Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Splitter: 65 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

After transferring from Murray State, Wenninger moved into the Illinois rotation in his second year and used that experience, along with a summer stint in the MLB Draft League, to push himself to the Mets in the sixth round of the 2023 Draft. He signed for below slot at $225,00 but looked like a bargain a year later with a breakout campaign at Single-A and High-A, in which he posted a 4.30 ERA with 140 strikeouts (second-most in the organization) in 115 innings. Wenninger built on that with a strong 2025 campaign at Double-A Binghamton, ranking sixth among Double-A qualifiers in ERA (2.92) and third in strikeout total (142) over 135 2/3 innings. He struck out 11 over five frames in the Rumble Ponies’ Eastern League championship-clinching win over a loaded Erie team.

The 6-foot-4 righty starts from a wide base out of the windup and releases from a high three-quarters delivery, looking loose in his movements throughout. His fastball took a nice step forward in velocity from 91-94 mph in ’24 to 93-96 mph, touching the occasional upper-90s, last season. Despite the increase in workload, he held that velocity into the fall too. Wenninger’s best pitch remains a mid-80s splitter that tunnels off the heater, only to keep falling when hitters expect more ride and zip. It’s a weapon against batters from both sides and helps him keep equal splits. Wenninger shows a preference for his mid-80s slider, which shows snappy two-plane break, over a softer 79-82 mph curve.

Wenninger’s walk rate got a touch better at the Minors’ second-highest level last season, and he’s athletic enough for his size to keep strikes coming. He could use another true plus pitch beyond the split, but even as it stands, he has a comfortable No. 4/5 starter projection.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

A transfer from Murray State, Wenninger joined the Illinois rotation in his second Big Ten season in 2023, and while his 4.59 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings didn’t pop off the page, it was enough to get him into the sixth round that summer. After signing below slot at $225,000, Wenninger opened his first full season with Single-A St. Lucie, where he fanned 89 batters in 71 2/3 innings, and was promoted to High-A Brooklyn in July before posting a 3.12 ERA in 43 1/3 innings there. The right-hander’s 140 strikeouts between both spots were second-most in the New York organization behind Jonah Tong’s 160.

Throwing from a high three-quarters arm angle, Wenninger will touch the occasional 96 mph but typically sits in the 91-94 range with a fastball that comes with some armside run. The best thing his heater might do, however, is set up his 82-84 mph splitter. The offspeed offering comes with roughly the same amount of horizontal movement but gets good separation and drop compared to the fastball. Wenninger leaned on the split often as he began his pro career but folded in a sweeper, cutter and curveball more at High-A with solid results.

The former Fighting Illini should have enough control to keep getting starting looks as he climbs toward Queens, and his reverse splits keep him interesting too. Mets instructors have worked with him on deepening his arsenal with a sinker and gyro slider to see what can stick beyond the fastball-splitter combination. The depth of that arsenal will be challenged in the Majors, but he's more than holding his own in his first jump into the upper Minors.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Wenninger transferred from Murray State to Illinois for his sophomore year and earned a spot in the Fighting Illini’s rotation as a junior, posting a 4.59 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings. The Mets selected the right-hander in the sixth round of the 2023 Draft and signed him for slightly below slot at $225,000. After dipping his toe briefly into the pro waters last summer, Wenninger opened up with Single-A St. Lucie, where he was better than his 5.02 ERA thanks to 89 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 71 2/3 innings. He was promoted to High-A Brooklyn in early July.

The 6-foot-4 hurler touched 96.2 mph in the Florida State League but typically showed more average velocity in the 92-94 mph range with some armside movement out of a loose, over-the-top delivery. His biggest whiff-heavy offering is an 82-85 mph changeup that separates nicely off the heater, shows nearly equal run to the fastball and dives below bats. The cambio has helped Wenninger post pretty significant reverse splits. He’ll also show a mid-80s slider, an upper-70s curve and an upper-80s cutter that’ll flash average but lack the usage of the fastball-changeup.

Wenninger hasn’t had much of an issue limiting walks during his introduction to his pro career, but his high chase rates (especially on the changeup) could be challenged the higher he goes. The righty has held his own at the lower levels in ways college arms should, making his age-23 season next year a more accurate test of his future as a starter in the New York pipeline.

Awards

EAS Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Jack Wenninger assigned to New York Mets Prospects.
	02/09/2026	New York Mets invited non-roster RHP Jack Wenninger to spring training.
	04/01/2025	RHP Jack Wenninger assigned to Binghamton Rumble Ponies from Brooklyn Cyclones.
	04/01/2025	Binghamton Rumble Ponies activated RHP Jack Wenninger.
	07/08/2024	RHP Jack Wenninger assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones from St. Lucie Mets.
	03/31/2024	RHP Jack Wenninger assigned to St. Lucie Mets from FCL Mets.
	09/06/2023	RHP Jack Wenninger assigned to FCL Mets from St. Lucie Mets.
	09/05/2023	RHP Jack Wenninger assigned to St. Lucie Mets from FCL Mets.
	08/22/2023	RHP Jack Wenninger assigned to FCL Mets.
	07/14/2023	New York Mets signed RHP Jack Wenninger.
	07/05/2023	Team Manto activated RHP Jack Wenninger.
	07/05/2023	Team Manto activated RHP Jack Wenninger.
	05/31/2023	Williamsport Crosscutters activated RHP Jack Wenninger.