The Mets organization is expected to have plenty of change this offseason from management through the player personnel following the disappointment of the 2023 campaign.
While many significant changes have yet to occur, the blue and orange have made some moves today. According to Mike Mayer of Mets Mesmerized, the Mets released RHP Ryley Gilliam, INF Kevin Kendall, RHP Mathieu Voros and INF Cesar Berbesi.
Mets release Ryley Gilliam
The Mets selected Ryley Gilliam in the fifth round of the 2018 draft following a successful three seasons at Clemson.
Gilliam made his professional debut that same year with the Low-A Brooklyn Cyclones and was excellent, pitching in 17.1 innings to a 2.08 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 17 appearances.
The Georgia native couldn’t quite replicate that success in 2019. Gilliam pitched 38.2 innings to a 6.05 ERA with 56 strikeouts across 29 appearances with High-A St. Lucie Mets, Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and Triple-A Syracuse Mets.
After not pitching in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gilliam began 2021 in Binghamton, where he once again struggled. In 20 appearances, the Georgia native threw 27.1 innings to a 9.88 ERA while striking out 25.
Gilliam has not appeared in a game since 2021, as a multitude of injuries have sidelined him.
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2021 seventh-round pick released
Kevin Kendall came to the Mets organization via the 2021 MLB draft when the blue and orange selected the UCLA product in the seventh round.
Kendall reported to Single-A St. Lucie that same year and was impressive in his limited sample size. In 33 games, Kendall slashed .327/.421/.451 with one home run and 11 RBIs.
The California native would only make three appearances in 2022 for St. Lucie, where he had just one hit in nine at-bats.
The 24-year-old would spend 2023 in High-A Brooklyn, but injuries limited the shortstop to just 31 appearances. Kendall would struggle when on the field as he slashed .214/.308/.311 with no home runs and 10 RBIs.
Undrafted free agent released
Mathieu Voros came to the Mets organization as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 MLB draft but never appeared for any of the Mets’ minor league affiliates.
Berbesi released after bouncing around the system
Cesar Berbesi got signed as an international free agent in 2018, and after spending that year in the Gulf Coast and Dominican Summer Leagues, made the jump to Single-A St. Lucie in 2021 following the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season.
In 18 appearances for St. Lucie, Berbesi slashed .170/.391/.277 with no home runs and four RBIs. The Venezuela native would make just six appearances in 2022, all for St. Lucie, having just two hits in 25 plate appearances.
Berbesi would bounce around the Mets system in 2023, making 62 combined appearances with High-A Brooklyn, Double-A Binghamton, and Triple-A Syracuse. Across those appearances, Berbesi slashed .214/.345/.291 with one home run and 17 RBIs.
More prospects are expected to be released
This may just be the beginning, as the Mets are expected to release more prospects from their farm system in the coming days.
