Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Imagest

2026 was supposed to be the year.

The year in which Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens, confronted with the realities of the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) debuting in Major League Baseball, turned the leaf towards stronger offensive production and away from the defensive-centered skillset that had defined the position over the last decade.

And yet, the pair’s strong framing marks in 2026 epitomize an unexpected trend. Offensive production by backstops has tailed off. And strong catcher defense hasn’t let up.

In both 2025 and 2026, at least 25 backstops generated positive framing runs. 2025’s leader, Patrick Bailey – the poster child for top-shelf catcher defense — still ranks among 2026’s best framers.

Bailey represents an archetype that’s emerged as foundational for modern roster construction: the all-glove, no-bat starting catcher. It’s a profile desired by several analytical, numbers-crunching front offices, cognizant that the positive runs tallied on defense outweigh the runs cost on offense.

Bailey’s recent trade to the Cleveland Guardians emphasized the still-present, realistic cost of acquiring strong behind-the-plate defense. The Giants sent Bailey to Cleveland in exchange for a first-round competitive balance pick and one of their top starting pitching prospects, a hefty package even given Bailey’s sterling defensive chops.

Before the 2026 season, catching defense was measured by framing. Now, ABS dictates the value of catcher defense. The question is simple: What good is framing if it can be reversed via a simple tap on the head?

For those uninitiated with the challenging procedure, teams are granted two overturns a game through a technology-driven system, thoroughly tested in the minor leagues over the last three seasons. Challenges can be requested by either a pitcher, a catcher, or a hitter. Baseball Savant summarized the season’s ABS data rather succinctly.

The club does not have a Patrick Bailey donning the orange-and-blue to buttress their defense behind the plate. But they do have Luis Torrens. A gifted defender, Torrens stepped into the starting role after Francisco Alvarez tore his meniscus midseason.

Both Alvarez and Torrens provide value behind the plate. This season, Torrens has racked up eight defensive runs, which ranks second in the majors, while Alvarez has made strides in his defensive repertoire.

Each backstop debuted in the majors before the challenge system became widespread in the minors. Despite their limited experience, both Torrens and Alvy have tackled the new endeavor with aplomb. Torrens gained four more overturns than expected, while Alvarez’s challenge record sits over .500.

Both backstops do well to challenge at impactful times.

Of course, not all challenges are the same. Challenges in the first inning with the game tied don’t equate to a blowout in the eighth. The former could decide the game’s end while the latter could result in a few grinded teeth in the stadium’s grandstands.

Catchers need to play the game – challenge early enough so the tap on the noggin is impactful, but not too early to burn the two overturns that teams are allocated.

A simple way to visualize this data is to check which innings the Mets tend to challenge.

On average, Alvarez tends to challenge early in the game while Torrens is a bit more conservative.

One can already find faults just by visualizing the data through this lens. It ignores the score, a somewhat important factor in a game’s outcome.

That’s where leverage factors in.

On an aggregate level, Torrens challenges when the Mets have a 38% chance to win, which pales in comparison to the Mets’ 57% WP when Alvarez challenges. Both Torrens & Alvarez requested an overturn a similar number of times while the game was close, a threshold defined by my own arbitrariness, as highlighted by the green, dotted lines. The red line represents a 50% win probability.

The pair takes different paths to challenge when the game isn’t close. When the Mets stand a high chance of emerging victorious, Alvarez calls for a review. Torrens, on the other hand, tends to request a challenge when the game is out of hand for the Amazin’s.

His most valuable challenge, as calculated via the difference in win expectancy before and after the at-bat when the challenge took place, came on a 0-1 pitch in the ninth inning to Seiya Suzuki with the speedy Scott Kingery bouncing off first, representing the tying run. The at-bat, aided by Torrens’s collected call, added 3% to the Mets’ win probability.

Torrens’s defensive story is worth retelling; his defensive chops received the “Ben Clemens” treatment in a 2025 Fangraphs article, he was a finalist for a Gold Glove the same season, and he recently received a two-year contract extension. His value behind the dish also extends to ABS, where the defensive savant excels at challenging when the Mets’ chances at winning the game are within reach.

Tenure may explain the difference in challenge strategy.

Alvarez may feel unconfident tapping his head while donning the tools of ignorance due to a lack of experience.  After all, his rapid ascent up the Minors culminated in the 24-year-old only spending 253 games in the Minor Leagues. Further, Alvarez may not have the game knowledge that Torrens, the grizzled vet, does.

If Alvarez’s first rehab game with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, where he overturned a two-strike ball call with ducks on the corners in the first inning, provides any indication, he’s well on his way to eclipsing Torrens’s defensive impact.

Data as of 5/8/2026. Only include challenges initiated by the catcher while on defense. Further analysis could include finding the delta in Run Value on a challenge based on RE288 calculations.

Code Repo:https://github.com/MancusoM/ABS_Studies

Savant Search

The post Statcast Breakdown: Challenging Catchers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After a solid showing against the San Diego Padres, the New York Mets host the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game set. It is the beginning of a stretch where the Mets consistently play National League opponents, setting up an opportunity for New York to vault back into the playoff picture. Quite frankly, it is a slate of games that could define New York’s 2026 season.

There is little time to waste, so without further ado, let us dive into it!

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Tuesday: Freddy Peralta (4-4, 3.63 ERA) vs. Dustin May (3–6, 4.59 ERA) 

• Freddy Peralta had more good than bad in his last start against the Mariners, going six innings while only giving up one earned run. Even while allowing six hits, the right-hander struck out six batters and walked two batters. Peralta’s arsenal, ranging from the fastball to the changeup and the curveball, was working great in Seattle. He struck out at least one batter with every pitch, while he recorded multiple strikeouts with the fastball and slider. As the Mets begin a slate against multiple NL foes, they will need Peralta at his best. He needs to build on his good start in Seattle in the first game of this series. 
• New York, in their first game against the Cardinals, draws what could be a tough matchup in the form of Dustin May. May can still carve through lineups with ease, as evidenced by his totaling nine strikeouts in his last start. And while he has a 4.59 ERA on the season, he has not given up many hard-hit balls (49%) and has an expected ERA of 3.76. How the Mets deal with May’s six-pitch mix will be very interesting to watch over the course of this game. 

Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Wednesday: Christian Scott (2-0, 2.50 ERA) vs. Andre Pallante (6-4, 3.96 ERA)

• Christian Scott is on the verge of taking another leap as a pitcher and has been the best starter on the team the last month and a half. Facing the San Diego Padres in his latest start, Scott went 5.2 innings of shutout baseball, striking out three batters in the process. Location and control have bit Scott, as he walked two batters once again, and holds a walk rate of 11.5%. If he can slightly lower the walk rate, Scott’s impressive fastball, sweeper, and cutter will play at an even higher level. I am excited to see Scott’s continued progress over the course of the season. 
• Finding much more success in 2026, Andre Pallante looks to be another tough task for New York’s lineup. Sporting a 3.96 ERA, Pallante’s best pitch is his slider. The right-handed pitcher has struck out 26 batters with the pitch and has only allowed 15 total hits on 86 plate attempts. Add in Pallante’s 51.5% ground ball rate, and the Cardinals have a pitcher who can strike batters out and not give up fly balls.

Thursday: TBD vs. Hunter Dobbins (1-0, 2.77 ERA)

• As of the writing of this article, the Mets have not announced a starting pitcher for Thursday’s series finale. It wouldn’t be surprising to see David Peterson get some bulk work here.
• To wrap up this series, the Mets will face Hunter Dobbins, formerly of the Boston Red Sox. Only making his fourth start for the Cardinals in this series, Dobbins is coming off an appearance where he struck out six batters over five shutout innings. His sinker has been his best pitch, but Dobbins has relied on six pitches through 13 innings in 2026. A pitcher without too many tendencies to key in on, I am fascinated to see how New York attacks Dobbins on Thursday. 

