The Yankees had to clean up in the dark on Sunday.
That’s because the lights at Miami’s LoanDepot Park strobed a celebratory blue in the moments after the final out of the Marlins’ 7-3,sweep-inducing victory over the visiting Yanks. This South Florida stinker included a preposterous 13-12 Miami win on Friday in one of the most unhinged games of the season. The weekend was, altogether, a downright embarrassing showing for a team with World Series aspirations and a $295 million payroll. And so, amid the disorienting flashing of a LoanDepot light show, the Yankees packed up and trudged out.
“It’s gettin’ to be real gut-check time. It’s gettin’ late,” Boone told assembled members of the media after the loss.
Since June 13, the Yankees are 18-27, the fifth-worst record in MLB. The only clubs with lower winning percentages over that span are noncontenders: Washington, Minnesota, San Francisco and Colorado. This prolonged schneid has dropped New York from first to third in the AL East, behind Toronto and, after the South Florida stinker, behind Boston. The Yankees traveled to Texas on Sunday night at 60-52. They’re still in possession of the second AL wild card, but they sit just 2.5 games above the Rangers, whom they face in a crucial three-game set beginning Monday.
To oversimplify things, four critical trends have defined New York’s summertime tumble down the standings:
1. The Yankees’ offense went from elite to merely very good.
Some of this is luck and sequencing. Before June 13, New York had the ninth-highest batting average with runners in scoring position. Since then, they rank 28th in that metric. Aaron Judge has performed like a top-25 hitter over that span, instead of the undisputed best player on Earth, and has been on the injured list since July 26. Both catcher and third base (before the deadline acquisition of Ryan McMahon) have been complete offensive dead zones. Still, the Yankees definitely rake. The lineup is not to blame for the recent slump.
2. The Yankees’ starting rotation went from very good to average.
The Yankees lost Gerrit Cole to Tommy John in March, lost Clarke Schmidt to Tommy John in July and didn’t have reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil until this week. That the club has a top-10 rotation ERA despite that tidal wave of injuries is quite an accomplishment. Unfortunately, though, things have been headed in the wrong direction lately. The team’s top two starters, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, both sensational in April, have ERAs over four across their past eight starts. Behind them, a pair of rookies in Will Warren and Cam Schlittler have shown impressive flashes but also have ERAs over four.
3. The Yankees’ bullpen went from average to bad.
Luke Weaver, who didn’t surrender an earned run through his first 13 outings, missed some time and has a 6.19 ERA since coming off the shelf on June 20. Devin Williams has rebounded from a horrendous April but is still pitching below his standards. Crucial setup man Fernando Cruz hit the IL in late June. That left the unit undermanned, necessitating a deadline splurge that brought in a trio of reinforcements: David Bednar, Jake Bird and Camilo Doval. Those three didn’t get off to a great start, but let’s see how they adjust.
4. The Yankees continue to make a stream of inexplicable mistakes on defense and the basepaths.
This one gets the most publicity, leads to the most infuriating highlights and creates the most agita, but it’s probably the least meaningful. A handful of jaw-dropping gaffes over the past week — Jazz Chisholm getting doubled off first for no reason, Austin Wells forgetting how many outs there were, all the routine grounders booted by Anthony Volpe — have Yankees fans incensed. Yes, the team looks discombobulated and unbothered, but the truth is that the underwhelming performances from starting pitchers and Aaron Judge being on the IL are probably much bigger deals.
Where do the Yankees go from here?
For better and for worse, it’s worth remembering that midsummer swoons are nothing new for the Yanks. Last year, Boone’s club trudged through a 10-23 period in June and July on its way to a division title and a World Series appearance. The 2022 Yankees wandered across August as part of an ugly 15-26 stretch. That team won the AL East by seven games and reached the ALCS.
It’s a telling reminder that multiple things about the Boone Era Yankees are true. On one hand, his teams have displayed an unmistakable crumbliness, a certain frailness in the field and on the bases. Famously, that dynamic sunk the Yankees in October during The Fifth Inning From Hell. New York is not alone in this regard — the league is full of chili fumblers and space cadets — but it’s impossible to describe these Yankees as “crisp.”
