The New York Mets are entering the final stretch of spring training, and roster decisions are beginning to accelerate.
With Opening Day less than two weeks away, the organization made another round of cuts on Sunday, reassigning 11 players to minor league camp ahead of the afternoon’s Grapefruit League matchup.
Among those sent down were pitchers Ryan Lambert, Carl Edwards Jr., and Joe Jacques. Several notable position players were also reassigned, including top prospects A.J. Ewing, Ryan Clifford, and Jacob Reimer. Kevin Parada, Jackson Cluff, Grae Kessinger, Ji Hwan Bae, and Jose Ramos rounded out the list.
After the latest moves, 53 players remain in major league camp in Port St. Lucie.
A Surprising Name Among the Cuts
Of all the players reassigned, Ryan Lambert’s inclusion stood out the most.
The 23-year-old right-hander had been one of the most impressive arms in camp and appeared to be making a legitimate case for a bullpen spot. Standing 6-foot-3 and armed with one of the hardest fastballs in the organization, Lambert consistently drew attention throughout the spring.
In Grapefruit League play, he delivered three scoreless innings while striking out eight of the 12 batters he faced.
Lambert’s momentum carried over from a dominant 2025 minor league season. Across 46 appearances between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, he posted a 1.62 ERA over 50 innings while showcasing elite swing-and-miss ability with a 14.6 strikeouts-per-nine rate.
He also repeatedly touched triple digits with his fastball.
Ranked as the No. 18 prospect in the Mets’ farm system by MLB Pipeline, Lambert may not have secured a spot on the Opening Day roster — but his performance this spring suggests he could be an option for the major league bullpen at some point during the 2026 season.
Veterans Also Sent Down
Lambert wasn’t the only pitcher competing for a bullpen role.
Veteran relievers Carl Edwards Jr. and Joe Jacques were both reassigned after arriving in camp as non-roster invitees. Edwards turned in a respectable spring showing, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out 11 batters across 8.2 innings.
Jacques also had opportunities to impress but surrendered three earned runs in four innings of work.
While those two veterans are headed to minor league camp, another experienced reliever remains firmly in the mix.
Craig Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star, is still competing for a spot in the Mets bullpen. His spring numbers have been uneven — he has walked four batters and hit two others over four innings — but the overall results have remained solid, with only one earned run allowed.
If Kimbrel ultimately makes the roster, the Mets would owe him a $2.5 million base salary.
A.J. Ewing Continues to Rise
Among the prospects reassigned, A.J. Ewing may have left the strongest impression.
The 21-year-old switch-hitter entered camp riding the momentum of a breakout 2025 season in the minor leagues, and he carried that confidence into Grapefruit League action.
Across 26 plate appearances this spring, Ewing posted an impressive .381/.423/.667 slash line while adding three doubles and four stolen bases. His versatility also stood out as he logged time in all three outfield positions while maintaining the ability to play the middle infield.
Ewing’s rapid development has already made him one of the most exciting young players in the Mets system.
Ranked No. 4 in the organization by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, he climbed from Single-A to Double-A last season thanks to elite speed, strong contact skills, and defensive flexibility.
The next step could come soon.
As Ewing prepares for his third full professional season, a promotion to Triple-A at some point in 2026 appears to be a realistic possibility.
For now, the Mets’ major league roster is still taking shape. But if the early signs from spring training are any indication, several of the players sent down this week may not have to wait long before finding their way back to New York.
Leave a Reply