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Mark Vientos, Blade Tidwell off to hot starts in July

New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) throws the ball to first base against the Houston Astros during spring training.
New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) throws the ball to first base against the Houston Astros during spring training. / Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s the latest on some of the Mets’ top prospects…

SS/2B/OF Ronny Mauricio, Triple-A Syracuse

Mauricio, who suffered through a four-game hitless streak and then a three-game hitless skid at the end of June, is now riding a four-game hitting streak sandwiching the mid-summer break during MLB’s Midsummer Classic.

In Syracuse’s first game back from the break on Friday, the 22-year-old was back in the lineup after missing the final four games before the break and he smacked a solo home run to right field in the fourth inning. It was Mauricio’s only hit in four times up, but it was his 13th round-tripper of the season and 40th extra-base hit.

Through 78 games of the Triple-A campaign, he has 98 hits and 48 RBI and is now slashing .302/.347/.511 for an .858 OPS. He does however have 58 strikeouts to go with only 17 walks.

RHP Mike Vasil, Triple-A Syracuse

After being selected to represent the National League at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game, Vasil walked a batter and struck out one in 0.1 innings of work out of the bullpen in Seattle. The NL won 5-0.

In Vasil’s last start before the break on July 3, and fourth at the Triple-A level, the right-hander surrendered one run on two hits over three innings of work while walking two and striking out five. Since making the jump from Double-A, Vasil has seen his walks go up. After walking eight in 51.0 innings for Binghamton, the 23-year-old has already walked 10 in 12.2 innings at Syracuse.

He remains the No. 8 overall prospect in the Mets’ system by MLB Pipeline and is considered to be among their most major league-ready pitching prospects.

1B/3B Mark Vientos, Triple-A Syracuse

Vientos has started off July scorching hot at the plate and that carried over with a three-hit night in Syracuse’s 4-2 loss to the Rochester Red Wings. The 23-year-old is batting .316 in nine games this month and with his double on Friday he has seven extra-base hits already and doubles in five of his last six games.

In the 18 games since his demotion to the minors, Vientos has eight doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI with a slash line of .292/.358/.556 and a .914 OPS. He now carries a .319 average and 1.040 OPS through 56 games at Triple-A.

C Kevin Parada, High-A Brooklyn

The Mets’ No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Parada is already off to a good start in July.

The catcher has hits in five of his last seven games and is hitting .273 for the month. Parada had a great run with seven hits in 13 at-bats over three games with two doubles and a triple and two RBI and a pair of walks.

Through 72 games at Brooklyn, Parada has 17 doubles, four triples, eight homers and 32 RBI with a .268/.354/.446 slash line with a .799 OPS. He has struck out 74 times and 29 walks.

OF Alex Ramirez, High-A Brooklyn

Ramirez, now the Mets’ No. 2 prospect, snapped out of a three-game hitless skid with a single in three at-bats and two RBI in Friday’s return from the All-Star break

After batting .294 in April and .222 in May, Ramirez has really struggled in June (.195 average in 24 games) and July (.193 average in nine games). He does have four walks to six strikeouts with 5 RBI and two sacrifice flies.

The 20-year-old has 17 extra-base hits with five homers and 37 RBI with a .228/.330/.326 slash line for a .656 OPS through 74 games with the Cyclones. He has 11 steals to his name with 40 walks and 71 strikeouts.

RHP Blade Tidwell, High-A Brooklyn

Tidwell got the ball for Brooklyn’s first game after the break, allowing two runs on five hits over 5.2 innings with six strikeouts and two walks on 92 pitches (60 strikes).

In his last start of the first half on July 6, the 22-year-old tossed six innings of two-run ball conceding six hits with one walk and matched his season high of 11 strikeouts.

In 15 starts this campaign, the righty has surrendered 31 runs (27 earned) on 49 hits over 70.1 innings for a 3.45 ERA with a 1.265 WHIP. He has 103 strikeouts to 40 walks.

SS Jett Williams, Low-A St. Lucie

Williams, the Mets’ No. 3 prospect, returned to action with a two-hit night (one double) in three at-bats with a walk and a strikeout against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Friday.

Through nine games in July, he has seven hits in 33 at-bats (.212) after having a great month of June in which he had 22 hits in 77 at-bats (.286) with six extra-base hits and 13 RBI over 24 games.

Through 67 games at St. Lucie, Williams has nine doubles, four triples, four home runs with 31 RBI and a slash line of .235/.408/.367 for a .774 OPS. He has 61 strikeouts to 55 walks.