Carson Benge by Berto Carlo

The Main Storyline

Ahead of this series, my main storyline is all about the Mets’ chase of the NL Wild Card.

Despite the awful level New York has played at for the majority of the season, they are somehow just five games removed from a playoff spot. Expanding things a bit further, they are six and a half games out of the second NL Wild Card spot.

As fate would have it, the Mets’ positive momentum, sparked by Carson Benge and friends, coincides with the team playing many of the teams they are trying to chase down. From today’s date until the end of the month, New York plays the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays.

Outside of the trip to Canada, the Mets have 19 games against teams in the National League. They have nine divisional games and play four of the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings.

It is a stretch that could vault New York back into the playoff discussion, especially if they go on a run for the majority of June. On the other hand, it is a slate of games that could bury the Mets for good in 2026.

To keep it short, this group of games will likely help to dictate the ultimate fate of the Mets, one way or the other. For that reason alone, it is my main headline of the week.

Player to Watch 

In the latest early week series for the Mets, I am concentrating on Juan Soto.

As the calendar moves closer to the middle of June, New York will be tasked with many teams that they are chasing in the NL Wild Card standings. Without Francisco Lindor and other contributors in the lineup, Soto needs to find his spark once again to help keep things rolling for the Mets to start off the week.

Whether it is drawing walks or lacing baseballs all over the field, Soto needs to be the catalyst in the middle of the order for New York. The level at which he performs those tasks will dictate how this series goes for New York.

Prediction

In their series against the Cardinals, I have the Mets winning two of three games.

The post Series Preview: Mets Host the Blossoming Cardinals appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

At the same time, there are plenty of moves the team makes this day and age that are attributed to the president of baseball operations or general manager that simply shouldn’t. All of the draft picks are a prime example. (Billy Eppler didn’t sign off on every pick under his watch.)

We wanted to add some clarity to the conversation. Here are some of the main parts of the job of the person running a baseball team, whether it be the president of baseball operations or general manager.

David Stearns
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Player Evaluation Processes

The head of a baseball organization sets the framework for how the club views players. It is important to have consistency throughout the organization so the crosschecker in the Dominican Republic scouting international free agents and the pro scout analyzing players for the first pick in the amateur draft are on the same page.

This includes how different traits are weighed. The Mets under Stearns have shown clear archetypes in players they have acquired and looked to develop. For instance, their drafts have been full of athletic up the middle defenders and high slot pitchers with good spin profiles. Part of this also revolves around what the organization feels they are well equipped to develop. When you have continual success with specific player archetypes, it makes sense to continue to acquire those player types.

Every team has a model they utilize to evaluate players and project future performance. How much are you weighing contact rate vs exit velocities? How much do you factor a player’s results vs their metrics? How do you judge where a player is vs where they can be after specific changes? Stearns with the Brewers and the Mets has typically been known for having a balance of focusing between what you see on the field and what you see under the hood.

Scouting and the Draft

The president of baseball operations is not personally picking each draft pick. They are not personally reviewing film of every prospect in the draft or every international free agent. They may not even be in the room for every pick made. They very likely are heavily involved in the early round picks. But Kris Gross, Vice President of Amateur & International Scouting, largely runs the scouting and draft process for the Mets. This is true on other teams, too.

What David Stearns has done is transform how the Mets approach scouting. The Mets have largely moved away from focusing heavily on in person scouting to scouting through data and film. In a recent Baseball America survey, the Mets were listed among the teams that invested the least in in person scouting. This is not to say that the Mets never view a player in person, we have even seen David Stearns personally travel with scouts to view the big potential signings. But the focus has shifted to a more modern approach. This also means scouts are not necessarily going to view players in person as a fact-finding mission, but going with their data and research already completed to see how it translates on the field.

Under Stearns the Mets have worked to build cohesion between the development and scouting departments. It makes absolute sense – why draft a player who the team is not confident they can develop? You can see this in the players they have drafted compared to the breakouts throughout the minor league systems.

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Building the Farm System

Building the farm system is the culmination of drafts, international signings, and player development. It also involves recognizing areas that may be overlooked by other teams. For instance, the Mets signed reliever Jonathan Pintaro out of the Pioneer League and recognized the swing changes Jared Young made in the Korean Baseball Organization.

In the offseason the Mets saw the following prospects make top 100 prospect lists: Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, Jonah Tong, A.J. Ewing, Brandon Sproat, Jett Williams, Ryan Clifford, Jacob Reimer, Jack Wenninger, and Will Watson. Sproat and Williams were traded. McLean, Benge, Tong and Ewing are currently in the majors. They have also pulled from deeper in their farm with Nick Morabito, Zach Thornton and Jonathan Pintaro spending time in the majors so far.

Even with two top prospects traded and four potentially losing prospect status this year, the Mets still look to have multiple top 100 prospects. Both Jack Wenninger and Jacob Reimer are in strong top 100 contention, while Elian Peña and Eli Serrano have begun to make noise. Ryan Clifford has finally started to show some signs of life in May and could raise his stock back up. Outside of the top 100 contenders, the Mets minor league system is full of players who could make a future impact in the majors at some point including Jonathan Santucci, Chris Suero, Ryan Lambert, Dylan Ross and Randy Guzman.

Even with so many top prospects graduating, the Mets have a very strong farm system with clear development direction.

Analytics and Performance Science

Organizations need structure when it comes to the data they acquire. It does not make a huge difference to measure data if you do not know how to analyze it. Griffin Canning in 2025 spoke about how the Mets’ and Angel’s pitching labs structurally were similar in terms of the machines they had, but whereas the Angels provided all the raw data to the players for them to analyze, the Mets had staff on site that could tell the pitchers what each data point meant.

This not only requires having staff that have a strong working and foundational knowledge of this information, but that there are staff that know how to communicate it across the organization and to the players. At the major league level, Steve Gelbs of SNY recently mentioned on the broadcast that the players feel the information they have received has been communicated well to them despite their offensive struggles. The have been focused on making hard contact with the Mets placing fifth in barrel rate, seventh in hard hit rate and ninth in exit velocity, while placing in the middle of the pack in strikeout rate. Where they have not done well, also mentioned by Steve Gelbs on the broadcast, is working through the mental side of slumping—an issue they seemed to have in the second half of 2025 as well.

In the minor leagues, David Stearns has prioritized infrastructure and standardized development plans. The Mets have expanded the pitching lab and have been designing a hitting lab to go alongside it. The Mets have invested in understanding the biomechanical side of evaluation – how does changing a player’s swing/load or a pitcher’s arm angle change kinetic chain? How does that change in the transfer of energy impact the ball? We have seen multiple players drafted come to the Mets and adjust their loads at the plate significantly or change their arm slot, leading to improved results.

D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Organizing Communication Flow

This has two parts to it, the internal portion and the external portion.

Externally the head of the baseball organization oversees how information is communicated to the media. They work to ensure stuff they do not want leaked stays internal, and what they do want leaked is done so through the filter in which the organization wants the information communicated. They are also in charge of ensuring there is consistent messaging with the media. There is a reason when Carlos Mendoza and David Stearns speak with the media back-to-back their messaging is in line.

Internally the head of the organization sets up the structure of the organization and communication flow. Who is running departments and how are the different departments communicating with each other. How is feedback being shared throughout the various levels of the organization to ensure everyone is on the same page? Is there cohesion?

