Eli Serrano, Photo by Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Mets Top Prospects: 25-21 Led By Wenniger
25. SP Jonathan Pintaro
B/T: R/R Age: 27
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 235 lbs
ETA: 2025
Acquired: Signed From Independent Ball In 2024
2024 Stats: 3-6, 2.68 ERA, 1.162 WHIP, 9.1 K/9
In 2024, Jonathan Pintaro stormed up the minor-league ladder, finishing the season as part of the Mets’ contingent of AFL arms. Signed to the organization amid an independent league start [Video], Pintaro started his Mets tenure with the Brooklyn Cyclones. After dominating the SALLY League to the tune of 2.25 ERA, Pintaro kicked off his Binghamton stint with a bang, hurling seven frames of one-run ball. It was a premonition of things to come for the 27-year-old.
Ponies' RHP Jonathan Pintaro has thrown the kitchen sink at the Patriots, holding them scoreless their first time through the order.
Meanwhile, Chase Hampton is out at Somerset after 2 scoreless frames
Top 3: Bingo 0 | Patriots 0
— MetsMinors.Net (@Mets_Minors) August 10, 2024
Pintaro earned six more starts with the Rumble Ponies, earning praise for the impressive east-west action on his fastball and garnering interest from other teams’ scouts. He concluded his regular season with four shutout innings with Triple-A Syracuse, after which, he appeared in four games for the AFL’s Scottdale Scorpians. Overall, he pitched to a 2.68 ERA and a 27 CSW% across five different teams in 2024.
His 2025 shouldn’t be as travel-intense. After his impressive professional debut, he’s ticketed to start the season in the Syracuse rotation and is on the short list of pitchers in line to soak up MLB innings
24. C Ronald Hernandez
B/T: S/R Age: 21
Ht: 5’11″ Wt: 155 lb
ETA: 2028
Acquired: 2021 International Free Agency
2024 Stats: .261/.355/.346, 5 HR, 45 RBIs
Amid the 2023 season, the Mets cashed in their Major League chips. The Miami Marlins exchanged David Robertson for two of their burgeoning minor-league bats: infielder Marco Vargas and backstop Ronald Hernandez. After the trade, Hernandez performed well in rookie ball, but struggled upon his promotion to A-ball.
The 21-year-old performed similarly in 2025, with a successful stint in St.Lucie, but faltered late in the season after a promotion to the Cyclones. The switch-hitting catcher shows a keen eye at the plate, but his offensive production may be stymied by calling a pitcher haven home. His five home runs in 2024 still represent a career-high, which may be difficult to top given Maimonides Park’s innate ballpark factors.
23. C Yovanny Rodriguez
B/T: R/R Age: 18
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 175 lb
ETA: 2028
Acquired: 2024 International Free Agency
2024 Stats: .219/.359/.356, 2 HR, 25 RBIs
In recent years, the Mets have altered their strategy in the International Market, dedicating most of their money to one player rather than spreading their bonus pool. Rodriguez represents one of the latest examples of their pivot, who inked a record 2.85 million dollar contract in the 2024 IFA Signing Period. He was expected to serve as a potent offensive force and follow a similar trajectory to fellow Venezuelan backstop Francisco Alvarez.
Given his record bonus, expectations were set high on the 17-year-old entering the season, but he struggled to a .715 OPS. Given his age and pedigree, he will be given time to hone in his offensive prowess in the DSL in 2025.
22. OF Eli Serrano
B/T: L/L Age: 21
Ht: 6’5″ Wt: 201 lb
ETA: 2027
Acquired: 2024 MLB Draft: Fourth Round
2024 Stats: .238/.333/.444, 2 HR, 6 RBIs
In the 2024 MLB Draft, the Mets, led by scouting director Kris Gross, selected NC State outfielder Eli Serrano, a former teammate of current Mets 1B prospect Ryan Clifford.
One name I’ve recently added to my FYPD top 100 is Eli Serrano III
Despite his size, many expressed power concerns coming out of the draft but the quality of contact in his pro debut tells a different story
He will need to be more aggressive, but is a name I’ll keep my eye on pic.twitter.com/HvwXysFzYe
— Sonny (@sonny_108) January 20, 2025
During his brief time with St.Lucie in 2024, the 21-year-old held his own, posting a .778 OPS and delivering above-average exit velocities in the FSL. Given his advanced knowledge of the strike zone and the lack of outfielders on the Mets’ minor-league depth chart, he could rocket up the Mets’ farm system in 2025.
30. C Daiverson Gutierrez
B/T: R/R Age: 19
Ht: 5’11″ Wt: 206 lb
ETA: 2028
Acquired: 2023 International Free Agency
2024 Stats: .259/.396/.435
Guiterrez is among the quintet of recent high-profile catchers putting pen to paper with the Mets, a group containing the aforementioned Rodriguez, Guiterrez, Christopher Suero, and first-rounder Kevin Parada. When he was inked in the 2023 IFA Signing Period, Guiterrez was the Mets’ highest-profile signing, ranking as the 27th overall player in the class.
The 19-year-old is a better pure catcher than Rodriguez, but offers less offensive ceiling. He made strides in 2024 with the stick, driving more to the opposite field as a result of several mechanical changes.
