It may have not been the start the New York Mets wanted, but there still has been some good elsewhere in the organization. Below are some of the organization’s prospects who have gotten off to a strong start in 2026.
A.J. Ewing (Double-A)
A.J. Ewing is out to a phenomenal start for Double-A Binghamton. Entering the season Ewing was Metsmerized’s No. 4 prospect, and he is showing exactly why.
The 21-year-old currently has a slash line of .345/.466/.552 (1.017 OPS). Of his 20 hits, eight are extra-base with two being home runs. He has also already stolen 10 bases, getting caught only once. Ewing has walked (14) more than he has struck out (13). His wRC+ of 170 ranks 47th of 944 qualified hitters at any level in the minor leagues.
It is great to see the versatile (12 games in center field, four games at second base) former fourth-round pick carry over his spring training successes. Before being reassigned to minor league camp, Ewing went 8-for-21 (.381 batting average) with a 1.090 OPS in spring training with the big club.
Elian Pena. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
Elian Peña (Single-A)
Elian Peña was Metsmerized’s preseason No. 9 prospect, but based off what he has done so far, he will likely find himself near the top of that list soon. Peña, who received the largest international signing bonus handed out by the Mets ever, has been dominating Single-A baseball for St. Lucie.
Through 87 plate appearances, Peña is slashing .329/.448/.457 (.905 OPS). He has walked (15) more than he has struck out (13). Peña has also already stolen eight bases while being caught only once.
The only knock thus far this season on Peña has been the so-so power. Of his 23 hits, only seven are extra-base. At only 18-year-old, Peña will surely continue to put on more mass in return developing that power. Regardless, an extremely encouraging start for a prospect with sky-high expectations.
JT Benson (Single-A)
The 24-year-old JT Bensons certainly the least flashy name on this list but has began the season terrifically for Single-A St. Lucie. Benson played college ball at the University of Louisville followed by shorts stints in two independent leagues before being signed by the Mets’ organization.
Through his first 50 professional at-bats, Benson is slashing .320/.404/.580 (.984 OPS). Benson has been a bit swing happy, as unlike the first two on this list, as he has 11 strikeouts already to only three walks.
Benson is an extremely intriguing prospect. He dominated the Atlantic Coast Conference in his final two seasons at Louisville posting an OPS of .894 his junior season then .963 his senior year. Then, he had a massive full season for Evansville in the Frontier League in 2025, posting 10 homers, 40 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, and an .889 OPS.
The 15 games he has gotten with St. Lucie is a very small sample size, but his performance as the season prolongs is certainly worth watching.
John Bay (High-A)
John Bay joins Benson as the two who did not make Metsmerized’s preseason prospect rankings but are on this list. Bay is an undrafted free agent, like Benson, who is now one of the lone bright spots for a Brooklyn Cyclones team that is 4-14.
Through 54 at-bats, Bay is only hitting .241 but has a .842 OPS. He has already hit two homers to go along with three doubles and a triple. He is also a perfect four-for-four as far as stolen bases go.
Bay, a former college teammate of Nolan McLean, transferred out of Oklahoma State in 2022 and spent the remaining of his college career in the Atlantic Sun conference with Austin Peay. He posted a monster final season, slugging 22 homers with 66 RBIs and a 1.276 OPS earning himself a deal with the Mets’ organization as an undrafted free agent.