Until recently the Mets have been largely viewed as a fractured organization without unity. For much of the past few decades the organization was cobbled together across various different philosophies with vacancies scattered throughout. Under former general manager Billy Eppler and owner Steve Cohen, many long-term members of the organization left for various reasons. Over the last two and a half years the structure of the organization has largely been rebuilt and for the first time in a long time there is a clear unifying vision and structure.

Managing the Staff of the Organization

The Mets under Steve Cohen have grown into a massive organization. They have well over 500 staff members per their staff directory across various departments including scouting, player development, field staff, baseball operations, etc. The person running the team is the architect of this entire infrastructure. While they do not directly hire and manage every single individual, they are directly in charge of the individuals at the top and through them impact the full trickle-down affect.

The Mets do not have a general manager at the moment. That role is split between three assistant general managers, Eduardo Brizuela, Jonathan Strangio, and Ben Zauzmer. It is not uncommon to leave some high-profile positions like that empty for a few years so you can promote one of your AGMs into that position when a team looks to poach them. They handle many of the day-to-day operational aspects of the organization, allowing David Stearns to focus on the higher-level decisions.

Departments like player development, headed by senior vice president of baseball development Andy Green, are massive both in terms of staff and responsibilities. Hundreds of players go through a team’s minor league system annually from prospects, to rehab assignments, to veterans on minor league deals. Each level has their own individuals overseeing development.

Similarly, the coaching staff is managed by the managers at each level: Carlos Mendoza in the majors, Dick Scott in Triple-A, Michael Collins in Double-A, Eduardo Nunez in High-A, Luis Rivera in Single-A, Lino Diaz in the Florida Complex League, and JC Rodriguez and Felix Fermin in the Dominican Summer League. Alongside Steve Cohen and the AGMs, David Stearns is responsible for getting the right people into those positions. David Stearns has also always been known for being very hands off with his managers, allowing them to do their jobs without micromanaging.

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Major League Player Acquisition

Saving the most recognizable part for last. Deciding who to sign and who not to sign to the majors. Who to trade for, and who to give up. Jorge Polanco has spent most of the season hurt, but most team’s models likely would have grouped Ryan O’Hearn, Willson Contreras, and Jorge Polanco together in the offseason. Contreras would have cost multiple top prospects at least to beat the Red Sox massive offer, while Ryan O’Hearn is currently injured and reportedly wanted to get significant outfield time.

While Marcus Semien has struggled, he is much easier to cut in a year than Brandon Nimmo who has struggled heavily at the plate for over a month now with a .656 OPS over that span and has had trouble staying on the field due to multiple chronic medical issues that are unlikely to get better as he ages. Moving him also allowed the Mets call up Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing and play them every day. Both short and long term it is likely better for the organization this move was made even when it is sad to see a fan favorite leave.

Meanwhile Pete Alonso has taken a massive step backwards this year both in terms of results and under the hood. His contact rates have plummeted, and he is not hitting the ball as hard as he did in the past. Edwin Diaz began the year with decreased velocity and what the manager described as discomfort in the knee he has surgically repaired and has missed most of the season with elbow surgery to remove bone chips. Jeff McNeil has struggled defensively after his thoracic outlet surgery, and he has been a below average hitter despite playing half of his games in one of the most hitter friendly ballparks.

Part of the job is knowing when it is time to move on from players even when it is fan favorites.

On the replacements, it has been a mixed bag at first. Did anyone see Bo Bichette severely underperforming his metrics to be one of the worst hitters in baseball? Marcus Semien has struggled even more than expected yet the manager continues to play him every day. Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr.are hurt. With Brett Baty and Mark Vientos you expected some of this could be managed but they have largely underperformed, though Baty has looked much better throughout May.

On the positive side, Freddy Peralta looks exactly as expected. Tobias Myers looks incredible even if the team’s usage of him continues to be perplexing. Devin Williams has had two horrible blow ups, but for the most part has looked strong giving up four runs across eighteen games. Luke Weaver has looked strong. Brooks Raley continues to be a good contract. Before he got hurt Clay Holmes looked to be one of the Mets best ever signings. MJ Melendez has struggled recently as he has gotten over exposed but has performed well as a depth piece. Many of the depth pieces like Austin Warren, Chris Devenski, Brandon Waddell, Jared Young, Carl Edwards Jr, Joey Gerber, Jose Castillo, Ben Gamel, etc. performed well while here.

Going back to past offseasons you have signings that made sense recognizing the free agent landscape but haven’t worked out for various reasons like Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and A.J. Minter. Meanwhile, Juan Soto, Clay Holmes, Jose Iglesias, Luis Severino, the first Manaea contract, Griffin Canning, and Pete Alonso’s 2025 deal were all great contracts. Harrison Bader and JD Martinez were fine one-year deals.

The trades have been a mixed bag as well. Luis Torrens, Ryne Stanek, Phil Maton, Jesse Winker, Tyler Rogers on the positive side where they gave up very little of value to get good performances. Cedric Mullins, Ryan Helsley, and Gregory Soto ago in the bad column, but also they did not cost much of value either. Marcus Semien has been awful, but you also were not getting anything of value to free yourself of the constraints of Nimmo’s contract. Even there we probably won’t truly be able to evaluate for a few more years. Luis Robert Jr. has been hurt and probably does not deserve to be judged before the season’s end, but the main piece sent over, Luisangel Acuña looks like he may need to be cut soon and may not have made the Mets opening day roster.

Conclusion

If you are judging David Stearns only on major league acquisitions or team record it is easy to argue that he has failed in that aspect of the job. If you take a step back, look at the landscape of players available and the process it is also easy to defend many of these moves. I think both paths are absolutely valid when discussing these players and acquisitions.

I also would not consider the major league player acquisition to be the most important part of the job. It is definitely the most public facing and easiest to comprehend.
But building the organizational infrastructure is far and beyond the most important part of a general manager or president of baseball operations. It is the part of the job that has the longest-term impact to lead to success.

We have seen under Steve Cohen that just throwing money at free agents doesn’t build success on its own. We have also been lucky that these have mostly been short term deals compared to organizations like the Angels and Giants who have seen their teams bogged down by lengthy contracts where players have been made playing time promises so they cannot be easily cut even across many years of struggle.

The Mets organization has cohesion for the first time in a long time. David Stearns inherited a mess of incompatible philosophies, with a lack of infrastructure and direction, and many vacancies. This was never going to be fixed in just two years, but the Mets have made massive strides. The continual churn of front offices over the years is what led to this mess, and ideally Steve Cohen will recognize where the organization as a whole is, where it was, and where it is going.

The post What Does a President of Baseball Operations Do? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

There were a lot of positives on display as the Mets took two out of three from the Padres. And, in winning the series in San Diego, New York finished their final West Coast road trip with a 3-3 record.

The Mets have also won seven of their last 10 games. Furthermore, they are 19-15 since May 1. That’s obviously a big improvement and a sign that this team is now trending in the right direction.

Of course, it wasn’t all perfect over the weekend. There were mistakes, another quiet day by the offense, and a not-so-great injury update on Jorge Polanco. All in all, the Mets did what they had to do to take care of business.

On that note, let’s unpack all the good and the bad from the Padres series in another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

Jun 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) celebrates after hitting a one run home run during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images

3 UP

FUTURE HOPE

We got a glimpse of both the short and long-term future for the Mets this weekend. Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing played huge roles in the series win. As such, they offered tantalizing hope that maybe this season could be salvaged after all. And, if not, then the long-term future at least looks incredibly bright with those two leading the charge. Benge was the headline act, going 5-for-5 on Sunday, becoming the first rookie since Pete Alonso in 2019 to record five hits in a single game. Benge finished Sunday with a triple, a home run, two RBIs, three runs scored, and ten total bases. It was a statement performance by the rookie, who continues to emerge as a real All-Star contender.

