Houck Hits First Pro Homer, Alvarez Makes Second Rehab Appearance (2024)

Top Prospect Colin Houck hit his first professional home run for Low-A St Lucie in their 8-0 win against the Dunedin Blue Jays. The 2023 first-round pick has had an eventful week after driving in the game-winning run in St Lucie’s win on Friday. Francisco Alvarez continued his rehab assignment in Binghamton, where he showed off his incredible arm and defensive prowess. Alvarez is anticipated to start again for the Rumble Ponies on Sunday afternoon, his first time playing back-to-back games since his thumb surgery in April.

Triple-A

Buffalo Bisons (30-26) 13, Syracuse Mets (33-22) 5

BOX SCORE

• 2B Pablo Reyes: 2-for-4, R, HR (2), 4 RBI (8), K (.1.372 OPS)
• RF Rylan Bannon: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI (34) (.888 OPS)
• SS Luisangel Acuña: 0-for-5, K (.658 OPS)
• 3B Brett Baty: 1-for-5, K (.400 OPS)

The Syracuse Mets were blown out in Brett Baty’s 2024 Triple-A debut. The Bisons scored in bunches, putting up five runs in the second inning and two in the fourth against MLB part-timer Jose Buttó. Pablo Reyes kept the game close with a three-run shot in the bottom of the second frame, but Buffalo’s six combined runs in the sixth and the seventh put the game out of reach.

Brett Baty showed the same flaws we have seen at the major league level in his first appearance for Syracuse in 2024. He can sometimes be impatient when facing balls in the dirt or fastballs up high. His debut was also marred by soft contact and weak fly balls. After developing his defensive game, Baty will turn his focus towards his bat in hopes of returning and making a difference for the major league club.

• RHPJose Buttó (4.12 ERA) 3 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 3 K (87 pitches/46 strikes)
• LHP Tyler Jay(2.08 ERA) 1 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHPMatt Festa(4.26 ERA) 2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K
• RHP Max Kranick(3.44 ERA) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K

Buffalo got to Jose Buttó early in his start on Saturday, scoring five runs on him in the second inning alone. Butto was not sharp with his command, especially with his elite changeup, and allowed tons of hard contact. Jay and Festa were also lit up by the Bisons, combing for six earned runs in just three and a third innings.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (25-23) 0, Harrisburg Senators (30-20) 6

BOX SCORE

• DHNolan McLean 2-for-3, BB (.763 OPS)
• RF Matt Rudick: 1-for-3, BB (.809 OPS)
• C Francisco Alvarez: 0-for-3, 2 K (1.133 OPS)

The Rumble Ponies were outmatched by Harrisburg in their 6-0 loss on Saturday. The offense was quiet for the second straight night, aside from Nolan McLean again. The two-way prospect has found his footing in the batter’s box against Double-A pitching.

Saturday was Francisco Alvarez’s second rehab contest since returning from thumb surgery. Alvy went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts but did throw out a running trying to steal second base. Per Will Sammon, Alvarez is expected to start in Binghamton’s game on Sunday, marking his first time playing back-to-back games since his injury.

Alvy LASER 👀 pic.twitter.com/IFfMl4Sb6F

— Binghamton Rumble Ponies (@RumblePoniesBB) June 1, 2024

• RHP Joander Suarez(4.31 ERA) 4 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 10 K (92 pitches/ 59 strikes)
• RHP Jordan Geber(4.09 ERA) 2 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K
• RHPCam Robinson(2.16 ERA) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Wilkin Ramos(0.00 ERA) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K

For the second consecutive night, Binghamton’s pitchers had no offense behind them, but their pitching did not fair well against the Harrisburg lineup. Joander Suarez had his second consecutive rough outing. In the past two starts, he has allowed 12 earned runs—prior to that, he had only given up 11 runs in eight appearances.

High-A

Jersey Shore BlueClaws (28-22) 11, Brooklyn Cyclones (26-24) 5

BOX SCORE

• LF Christopher Suero 1-for-4, 2 RBI (7), 3 K (.624 OPS)
• LFJefrey De Los Santos 2-for-4, R, 2 2B, K (.615 OPS)
• SS William Lugo 0-for-3, R, RBI (19), 2 BB, K (.593 OPS)

In their loss to Jersey Shore, Brooklyn’s offense took too long to get going. After falling behind 10-0 by the third inning, the Cyclones failed to respond to the BlueClaw until the game was almost over. A William Lugo walked-in score in the sixth started the five unanswered run rally for the Cyclones, but it was too little, too late.

• RHP Jonah Tong(3.74 ERA) 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 K (31 pitches/ 17 strikes)
• RHP Jeffrey Colon (5.64 ERA) 4 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 3 K
• RHP Josh Hejka(1.61 ERA) 3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Jonah Tong only recorded a single out before being pulled on Saturday, though this time was not due to a predetermined pitch count. Jersey Shore jumped over Tong and tagged him for five earned runs and six baserunners in the first inning. Colon came in to relieve the ambushed Tong and did not fare better. Colon allowed nine hits, two walks, and six earned runs through four and a third innings. Josh Hejka was solid for the Cyclones, finishing the last three innings in what turned into a blowout.

Low-A

Dunedin Blue Jays (25-25) 0, St. Lucie Mets (16-34) 8

BOX SCORE

• SS Jesus Baez: 2-for-6, R, 2B, 3 RBI (29), K (.771 OPS)
• DH Colin Houck: 2-for-5, R, HR (1), 2 RBI (16) (.607 OPS)
• 3B Kevin Villavicencio: 3-for-5, 2 R, SB (7) (.676 OPS)
• RF Jeffry Rosa: 1-for-4, RBI (11), BB, K (.634 OPS)

The headline for St. Lucie’s game on Saturday was Colin Houck hitting his first professional home run, a two-run shot in the ninth inning for extra insurance. Jesus Baez contributed to the win with an RBI double in the seventh, adding to his team-lead 12 doubles.

Congrats to @colin_houck! His big week continues as he hits his first professional home run! pic.twitter.com/LS5wwvSFID

— St. Lucie Mets (@stluciemets) June 2, 2024

• RHP Zach Thornton (3.93 ERA) 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K (89 pitches/ 57 strikes)
• RHP Jorge De Leon(4.91 ERA) 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K

The Mets’ pitching was incredible; the duo of Thornton and De Leon combined for a five-hit shutout while striking out nine batters. Saturday’s start was Thornton’s first appearance without giving up a run since April 26th.

Florida Complex League

FCL-Cardinals (11-11) 3, FCL-Mets (10-10) 2

BOX SCORE

• 3B Jeremy Rodriguez 1-for-4, 2 K (.982 OPS)
• DH Fabian Machado 3-for-3, 2 RBI (7) (.770 OPS)
• 2B A.J. Ewing 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, 2 K (.993 OPS)

Machado recorded his first three-hit performance of the season, while Jeremy Rodriguez increased his hit streak to seven games.

• RHP Jose Chirinos(6.00 ERA) 3 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K
• LHP Brayhans Barreto (4,91 ERA) 4 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K

Brayhans Barreto was very impressive in his sixth outing of the season. He prevented any Cardinals runs and allowed only three hits in four innings.