At the same time, only two franchises (Houston and Los Angeles) have won more regular-season ballgames than New York since Boone took over in 2018. During that span, the Yankees have captured three division titles and reached the postseason via wild card three additional times. If that’s what disorganized organization looks like, sign me up.
All of which is to say: Calls for Boone’s firing are misguided and, more importantly, unrealistic. He’s not going anywhere anytime soon. The Yankees, under GM Brian Cashman, rarely make coaching changes in the regular season; since 1995, they’ve fired just one member of the staff midseason. But if the worst-case scenario occurs and the Yankees miss the playoffs, Boone’s job should and will come into question in the offseason.
Until then, though, his track record should speak for itself. Boone has been praised by his bosses and his players for his ability to connect with the clubhouse. That is easily the most important aspect of any big-league managerial job. In the frantic, unforgiving Big Apple media environment, that’s even truer. Boone’s predecessor, Joe Girardi, was let go because Cashman thought he lacked “connectivity and communication.” As long as those abilities remain intact for Boone — and all indications are they do — a change seems unlikely.
There’s also ample season left for a Yankees turnaround. As Boone himself would say, “It’s right in front of them.”
The Yankees haven’t made a decision on reinstating Aaron Judge from the injured list just yet. That will come after the slugger arrives in Arlington later on Monday night, where New York is gearing up for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers.
Speaking to reporters before the series opener, manager Aaron Boone didn’t want to definitively say that Judge will be activated before Tuesday’s game and that he wants to talk to his outfielder before any such decision is made.
Judge has spent the last two days in Tampa, where he was taking live batting practice, and although no decision has been made on his return to the team, it seems likely that Judge will return on Tuesday.
It’s also possible that Judge begins a throwing program at some point soon after landing on the IL with a flexor strain.
Once he returns, Judge will DH before he’s healthy enough to play in the outfield.
Boone added that Giancarlo Stanton will not be playing the outfield during the series, which could mean he is relegated to the bench if Judge when Judge returns to the lineup. However, the skipper said Stanton could see time in the outfield when the Yanks return to The Bronx for a weekend series against the Houston Astros.
With the Yankees in need of adding some pitching depth, the club has signed right-hander Kenta Maeda to a minor league contract.
Maeda, 37, was designated for assignment and later released by the Detroit Tigers in early May and had been pitching in the Chicago Cubs organization before being released on Saturday.
In seven games this season with the Tigers, the right-hander pitched to a 7.88 ERA over 8.0 innings.
Maeda has had mixed success during his major league career, finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 and then finishing as the AL runner-up for Cy Young in the shortened 2020 season, when he pitched to a 2.70 ERA.
If Maeda were to sign and make the big-league roster, it’s unclear if the Yankees would use him as a starter or a reliever. He hasn’t started a game this season, but does have 172 career big-league starts.
The Yankees saw Luis Gil make his season debut on Sunday in Miami, but the right-hander looked rusty in his first start following a lat injury. The Yankees also recently released Marcus Stroman, leaving them with a current five-man rotation of Carlos Rodon, Max Fried, Will Warren, Cam Schlittler, and Gil.
The Mets player development system has taken significant strides over the last couple of years, as evidenced by the trade deadline the team was able to have. To acquire Gregory Soto, Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers and Cedric Mullins, the Mets surrendered 10 prospects, and only one of them would have made the updated top 10 prospects. Quite a few would have made this top 30, but the Mets were able to have an aggressive deadline and still retained all of their top, top prospects.
Naturally, this has made the Mets system shallower than it was, but there are plenty of new names on this list that weren’t on it in the preseason who are having standout seasons. On the other side of the coin, the top of the system is in as good of shape as it has been in recent memory.
All of the top five belong on top 100 lists, and you can make an argument for any of the top three to be ranked as the top prospect in the system. Importantly, I think the top young players are getting close to the big leagues, whether that is this year or next.