As for Ewing, the outfielder had a hit in all three games. He also walked twice in the second game of the series, including a masterclass of an at-bat against Padres phenom Mason Miller in the ninth inning. Ewing also made another stellar defensive play in the series. Overall, both the immediate outlook and the bigger picture look bright for the Mets thanks to their two dynamic rookies.

GUTTING IT OUT

Nolan McLean has had a rough time of it as of late, but he showed signs of getting the train back on the tracks in San Diego. The righty walked three, but allowed just one run over six innings during Saturday’s loss. It was the first time McLean had pitched into the sixth inning since May 14. Granted, it wasn’t the prettiest of outings – McLean threw 101 pitches – but he strapped on his big boy pants to work through the traffic and limit the damage. That’s a good sign. The hope will be now that McLean can return to his dominant self on the mound.

FINDING A GROOVE

Both Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette continue to trend upwards. Semien stayed hot in San Diego, recording four hits in the final two games of the series. That included homers on back-to-back days. Semien also drove in both of the Mets’ runs on Saturday night. However, at this point, it is fair to wonder if the veteran is just going to be a streaky player. As for Bichette, his offensive ceiling is a lot higher, and he showed what he’s capable of against the Padres. He recorded an RBI triple on Friday night, before finishing with two hits on Sunday. After recording five hits total in the series, Bichette is hitting .375/.385/.542/.926 over his last six games. Now he needs to put it all together on a consistent basis.

Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

BASERUNNING GAFFE 

It didn’t get talked about because the Mets won, but Juan Soto had a moment to forget on Friday night. During the third inning, with two outs and a runner on third, Soto hit a grounder and seemed to give up on the play immediately. He casually strolled out of the box before breaking into a run when it was already too late. The lack of hustle cost the Mets a run, while it didn’t ultimately matter, it was still an incredibly bad look on Soto’s part. And it isn’t the first time it has happened, either.

GROWING PROBLEM

How do you solve a problem like Mark Vientos? Yikes. There doesn’t appear to be an easy answer. The infielder will show brief glimpses of his potential, only to then go ice-cold for long periods. He is a net negative way too often. Just look at the series in San Diego. Vientos went 0-for-4 on Saturday, including striking out on three pitches to end the game. His at-bat against Mason Miller was just lifeless. He has now struck out in six of his last 10 plate appearances. Maybe it is time to concede that the 2024 season was the exception rather than the rule.

CLUNKER 

Austin Warren has been a revelation for the Mets so far in 2026. Sadly, that wasn’t the case on Saturday night. Warren gave up the go-ahead two-run shot that sealed the loss. If that wasn’t enough, he misplayed a routine chopper just before allowing the fatal shot. In what was a one-run ballgame, Warren’s bad night proved costly. It cost the Mets a chance to sweep, which could come back to haunt them, given the hole they’ve dug for themselves.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Finish Road Trip Strong In San Diego appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets received two prospects. The higher-ranked one at the time was outfielder Drew Gilbert, who, after a couple mixed seasons in the Mets minor league system, was flipped with Blade Tidwell and José Buttó for reliever Tyler Rogers at the 2025 trade deadline. Rogers was really good for the Mets over the two months and change he was in Queens, but the Mets failed to make the postseason. He left in free agency, ending that branch of the Verlander trade tree. Gilbert was a big leaguer before the end of 2025, but doesn’t look like much more than a back-end bench outfielder at this point, even with his moderate improvements in 2026.

The other was Ryan Clifford. While he was generally considered the second of the two prospects in the trade, Clifford was still a big get for the Mets. He had his believers too, with some thinking he was a bigger get than Gilbert. While that was the minority opinion at the time, it was out there.

In a way, Clifford received one of the largest signing bonuses handed out to any prospect in history. The money just didn’t go to him. It’s not quite that simple — the Mets were already on the hook for Verlander’s full contract whether they liked it or not before they traded him — but the implication was that the Mets could have taken lesser prospects to shed more money. Instead, they chose to eat well over 50% of the remaining money owed to Verlander to get Gilbert and Clifford.

With Gilbert gone and nothing to show for him besides 27 and 1/3 innings of a reliever in a playoff-less season, the entire $35M investment essentially rides on Clifford.

Since joining the Mets, Clifford has been the prototypical three true outcomes player. He has prodigious power and has been one of the best home run hitters in the minor leagues whenever he wasn’t playing for the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones in the power-drain of an environment that is Maimonides Park. In 2025, Clifford’s 29 home runs ranked sixth across the entire minor leagues. In 2026, his 14 home runs through June 6 are tied for 13th.

He also has prodigious swing-and-miss issues. However, while the strikeout rate was still high in previous years, he had actually been making steady improvements. That is, until this season. After getting his strikeout rate all the way down to 25.6% in 2025, it’s ballooned to 35% in 2026. Therein lies the problem. A 35% strikeout rate in Triple-A is unsustainable for any level of consistent success at the big leagues.

Players can produce with a high strikeout rate. The top four qualified hitters in the big leagues this season — Oneil Cruz, Kyle Schwarber, Hunter Goodman and Munetaka Murakami — have all been productive despite the lofty strikeout rates.

That list is just the qualified hitters, though. When the minimum plate appearance mark is set to 50, the list grows substantially. Cruz drops all the way from first to 12th, and Murakami from fourth to 28th. Of the 24 new players between No. 1 and No. 28, just three have an OPS over .760: Joey Wiemer, Kerry Carpenter and Luke Raley. Even of those three, one of them is misleading. Wiemer’s numbers are inflated by a red-hot first nine games when he OPS’d 1.243 and only struck out 26.5% of the time. In his next 23 games, Wiemer is OPS’d just .687 and struck out 40.8% of the time.

Players can be productive with strikeout rates as high as Clifford’s, but it’s rare. And remember, this is his Triple-A strikeout rate. Pitchers are better in the big leagues.

Let’s dig deeper. Here are his contact rates, the backbone of strikeout rate.

Ryan Clifford‘s Triple-A percentiles in 2025 (left) and 2026 (right). Image courtesy of Thomas Nestico @TJStats on X.

Overall, Clifford’s 2026 numbers look similar to his 2025 Triple-A numbers, but there are a few glaring issues. His chase rate is way up, and his in-zone contact rate is way down. Clifford is still patient — just in the wrong places. He’s swinging at pitches in the zone at a rate under the Triple-A average, but chasing at a rate above the Triple-A average. Previously, he was patient both ways. Now, he’s patient in the zone and aggressive out of the zone, not a good combination.

Then, when he does swing the bat at pitches in the zone, he’s not making contact. His in-zone contact rate is 74.2%, down over 10% from 2025. It cannot be understated how massive of a concern that is. Yes, similar to strikeout rate, there are a rare few who can survive with in-zone contact rates this low, but it’s generally not a recipe for success.

It has also impacted his ability to draw walks, going from one of the best hitters in Triple-A at doing so in 2025 to well below average in 2026. If Clifford is going to stick as a big leaguer, walks have to be a part of his game. Even if he gets the strikeout rate relatively under control, he’s always going to have his fair share of punchies. That has to be countered by a high walk rate.

There have been some improvements throughout the season. In his first 31 games, Clifford posted a .704 OPS with a 39.8% strikeout rate. In his next 28, he had a .832 OPs figure with a 30% strikeout rate. But it’s not enough.

Ryan Clifford’s Triple-A percentiles in his first 31 games of 2026 (left) and next 28 games of 2026 (right). Image courtesy of Thomas Nestico @TJStats on X.

