New York Mets Minor League Report: Christopher Morel Slugs His Way To New York; Marco Vargas Does Some Catching Up

[Tom Gatto]

The New York Mets are breaking up the M, M & M Boys at Syracuse.

Christopher Morel is being promoted to the big club. He'll have his contract purchased ahead of New York's home game Monday night against the San Diego Padres, journalist Mike Rodriguez and Metsmerized Online reported Sunday night, Morel did not play in Syracuse's 2-1 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday evening.

The move is a recognition of Morel's slugging at Triple-A. The 27-year-old utility man hit 12 home runs and compiled a 1.098 OPS in 123 plate appearances over 31 games for Syracuse after signing a minor-league contract with the Mets on July 1. He, Ronny Mauricio and MJ Melendez formed a powerful trio.

Morel played five positions for Syracuse (first base, second base, third base, left field and right field), and it's expected New York will use him in a similar fashion. The bottom line is, if he hits, he'll play.

Elsewhere in the organization:

Binghamton got a tie-breaking two-run single from Marco Vargas in the eighth inning to beat Portland 8-6. Vargas finished 4-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. 

Brooklyn was held to one hit in a 1-0 loss to Jersey Shore. The only run scored on an infield single in the eighth inning. Daviel Hurtado allowed one hit over seven scoreless frames.

St. Lucie lost to Jupiter 7-3. Kuhio Aloy homered twice for the Mets. Starter Will Watson threw three scoreless innings in his third appearance back from an oblique injury that kept him out for three months.

The Mets’ Dominican Summer League clubs were off. The regular season ends Tuesday.

New York Mets Transactions

• No Roster Moves

Syracuse Bullpen Picks Up Tong

Jonah Tong was unable to get through the fifth, which meant the Mets' 'pen had to cover 13 outs after the offense gave it the lead in the seventh. Four relievers did the job in style as they stitched together 4 1/3 hitless innings.

Joe Jacques got the last out in the fifth, striking out the only batter he faced. Dan Hammer followed with a scoreless sixth. He became the pitcher of record when the Mets took the lead a half-inning later. Brian Metoyer worked a scoreless bottom of the seventh. Dylan Ross then retired all six batters he faced for his fourth save.

Zack Short started the winning rally with a leadoff single. Ronny Mauricio followed with a single that moved Short to third. Nick Morabito walked to load the bases with nobody out. Eric Wagaman then hit a fly ball to center to score Short.

Syracuse opened the scoring in the second. Hayden Senger delivered a two-out single to drive in Jose Ramos. Jacksonville answered in the bottom half with a solo home run.

Ryan Clifford had a game to forget. He went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Ronny Mauricio, SS	5	0	1	0	0	2
Nick Morabito, LF	3	0	1	0	1	1
Eric Wagaman, 3B	4	0	1	1	0	2
Nick Lorusso, 1B	2	0	0	0	3	1
Ryan Clifford, RF	5	0	0	0	0	5
Shawn Ross, DH	3	0	0	0	1	3
Jose Ramos, CF	3	1	2	0	1	0
Hayden Senger, C	4	0	1	1	0	1
Zack Short, 2B	4	1	3	0	0	0

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Jonah Tong	4 2/3	3	1	1	2	6	1
Joe Jacques	1/3	0	0	0	0	1	0
Dan Hammer	1	0	0	0	1	0	0
Brian Metoyer	1	0	0	0	1	1	0
Dylan Ross	2	0	0	0	0	1	0

Vargas Clutch As Binghamton Holds Off Portland

The Rumble Ponies gave up the lead in the bottom of the seventh, then promptly got it back in the eighth. Chris Suero singled, and Corey Collins and D'Andre Smith walked to load the bases. Vargas' single to center scored Suero and Collins for an 8-6 lead.

Garrett Stratton came on and retired all six batters he faced to earn the save.

Vargas started his day by homering with one out in the first inning. It was his second homer of the season. He followed that by singling home Mitch Voit in the fourth to put the Ponies up 6-4.

Vargas, 21, is trying to regain momentum as a prospect after two stints on the injured list. He's part of a Binghamton infield that added Jefferson Rojas, Billy Amick and Émilien Pitre at the trade deadline. Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that Pitre is being promoted to Syracuse, presumably to take Morel's place  

R.J. Gordon started and went the first four innings. He allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits, with three walks and two strikeouts. 

