It seems likely that Marcus Semien will return to the Mets for the start of next season, mainly due to the substantial $46 million remaining on his contract.
Similarly, Sean Manaea is probably in the same boat, given the $25 million still owed to him. It makes sense that the Mets would want to assess what these veterans have left to give before deciding they’re merely a sunk cost.
However, should the Mets decide to part ways with Semien and Manaea, two promising prospects recently visited Citi Field and could be vying for those roles. Infielder Mitch Voit and left-handed pitcher Jonathan Santucci were recognized as the organization’s player and pitcher of the year this past season.
Voit, drafted in the first round just a year ago, has quickly made his way through the minors and is almost at Double-A Binghamton. Starting his first full professional season, he didn’t show much potential initially; he was hitting a mere .210 with a .651 OPS while playing for High-A Brooklyn as of May 23. But then, something changed. He caught fire in Brooklyn and carried that momentum to Binghamton, hitting .300 with an .866 OPS from May 24 until the end of the season, racking up 32 steals, with 58 strikeouts and 40 walks.
Voit noted that his transformation was more about mental adjustments than tinkering with his mechanics. The University of Michigan alum focused on understanding his strengths and aligning them with the pitchers he faced. “I’m just trying to maximize each at-bat and bring the most value in that moment,” he explained, adding some weight to his insights as the No. 4 prospect for the Mets according to MLB Pipeline. Should the Mets look for an internal option to replace Semien next season, Voit could certainly be in the mix.
The Mets’ top prospect, middle infielder Jefferson Rojas, along with seventh-ranked Sammy Stafura and tenth-ranked Émilien Pitre, are also in the conversation for the future roles. Additionally, young shortstop talents Elian Peña and Wandy Asigen are notable mentions within the system.
Voit’s impressive last few months could very well be paving a potential path to the big leagues. “He’s a remarkable athlete,” said interim manager Andy Green, emphasizing Voit’s resilience. “He can really play defense and run the bases.” In a season where standout performances from the Mets’ minor leaguers have been a bit sparse, both Voit and Santucci have shone brightly.
Santucci, having moved up to Triple-A Syracuse, demonstrated an intriguing mix of skills despite some ups and downs throughout the season. With a combined ERA of 3.99 and 157 strikeouts over 119 ²/₃ innings, he has exhibited some of the best pitching talent in the Mets’ system. Fellow lefty Zac Thornton even remarked on Santucci’s superior stuff, praising his fastball and slider. “He can definitely compete at the major league level,” said Thornton, who has been enjoying success in the majors.
Before this season, Santucci’s biggest hurdle had been the absence of a reliable third pitch. However, he has made progress with both a curveball and a changeup, particularly essential for battling right-handed hitters. Since his promotion, Santucci’s curveball has become quite effective, holding opposing hitters to a .105 batting average and achieving a whiff rate of over 53%. It’s clear that refining these secondary pitches could determine whether he becomes a solid major league starter or just a reliever.
“Knowing that my fastball and slider work is reassuring, but having additional weapons will be crucial for getting through a major league lineup three times,” Santucci acknowledged. Despite moments of brilliance, he has struggled with consistency and command issues, giving up about 4.74 walks per nine innings. With fellow prospects like Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger still finding their footing, Santucci appears to have a viable path to the majors with continued growth.
“His stuff is real,” Green stated. “Both Santucci and Voit still have a journey ahead of them before they can seize their opportunities, but they’ve made incredible strides this year.”