Here is my post-draft / trade deadline Mets top 30 prospects list:
1.INF/CF Jett Williams
After missing most of the 2024 season with a wrist injury, Jett has bounced back to look like himself. As of this writing, he is hitting .278 with an .870 OPS with Double-A Binghamton and is the only player in minor league baseball with 25+ doubles, 25+ stolen bases and 10+ home runs.
The well-built 5-foot-6 Williams has above average bat-to-ball skills, plus plate discipline, and average, flashing above average power. He is a plus runner who can make an impact on the basepaths and can handle all three up-the-middle positions. Most evaluators I speak to prefer him at second base to center field, but Jett’s versatility is valuable. He is the type of player you can see being a dynamic top-of-the-order threat.
MLB ETA: 2026
2. RHP Jonah Tong
What more is there to say about Jonah Tong? He has gone from a seventh-round pick with some raw pitch metrics to an ascending prospect to genuinely one of the best pitching prospects in Minor League Baseball. In 92 innings as of this writing, Tong is second among minor league pitchers with at least 90 innings pitched in ERA (1.66). He leads all minor league pitchers in strikeouts with 146, strikeout percentage at 40.6 percent, and is third in WHIP (0.80).
His repertoire features a fastball that will sit 93-95 and touch 97 mph with elite carry on it, generating north of 20 inches of induced vertical break. He has an old-school mid-70s 12-to-6 curve and his new Vulcan change has been an incredible weapon this year. He still is working on finding a consistent tight slider / cutter shape and he will even tell you he needs continued growth with his command. Tong has a chance to be a legitimate No. 2 type of starter.
MLB ETA: 2026
3.OF Carson Benge
The Mets took Benge with the No. 19 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft as a two-way player out of Oklahoma State. He gave up pitching and has focused exclusively on hitting and he has had one of the best first professional seasons from the class. He has quickly emerged as a consensus top 100 prospect in baseball, and I think you will see him inside multiple top 50 lists soon.
Among all minor league players with at least 350 plate appearances, Benge as of this writing is second in OPS (.969) and first in wRC+ (185). Specifically, his bat has really taken off once he left the more difficult environment that was Brooklyn for Binghamton. In 25 Double-A games he is slashing .370/.462/.670 (1.132 OPS) with four doubles, a triple, eight home runs and a 16/14 BB/K ratio.
From a tool standpoint, Benge is considered above average across the board offensively, whether that is the hit tool, power tool or plate discipline. He is a professional hitter with a natural opposite field approach, but he has really shown the ability to turn on the ball at the Double-A level. His swing can be a little long, which leads some scouts to wonder if he will be susceptible to velocity, but that has yet to be an issue in pro ball.
He was mostly a right fielder in college, but the Mets have given him plenty of opportunity to play center field and they have been impressed by his growth in reactions and his reads. He is an average to slightly above average athlete, so it remains to be seen how he will translate in center field long term, but the Mets will continue to have him grow there.
Benge is flying through the system, and I expect him to be knocking on the door of the big leagues at some point in 2026.
MLB ETA: 2026
4. RHP Nolan McLean
McLean has been a model of consistency this year. After allowing only four earned runs in 26.1 Double-A innings, McLean was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse where pitchers often find a big adjustment and he hasn’t missed a beat. In 14 appearances across 77.2 innings with Syracuse he has 3.01 ERA and 83 strikeouts.
McLean will throw five pitches, headlined by his mid-80s sweeper, which is one of the nastiest pitches in minor league baseball that has generated a 30 percent whiff rate at Triple-A. He mixes in two fastball shapes in a sinker and four-seamer that average around 95 mph and will touch 97. He also has a cutter and a curveball that he can really spin but only throws 9 percent of the time. In that sample size he is generating whiffs at a 49 percent clip, so he should throw that pitch even more probably.
There are a few things for McLean to work on, specifically against left-handed hitting, but I think he is close to being big-league ready. I would personally be surprised if you did not see him in Queens in 2025.
