Infielder Mitch Voit and left-handed pitcher Jonathan Santucci have been recognized as the New York Mets' player and pitcher of the year, respectively, marking significant steps in their development within the organization. Both prospects earned a place in the spotlight this season, with Voit rapidly ascending through the minor league system and Santucci showcasing strong pitching performances.
Voit, a first-round draft pick from last season, has made a notable impact, progressing from High-A Brooklyn to nearly reaching Double-A Binghamton. After a slower start to his professional season, hitting .210 with a .651 OPS on May 23, Voit experienced a significant turnaround. From May 24 through the end of the season, he batted .300 with an .866 OPS, contributing 32 stolen bases and demonstrating improved plate discipline with 40 walks against 58 strikeouts.
"I’m trying to figure out my strengths in the box and how do my strengths match up against this pitcher? And how can I maximize this at-bat to bring the most value in that moment?" Voit stated, reflecting on his mental approach to the game. The 21-year-old University of Michigan product, ranked as the club's No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has also shown versatility, impressing Mets officials with his play at shortstop in addition to his natural second base position. His strong performance positions him as a potential internal option for upgrades, though he faces competition from other middle infield prospects within the Mets' system.
Interim manager Andy Green highlighted Voit's resilience and overall baseball skills, stating, "He’s somebody who can do a lot of impressive things on the baseball field. He really can defend the field, run the bases."
Santucci has emerged as a standout among the Mets' pitching prospects, a group that has seen several players struggle this season. After beginning the year with early difficulties, Santucci experienced periods of excellence, earning a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. He has demonstrated some of the best stuff in the Mets' system, posting a combined 3.99 ERA with 157 strikeouts in 119.2 innings pitched.
His pitching arsenal, featuring a mid-90s fastball and a biting slider, has drawn comparisons to major league pitcher Zac Thornton, who himself played alongside Santucci in the minor leagues. "His stuff is better than my stuff," Thornton said of Santucci. "Obviously he just throws harder and then his slider is a little bit tighter I’d say. I think he’s got way more swing-and-miss stuff than I do. He can definitely compete here at the major league level."
While Santucci has historically worked on developing a reliable third pitch, his curveball and changeup have shown improvement this season. His curveball has become a significant asset, holding opponents to a .105 batting average with a 53.3 percent whiff rate. Further development of these secondary pitches is seen as crucial for his potential transition from a promising reliever to a viable major league starter.
Despite flashes of brilliance, Santucci has also faced challenges with inconsistency and walks, averaging 4.74 walks per nine innings. However, the Mets organization sees significant potential in both Voit and Santucci. "His stuff is real," Green remarked about Santucci. "And for both [Santucci and Voit], there’s more of a mountain to climb out in front of them before this opportunity belongs to them. But they’ve taken some amazing steps this year."