In an effort to add more emphasis to their roster, the New York Mets plan to promote coveted prospect A.J. Ewing. Ewing, who is the club’s No. 2 prospect and No. 78 overall, is expected to join the team ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers. Will Sammon of The Athletic was first to report on this development Monday.
Where A.J. Ewing Fits
Ewing has excellent speed and contact for a 21-year-old. His defense can also give him the edge over others, creating a potential boost in production for the Mets in terms of defense and base running. The plan is for him to start at center field or right field, while Juan Soto will man left field or remain at designated hitter.
Luis Robert Jr. was slated to be the starting center fielder, but a back injury forced him out of the lineup. Fellow prospect Carson Benge holds down left field, providing the team with consistent defense and contact in his last 16 appearances. Pairing Benge with Ewing can create a formidable presence in the outfield, generating more opportunities on both sides of the field.
Impressive Start
In their first 40 games, the Mets are at the bottom of the National League, with a record of 15-25. Injuries to veterans Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, Soto, and Robert have held the lineup back from playing at full strength. Only Soto is still on the active roster following a 15-day stint on the IL.
This is where calling up A.J. Ewing can help them get the ball rolling. In 12 appearances at Triple-A Syracuse, he slashed .326/.392/.435 with a .827 OPS. He began his third season in the minors with Double-A Binghamton, where he hit .349/.481/.571 with a 1.053 OPS. Before that, he impressed some members of the team in spring training. This start helped him progress through the Mets farm system to eventually be called up by the front office.
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