While Juan Soto continues representing the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, another Mets outfielder has been quietly making a strong impression back in camp.
That player is A.J. Ewing, one of the most promising young prospects in the New York Mets organization.
Although his chances of making the Opening Day roster remain extremely slim, Ewing’s performance this spring has caught the attention of coaches, teammates, and fans alike.
A productive spring showing
Ewing, currently ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Mets system by MLB.com, has taken full advantage of his opportunities in spring training.
Through seven games, the 21-year-old has posted an impressive stat line:
- 5-for-14 (.357 batting average)
- 1 home run
- 6 RBIs
His most recent performance came during the Mets’ 10–4 win over the New York Yankees, when he went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, continuing to demonstrate his ability to contribute offensively.
For a player still early in his professional development, those results have only reinforced the excitement surrounding his potential.
Defense turning heads as well
Ewing’s impact hasn’t been limited to the batter’s box.
The young outfielder has also impressed defensively, including a highlight play in a game against the Miami Marlins when he made a diving catch in left field that likely saved a base hit.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised Ewing after the play, emphasizing the young player’s instincts and overall baseball IQ.
“He is a baseball player,” Mendoza said. “Off the bat you think it’s a base hit and he makes one hell of a play. Then he gets on base, steals a base and puts some good swings together. He’s a baseball player.”
That type of well-rounded skill set — hitting, defense, and base running — is exactly what teams hope to see from developing prospects.
Opening Day still unlikely
Despite his strong showing this spring, Ewing is expected to begin the season in the minor leagues.
The Mets’ outfield picture is already crowded, making it difficult for a young prospect to break through immediately.
Several players are currently competing for the right field job, including:
- Carson Benge, another top Mets prospect
- Mike Tauchman
- MJ Melendez
- Brett Baty, who could also see time in the outfield
Meanwhile, Juan Soto is locked in as the starting left fielder and Luis Robert Jr. is expected to handle center field.
With that level of competition, the Mets can afford to give Ewing more time to develop.
Rapid rise through the minors
Ewing already showed impressive progress during the 2025 minor league season.
Across 124 games split between three levels — Single-A St. Lucie, High-A Brooklyn, and Double-A Binghamton — he posted:
- .315 batting average
- .401 on-base percentage
- .429 slugging percentage
- 3 home runs
- 55 RBIs
- .830 OPS
Those numbers highlight his ability to consistently get on base and contribute offensively while moving quickly through the Mets’ system.
Bright future ahead
Ewing was selected by the Mets with the 134th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, a compensation selection the team received after losing Jacob deGrom to the Texas Rangers in free agency.
Just two years later, he is already emerging as one of the organization’s most intriguing young players.
Even though a major league debut may still be some distance away, his strong spring training performance has given the Mets a promising glimpse of what the future could hold.
And if his development continues on this trajectory, A.J. Ewing may not stay in the minors for long.
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