Despite the Mets’ encouraging performance, the Mets’ rookie team defeated the Rays’ rookie team 2-0 in the 2026 spring breakout game. The result isn’t what you want, and the objective viewing experience is a bit dull (it’s a sleepy, drizzly affair). But that’s not really the point of this event, it’s the prospects we see.
Jake Wenninger started for the Mets and looked pretty good. His splitter was clearly his best product, confusing hitters and prompting a few truly ugly swings. His fastball was also outstanding at times, with a 97-inch contact height and a 20-inch vertical break in some situations. These top-end characteristics don’t come through consistently – speed fluctuates and shape is a bit choppy – but the potential is there. The slider is the obvious third offering, but not a bad pitch by any means. All told, Wenninger struck out six while allowing just one run in 3.2 innings, mixing in a slick defensive play.
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Jonathan Santucci isn’t as impressive as Wenninger, but he looks pretty good in his own right. He struck out five in 3.2 innings and allowed just one run, one earned on an error. Like Wenninger, he flashed a couple of 20-inch IVBs on his fastball. He also mixed both breaking ball shapes but struggled when trying to throw a changeup. That’s what I expect from a starting prospect on the back end, with frustratingly good stuff. We’ll see if he can learn to utilize raw ingredients more effectively this season.
It’s much harder to get anything strong out of a game’s plate appearances, but several Mets hitters have done some interesting things with the opportunities they’ve had. Elian Peña ripped off a 100-mph single (thought to the opposite field) and walked for his third of the day. Randy Guzman had four hard hits, one of which hit a double and another that missed a grand slam by about ten feet. Eli Serrano hit the toughest shot of the day, hitting a 105.4 mph solo shot. Jacob Reimer and AJ Ewing had quieter games, but also had one game each.
So, yes, despite the score, there’s a lot to be excited about here. You can expect more from these names and others in the 2026 season.