MLB ETA: 2025
5. RHP Brandon Sproat
Sproat’s fall on this list is a combination of the excellent seasons that the above prospects have had and some level of inconsistency that Sproat has shown throughout the season. A lot of that can be attributed to his overthinking and trying to outsmart opposing hitters early in the season rather than trusting his stuff.
Since the end of June, Sproat has really turned his season around. In those 33 innings he has a 0.55 ERA with 39 strikeouts and opposing hitters are hitting only .145 with a .430 OPS against him.
He is back to attacking hitters with his fastball that sits in the mid-upper 90s and has touched 100 mph in each of those starts. He also throws a sinker that has helped him generate a 56 percent groundball rate on the season. He mixes in two breaking balls with a sweeper and gyro slider, with a change-up that could be a weapon versus lefties but has some inconsistencies.
Much like McLean, I think Sproat is nearing a big-league opportunity.
MLB ETA: 2025
New York Mets first baseman Ryan Clifford (87) works during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
6. 1B Ryan Clifford
Clifford is still the biggest power threat in the Mets system, around a 60 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. The 21-year-old has taken a step forward in every statistical category in his second year at the Double-A level. He is slashing .245/.361/.484 (.845 OPS) with 17 doubles, 21 home runs and 70 RBI while trimming his strikeout percentage by over 3 percent from last year. Those 21 home runs are tied for sixth in Minor League Baseball.
While the strikeout rate is still a little higher than you’d like at 26 percent, Clifford has taken strides in being more aggressive earlier in counts than he was in 2024, when at times it seemed like he was simply trying to work counts. In 2025 he is now hunting pitches regardless of count but has good enough plate discipline to take his walks (15 percent walk rate).
Defensively, Clifford will play some right field where he does have a strong throwing arm, but lacks in range that will likely keep him as a first baseman at the next level. I can see a promotion to Triple-A occurring in 2025, putting Clifford on the big-league radar sometime in 2026. He has the chance to be a low average, high on-base percentage middle-of-the-order power bat.
MLB ETA: 2026
7. SS Elian Peña
Peña signed with the Mets in January of 2025 for $5 million, which is the franchise record bonus for an international amateur.
Peña started his professional career in the Dominican Summer League by going 0-26. Not ideal, but in 34 games since then, Peña is hitting .330/.449/.563 (1.012 OPS) with nine doubles, five home runs, 22 RBI with 15 stolen bases while posting a strong 25/18 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
The 17-year-old comes equipped with plus bat-to-ball skills and plus plate discipline. The advanced knowledge of the strike zone showed up in showcases even before turning professional, as well as in batting practice, where he will refuse to swing at pitches that he deems to be a ball as to not make a habit out of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone.
He has good bat speed and projects to have above average power and the chance to be a 25-home run type of bat down the road as he physically matures. Defensively, most project that he will end up at third base long term, but the Mets will start his career at his position of comfort at shortstop.
Peña may have the highest ceiling of any prospect in the Mets system, but he is years away from potentially contributing at the major league level.
MLB ETA: 2029
8. 3B Jacob Reimer
Reimer is a beneficiary of the hitting lab that is in the same space as the pitching lab in Port St. Lucie. Now, there isn’t the same level of tech related to hitting as there is pitching, but the utilization of force plates as well as mechanical analysis helped develop a new stance for Reimer that has led to a breakout 2025.
After missing largely all of 2024 with a torn hamstring, Reimer has bounced back to slash .267/.369/.471 (.840 OPS) with 24 doubles, 12 home runs and 57 RBI split between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton.
Reimer has average bat-to-ball skills, but grades above average in raw power as well as plate discipline. Defensively he has enough arm and good hands at third base, enough so that evaluators believe he could stick there with first base being another option, though that would put extra emphasis on the bat.
Unlike some of the prospects above that have high ceilings, Reimer makes the list here as more of a floor player who could be a future starting third baseman.
MLB ETA: 2027
9. OF A.J. Ewing
Ewing was a fourth-round compensatory pick in the 2023 MLB Draft that the Mets received when Jacob deGrom signed with the Texas Rangers.