The chase rate is identical, the walk rate is virtually identical, and the in-zone contact is still a big step down from 2025. His surface numbers have improved, but the underlying data tells the story of a hitter who actually hasn’t changed much.

Even if we use his 77.7% in-zone contact rate in his last 28 to measure, it does not suggest he’ll be able to have success at the MLB level. There are 83 hitters in Triple-A with an in-zone contact rate of 77.7% or worse; a handful have spent time in the big leagues, and none of them came close to any form of sustained success this season. Matt Wallner, Nick Yorke, Esmerlyn Valdéz, Patrick Wisdom and Spencer Jones are a few of the big leaguers to run Triple-A contact rates in line with Clifford. None are productive, or frankly, close to it.

This is not a final indictment on Clifford. It’s early June; there is time for Clifford to turn it around. But it is important to note that — even with the surface numbers improving and the recent home runs lighting up your social media feeds — he is a different hitter than he was last year, and not in a good way. If he is going to have an impact at the MLB level in 2026, real change needs to occur. Improving the strikeout rate without truly improving the chase or contact rates isn’t enough.

The 2025 version of Clifford can be a productive big leaguer. He’ll have his flaws, but he can be a true power threat. The 2026 version of Clifford, to this point, cannot.

The post The Intriguing Proposition That Is Ryan Clifford appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

David Stearns
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

David Stearns’ and Kris Gross’ Past Picks

Before we look to the future we should look at the first round picks that have been made before. First let’s look at the first picks Mets vice president, amateur & international scouting has made both with the Mets, and when he was in charge of the Astros’ drafts from 2018-2023.

• 2018 – College Hitter – Seth Beer, OF, Clemson University
• 2019 – College Hitter – Korey Lee, C, University of California
• 2020 – High School Pitcher – Alex Santos II, RHP, Mount St. Michael Academy (2nd Round)
• 2021 – High School Hitter – Tyler Whitaker, OF, Bishop Gorman (3rd Round)
• 2022 – College Hitter – Drew Gilbert, OF, University of Tennessee
• 2023 – College Hitter – Brice Matthews, SS, University of Nebraska
• 2024 – College Hitter – Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State University
• 2025 – College Hitter – Mitch Voit, 2B, University of Michigan

One thing to note is that the Houston Astros lost their first two picks in 2020 and 2021 for their sign stealing scandal. Every year Kris Gross had a first round pick, he took a college hitter who played a premium defensive position.

David Stearns’ first draft was in 2016. Between the Brewers and the Mets he oversaw drafts that took with the teams’ first picks:

• 2016 – College Hitter – Corey Ray, OF, University of Louisville
• 2017 – College Hitter – Keston Hiura, 2B, UC Irvine
• 2017 – High School Hitter – Tristen Lutz, OF, Martin High School
• 2018 – High School Hitter – Brice Turang, SS, Santiago High School
• 2019 – College Pitcher – Ethan Small, LHP, Mississippi State University
• 2020 – College Hitter – Garrett Mitchell, OF, University of California
• 2021 – College Hitter – Sal Frelick, OF, Boston College
• 2022 – College Hitter – Tyler Black, 2B, Wright State University
• 2024 – College Hitter – Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State University
• 2025 – College Hitter – Mitch Voit, 2B, University of Michigan

Similarly to Kris Gross, David Stearns has shown a preference to draft up-the-middle defending college hitters with his teams first overall picks. It makes sense that Stearns would hire someone with a similar philosophy. Gross also has experience with having later first round picks with the Astros so he is well prepared for the Mets picks falling back ten spots for being over the competitive balance tax.

The Player Archetype They Typically Draft

In addition to preferring to draft college bats with the first picks, most of their picks were up-the-middle defenders when drafted predominately playing center field, shortstop, or second base. These players largely share many of the same tools as well.

Each of these players had strong hit tools with plus plate discipline and pitch recognition traits when drafted. Carson Benge hit .335 with a .444 OBP his last year of college while Drew Gilbert hit .362 with a .455 OBP. They typically do not prioritize large leg kicks focusing on “toe tap” loads like Drew Gilbert’s load as described in 2023 by Colby Morris of MMO. When they have drafted guys with busier loads, they immediately simplified them, and in those cases went after hitters like Carson Benge and Mitch Voit who had already shown the ability to make adjustments in college. They have not typically prioritized pull heavy hitters with batters like Carson Benge and Sal Frelick being gap oriented hitters. Bat speed also seems to often be a priority. For example Garrett Mitchell has one of the fastest swings in the sport.

Power is routinely more secondary for both Gross and Stearns, but not completely ignored. Outside of Seth Beer, Gross’s first pick, contact has been a clear priority over power. It makes sense as well that even college bats can add more muscle to increase their power output, but the innate pitch recognition and plate discipline skills are harder to teach.

Athleticism is a prerequisite in their picks. Most of their picks are good runners. That helps both on the basepaths but in field their position as well. Especially with the many outfield picks they have made. A player with good sprint speed is much more likely to be able to man center field than one without. Many of their draft picks have been described as “twitchy”, meaning they utilize their agility to get better first steps.

Athleticism, agility, plate discipline, and pitch recognition with some power potential seems to be the typical first pick of both Stearns and Gross. In their draft analysis Baseball America described Sal Frelick as this exact player type saying, “Frelick is an explosive, quick-twitch athlete who has premium speed and the hand-eye coordination to put the ball in play at a high clip. He’s not a big power threat, but his contact skills, speed and ability to play a premium position give him a chance to develop into an above-average regular in the middle of the field.”

The Current Mock Drafts

ESPN

ESPN has put out both their 1.0 and 2.0 versions of their mock drafts.

In 1.0, they have the Mets drafting Cade Townsend, a right-handed pitcher out of Ole Miss.

This would be a big departure from the type of player Stearns and Gross have taken with their first picks, but not completely unprecedented as Gross took Alex Santos in 2020 and Stearns took Ethan Small in 2019. Townsend was a reliever until he converted to a starter, similar to former Mets draft picks Christian Scott and Brandon Sproat. He averaged 95-96 miles per hour on his fastball and throws a sweeper, curveball, splitter, and cutter. BP puts his ceiling at prime Walker Buehler.

• Cade Townsend ranks 27 on Pipeline, 27 on Baseball America, and 8 on Baseball Prospectus.

In 2.0, they still have the Mets taking a pitcher, but this time it is Mason Edwards, a left-handed pitcher out of USC. He throws from an over the top slot, something Jonah Tong and Tobias Myers do from the right side, sitting 91-93 miles per hour on his fastball with a two plane slider, a spike curveball, and a changeup.

• Mason Edwards ranks 34 on Pipeline, 26 on Baseball America, and is unranked by Baseball Prospectus.

They also mention that high school prep catcher Will Brick could be a potential there. Kriss Gross did draft a catcher with the first pick once in 2019, and Stearns has taken a high school hitter twice. Brick is a power over hit catcher with a plus arm and good defense behind the plate.

• Will Brick Ranks 51 on Pipeline and is unranked on Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus.

MLB.com

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has the Mets taking Carson Bolemon, a left-handed pitcher out of Southside Christian High School. Boleman can throw his low 90s mile per hour fastball for strikes and has multiple plus breaking balls with strong spin. When the Mets have drafted pitchers they have prioritized ones that have plus spin rates. He also throws a changeup and is committed to Wake Forest.

• Carson Boleman Ranks 23 on Pipeline, 54 on Baseball America and 28 on Baseball Prospectus.