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Mitch Voit, 2B	5	1	1	1	0	3
Marco Vargas, SS	5	2	4	4	0	1
Émilien Pitre, DH	4	0	0	0	1	2
Jefferson Rojas, 3B	3	0	0	0	2	1
Jacob Reimer, 1B	5	0	1	1	0	0
Chris Suero, C	4	3	3	0	1	0
John Bay, CF	4	1	1	0	0	1
Corey Collins, LF	2	1	0	1	1	1
JT Benson, LF	0	0	0	0	0	0
D'Andre Smith, RF	2	0	0	1	1	1

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
R.J. Gordon	4	2	4	2	3	2	0
Cristofer Gomez	1 2/3	1	1	1	2	2	0
Saul Garcia	1 1/3	1	1	1	0	2	1
Garrett Stratton	2	0	0	0	0	3	0

Hurtado Masterful In No-Decision For Brooklyn

Hurtado deserved better. He struck out five and walked two to go with the hit he allowed. He needed just 81 pitches to get through seven.

The Cyclones' hitters had a golden opportunity to give him early run support. Brooklyn loaded the bases with one out in the third after Sammy Stafura was hit by a pitch, Aiden Smith walked, and Trey Snyder was hit by a pitch. Ronald Hernandez grounded into an inning-ending double play. Brooklyn put two men on in the fourth as well. John Spikerman doubled and Colin Houck walked, but Eddinson Paulino struck out to end the inning.

Jersey Shore broke through in the eighth with a two-out, RBI infield single against Parker Carlson. With a runner on third, a soft ground ball up the middle deflected off Carlson's glove and rolled toward shortstop. Stafura charged and made a barehanded grab, but his throw was late.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Sammy Stafura, SS	2	0	0	0	1	1
Aidan Smith, CF	3	0	0	0	1	0
Trey Snyder, LF	3	0	0	0	0	3
Ronald Hernandez, 1B	2	0	0	0	2	1
Yonatan Henriquez, RF	4	0	0	0	0	1
John Spikerman, DH	4	0	1	0	0	2
Daiverson Gutierrez, C	3	0	0	0	0	0
Colin Houck, 3B	3	0	0	0	1	2
Eddinson Paulino, 2B	3	0	0	0	0	2

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Daviel Hurtado	7	1	0	0	2	5	0
Parker Carlson	1	2	1	1	0	0	0
Elwis Mijares	1	0	0	0	1	2

Aloy Goes Deep Twice In St. Lucie Loss

Aloy hit his second and third homers in just his 10th professional game. The 2026 draft pick out of the University of Arkansas gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the second with his first homer. After Jupiter responded with a two-run home run in the fourth, Aloy homered again in the sixth to tie the game 2-2.

Jupiter homered in the bottom half of the sixth off Conner Ware to go ahead 3-2. The Hammerheads put the game out of reach with three runs in the seventh and a run in the eighth. One of the runs was unearned thanks to a throwing error by shortstop Elian Peña.

St. Lucie got the tying run to the plate in the ninth after Peña -- who was promoted to High-A Brooklyn after the game -- drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk. John Smith III grounded into a force play to end the game.

Ware took the loss. The homer was the only hit he allowed over two innings.

layer	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Elian Peña, SS	4	0	0	1	1	3
John Smith III, RF	5	0	0	0	0	1
Julio Zayas, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	2
Kuhio Aloy, LF	4	2	2	2	0	0
Yovanny Rodriguez, C	3	1	1	0	1	2
Reed Stallman, DH	3	0	1	0	1	1
Bohan Adderley, CF	3	0	0	0	1	3
Dylan Carey, 3B	3	0	0	0	0	1
Kooper Schulte, 2B	3	0	1	0	1	1

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Will Watson	3	1	0	0	1	2	0
Candido Cuevas	1	3	2	2	0	2	1
Conner Ware	2	1	1	1	0	2	1
Jose Guevara	2/3	1	3	2	2	1	0
Ernesto Mercedes	1/3	0	0	0	0	0	0
Brett Banks	1	1	1	1	1	2	0

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Jonah Tong: 4 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HR
2. Jack Wenninger: DNP
3. Ryan Clifford: 0-for-5, 5 K
4. Elian Peña: 0-for-4, RBI, BB, 3 K
5. Nick Morabito: 1-for-3, BB, K
6. Jacob Reimer: 1-for-5, RBI
7. Mitch Voit: 1-for-5, 2B, RBI, 3 K
8. Jonathan Santucci: DNP
9. Zac Thornton: MLB
10. Chris Suero: 3-for-4, 2B, 3 R, BB
11. Will Watson: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
12. Wandy Asigen: DNP
13. Eli Serrano III: DNP
14. Randy Guzman: DNP
15. Dylan Ross: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, S
16. Ryan Lambert: DNP
17. Antonio Jimenez: DNP
18. R.J. Gordon: 4 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
19. Jonathan Pintaro: MLB
20. Marco Vargas: 4-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, K

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