action before. He’s currently splitting games with Parada behind the dish while occasionally starting in the outfield in the Double-A season’s waning days…safe to say Francisco Álvarez and Luis Torrens won’t be doing that any time soon. He also stole nine bases in August and had two yesterday…Álvy and Torrens have combined for one all season. Álvy and Torrens have combined for 21 homers; Suero has 18.
From his fielding versatility to his baserunning ability to his power potential, Chris Suero is arguably one of the most important prospects the Mets have right now, regardless of position — being a primary catcher just makes it that much more imperative that this franchise keeps him around.
Around the League 🚩
Arte Moreno is selling the Los Angeles Angels to Stan Kroenke; Kroenke will pay $4 billion for a controlling stake in the club, adding the Angels to an ownership portfolio that also includes the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Arsenal and more (ESPN)
The Padres promoted their top prospect (MLB #23), 20-year-old C Ethan Salas; if he appears behind the plate this season, he’ll be the youngest player to catch a big league game since Iván Rodríguez in 1991
The Mariners’ slugging prospect DH Lazaro Montes (#7 org, #56 MLB) had a memorable debut, with a walk/run scored, an RBI single, and a homer in a 9-6 Seattle win; Montes is the first rookie Mariner with multiple hits in their debut since Ichiro in 2001
The Cardinals’ offense erupted against the Dodgers for a 13-8 win in Chavez Ravine, as Joshua Báez, Jordan Walker, Ramón Urías, and Thomas Saggese all homered; rookie C Leo Bernal contributed to the scoring outburst with a two-run RBI single in the top of the third for his first MLB hit
Jesús Luzardo tossed 6.2 innings of one-run ball and Bryce Harper went 4-for-4 as the Phillies beat the Diamondbacks 7-1 to claim sole possession of the top NL Wild Card Spot; the Phillies have won 15 of their last 17 games and sit just three games behind the Braves for the NL East lead
Gavin Williams racked up a career-high 13 strikeouts in a seven-inning, one-run performance to lead the Guardians past the Blue Jays, 6-1
The Twins scored 10 runs in the sixth inning to trample the Tigers, 15-2
On Sean's last 24 innings he's given up 19 runs. How long will this go on??? And Metsies made Peralta look like Cy Young.