NewzNEW YORK (AP) — The Minnesota Twins acquired left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the New York Mets for minor league infielders Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick on Friday, reinforcing a thin bullpen ahead of the trade deadline. The 19-year-old Agbayani, the son of former Mets fan favorite Benny Agbayani, is a middle infielder who hit .268 in 10 games for Fort Myers in low Class A this season.
The sixth-round 2025 draft pick, a native of Hawaii, has been limited by injuries. “It means a lot,” Benny Agbayani said on a conference call Friday afternoon. “He wanted to get drafted by the Mets when he was first coming out of high school.
It’s a great opportunity for him and I’m just going to support him as much as I can.” The Alomars (father Sandy Sr. and sons Roberto and Sandy Jr.) and Wilsons (father Mookie and stepson Preston) are the only father-son combos to play for the Mets. “It’s great to have him wearing a Mets jersey and continuing the legacy,” Benny Agbayani said.
The 23-year-old Amick batted .217 with 23 homers in 86 games for Double-A Wichita this season, playing first and third base. He was a second-round draft pick in 2024. Minter had a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings with 20 strikeouts and only two walks.
He didn’t make his season debut until May 26, going more than a year between major league appearances. His 2025 season ended after 13 appearances when he injured his left lat muscle in his back and needed surgery. Minter signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Mets in 2025.
His 2024 season with the Atlanta Braves also was cut short by a torn labrum in his left hip, but when he’s been healthy he’s been one of baseball’s most effective late-game lefties. The 33-year-old, who was a second-round 2015 draft pick by the Braves, has a 3.18 ERA with 456 strikeouts in 382 2/3 innings over 420 career appearances. Minter likely will be the first of multiple Mets players moved before the trade deadline on Monday.
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