BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings ended the first half of the 2025 International League season with five straight wins, but ultimately finished with a 27-45 record, the worst in the league. They’ll hope to avoid another half in the basement starting on Tuesday, when they host the Syracuse Mets in the first series of the latter portion of the schedule.
Due to the way that the International League playoff format now work, starting Tuesday every team will again be 0-0. The team with the best record at season’s end will face the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the first half champions, for the league title. Rochester has, in the past week, been powered by Robert Hassell III, the outfielder who started the season with the team before earning a call-up. Sent down after Brady House and Daylen Lile earned promotions before the Syracuse series, Nationals’ No. 11 prospect has gone 9-for-18 (.500) with eight RBI in his four games played since the demotion, including a two home run day last Friday. On the mound, Cade Cavalli has continued to make a case for promotion, with the Nationals’ No. 7 prospect going 1-0 in four starts with a 3.26 ERA in June, holding opponents to a .212 batting average in 19.1 innings.
If the Red Wings are to make the playoffs, they’ll likely have to start off well against the Syracuse Mets. There are far worse teams for Rochester to open up against. Like the Wings, the Mets finished the first half with a sub-.500 record (31-44), well back of the league leaders. Rochester had some success against Syracuse in the first half, going 4-2 in their lone series in Syracuse in May. In addition, the Red Wings have been the better team recently, going .500 (5-5) in the last 10 games to Syracuse’s 2-8 record.
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New York Mets fans will be interested in seeing some of their favorite team’s top prospects, and they’ll get the opportunity: three of the Mets’ top 10 prospects according to MLB.com Pipeline are active for Syracuse, and five of the top 30. Leading the way is No. 2 prospect Brandon Sproat, a starting pitcher who can throw in triple-digits but who has struggled in AAA this season. Another pitching prospect on Syracuse is No. 5 Mets upcomer Nolan McLean, who has a 2.68 ERA in 43.2 International League innings so far. Outfielder Drew Gilbert, the Mets’ No. 9 prospect, is the highest-rated position player on the Syracuse roster.
Beyond prospects, Syracuse has recently been hosting the rehabbing Sean Manaea. The left-hander, who threw a no-hitter in 2018 for the Oakland Athletics and won 12 games for the Mets last season, is making his way back from a right oblique muscle injury. Should the Mets keep him with Syracuse, his next rehab start will come in Rochester. Infielder Mark Vientos is also with Syracuse on a rehab assignment. Another name on the Mets that Red Wings fans will remember is Joey Meneses, who spent parts of 2022 and 2024 in Rochester.
The series starts on Tuesday at 6:45 p.m., which the Red Wings front office is dubbing Opening Day 2.0. The day will see Opening Day-style festivities, as well as a Dylan Crews bobblehead giveaway to the first 1,000 fans. Other notable promotions include a “Duel of the Dishes” between the Rochester Plates and the Syracuse Salt Potatoes on Thursday, as well as fireworks on Friday and Saturday. All game start at 6:45 p.m. except for Wednesday and Sunday, which are 1:05 p.m. matinees.
Glass half full: Hope has been given a chance to spring eternal for the league worst Red Wings. All could be forgotten if they get off to a half decent start, which is actually possible.
Lets hope for the best.
Glass half empty: Nope won’t go there (yet)!