MIAMI — The Mets announced the 2023 Player Development Award winners Wednesday afternoon, naming infielder/outfielder Jett Williams the Player of the Year and right-hander Christian Scott the Pitcher of the Year.
Outfielder Jeffry Rosa was named the DSL Complex Player of the Year while left-hander Franklin Gomez was named the Pitcher of the Year. For defensive awards, catcher Hayden Senger was awarded a Platinum Glove, William Lugo earned the Infield Gold Glove and Rhylan Thomas was given the Outfield Gold Glove.
The winners will be honored during a pregame ceremony at Citi Field on Sept. 28.
Williams is currently ranked the Mets’ third-best prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. An undersized outfielder and shortstop, Williams has hit at every level of baseball. Scouts like his swing and his ability to make solid contact with the ball. The 19-year-old Dallas area native slashed .263/.425/.451 with 81 runs, 22 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs, 55 RBI, 45 steals and 104 walks in 121 games across three levels this season, leading all Mets minor leaguers in walks and posting the second-highest OPS.
Drafted in 2022 at No. 14 overall, Williams started the season in Low-A, played for High-A and was recently promoted to Double-A Binghamton for the team’s playoff run. His walk rate has caught the attention of big league manager Buck Showalter.
“I love the walks,” Showalter said Wednesday at LoanDepot Park. “I love the fact that he can potentially defend above average at probably three places, maybe four.”
Scott, a 24-year-old college draftee out of the University of Florida, went 5-4 with a 2.57 ERA in 19 starts. He walked only 12 hitters and struck out 107, holding opposing hitters to a .199 average. Like Williams, he also went from Low-A to High-A to Double-A this season.
MARTE REJOINS METS
Outfielder Starling Marte (right groin strain) played a simulated game in Port St. Lucie on Tuesday and met the Mets in Miami. There is no timeline yet for activation, but the plan is to have him travel to Philadelphia with the team to continue his work.
At some point in the next week, the Mets will activate Marte to let him get into a few games before the season concludes.
“He’s looking good and feeling great,” Showalter said. “This is the best I’ve seen him look. His whole being looks better and he feels good about where he is physically. I’d like to get him back out there.”
MINOR LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Double-A Binghamton is one win away from capturing the Northeast Division title and advancing to the Eastern League Championship Series. The Rumble Ponies defeated the Somerset Patriots, the Yankees’ Double-A Affiliate, in the first game of the series Tuesday night, 9-2. The series continues Thursday in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