Jim Callis of MLB.com has the Mets taking outfielder Aiden Robbins of Texas with their first pick. Robbins has a quick bat and strong contact skills and does not expand the zone. He is a hit-over-power type player but physically he projects to be able to add more power as he grows. He is a good baserunner and can play all three outfield positions. This one fits the most with the players Gross and Stearns have prioritized.

• Aiden Robbins Ranks 30 on Pipeline, 18 on Baseball America and is unranked on Baseball Prospectus.

Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report also projected Aiden Robbins to the Mets in this first mock draft in their 1.0 draft.

In their 2.0 version, they projected catcher Ryder Helfrick from Arkansas to the Mets. Ryder has plus bat speed and prioritizes pulling the baseball. He has plus power but a below average hit tool, struggles with spin, and needs to polish up the defensive side of his game.

• Ryder Helfrick Ranks 13 on Pipeline, 8 on Baseball America and 6 on Baseball Prospectus.

In their 3.0 version they have left-handed pitcher out of Huntington Beach High School Jared Grindlinger going to the Mets. Grindlinger throws a fastball that has gotten up to 96 miles per hour alongside a slider and a changeup. he has plus arm speed and projects as a power pitcher who attacks the zone.

• Jared Grindlinger Ranks 18 on Pipeline, 17 on Baseball America and 15 on Baseball Prospectus.

The Athletic

Keith Law of the Athletic in his mock draft also has the Mets taking a pitcher, this time Tegan Kuhns, a right handed pitcher from the University of Tennessee. Tegan averages 94 miles per hour on his fastball but projects to be able to add velocity, has a very high spin curveball, a slider, a cutter, and a changeup.

• Tegan Kuhns Ranks 24 on Pipeline, 23 on Baseball America and 11 on Baseball Prospectus.

Fanside

Fanside also projects the Mets to draft Tegan Kuhns.

Perfect Game

Perfect Game in their mock draft has the Mets taking outfielder Caden Sorrell of Texas A&M. Sorrell has a strong power and speed combination and can lift the ball to all fields, but he needs to clean up his pitch recognition and contact skills. He has mostly played in the corners and has a plus arm.

• Caden Sorrell Ranks 29 on Pipeline, 24 on Baseball America and is unranked on Baseball Prospectus.

Conclusion

The breakdown of the projected players:

• College Hitter – Aiden Robbins, OF (2)
• College Pitcher – Tegan Kuhns, RHP (2)
• College Pitcher – Cade Townsend, RHP
• College Pitcher – Mason Edwards, LHP
• High School Pitcher, Carson Boleman, LHP
• College Hitter – Ryder Helfrick, C
• High School Pitcher – Jared Grindlinger, LHP
• College Hitter – Caden Sorrell, OF
• High School Hitter – Will Brick, C

Aiden Robbins is arguably the closest fit here to the historical picks Gross and Stearns have made. He is a hit over power college bat with a quick swing that is capable of playing center field. Caden Sorrell, while a college hitter, does not have the hit tool or defense Robbins has.

The pitchers listed show similar characteristics to many of the pitchers in the Mets current farm system. Some throw from high slots, some prioritize high spin rates, many have similar pitch mixes to the current Mets prospects, and many can attack the zone.

The big outliers are Ryder Helfrick and Will Brick, both catchers with plus power but not great hit tools. They are not completely dissimilar to Korey Lee though, who Gross drafted in 2019.

One other path the Mets could take would be to go under slot with their first pick, taking a college hitter that fits their archetype like Trea Broussard and have more money to spread throughout the rest of the draft going over slot in other spots.

They could see someone like Tyler Bell, who has has had shoulder issues this year, fall to them and go all in on him. Bell is a switch hitter who can play shortstop, second base, and third base, and while he has no clear plus tool, he is good at every part of the game, though there are some hit tool concerns.

They could also draft someone completely different to anyone they have taken early in the draft before.

The Major League Baseball draft takes place July 11 to July 12. A lot will likely change between now and then, there will be more mock drafts, rankings will change, and we will continue to monitor how that affects the Mets here.

The post Reviewing the Current Mets Mock Drafts appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets dominantly swept the Marlins at Citi Field. As a result, they have now won four straight while finishing the homestand 4-2.

There is still a long way to go for this team to prove they have what it takes to mount a true turnaround. Still, it felt good to see this ballclub take care of business in a big way for once.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Marlins series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

3 UP

SIGNS OF LIFE

For the first time in a while, the offense delivered consistent results. The Mets outscored the Marlins 25-9 over the three games. Yes, Miami is hardly a world beater, but this same team did sweep New York in late May. And, given just how bad this offense has been, it doesn’t matter the opponent as long as runs are scored. MJ Melendez, Carson Benge, Hayden Senger, and Marcus Semien all came up with big and clutch hits over the weekend. In short, everyone contributed. Of course, one man in particular stole the show.

STAR ATTRACTION 

The aforementioned man we’re talking about is Juan Soto, obviously. The superstar hitter stayed on a heater against Miami, making sizable contributions in all three games. The highlight was a grand slam in the finale, which effectively put the game out of reach. Soto finished the series with five RBIs, two walks, and three runs scored. Furthermore, he’s hitting .356/.431/.822/.1.254 with seven home runs, 15 RBIs, six walks, and 12 runs scored over his last 12 games. That’s called leading by example.

RISING STAR

Christian Scott is having a moment right now. The righty is fast turning into a reliable arm for the Mets, and he delivered arguably his best outing of the year on Saturday. Scott allowed just one run on five hits with eight strikeouts over five innings. As a result, he picked up the first win of his major league career. Furthermore, Scott owns a 2.97 ERA on the year and continues to show plenty of promise.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

NOT SO FAST

As encouraging as this weekend was for the Mets, let’s pump the brakes a little bit. They haven’t done anything yet, and have a long way to go to earn back our trust. It is still too soon to give them the benefit of the doubt. We need to see a lot more over a longer stretch of time before we really buy back in. It is also worth remembering that the sweep came against a bad Marlins team. Furthermore, the Mets have shown signs of promise before, only to then immediately collapse like a cheap pack of cards. It is a start, but let’s see how June unfolds before we start buying back all our stock in this team.

SHORT STAYS

The rub on Freddy Peralta has always been that he’s incapable of going deep in games. That’s hardly changed in New York. He’s pitched six innings or longer just four times as a Met. In his latest outing on Friday, he lasted just 4.2 innings, allowing four runs. Plus, with a 3.55 ERA on the year, Peralta has been solid, but there needs to be a lot more to come.

ROUGH PATCH

It wasn’t the best of weekends for Tobias Myers. Usually so reliable, the righty gave up the two-run homer that blew a big lead and made it a tied game on Friday. Myers was then optioned so that a fresh pitcher could be called up. After giving up runs in five of his last seven outings, Myers will hope to get the train back on the tracks once he does return to the majors.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Clinch Marlins Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Juan Soto by Berto Carlo

Offensive Player of the Month: Juan Soto, OF

Simply put, Juan Soto carried the Mets in May. He hit .281/.369/.615 (.984 OPS) in May, with 27 hits, 10 home runs, 21 RBIs, 20 runs scored, 14 walks, 18 strikeouts and five stolen bases in 27 games. He missed two games with flu-like symptoms, but didn’t miss a beat upon his return from that and his stint on the injured list with a calf strain on April 22.

His 10 HRs tied for second-most in the majors in May, while he landed third-best in slugging behind the likes of Byron Buxton and JJ Bleday. Soto’s Baseball Savant page continues to be a sea of red for 2026, landing in the 98th percentile in batting run value (19), 99th percentile in expected slugging percentage (.626), 98th percentile in xwOBA (.417) and 96th percentile in barrel percentage (18.4%).