He was likely my biggest oversight in my preseason top 30 list, where he just missed, and he has had a massive 2025 season. In 91 games split between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn, Ewing is hitting .318/.421/.433 (.864 OPS) with 18 doubles, eight triples, three home runs and 56 stolen bases.
Ewing is a plus athlete who has transitioned smoothly in center field. Offensively, he thrives with his pitch recognition as well as not swinging and missing (only 70 strikeouts in 91 games). I don’t think home run power will be a big part of his game, though he does have some room to physically mature and shows the ability to pull the ball with authority at times. Where Ewing could thrive is focusing on a gap-to-gap line drive approach and utilizing his wheels.
Ewing is a fun player with room for a little more physical maturation who should start 2026 at the Double-A level as a 21-year-old.
MLB ETA: 2028
10. LHP Jonathan Santucci
Santucci was the Mets’ second-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Duke. He was a former two-way player who became a full-time pitcher for the first time in his last year of college.
After a slow start to his professional career, in 65 innings since May 16, the lefty has posted a 2.08 ERA and batters have hit .175 against him and he’s struck out 77.
Santucci has a clean delivery with two plus pitches with his mid-90s fastball and mid-80s gyro slider. There is some reliever risk as he needs to continue to refine his third pitch and his command, but he is a hard-working kid who Mets people believe will get there.
If he can put the package together, there is no reason this can’t be a future No. 3 or No. 4 type of starter.
MLB ETA: 2027
/ USA TODAY Sports/SNY Treated Image
11. RHP Jack Wenninger
Wenninger has had a breakout 2025 in Double-A with a 2.84 ERA in 101.1 innings with 113 strikeouts. The 113 strikeouts has him tied with McLean for 11th in all of Minor League Baseball. He has had a tick up in velocity, with his fastball now touching 97 mph. His splitter is a swing-and-miss offering and he also mixes in a two-seam fastball, curveball and gyro slider. Profiles like a back-end starter.
MLB ETA: 2027
12. INF Boston Baro
This is a buy-in on the tools. Baro hasn’t had the best season statistically, though over the last 28 days he is hitting .301/.342/.425. He has above average bat-to-ball and pitch recognition skills. He still needs to impact the baseball more, but I think this is a pure hitter. He is a slightly above average athlete who has stolen 24 bases and played second, shortstop and third, with third base likely being his best position to play to his strong throwing arm.
MLB ETA: 2028
13. OF Eli Serrano III
Serrano in a way is the opposite of Baro – he got off to a great start but has struggled more of late. He had an ankle injury that set him back, but he is getting back into the flow of things. He has 17 doubles and seven home runs in 73 games for High-A Brooklyn. He has added good weight and strength to his 6-foot-5 frame that should lead to at least above average power once he leaves the confines of Brooklyn. He also possesses a good plan at the plate. He has played a fair amount of center field and handled himself adequately, but most believe he will profile best in right field where his plus arm will play.
MLB ETA: 2027
14. RHP Will Watson
Watson was the Mets’ seventh round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of USC. He has made strides in his first professional season working with the Mets pitching development program posting a 2.76 ERA in 84.2 innings split between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn while striking out 97. He specifically has been much better at the higher level with a 1.99 ERA for Brooklyn. He has a four-pitch mix, with a fastball that will sit 94-95 and touch 97 mph. He also throws a change-up, gyro slider and cutter. He will need to continue to refine his command, but this has the early signs of another Mets pitching development win.
MLB ETA: 2027
15. OF Nick Morabito
Morabito was the Mets organizational player of the year in 2024 and has continued on his trajectory here in 2025. He is hitting .284/.356/.412 for Double-A Binghamton with 23 doubles, four home runs and 34 stolen bases. Morabito’s calling card is his athleticism, where there is little doubt that he can handle center field at the next level. He has good bat-to-ball skills but needs to improve the quality of contact, though he has begun to pepper gaps more this year. It is possible this is a fourth outfielder profile, but I think Morabito is a future big-leaguer.
