Mets right-handed pitching prospect Jordany Ventura returned to the mound for the first time since August 25, 2019. The 21-year-old pitched two perfect innings with three strikeouts and his fastball was up to 96 mph.

It was opening day for the Florida Complex League and the Dominican Summer League!

FCL Mets (1-0) 2, FCL Astros (0-1) 1 BOX SCORE

• RF Hector Rodriguez 1-for-4, SB
• SS Jefrey De Los Santos 2-for-2, BB, R, SB
• 2B Gregory Guerrero 0-for-2, 2 BB

Rodriguez and De Los Santos were both making their stateside debuts after playing in the DSL in 2021 for their first pro season. Rodriguez, 18, and De Los Santos, 19, were two of the names given to me by Mets coaching staff as players that performed well in spring camp this year.

• RHP Jordany Ventura 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
• RHP Jose Acuna 2.2 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
• RHP Jace Beck 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, K, Win
• RHP Benito Garcia 1 IP, 0 R

DSL Yankees (1-0) 9, DSL Mets2 (0-1) 7 BOX SCORE

• SS Jesus Baez 3-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI, SB
• CF Willy Fanas 1-for-4
• C Francisco Toledo 2-for-4

All three of the hitters above were making their pro debuts. And what a pro debut it was for Baez, the 17-year-old hit a two-run homer in each of his first two at-bats. Baez was one of the Mets top international signees from the most recent class, receiving a $275K signing bonus. When signed, Baseball America noted he had plus power and potentially a plus-plus arm.

Fañas, 18, received the Mets second-highest bonus of the class at $1.5 million. He’s a strong, athletic switch hitter that has a chance to stick in center field long-term.

• RHP Juan Arnaud IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K

DSL Cubs (1-0) 9, DSL Mets1 (0-1) 3 BOX SCORE

• CF Simon Juan 1-for-5, 2B
• SS Dangelo Sarmiento 0-for-3, 2 BB, SB
• DH Christopher Suero 2-f0r-3, BB, R, 2B
• LF Yohairo Cuevas 1-for-2, 2 BB, R
• 3B Yonatan Henriquez 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B

Juan, 16, was making his pro debut after leading the Mets recent IFA class with a $1.9 signing bonus. The young center fielder has impressive bat speed, plus speed, and plus raw power coming from a strong, athletic 6’2, 200-pound frame.

Sarmiento, 17, received the Mets third-highest bonus in the recent IFA class at $700K. He’s known as one of the best defensive shortstops in Latin America that also has plus speed.

Suero and Cuevas both were born in New York before later moving to the Dominican Republic.

• RHP Frelianderson Seijas IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K