For comparison, Yordan Alvarez has the best batting run value in baseball at 25, while Aaron Judge also ranks in the 99th percentile in expected slugging. James Wood is the best in baseball in xwOBA, landing in the 100th percentile, while Munetaka Murakami is in the 98th percentile in barrel percentage.

With Francisco Lindor injured and a beleaguered Mets offense, Soto continues to keep the Mets competitive in games.

Carson Benge by Berto Carlo

Honorable Mention: Carson Benge, OF

After a rough start to his big league career, Carson Benge came into his own in May. He hit .306/.375/.426 (.801 OPS) in May, leading the team in batting average, on-base percentage, hits (33) and doubles (7). He rocketed two home runs, drove in 15, walked nine times and struck out 23 times while stealing three bases in 28 games. While he’s ranking at around league average or above average in most offensive categories, he’s in the 94th percentile in launch angle sweet spot percentage (41.4%). At the same time, his defense has been superb, landing him in the 98th percentile in arm strength (fourth-best in baseball).

Amongst qualified rookies in May, Benge ranked first in hits, third in runs scored, tied for the fourth-best RBIs and batting average along with Konnor Griffin, and had the ninth-best OPS. If he continues to develop at this rate, not only can Benge make a run for NL Rookie of the Year, but more importantly, help lead the Mets back to the playoffs.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Pitcher of the Month: Christian Scott, RHP

The Mets lost Clay Holmes on May 15, have gone to piggyback roles from guys like David Peterson and Sean Manaea, and have had rough outings from Nolan McLean and Freddy Peralta. The light at the end of the tunnel for the team in May has been Christian Scott, who finally earned his first MLB win on the second to last day of the month in his 16th career start.

After pitching in just one and a third innings in his season debut in April, Scott finished May with a 2.79 ERA in six games, striking out 37 and walking 11 in 29 innings of work. He allowed ten runs (nine earned) on 26 hits, surrendering just one home run, while holding hitters to a .236 batting average. While length is still a concern for him, he has only reached at least five innings three times (his longest outing was 5.2 innings), but he gave the Mets every chance to compete in games.

For 2026, Scott ranks in the 90th percentile in barrel percentage (3.9%), 86th percentile in average exit velocity (86.8 mph) and 85th percentile in strikeout percentage (28.1%). For reference, Shohei Ohtani ranks in the 93rd percentile in barrel percentage, Jacob Misiorowski ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity, and Chase Burns ranks in the 87th percentile in strikeout percentage, with Ohtani in the 86th percentile.

All in all, Scott’s keeping up with some of MLB’s best pitching in 2026, helping keep the Mets afloat.

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Honorable Mention: The Bullpen

Where would the Mets be without the likes of Luke Weaver, Austin Warren, and Brooks Raley? The three combined for 39.1 innings of work in May, posting a combined 0.66 ERA in 34 combined appearances. The three totaled 11 holds, 19 walks and 45 strikeouts. Weaver, in particular, did not allow a run in May, while Raley totaled six holds. Warren, meanwhile, struck out 17 batters, most by any traditional Mets reliever for the month.

The rest of the bullpen was solid as well, with Devin Williams racking up six saves, tied for fourth-most in MLB for May. With their starters struggling to go deep into games, the bullpen combined for a 9-4 record, pitching 127.2 innings (second-most in MLB). The Mets’ bullpen led the majors in strikeouts (133), and had the fourth-best ERA (2.40) behind the Padres (1.91), Diamondbacks (2.18) and Dodgers (2.35).

The post MMO Players of the Month: Soto, Scott Provide Mets Hope appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

We have already seen Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Nick Morabito and Zach Thornton debut this season. Who else could join them?

Jack Wenninger. Photo by Herm Card

Jack Wenninger

Some people were surprised to see that Thornton got the call before Jack Wenninger, but that shows how the Mets likely value Wenninger over Thornton. Now that he has been added to the 40-man roster, Thornton will have his first option burned once he spends 20 days in the minors this year. He has already been sent back down to Syracuse following his debut against the Washington Nationals last week. This move allows the Mets to call up and send down Thornton up to five times for spot starts or longer stretches in the majors (not including injury call-ups or doubleheaders). This was similar to how the Mets utilized Blade Tidwell in 2025 before trading him to San Francisco. In July of 2025, Stearns told SNY, “My preference is to not bring up a top prospect for a spot start”. So far, it seems they are treating Wenninger as one.

If Wenninger makes his debut in the majors this year, what role would it be in? The easy guess is to say as a starting pitcher because that is what he has been so far. If the Mets are truly out of the playoff race by the time he is called up, then you can afford to give him a long stretch where he can work through any adjustments without the pressure of a playoff race.

There are some current road blocks to Wenninger being able to be a successful starting pitcher in the majors. His first issue is his 13.9% walk rate. That is not a stat that is likely to improve against the more seasoned major league hitters.

His next issue is his velocity. Wenninger’s fastball shape is well below-average with a poor movement profile and a below-average vertical approach angle. He needs to throw it at least 95 miles per hour for it to really be effective. Unfortunately, he is struggling to maintain his velocity across innings.

A large part of keeping Wenninger in Triple-A is likely to continue to work on these issues. If he is unable to learn to maintain velocity, he could consider changing up his pitch mix. This is a similar issue Brandon Sproat had, which led to him attempting to convert to more of a contact suppression sinker ball pitcher. Wenninger has already developed a sinker and has seen mixed results. A move to the bullpen may also be in his future, where he can juice the velocity on a shorter pitch count. Most of the best relievers in the game started in the minors as starters.

Ryan Clifford

Ryan Clifford has not performed like a player primed for a call-up this year, but he is Rule 5 eligible in the offseason, and if the Mets are out of the playoff race, he could make sense as a September call-up since he will need to be added to the 40-man roster anyway.

His 75.19% zone-contact rate is in the 9th percentile, his 35.8% strikeout rate is among the worst in Triple-A, and his 32.5% whiff rate is in the 24th percentile. These are all quite a bit better than where they were a little over a week ago, so maybe he could be turning a corner. He does hit the ball very hard.

Clifford has had a weird season. His first week, he couldn’t make contact to save his life. The next two weeks, he looked like he found his footing and was the player we saw in 2025 with an 83.7% zone-contact rate (58th percentile) alongside his plus exit velocities and a whiff rate that was just below average. The remainder of April, he went back to a low-70s zone-contact rate fueled by his tendency to swing and miss.

Then came the first ten days of May, when he was back to an 83% zone-contact rate, an above-average whiff rate at 25.8%, a strikeout rate down to 25%, and results to match with a .995 OPS. But just like April, that turnaround was short-lived. His following eight games were the worst stretch of his season with whiff and strikeout rates near 40% and a zone-contact rate at 67.4%. Clifford, though, has hit three home runs in his last five games.

So what can we make of all this? It does seem clear he is not ready yet. But there are glimpses of the player we saw in 2025 that pushed him back onto Top 100 lists. If he can find some level of consistency in his contact rates, he could force his way into the majors, at least as largely a three-true-outcome platoon bat with 30-home run power. Hopefully we see a true turnaround and not just short bursts.

Jacob Reimer

Jacob Reimer may not have the most flashy slash line in Double-A at .223/.353/.396, but that is because his first couple of weeks were very rough.

In May, however, he is batting .261/.376/.478. He is pulling the ball at an incredible 25.8%, is walking 17/0% of the time, is only whiffing 22.6% of the time and his 80.8% zone-contact rate is above average. If he keeps this up, he could earn a promotion to Syracuse sooner rather than later and then would be only a short ride away from Queens.

He has primarily played third base this year, while mixing in some first base as well as time as the designated hitter. Reimer likely profiles better at first base than third base in the majors.