MLB ETA: 2027
16. C/1B/OF Chris Suero
The Bronx native is the most versatile player in the Mets system. He has spent considerable time at catcher, first base and left field this year where he is slashing .238/.381/.452 (.833 OPS) with 15 home runs, 59 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 85 games between High-A Brooklyn and recently Double-A Binghamton. There may not be a plus tool in his bag, but he is average across the board with a chance for above average power. His versatility will likely carry him to the big leagues, even if it is in a reserve role where he could almost be a bonus player with his versatility including catching.
MLB ETA: 2027
17. 2B Mitch Voit
Voit was the Mets first pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Michigan, where he had a breakout season for the Wolverines with a 1.140 OPS. The former two-way player began focusing exclusively on hitting in his final year of college, and that will be the path forward with the Mets. Offensively, he has excellent bat speed and in-zone contact rates. His swing is natural at lofting the ball in the air and he posts above average, at times plus exit velocities. He is a good athlete who thrived at second base despite never playing it before this season. I look at him as more of a high-floor player rather than a big ceiling.
MLB ETA: 2027
18. INF Marco Vargas
Vargas was the headlining return of the David Robertson trade back in 2023. At one time he was a top 10 prospect in the system, but missed most of last year with a wrist issue and his 2025 has been just solid. He has above average bat-to-ball and pitch recognition skills but really does not impact the baseball at all. He is a solid athlete who has played around the infield and has stolen 33 bases. He probably projects more as a backup infielder type, if his hit tool carries him through the upper minors.
MLB ETA: 2027
19. RHP Dylan Ross
Ross, a pure reliever, was a 13th round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, but due to a Tommy John revision in 2023, he did not make his professional debut until September of 2024. He has since flown through the system, making it all the way to Triple-A in his first pro season. He has a 2.23 ERA in 36.1 innings with a whopping 61 strikeouts. It is a power arsenal with a fastball that will sit in the upper 90s and touch triple digits. His splitter is a plus offering at 90-91 mph and he has generated a 61 percent whiff rate on that pitch. He also has an upper 80s gyro slider that he’s thrown 30 percent of the time and has generated a 75 percent whiff rate. I wouldn’t rule out a big-league debut in 2025, but given the Mets trade deadline, I will lean 2026.
MLB ETA: 2026
20. INF Trey Snyder
Snyder was the Mets’ fifth round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, where the Mets signed him for an above slot $1,322,500. Although he hasn’t put up much by way of stats this year, the Mets are pleased with his advanced plan at the plate and work ethic. He can stand for further physical maturation to impact the ball more. Defensively he grades out above average, spending the most time at third base this year.
MLB ETA: 2029
21. RHP Ryan Lambert
Lambert, another reliever, was drafted in the eighth round in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma. In 37.1 innings split between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, Lambert has a 1.93 ERA in 37.1 innings with 60 strikeouts. He has a vintage power reliever repertoire with a fastball that sits 95-97 mph and will touch 100 mph with a power mid-upper 80s slider. I expect him to make his big-league debut in 2026, when he has a chance to be a high leverage reliever.
MLB ETA: 2026
22. RHP Jonathan Pintaro
We saw Pintaro briefly at the big-league level, and we know the story of him being signed out of independent ball just over a year ago. He is converting from starter to reliever but still manages a five-pitch mix with a four-seam fastball up to 97 mph, a cutter, sweeper, change-up and gyro slider. He likely projects best as a multi-inning relief option.
MLB ETA: Already Made It
23. C Yovanny Rodriguez
Rodriguez had a tough pro debut in 2024 after being the Mets top international signing in that period. In his second go in the Dominican Summer League, he is hitting .333 with a .958 OPS. He is a hit over power profile with an advanced knowledge of the strike zone for an 18-year-old. Defensively he has grown as a receiver, but his strength is his plus arm – he has thrown out 33 percent of base runners this year.
