Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away.
“Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
In recent years, Mets officials have done well to reverse their reputation as an organization that struggles to develop relief pitchers. The recent emergences of José Buttó and Dedniel Núñez provided evidence to that end, while the Mets similarly jumpstarted the careers of relievers from outside the organization, like Reed Garrett and Danny Young.
In Lambert, they hope to take the express route toward developing another bullpen gem. During his college years, Lambert was exclusively a relief pitcher, averaging less than an inning per appearance. His fastball sat in the upper 90s at Oklahoma and ran as hot as 102 mph during a game against Wichita State. Lambert lives for that sort of thing.
“I’m an adrenaline guy,” he said before Sunday’s 5-1 Spring Breakout victory over a group of Nationals prospects. “I love big situations. I think that brings the best out of you when you feel really nervous. You harness that energy and you never know what can happen. So who knows what I’ll touch here in the future?”
Mets prospect Ryan Lambert once drank THIRTY raw eggs per day for a month as he worked to bulk up 🥚 @PSLtoFlushing @SteveGelbs @JimDuquetteGM pic.twitter.com/gpN0AhT1eo
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 16, 2025
Lambert’s actual performance in Spring Breakout showcased both his bigtime velocity -- he hit 97 mph on multiple occasions -- as well as his present-day flaws. In an admittedly small college sample size, Lambert walked 7.3 batters per nine innings. Big, hard-throwing pitchers like him can struggle to repeat their mechanics.
Since turning pro, Lambert has worked on fine-tuning his delivery, but he struggled Sunday in walking two batters, giving up three stolen bases and allowing one run.
“For him, it’s strikes,” Mets senior vice president of player development Andy Green said. “The heater really rides. It’s a unique pitch profile. He can spin it in the zone with a slider. It’s kind of a classic reliever, two-pitch mix that might turn into something a little bit more in time. But if he fills up the strike zone, his stuff is going to play.”
Mets prospect Ryan Lambert says that he threw a 102 MPH fastball last year at Oklahoma:
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 16, 2025
"I'm an adrenaline guy. I love big situations." pic.twitter.com/sIOetPzHDd
When teams draft college relievers, the first question tends to be how quickly they might arrive in the Majors. Such players tend to be older -- Lambert will turn 23 before this season ends -- and more physically mature than other draftees. They’re typically experienced against advanced competition and, because relievers don’t need robust pitch mixes to succeed at the highest level, they generally require less development time than starters.
Lambert checks all those boxes as a player who could reach the Majors soon -- perhaps even as soon as this season if everything goes right. Admittedly, Lambert sometimes allows his mind to wander to those places, though he understands how much work still stands between him and his debut.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about that stuff, but that’s where I just go one day at a time,” Lambert said. “I trust myself, and I trust the Mets, and I believe I’ll be up there sooner than later.”
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Back to Tobacco Road
Jonathan Santucci, the organization’s 13th-ranked prospect (per MLB Pipeline) and their top left-handed pitching prospect, returned to campus last autumn after the Mets selected him in the second round of the 2024 Draft. Back at Duke, Santucci was in the same documentary studies class as basketball star Cooper Flagg. He’s now one class shy of having enough credits to graduate.
Many elite college prospects like Santucci, who are drafted after their junior seasons, never earn their degrees. Santucci, who is majoring in sociology with a certificate in markets and management, plans to take an online course to complete his.
“Growing up, academics were just as important as baseball,” Santucci said. “I feel like I always worked just as hard in school as I did in sports, so I think that’s really important to finish that off -- the icing on the cake.”
Santucci threw a scoreless inning in Spring Breakout.
Muscling up
Another 2024 Mets draftee, 23rd-ranked prospect Eli Serrano III, packed 15 pounds of muscle onto his 6-foot-5 frame this winter, learning nutrition and weight training techniques at a team-sponsored strength camp. He’s up to around 210 pounds, which club officials believe will help him survive the grind of professional baseball.
“It’s almost another job, I’d say, just getting stronger,” Serrano said. “You’ve got to play baseball, but you’ve got to be able to go out there and be able to play 140 games every year, so you’ve got to be strong enough to do that.”
