PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. — For the first time in 36 years and just the second time in franchise history, the St. Lucie Mets have won the division in each half of the Florida State League season.
The combination of a Mets’ 8-4 victory over Detroit Tigers’ affiliate, the Lakeland Flying Tigers, and a Daytona Tortugas (Reds) loss to the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies) locked the division down for St. Lucie.
The Friday night contest at Clover Park started out rough for the Mets as 2025 10th-round draft pick Tyler McLoughlin struggled early in his professional debut. A walk, a hit by pitch, and an RBI single led to an early exit for the 6-foot-3 right-hander, although the two outs he recorded did come via strikeout.
McLoughlin was replaced by Daviel Hurtado, a 20-year-old left-handed pitcher signed out of Havana, Cuba, back in 2023. Hurtado gave up a run after walking the first two batters he faced before getting out of the inning.
St. Lucie took the lead in the fifth inning by scoring three runs, all with two outs. Back-to-back singles by Trey Snyder (2024 5th round draft pick out of Liberty North HS, MO) and Antonio Jimenez (2025 3rd round pick out of the University of Central Florida) set up 20-year-old outfielder Randy Guzman, who tied the game with a triple to center field. 20-year-old Venezuelan catcher Daiverson Gutierrez drove in Guzman with a bloop single beyond the reach of Lakeland’s first baseman, which put St. Lucie in front 4-3.
From there, St. Lucie was able to hold off Lakeland for the most part, only giving up one more run while tacking on four more of their own. Hurtado tossed four innings, giving up one run, five hits and four walks while striking out four Flying Tigers.
In total, St. Lucie needed five pitchers to help solidify the win. RHP Bryce Jenkins, a 2023 17th-round pick out of the University of Tennessee who missed all of the 2024 season due to injury, picked up the first win of his professional career. Christian Rodriguez contributed 2.1 innings of relief and recorded four strikeouts. Zack Mack, a 2025 16th-round pick out of Loyola Marymount, made his professional debut in the ninth and recorded the final three outs for St. Lucie, only surrendering one walk.
OF/DH Jesse Winker and OF Jose Siri both got at-bats in the game as they rehab from injury. Winker struck out in all three of his at-bats and Siri had two singles and a run driven in.
St. Lucie has eight games remaining in the regular season before the playoffs begin. Their first round of playoffs is set to begin on Tuesday, September 9.
