Vidal Brujan
Week Performance: In 6 games with 23 at-bats, Brujan hit an impressive .391/.500/.696, tallying 9 hits, including 1 double, 2 home runs, 5 walks, 6 strikeouts, and successfully stealing 1 out of 2 bases at Triple-A.
2026 Season Overview: Over 60 games and 198 at-bats in Triple-A, Brujan posted a .268/.381/.399 slash line with 53 hits, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 33 walks, 39 strikeouts, and 15 stolen bases out of 20 attempts, boasting a .318 BABIP. In the majors, he appeared in 9 games with 11 at-bats, batting .091/.167/.091 with just 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, and no stolen bases, holding a .100 BABIP.
Had the McNeil Rule not come into effect, MJ Melendez would have secured Hitter of the Week honors after hitting .381/.519/1.000 with four homers during the week and exhibiting formidable form since August 1, slashing .301/.368/.707 across 33 games with 12 doubles, a triple, and 12 home runs. As Melendez was ineligible, Vidal Brujan instead earned the title.
The Mets acquired Brujan in January by trading cash to the Minnesota Twins. Though he had little chance to make the big league roster and struggled in spring training, leading to his assignment to Triple-A Syracuse, Brujan was soon called up when Ronny Mauricio joined the injured list in early May. Brujan’s major league time has been limited and underwhelming. Once a top prospect in the Rays organization in the early 2020s, Brujan struggled to establish himself each time Tampa Bay gave him a chance. After being traded to Miami in late 2023 and then moved to Chicago, Atlanta, Minnesota, and finally the Mets, his journey has been turbulent. A light-hitting utility infielder, it’s uncertain if the Mets will need him at the MLB level in 2027, though he remains a decent option for Triple-A. If not retained by the Mets, his departure wouldn’t be surprising.
Jonathan Santucci
Week Performance: In a single game start at Triple-A, Santucci pitched 5 innings, allowing 1 hit, 1 run (earned), no walks, and recording 6 strikeouts.
2026 Season Overview: Across 19 starts in Double-A, he had a 3.57 ERA with 68 hits allowed, 42 runs (36 earned), 45 walks, and 120 strikeouts with a .314 BABIP. At Triple-A, in 7 starts covering 29 innings, he posted a 5.28 ERA, giving up 31 hits, 19 runs (17 earned), 18 walks, and 37 strikeouts, with a .351 BABIP.
Following the conclusion of Single-A seasons, the pool of players available for performance recognition shrank significantly. With the top pitching performances coming from Double-A and Triple-A squads, Jonathan Santucci stood out this week. Although in previous weeks his stats may not have warranted recognition, his recent improvements have earned him accolade consideration.
Santucci initially struggled upon his promotion to Triple-A Syracuse in early August, posting a high 7.71 ERA in his first four starts across 14 innings while allowing 16 hits and 16 walks but also striking out 18. He has since improved significantly, achieving a 3.00 ERA over the next three starts in 15 innings, limiting hits to 15 and walks sharply down to just 2, while increasing strikeouts to 19. His biggest progress has been in reducing free passes, although his home run rate has unfortunately increased in this stretch—from 1 homer allowed during his tough starts to 4 in the recent good run—a trend hopefully not continuing.
Santucci’s fourth Pitcher of the Week award this season triggers the McNeil Rule, making him the second player overall and the first pitcher this year to have it applied. He is the first pitcher to invoke the rule since Jonah Tong in mid-2025 and the first lefty since Zach Thoronton a few weeks prior.
Players of the Week 2026 Recap
A comprehensive list runs from Week One (March 27-April 5) through Week Twenty-Four (September 1-September 6), highlighting standout performers including Hayden Senger, MJ Melendez, Jonathan Santucci, and others across each week.
Fan Take:
This update shines a spotlight on emerging players like Vidal Brujan and Jonathan Santucci, illustrating the challenges and resilience required to break through in professional baseball. For fans, it underscores how player development and mid-season adjustments are critical to shaping future stars and sustaining competitive teams in the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