MLB ETA: 2030
24. LHP Zach Thornton
Thornton has been out since the end of June with an oblique injury, but prior to that he was having a big year. In 72.2 innings between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, Thornton posted a 1.98 ERA with 78 strikeouts and a minuscule 11 walks. He won’t blow anyone away with pure stuff, but he is a pitchability left-hander who can control his whole arsenal. He throws both a four- and two-seam fastball in the 91-94 mph range to go with a gyro slider, curveball and change-up. He has the feel of a future back-of-the-rotation type of starter, which would be a big player development win.
MLB ETA: 2026
25. C Daiverson Gutierrez
Gutierrez’s best trait is putting the bat on the ball and avoiding the strikeout. In 72 games with Low-A St. Lucie he has almost as many walks (47) as strikeouts (48). He shows the natural ability to loft the baseball, but he needs to hit it harder more consistently. Defensively, he is an average receiver with above average arm strength, but suboptimal pop times has led to some stolen base issues early in his career. The 19-year-old has a toolbox, but he is still very raw.
MLB ETA: 2029
26. INF Jeremy Rodriguez
Rodriguez was the prospect the Mets acquired from Arizona for Tommy Pham at the 2023 deadline. He got off to a hot start with the Mets organization, but the 2025 season has been a struggle. He still is just 19 and excels at avoiding chase and swinging and missing. He needs some real physical maturation as he does not impact the baseball much at all. He is an average athlete who can handle both second base and shortstop.
MLB ETA: 2028
27. OF Edward Lantigua
Lantigua was the Mets 2024 Dominican Summer League Player of the Year. He is having a strong first season stateside with the Complex League, hitting .288 with a .832 OPS. He has impressed with his plate discipline, with more walks (33) than strikeouts (29). He has above average raw power that is shown more in batting practice. The 18-year-old has plenty of room to physically mature and turn that raw power into game power. He is an above average athlete who plays primarily center field but has dabbled in the corners. It will be interesting to see what happens as he continues to physically mature.
MLB ETA: 2029
28. RHP Peter Kussow
Kussow is the only other 2025 draft pick to crack this list as a fourth round pick out of high school in Wisconsin. The Mets signed him for $897,500, which is second round money. He is a projectable 6-foot-5, 205 pounds with broad shoulders and some natural stuff. He is raw, as is usual for cold weather pitchers, but he has a fastball that will touch 97 mph and a power gyro slider that’ll get into the upper 80s. He has a change-up, but it needs work as he didn’t really need it in high school. He is a name to watch as we head into 2026.
MLB ETA: 2030
29. RHP Douglas Orellana
Orellana converted to a full-time reliever this year, and he has dominated the Double-A level with a 1.64 ERA in 33 innings with 46 strikeouts. He struggled in his first taste of Triple-A, but he should be back there soon. It is an extreme over-the-top delivery with his primary pitch being a mid-upper 80s tight slider/cutter. He also has a four-seam fastball that will sit in the mid-90s and a curveball.
MLB ETA: 2026
30. RHP Jace Hampson
Hampson was the Mets’ 18th round pick out of high school in Washington state in the 2024 draft. He was a two-way player that is fully moving to pitcher now. He showed a natural ability to throw strikes in his first season for the Complex League with only seven walks in 38 innings. He throws both a sinker and four-seam fastball in the 93-94 mph range and shows the natural ability to spin a gyro slider and curveball. The Mets believe there is more in the tank for Hampson, and he is a name to watch in 2026.
Has your Switch 2 been running hot? You’re not alone. In fact, part of the problem might just be that you’re playing it during the summer—at least, according to a new statement from Nintendo. As spotted by Tom’s Hardware, Nintendo’s official Japanese account posted a warning to both Switch 2 and original Switch players:
Through X’s Google-powered translator, we can see that Nintendo’s post says the following:
Using Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 in a hot environment may cause the console to become hot. Please use it in a place between 5 and 35 ℃ as it may cause a malfunction. Recently, the temperature has been exceeding 35 ℃ for several days. Please be careful when using outdoors.
For those of us in the U.S., Nintendo is advising us to play our Switch 2 units in areas between 41 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s actually a little less forgiving than something like an iPhone, which Apple says should be used between 32 and 95 degrees.