Drafted as a center fielder, Serrano is likely to end up in a corner, where his increased bulk would not be a hindrance. He started in left field in Spring Breakout.
My name is Jonah
Jonah Tong’s reward for a breakout 2024 season was a Spring Breakout start. The lanky right-hander, who has drawn Tim Lincecum comps, struck out three over two scoreless innings, hitting 97 mph on the stadium radar gun.
Last year, Tong jumped multiple Minor League levels from Single-A St. Lucie to Double-A Binghamton, going from unranked on MLB Pipeline to No. 6 on this year’s Mets list.
“Probably not how I originally imagined,” Tong said of his 2024 season, which included a 3.03 ERA across three levels. “I spent a lot of time in a lot of different places, but I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
More than a feeling
The early offensive star of Spring Breakout was Boston Baro, the Mets’ 14th-ranked prospect, who hit a left-on-left, opposite-field homer off Nationals starter Alex Clemmey.
Not to be outdone was fourth-ranked Ryan Clifford, who added a deep homer more than halfway up the batter’s eye in straightaway center. On the social media site X, the Mets’ official player development account estimated the home-run distance at 449 feet.
Senior Reporter Anthony DiComo has covered the Mets for MLB.com since 2007.
Southwest Virginia natives Mabe, Fuhrman rejoin River Turtles for 2023 season
PULASKI, Va. - After spending the 2022 season with the River Turtles, pitcher Avery Mabe and outfielder Connor Fuhrman will return to Calfee Park for the 2023 campaign. Mabe, a graduate of George Wythe High School in Wytheville, Va., enjoyed the added benefit of playing close to home last season.
Calfee Park announces 2023 promotional nights calendar
In conjunction with the launch of individual game night ticket sales, Calfee Park Baseball, Inc. and the Pulaski River Turtles have released their 2023 promotional nights calendar. The expansive list of promotional nights includes traditional favorites such as Agriculture Night, the return of the popular Saddle-Up Sunday cowboy-themed night and
Pulaski River Turtles announce coaching staff
With a new baseball season less than two months away, the Pulaski River Turtles are unveiling the on-field staff that will lead the team’s 2023 Appalachian League campaign. Staff members joining third-year manager Clark Crist include third-year hitting coach Roger Hill, with pitching coach Chris Monroe and former MLB pro
River Turtles launching community service program in 2023
The Pulaski River Turtles have partnered with Foresight Design Services to introduce a new community service initiative benefiting the Town of Pulaski. Comprised of Pulaski River Turtles players, team members and front office staff, the “Pitch-In Program” will debut in June with the initial mission of roadside beautification on streets
Appalachian League's 2023 managers set to take the helm
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Over the last several weeks, Appalachian League teams have announced their managers for the 2023 season. That group includes four brand-new faces with more than 150 years of combined experience in professional baseball. Former big league manager John McLaren, along with Dennis Cook, Bill Kinneberg and
Appalachian League participates in MLK Day of Service
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Appalachian League executives participated in the 28th annual MLK Day of Service on Jan. 16, 2023, volunteering in nine communities across North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Tabbed as a “day on, not a day off” to celebrate the life and legacy of the Civil
Crist returning for third season as manager of River Turtles
PULASKI, Va. – The Pulaski River Turtles are hoping that the third time’s the charm with manager Clark Crist. Having notched a pair of top-two finishes in the Appalachian League East division in his first two seasons of competition as the manager of the Pulaski franchise, Crist is returning for
Appalachian League celebrates 2022 charitable contributions
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League announced that the league’s charitable outreach grew to more than $3.4 million of gift-in-kind and monetary donations this year. Additionally, the league and its clubs volunteered more than 11,000 hours of community service. The league’s reach impacts the towns and cities their 10
Pulaski River Turtles release 2023 schedule
PULASKI, Va. – A new season of Pulaski River Turtles baseball is slated to begin Tuesday, June 6, on the road against the Bluefield Ridge Runners, with Opening Night at Calfee Park scheduled for Thursday, June 8, against the Danville Otterbots. Released today, the 2023 Pulaski River Turtles schedule includes
