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.
Quakes Pummel Ports on Sunday
Stockton, CA – The Quakes enjoyed a solid effort all the way around on Sunday afternoon in Stockton, pummeling the Ports by a final of 10-1 at Banner Island Ballpark. Rancho’s offense smacked four home runs, as Raynerd Ortega recorded his first multi-homer game of his career, finishing 4-for-5 with
Quakes Blanked on Saturday
Stockton, CA – The Stockton Ports once again got some incredible pitching on Saturday night, shutting out the Quakes by a final of 3-0 in front of a sold-out crowd at Banner Island Ballpark. More than 4,500 fans witnessed two Stockton pitchers combine on a five-hit shutout, as the Quakes
Quakes Rally for Ninth-Inning Win
Stockton, CA – The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes got a big ninth inning and came from behind for their first road win of the year on Friday night, defeating the Stockton Ports at Banner Island Ballpark by a final of 5-4. Elijah Hainline smashed a two-run homer to tie the game
Rancho Suffers Third Straight Loss
Stockton, CA – The Quakes endured a difficult night in Stockton, as they suffered their third straight loss overall, 6-3 to the Ports. The home team scored four times in the third without the aid of a hit and then tallied two more runs in the seventh, also without a
Rancho Drops Second Straight
Stockton, CA – The Stockton Ports got a huge night from left fielder Cameron Leary, dropping the Quakes on Wednesday night by a final of 12-5 at Banner Island Ballpark. Leary had three hits, including two homers, plating a career-best seven RBIs in helping the Quakes down the Quakes for
Ports Hand Quakes First Loss
Stockton, CA – The Stockton Ports halted Rancho’s season-opening win streak, as they knocked off the Quakes on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark, 6-2. In winning their home opener, the Ports handed Rancho their first loss in four games in 2025. Stockton outfielder Pedro Pineda hit a pair of
Quakes Complete Sweep of Storm
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Quakes completed a three-game sweep over the Lake Elsinore Storm on Sunday afternoon, as they rolled to a convincing 8-1 victory at LoanMart Field. Sean Paul Linan diced up the Lake Elsinore offense, striking out a career-high 11, helping the Quakes to their third straight
Quakes Move to 2-0 with Saturday Win
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Quakes won their second straight game to open the year, as they defeated the Lake Elsinore Storm on Saturday night by a final of 6-1. A crowd of more than 4,200 fans looked on, as the Quakes got out to an early lead and watched
Quakes Thrash Storm on Opening Night!
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Quakes started the 2025 regular season on a high note, smashing the Lake Elsinore Storm by a final of 16-9 at LoanMart Field on Friday night. Jaron Elkins shined in his Rancho debut, collecting four hits with four runs scored, as the offense posted 13
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Welcome New Owner, Diamond Baseball Holdings
Front Office Staff Remains in Place Under Existing Club Leadership RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIF. (December 12, 2024) – The owners of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes announced today they have entered into an agreement to sell the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization that owns and operates select minor league
Quakes Finish 2024 Season with Loss to Rawhide
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The 2024 came to an end on Sunday afternoon, as the playoff-bound Visalia Rawhide defeated the Quakes at LoanMart Field by a final of 6-2. Visalia jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning against Rancho starter Eriq Swan (0-1) and cruised to the
Gutierrez, Decker Dazzle in Rancho Win
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – One night after being eliminated from playoff contention, the Quakes staged a late rally and beat the Visalia Rawhide, winning on Saturday night by a final of 6-4 at LoanMart Field. Cameron Decker blasted a three-run homer (12) in the first, then broke a 4-4 tie
Quakes Eliminated by Rawhide
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Visalia Rawhide eliminated the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes from playoff contention on Friday night at LoanMart Field, taking a convincing 7-0 victory. The win for the Rawhide secures the final playoff spot, as they’ll be the #2 seed and host the Lake Elsinore Storm next Tuesday
Decker Keeps Quakes Alive with Walk-Off
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Cameron Decker’s walk-off blast in the ninth made Friday’s game meaningful, as the Quakes outlasted the Visalia Rawhide on Thursday night by a final of 8-6 at LoanMart Field. After blowing a three-run lead in the ninth, Rancho, which didn’t have a hit since the third,
Quakes Fall, Now in Must-Win Mode
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Visalia Rawhide have pushed the Quakes to elimination, after Wednesday’s 5-1 loss at LoanMart Field. Now with four games to play in the regular season, the Quakes must beat the Rawhide in all four remaining games in order to qualify for the playoffs. A four-run
Quakes Very Much Alive After Shutout of Visalia
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes strengthened their playoff hopes on Tuesday night, as they shut out the Visalia Rawhide by a final of 2-0 at LoanMart Field. Needing five of six in the series in order to gain a playoff berth, the Quakes pitched one of their
Quakes Fall Sunday, Need Five of Six Next Week
San Jose, CA – The San Jose Giants took the final game of the six-game series on Sunday afternoon, grabbing a 5-2 win over the Quakes at Excite Ballpark. Cesar Quintas, who made a pair of diving catches in center field, had two hits, including a two-run homer (12) as
Quakes Smash Two Bombs for Third Straight "W"!
San Jose, CA – Zyhir Hope and Cameron Decker both slugged home runs and the Quakes won their third straight game over the Giants, taking a 6-4 victory at Excite Ballpark on Saturday evening. Hope’s two-run homer (9) put Rancho up early in the first, while Decker’s three-run shot gave
Quakes Win Second Straight in San Jose
San Jose, CA – The Quakes scored three runs in the ninth and held on for an exciting 6-4 win over the San Jose Giants on Friday night at Excite Ballpark. Cameron Decker’s RBI single tied the game and Samuel Munoz capped the inning with an RBI single to give
Quakes Explode for Big Win In San Jose
San Jose, CA – A seven-run explosion in the sixth inning helped Rancho end a five-game losing streak, as the Quakes pummeled the San Jose Giants on Thursday night by a final of 9-1 at Excite Ballpark. Elijah Hainline had two hits and two RBIs and Cameron Decker hit a
Giants Drop Quakes on Wednesday
San Jose, CA – The Quakes dropped their fifth straight on Wednesday afternoon, as the Giants took a 9-5 win at Excite Ballpark. A five-run sixth put San Jose ahead for good, as the Quakes dropped their second straight to open the six-game series and their tenth in their last
Late Loss for Rancho on Tuesday
San Jose, CA – Ty Hanchey’s tie-breaking homer in the eighth sent the San Jose Giants to the lead for good, as they defeated the Quakes on Tuesday night at Excite Ballpark by a final of 7-5. After the Quakes tied the game at 5-5 with Carlos Rojas’ second two-run
Storm Prevail on Sunday Over Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Lake Elsinore Storm concluded a successful trip to LoanMart Field with an 8-3 win over the Quakes on Sunday evening, giving the first-place Storm five of six in the series. Rancho, which has lost eight of nine overall, is still just two games out of
Quakes Drop Series to Storm
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Lake Elsinore Storm got out to a big lead, then held on for an 8-5 win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Saturday night at LoanMart Field. The loss leaves the Quakes two games back of the Storm, but just one out of a playoff
Rancho Gets Blanked on Friday
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Quakes dropped a heart-breaker on Friday night in front of more than 3,500 fans at LoanMart Field, as the Lake Elsinore Storm took game four of the series with a 1-0 win. A first-inning run for the Storm was all of the scoring on Friday