{"id":220121,"date":"2026-04-06T03:51:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T03:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/220121\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T03:51:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T03:51:22","slug":"mets-minors-recap-elian-pena-shines-in-st-lucie-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/220121\/","title":{"rendered":"Mets Minors Recap: Elian Pe\u00f1a Shines in St. Lucie Debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jonah Tong<\/a>\u00a0got roughed up in his second start of the Triple-A campaign. He only lasted 1 2\/3 innings, giving up seven runs (four earned) on four hits, three walks, and two strikeouts. Control has been an issue at times in Tong\u2019s minor league career, and this start was no different. Only 34 of his 60 pitches were thrown for strikes, and his average four-seam fastball velocity was down nearly two miles per hour from last year, which is not uncommon for this time of the year. Despite the rough start, Tong is still looking to develop his secondary pitches to prepare for an eventual call-up to the Mets.<\/p>\n

This loss brought Syracuse to 3-3 before squaring off again with Toledo at 4:05 PM for Fizzy Friday & Fireworks day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jonah Tong
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized<\/p>\n

Triple-A
\nSyracuse Mets (3-3) 7, Toledo Mud Hens (2-4) 17
\nBOX SCORE<\/a><\/p>\n

DH Nick Morabito<\/a> 2-for-4, BB, 2B, R (.818 OPS)
\nSS Ronny Mauricio<\/a> 3-for-5, 2B, RBI (.697 OPS)
\nLF Ryan Clifford<\/a> 2-for-5, 2 K (.572 OPS)
\nC Hayden Senger<\/a> 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R (1.257 OPS)
\n2B Vidal Bruj\u00e1n<\/a> 2-for-2, 2B, BB, R, K (1.127 OPS)<\/p>\n

Offense was not the issue for Syracuse, as the team was able to put together 13 hits and score seven runs. Five Syracuse players collected multi-hits, most notably Senger, who added two home runs and three runs batted in, raising his 2026 OPS to 1.257. Mauricio continued to heat up, adding three hits, including a double. Clifford, MMO\u2019s No. 5 prospect<\/a>, tallied his first multi-hit game of 2026. Clifford has had hits in five out of the first six games in Syracuse, though he\u2019s also struck out in five of the first six games as well.<\/p>\n

RHP Jonah Tong<\/a> 1 2\/3 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K (6.35 ERA)
\nRHP Ryan Lambert<\/a> 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K (13.50 ERA)
\nRHP Alex Carrillo<\/a>\u00a0 1\/3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB (27.00 ERA)
\nRHP Dan Hammer<\/a> 1 1\/3 IP, 1 H , 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (0.00 ERA)
\nRHP Daniel Duarte<\/a> 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (6.75 ERA)<\/p>\n

It was not just Tong who struggled on the Syracuse pitching staff. Seven Met pitchers made an appearance, and only two of them did not give up any earned runs. Lambert gave up two extra base hits and a run before striking out the side in the fourth inning. Carrillo, a familiar face to some Mets fans, let the game get out of hand in the fifth with a combination of loud contact and a pair of walks, surrendering four earned runs while only being able to record one out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Elian Pena. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized<\/p>\n

Single-A
\nSt. Lucie Mets (0-1) 3, Palm Beach Cardinals (1-0) 6
\nBOX SCORE<\/a><\/p>\n

SS Elian Pe\u00f1a<\/a> 2-for-4, 2B, BB, K (1.350 OPS)
\n1B Randy Guzman<\/a> 0-for-4, BB, K (.200 OPS)
\nDH Julio Zayas<\/a> 2-for-5, 2R, 2K (1.000 OPS)
\nLF AJ Salgado<\/a> 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB (1.400 OPS)<\/p>\n

The St. Lucie Mets opened their season with a 6-3 loss to the Palm Beach Cardinals. This game marked the official stateside debut of 18-year-old shortstop prospect Elian Pe\u00f1a. Pe\u00f1a, MMO\u2019s no. 8 prospect,<\/a> notably bypassed the Complex League by being assigned directly to St. Lucie in 2026. Pe\u00f1a tore up the Dominican Summer League in 2025, producing a .949 OPS, nine home runs, 33 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and an equal number of walks and strikeouts. His talent was on direct display in the opener, as Pe\u00f1a went 2-for-4 with a well-struck double to right, while also drawing a walk. Zayas added a pair of hits and runs, and Salgado hit the team\u2019s first home run of the season.<\/p>\n

LHP Nicolas Carreno<\/a> 2 1\/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2K (3.86 ERA)
\nRHP Tyler McLoughlin<\/a> 1 2\/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (16.20 ERA)
\nRHP Omar Victorino<\/a> 3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K (3.00 ERA)
\nRHP Felix Cepeda<\/a> 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER (0.00 ERA)<\/p>\n

Opening day starter Nicolas Carreno was up to 96 mph. Carreno made a brief appearance for St. Lucie last year, pitching six innings with a 1.50 ERA. McLoughlin, the Mets\u2019 10th-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of the University of Georgia, made his debut for St. Lucie last season. McLoughlin, throwing from a nearly sidearm arm slot, looks to establish himself this year as a relief pitching prospect in the Mets\u2019 farm system. Cepeda, formerly a member of the Boston Red Sox farm system, made his Mets debut, throwing a scoreless inning to start his season.<\/p>\n

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