Appy League adds Justin Morgenstern as director of player personnel
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League is pleased to announce the hiring of Justin Morgenstern as the new director of player personnel. Morgenstern joins the Appalachian League from the Philadelphia Phillies, where he was an area scout since 2016. Morgenstern spent his first three years with the organization covering
Appalachian League announces Humanitarian of the Year nominees
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League announced the 10 nominees for its 2022 Humanitarian of the Year award. The Humanitarian of the Year award is given to the Appalachian League player that has been judged to have made the most notable contributions in his community during the season through
2022 All-Appalachian League Team announced
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Appalachian League announced the 2022 All-Appalachian League Team. The honorees were nominated and voted on by the league’s managers. The All-Appalachian League Team is highlighted by Bluefield’s Jackson Feltner, who was named Player of the Year, and Burlington’s Mason Ruh, who earned Pitcher of the
River Turtles finish home slate, sweep Otterbots
On Thursday night, in their home finale, the Pulaski River Turtles swept the Danville Otterbots with an 8-7 win. Despite Danville’s late surge, Pulaski’s hot start propelled it to a win in its final home game of the 2022 season. Appy League home run leader Christian Smith hitting a homer
Power and pitching leads Pulaski over Danville
Dominant pitching and a grand slam from Christian Smith hurled Pulaski to an 8-2 win over the Danville Otterbots on Wednesday. Danville got on the board early after a ground out from designated hitter Corbin Lanowitz brought in a run to put them up 1-0 after the first frame. Pulaski
River Turtles see fortunes reversed in Game 2 loss to Ridge Runners
The Pulaski River Turtles fell to the Bluefield Ridge Runners, 16-5, in Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader. Spectators saw a completely different game played in the second half of the doubleheader, as Bluefield was on the offense this time around. Just like Game 1, Bluefield struck early. An RBI infield
Pulaski ride big inning to Game 1 win in doubleheader Monday
Pulaski’s offense shined Monday, as the River Turtles took down the Bluefield Ridge Runners, 13-4, in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Just like the last doubleheader at home, Pulaski had a dominant inning to take Game 1. Bluefield started the game off with a bang, where a three-run no-doubter from
Johnson Jr. hits walk-off single, East tops West at 2022 Appy League All-Star Game
BURLINGTON, N.C. -- The East defeated the West, 6-5, at the 2022 Appalachian League All-Star Game presented by Visit Alamance on Tuesday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium. After Greeneville's Brock Daniels (Missouri) hit a game-tying two-run single with two outs in the top of the ninth, Danville's RJ Johnson Jr
Fondtain, Herrmann receive Appalachian League weekly honors
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The Appalachian League announced that Pulaski's TJ Fondtain (San Diego State) and Danville's Andrew Herrmann (Wofford) were named the Player and Pitcher of the Week of July 18-24, respectively. Fondtain hit .542 (13-for-24) with three home runs and nine RBI in six games played for the
River Turtles split doubleheader with Kingsport
Game 1 The Pulaski River Turtles took down the Kingsport Axmen 7-2 in Game 1 of a Sunday doubleheader. The game was on track to be a low-scoring affair until Pulaski exploded for six runs in the sixth. Kingsport got the board first, where an E-1 in the top of
River Turtles fall to Elizabethton in high-scoring affair
The Pulaski River Turtles fell to the Elizabethton River Riders, 22-16, on Friday night. The teams combined for 38 hits and 38 runs in an offensive shootout. Elizabethton got on the board quickly, scoring three runs in the top of the first. A wild pitch that brought in right fielder
River Turtles take down River Riders, 8-7
In a hard-fought battle, the Pulaski River Turtles take down the Elizabethton River Riders, 8-7, on Thursday. Pulaski got on the board as quickly as you can, as leadoff hitter Rodney Green Jr. homered the first pitch he saw over the right field wall. A groundout by third baseman Ryland
Roster announced for 2022 Appy League All-Star Game presented by Visit Alamance
The Appalachian League announced the rosters for the second Appy League All-Star Game presented by Visit Alamance. The rosters will feature 44 of the league's top players from the East and West Divisions, as nominated and voted on by the league's managers. The Visit Alamance All-Star Game is scheduled to