GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Chris Suero looked at the starting probables ahead of Saturday’s Fall League contest, saw that Phillies prospect Eiberson Castellano (PHI No. 24) was slated to be on the mound and knew one thing: It was time to lock in.
The two shared some friendly banter before the game but it was Suero with the last laugh after he slugged a two-run homer for Scottsdale during its 11-4 win over Surprise at Goodyear Ballpark.
The Suero-Castallano showdowns officially date back to May 2024 when the two faced off at High-A. They’ve met on many different diamonds since then, but one thing has held true: the Mets’ No. 15 prospect has found the 6-foot-3 right-hander tremendously difficult to hit, going a combined 0-for-6 in their Minor League journey across two levels.
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It looked their first Fall League encounter would go the same way. Suero got tied up on an inside heater during the first inning and then flailed on a low breaking ball.
“I kind of figured after those two ugly swings that he's probably gonna come back with it,” said Suero.
Come back with the breaking stuff he did and Suero exited stage left at 99.9 mph off the bat for his second Fall League homer. After a regular season in which the 21-year-old swatted 16 home runs and posted a 141 wRC+ during his time with High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, that momentum has carried over to Arizona. Through five games, Suero has collected seven RBIs and posted a .967 OPS, third among all catchers on the circuit.
One of Suero’s defining characteristics is his defensive flexibility. He’s already made starts in left field, at first base, and vitally, catcher. While he joked on Fall League Media Day that, “I’ll play shortstop if they put me in at shortstop,” the organization is undoubtedly intrigued by his development as his athleticism and in-game aptitude make him uniquely suited for the position. He’s also fully bilingual, having been born in the Bronx (N.Y.) before moving to the Dominican Republic as a teenager, where he signed out of in March 2022 for just $10,000.
If Suero needs any insight on what it’s like to put on the catcher’s gear and get down in the squat in Queens, he needs look no further than his own dugout during the Fall League. Scottsdale manager René Rivera spent parts of four seasons with the Mets from 2016-17 and ‘19-20 before embarking on a managerial career that has also featured a stop in the MLB Draft League.
“It's truly a blessing to have a guy like that, a veteran, 13 years in the bigs. Not everybody does that,” said Suero. “He's been helping me a lot behind the [plate]. We've just been working the last couple of days, we've been getting in the lab. He's been trying to help me out with a couple of [things], making a couple tweaks and just kind of passing down what he knows to me.
“It's a true blessing to have him here.”
Over the past few years, the Mets have been aggressive in sending many prospects they believed to be part of their imminent future to the Fall League. Jett Williams (No. 3/MLB No. 30) and Drew Gilbert headlined the 2024 group, which even included Jeff McNeil for a few games, while Kevin Parada and Brett Baty spent time in the desert during their time as Top 100 prospects as well.
So despite playing 115 regular-season games (plus five more during a Double-A Eastern League title run), when the Mets broached the Fall League as a possibility, Suero jumped at the chance to potentially add another ring to his growing collection in 2025.
High-A Brooklyn: Champions.
Double-A Binghamton: Champions.
AFL’s Scottsdale Scorpions? Still to be written.
“This team is filled with a bunch of dogs. I feel like we just feed off everybody,” Suero said. “It makes you a better ballplayer even without you realizing it. Just seeing the other prospects, a lot of good ball players, it brings the best out of you. It's a true blessing to be here.”