Reimer is not yet on the 40-man roster but is Rule 5 eligible in the offseason. Assuming no options are utilized this year if added, he would have all three entering 2027.

Reimer profiles as a player that can hit for average with plus plate discipline and 25+ home run power.

Ben Simon

Ben Simon was drafted in 2023 and was just called up to Triple-A. He throws a four-seam fastball, a slider, a sinker, a changeup, and a cutter. All of his pitches are above-average, but he rarely throws in the zone, relying heavily on generating chases. In Double-A that worked, running a 32.3% chase rate. If he can show that works against Triple-A hitters as well, he could earn a promotion to the majors.

So far, the results have been good. Across Double-A and Triple-A, he has a 2.41 ERA and 1.232 WHIP, though his 22.9% strikeout rate and 10.8% walk rate could be better. His 96 mph fastball would be one of the fastest in the Mets’ bullpen, and he has thrown as hard as 98 mph this year. He is not one of the organization’s most well-known prospects, but he could force his way into the bullpen if he continues to produce.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Nate Lavender

“If you throw 92 with some grit and some intention behind it, you’re gonna be alright,” Nate Lavender said, per SNY, in 2024.

Now right around two years removed from Tommy John surgery, Lavender has gone from throwing 89-92 mph to 91-94 mph. He is no longer throwing from his low 26-degree arm angle and is now throwing from a 40-degree arm angle. This has likely helped with the velocity and he is not generating 18.3 inches of induced vertical break. Alongside his plus extension, all of these factors make his fastball play up, helping to generate a 27.9% whiff rate in Triple-A.

His slider is coming in three miles per hour faster with more spin, and he managed not to lose too much horizontal break raising his arm angle, while his changeup is five miles per hour faster. His changeup is not particularly strong, but is perfectly fine as a different look to use against right-handed hitters.

Brooks Raley is likely one of the Mets’ best trade chips if they decide to sell, and Lavender could make sense as a left-handed arm in the bullpen. He was already grabbed in the Rule 5 draft once.

Ryan Lambert

During spring training, Ryan Lambert looked like he could be a big contributor in 2026. He hit 99 mph seven times across his 3 1/3 innings pitched and his slider ran a 50% whiff rate. Since going down to Triple-A, his velocity has not been the same. He is averaging almost a full mile per hour slower on the fastball, he is not hitting his top-end velocity at close to the same rate, and he has yet to hit 100 miles per hour. He is also struggling to find the zone and walking 18.3% of batters. He is striking out 35.2% of batters and running a 36% whiff rate, but almost all contact is in the air, leading to a 1.13 HR/9. A high walk rate and a high home run rate is not a good combo, and that has led to a 5.06 ERA.

If Lambert can turn these issues around, he could then make an impact in the majors.

Dylan Ross. Photo by Kylie-Richelle

Dylan Ross

Dylan Ross is the other way the Mets could inject some velocity into their bullpen. Technically he did get his initial call-up already at the end of 2025 but did not pitch, so I am still counting him for this list.

His velocity was initially down coming off injury, but he has hit 99 miles per hour recently and his average velocity the last two weeks is right in line with were he was in 2025. Even with the increased induced vertical break he has shown this year, Ross’s fastball shape is not great, so the velocity is key. He has put up a 25.8% whiff rate on the pitch so far. But his slider and splitter are his true plus pitches. With their strong movement profiles, that is where the bulk of the swing and misses he gets comes from.

Ross’s issue, like Lambert’s, is that he walks far too many batters. 23.9% of them so far to be exact. Ross has run only a 39.1% ground ball rate and has a 1.93 HR/9 rate in Triple-A. Ross is already on the 40-man roster, so he is likely to come up at some point, even if it is just to throw two innings and go back to Syracuse.

 Honorable Mentions

• Dan Hammer –  Spent his career in the minors between Baltimore and Tampa and throws six plus-pitches. His issue is that he has no idea where they are going when he throws them, but so far you could describe him as “effectively wild”. At the least, he could be another churn reliever.
• Jonathan Santucci – One of the Mets’ top prospects, he has not put up the best results in Double-A this year after dominating in 2025. His command gains from last year do not seem present this year, so far but if he could get them back, he could skyrocket through the system.
• Chris Suero – Suero is Rule 5 eligible at the end of the season and is crushing the ball in Double-A. He looks to be more of a three-true-outcomes player, and it’s unclear where his future defensive home will be, but he could be an interesting guy off the bench with speed, power, and defensive versatility.

The post What Other Mets Prospects Could Debut This Season? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

In a less-than-ideal start to the homestand, the Mets dropped two out of three to the Reds at Citi Field. They did win the series finale to snap a five-game losing streak, but that’s hardly cause to celebrate.

We’re currently witnessing a team that can’t get out of its own way. Even at full health, it is hard to have any faith in the Mets being able to salvage anything from the 2026 season.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Cincinnati series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Carson Benge by Berto Carlo

3 UP

ON A TEAR

Thank the Lord for Juan Soto. The superstar hitter is quite literally carrying the entire team on his back right now. He hit two homers in the series, with his solo shot on Wednesday his eighth home run over his last 12 games. Over that span, Soto is slashing .386/.471/.932/.1.402 with 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored. If it weren’t for Soto, the offense really would be lifeless.

COMING UP CLUTCH

The Mets should be thanking Carson Benge for not getting swept. The rookie, who shaved off his mustache to try to break a 1-for-20 slump, was the hero in the series finale. Benge came up with two clutch hits, both with two outs, to drive in a pair of runners. Both hits gave the Mets a two-run cushion at key points in the game, and both proved to be crucial.

REINFORCEMENTS

Help could be on the way. Francisco Lindor was seen fielding groundballs at Citi Field on Wednesday. Furthermore, Jorge Polanco began a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton, going 1-for-2 with a single and a run scored. Francisco Alvarez has also resumed baseball activities. When those three will be back remains to be seen. And whether they can help to turn things around is also not a guarantee. But, regardless, the Mets are going to need as much help as they can get.

Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

ONE STEP FORWARD, FOUR STEPS BACKWARDS

The 2026 Mets are immensely frustrating. They showed signs of life by winning six out of seven, only to immediately fall apart once again. That included losing five straight before Wednesday’s win. This team just can’t get out of its own way, and it is hard to watch. It is also getting harder to care about wins, knowing what is likely to follow. It looks set to be a long, frustrating summer.

GROWING CONCERN

When things are bad, they tend to be really bad. Just look at the pitching. Nolan McLean entered this season with big expectations. He certainly met them early on but has struggled since. He gave up seven earned runs over just 3 1/3 innings on Monday, meaning he has now allowed a whopping 13 earned runs in nine innings across his last two starts. With everything else going on, the Mets certainly don’t need McLean to fall off a cliff. Furthermore, David Peterson continues to be an all-time enigma. He allowed six runs on 11 hits on Tuesday, adding even more uncertainty to the current starting rotation puzzle.

ALL-TIME FUTILITY 

Mets broadcaster Ron Darling caused a stir this week after ripping the Mets on air during Tuesday’s loss to the Reds. It was the rare instance of a hometown broadcaster going after his own team. As shocking as it was, Darling was right in what he said. The Mets are inept. And we are seeing the same kind of mental errors nearly every single game. David Peterson not backing up home plate on Tuesday is hardly a new thing. This team has been committing those kinds of humiliating brain farts all year long. If the players are making the same mistakes over and over and aren’t adjusting, then the blame for that does fall on the coaches, too. But Darling was absolutely right. The Mets are dealing in ineptitude almost every single night, and it has to stop.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Avoid Sweep Against Cincinnati appeared first on Metsmerized Online.