But at the moment, we’re not focusing on the lower end of this range—it’s the 95 degree limit we need to think about. Nintendo’s warning comes as many countries around the globe experience a hot summer. Nintendo of Japan’s post focused on Japan, of course, but plenty of other regions have experienced heat waves exceeding 95 degrees. As such, if you decide to play your Switch 2 outside on a day that hot (or hotter), you may experience issues with your device.
Why can’t you use devices in extreme heat?
It’s not just your Switch 2—all technology (especially tech containing microchips) is susceptible to heat.
Microchips are designed to run up to a certain temperature threshold. The chip in your Switch 2 doesn’t max out at 95 degrees, however: That limit is there to ensure the chip doesn’t get close to its maximum temperature. Once the Switch 2 starts to get too hot, it’ll work to stay cool: Fans try to push hot air out, while the processor may slow down, resulting in noticeable lag in performance.
However, if none of these tactics work, and the console continues to get hotter, it’ll lock itself up, so you can no longer play it. It’s the same thing that happens if your smartphone gets too hot—you’ll need to take your Switch somewhere it can cool down, and once at a safe temperature, it’ll continue working as it should.
Switch 2 reportedly overheats
Playing the console outside when it’s too hot is perhaps the “best” way to push the Switch 2 to its temperature limits, but it might not be the only way.
Last month, some Switch 2 players started reporting that their consoles were overheating—fans would run fast, while games would freeze and crash. These issues appeared to happen in demanding third-party titles like Cyberpunk 2077, but also first-party games like Pokémon and Splatoon. Interestingly, these initial reports appear to have come primarily from players in Japan.
The Switch 2 is quite a bit more powerful than the original Switch, especially in docked mode, and while both the console and the dock have built-in fans for active cooling, it’s possible that higher-performance is leading to more warming than expected for players.
Not all players are experiencing this, though. This Reddit thread, for example, contains players who have Switch 2s that play mostly cool, while others note the console can get hot, especially in docked mode, but nothing serious. There’s a big difference between a console getting hot to the touch, but otherwise performing normally, and overheating, which can lead to performance and battery issues.
This Nintendo post on X could suggest that the worst of the overheating reports have come alongside a particularly warm summer—if the Switch 2 is prone to warming up during the best of conditions, then playing it outside or in a space without air conditioning on a hot day could result in overheating.
There’s not enough here for me to consider this a concerning trend, but it is good to keep in mind. If it’s too hot, find somewhere cooler to play your Switch.
(Washington, D.C., August 4, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, joined by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., hosted Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey and signed six new food choice state waivers to further advance President Trump’s efforts to Make America Healthy Again.
– Dropping off the list: Ryan Helsley (No. 88), Jacob Wilson (No. 99), Jonathan Aranda (No. 147), Evan Carter (No. 167), Camilo Doval (No. 174), David Bednar (No. 188), Nolan Arenado (No. 189), Parker Meadows (No. 221), Isaac Paredes (No. 234), Dylan Lee (No. 264), David Robertson (No. 269), Ronny Henriquez (No. 272), Shane McClanahan (No. 274), Griffin Jax (No. 275), Kirby Yates (No. 279), Masataka Yoshida (No. 282), Spencer Arrighetti (No. 293), Hunter Gaddis (No. 294), Zach Eflin (No. 295), Josh Bell (No. 296), Bailey Ober (No. 300)
– I’ll be adding to the notes through Tuesday afternoon. This was supposed to be a particularly robust edition, but a morning spent in the E.R. (not for me, and all is fine) changed that.
– Due mostly to trades and injuries, there’s 21 new names in the top 300 this week. Of those falling out, Bednar and Gaddis were closest to sticking around. Devin Williams has definitely been shakier again of late, and the closer’s role in the Bronx could potentially open up again. Dropping Arrighetti as he’s set to return from a fractured right thumb this week might seem odd, but his velocity was down two mph in his lone Triple-A rehab start last Thursday, and he’s not someone I’m particularly high on anyway.
