A.J. Ewing

Age: 22 (8/10/2004) B/T: L/R

Traditional Stats: 120 G, 492 PA, 436 AB, 55 R, 110 H, 19 doubles, 11 home runs, 43 RBIs, 46 BB, 125 SO, .252/.324/.376, .700 OPS
Advanced Stats: .311 wOBA, 97 wRC+, 97 OPS+, .124 ISO, 2.0 FWAR, 3.1 bWAR

2026 Salary: $780,000

Grade: B

2026 Review 

There were few bright spots to emerge from the 2026 season for the Mets, but A.J. Ewing was one of them. While the major-league team stumbled out of the gate, Ewing started the minor league season on a tear. He posted a gaudy .961 OPS over just 30 games across both Double-A and Triple-A. As a result, the outfielder received a call-up to the big leagues on May 12 to try and spark the struggling Mets offense.

Ewing did just that, making a stellar impression in his MLB debut. He hit a triple, walked three times, drove in two runs, and stole a base. Not only did Ewing become the first player in baseball history to record that kind of stat-line in his debut, but he set the tone for what was to come.

Offensively, Ewing brought something different to the table with good plate discipline, some pop, and elite speed on the bases. The rookie was able to put the ball in play at a high clip while being able to cause havoc on the basepaths. He went on to set the Mets’ franchise record for most steals by a rookie with 25. Furthermore, Ewing also developed a tendency to come up with big hits in the clutch throughout the season.

However, Ewing’s entertainment value came via his defense. With arm strength that ranks in the 91st percentile, the rookie routinely put on a show in the outfield. He put together a pretty impressive highlight reel of big-time plays, both with his strong arm and at the wall to rob home runs. In all, Ewing was worth plus-six Fielding Run Value, plus-five Outs Above Average, and 10 Defensive Runs Saved. His sprint speed (29.4 feet per second) allowed him to cover a lot of ground and be used across the outfield.

Of course, like all rookies, Ewing did hit a bit of a wall. He was mired in an all-time slump for most of August, slashing just .171/.243/.219. He also went 209 plate appearances without hitting a home run. However, the outfielder deserves a lot of credit for bursting out of that funk and rebounding with a strong finish, posting an .862 OPS with four homers in September.

2027 Outlook

Ewing proved in 2026 that he belongs at the big-league level. There is no reason to believe why he can’t now take the next leap in his game. The way he was able to work through a pretty significant slump was impressive. He also seems to have the intangibles needed, along with the physical tools, to become an everyday impact player.

First and foremost, it is clear that Ewing can provide elite defense day in and day out. As many needs as the Mets have to address this offseason, outfield isn’t one of them thanks largely to the emergence of both Ewing and Carson Benge. There have always been question marks over whether or not Ewing’s offense could stick. However, he does have some offensive upside. Both his average exit velocity (89.6 mph) and hard-hit rate (42.3%) suggest he could fill his frame and add both some more pop and bat speed.

Overall, Ewing projects as an important everyday player for the Mets in 2027 with a lot of value defensively. If he can make some improvements offensively, then we could see him make a big leap next year.