Mets Top 50 Prospects for 2026: 30-26 Features Catchers, Right-Handers
No. 30: Jonathan Pintaro, RHP
B/T: R/R, Age: 28 (11/7/1997)
Height: 6’2”, Weight: 235 lbs
Acquired: Signed as free agent
Position: Right-handed pitcher
2025 Stats (AA Binghamton/AAA Syracuse): 82 IP, 69 H, 44 BB, 103 K, 4.28 ERA (4.17 FIP)
ETA: Already debuted
Player Profile
Pintaro was playing indy ball with the Glacier Range Riders in Montana when the Mets signed him to a minor league deal in 2024. He pitched well across three levels and started the 2025 season in Double-A Binghamton. He made 11 starts (3.40 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 42 innings) before his promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. The 28-year-old struggled a bit in Syracuse with a 5.22 ERA and 29 walks in 39 2/3 innings working as a starter and reliever. Pintaro made his MLB debut in June with two runs and only got two outs.
Pintaro sits 94-96 mph with his four-seam fastball that’s up to 97 and averages above average spin rates. He also has a sinker at 92-95 with above average induced vertical break. His third most used pitch is a cutter and then he uses a sweeper and changeup. Pintaro pitched in a variety of different roles last season and could provide value for the Mets this year as a Trevor Williams type. He is on the 40-man roster.
Standout Stat
Among the Mets minor leaguers with at least 70 innings pitched in 2025, his 29.0 K% ranked second.
No. 29: Yovanny Rodriguez, C
B/T: R/R, Age: 19 (11/7/2006)
Height: 6’0”, Weight: 175 lbs
Acquired: Signed as international free agent
Position: catcher
2025 Stats (Rookie level DSL): 168 PA, .331/.446/.493, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 147 wRC+
ETA: 2030
Player Profile
The Mets gave Yovanny Rodriguez a franchise record signing bonus at the time of $2.85 million in January of 2024. Rodriguez started his pro career with 44 games in the DSL in 2024. He had a 105 wRC+ and walked almost (30) as many times as he struck out (34). In 2025, Rodriguez returned to the DSL and fared much better. He hit .331/.446/.493 with aa 147 wRC+ that ranked 21st among the 304 qualified hitters in the DSL. Yovanny sold out some of his above average plate discipline for a bit more power in 2025.
The 19-year-old still needs growth all-around defensively but only has 59 games professionally behind the plate and is a hard worker. Rodriguez should make his stateside debut this season in the Florida Complex League.
Standout Stat
His 147 wRC+ ranked third among Mets qualified minor league hitters.
No. 28: Peter Kussow, RHP
B/T: R/R, Age: 19 (12/8/2006)
Height: 6’5”, Weight: 205 lbs
Acquired: Drafted in 2025 (4th RD)
Position: Right-handed starter
2025 Stats: NA
ETA: 2029
Player Profile
You read those details right; Peter Kussow is six-for-five and 205 pounds and will pitch the entire 2026 season at only 19 years old. The Mets gave Kussow a signing bonus of $897,000, significantly over the $555,800 value for the pick. During his senior year, Kussow sat 92-95 mph and a top velo of 97, a bump up from 88-90 the previous year. His slider is the marquee pitch and he’s not afraid to throw it in any count. It’s a tight, late breaking slider that produced lots of whiffs during his senior year. He will be working to develop his changeup and curveball in his first pro season.
The Mets have done a fantastic job in recent years developing young pitching, though most of them have come from the college ranks. Kussow gives them a talented, raw youngster to work with likely starting in the Florida Complex League this year.
Brendan Girton. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
No. 27: Brendan Girton, RHP
B/T: R/R, Age: 24 (11/10/2001)
Height: 6’1”, Weight: 217 lbs
Acquired: Drafted in 2024 (10th RD)
Position: Right-handed pitcher
2025 Stats (A+ Brooklyn/AA Binghamton): 87 IP, 61 H, 40 BB, 101 K, 3.10 ERA (3.16 FIP)
ETA: 2027
Player Profile
After the Mets drafted Girton in 10th round in 2024 and he pitched only three innings for the St. Lucie Mets in his first pro season. In 2025, he started impressively for High-A Brooklyn with a 2.59 ERA, 91 strikeouts and only 51 hits allowed in 76 1/3 innings. That performance earned Girton a promotion to Double-A Binghamton and pitched five innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts in his debut there. He did struggle in his last three starts with seven runs allowed in only 5 2/3 innings. Girton struck out 27.7% this year and limited hitters to a .193 average. Girton actually had two perfect starts last season, one of five innings and another of 4 2/3.
Girton showed off a big-time fastball last season in the mid-to-upper-90s, and he topped out at 99 mph. Combined with a deceptive delivery and above average induced vertical break, he generates a ton of whiffs with his four-seamer. His best secondary is a tight slider he throws in the upper 80s. He’s also been working on mixing in a sinker and splitter as well. When Girton had issues last year, it was his inability to consistently throw strikes.
Standout Stat
Girton’s 29.1 K% ranked 7th among pitchers in the South Atlantic League with at least 60 innings.
No. 26: Daiverson Gutierrez
B/T: R/R, Age: 20 (9/11/2005)
Height: 5’11’, Weight: 205 lbs
Acquired: Signed as international free agent
Position: Catcher
2025 Stats (A St. Lucie Mets): 395 PA, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 6 SB, .242/.362/.309, 98 wRC+
ETA: 2029
Player Profile
The young catcher played stateside the entire season for the first time last year and did so with the Low-A St. Lucie Mets. The overall offensive numbers look pretty pedestrian with a .671 OPS and 98 wRC+, and only 14 extra base hits. However, he did walk 13$% of the time, which was in the top half of the qualified hitters, and he played the entire year at 19 years old. His whiff% and zone contact rates were both above average, but his barrel%, average exit velos and hard it% were all below league average.
Defensively, Gutierrez has shown off above average arm strength and moves pretty well behind the plate that has helped him be a good receiver for such a young catcher. If Gutierrez begins to develop power or simply begins hitting the ball with more authority, he could have the makings of a solid major league backup.
Standout Stat
His 14.7K% was the third lowest among qualified hitters in the Florida State League last year.
Previous rankings: 50-46, 45-41, 40-36, 35-31
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