Four Mets Prospects Who Could Fuel a Playoff Push

The Mets find themselves in a unique position heading into the All-Star break. They’re in “win now” mode, but have a farm system rich with resources that could impact the team’s World Series aspirations this year. It’s often the core guys that carry the team into October and beyond, but nearly every team that’s made a deep run in October can point to a fiery prospect call-up that helped fuel that pennant drive. 

Last year it was Luisangel Acuña that injected some life into the Mets offense with key hits in September to push the Mets over the finish line towards a playoff berth. He also subbed in nicely for an injured Francisco Lindor in mid-September. Michael Conforto was called up from Double-A in July 2015 as a 22-year-old. In the 56 games that followed, Conforto had an OPS of .841, helped put a charge into an otherwise dormant offense, and of course he had a two home run game in the World Series. 

If the Mets are to find themselves making a deep run into October, these four prospects could be part of the reason why.

RHP Nolan McLean:

McLean has been a player that Met fans have been waiting to be called up for the better part of the last two months. The 2023 third round draft choice has been having his career best season across Double-A and Triple-A. What’s most impressive about McLean is the success he’s been having in hitter friendly Triple-A. A league where even the best pitchers can get lit up, McLean hasn’t missed a beat since being promoted. In just over 50 innings, McLean has an ERA of 2.80, an opponent average of just .206, and 55 strikeouts.

Second behind Jonah Tong as the Mets best ranked pitching prospect per Pipeline, McLean makes the most sense to be a late season callup for what’s been an injury ravaged Met pitching staff. It makes the most sense to use McLean as a starter down the stretch and while his walks could be a bit better (23 in 54 innings) he could be the Mets best in house option heading into August and September.

Image courtesy of Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images 

RHP Dylan Ross:

A 13th round pick by the Mets in 2022 out of the University of Georgia, Ross missed all of 2023 with an injury and then pitched a grand total of one professional inning for St. Lucie in 2024. While he did see a little bit more work in the Arizona Fall League later that year, 2025 has been the first real chance to see what he can do in the pros. At 6’5 and 251 pounds, Ross is already an intimidating presence on the mound. Now add in the fact that his fastball can reach over 100 mph and you have a weapon coming out of the bullpen.

Ross began the year in High-A Brooklyn where he shut down hitters to the tune of a 1.54 ERA in 11 innings, and ran up his strikeout total to 23. That was enough to earn him a promotion to Double-A Binghamton where his ERA would balloon up to 4.35, but he still kept his control steady with 18 strikeouts to three walks. Ross is now with Triple-A Syracuse where in his first five appearances has an ERA of 1.69.

The callup of a fireballer like Ross, in the same bullpen with great pitchers like Ryne Stanek, Huascar Brazobán, Reed Garrett, and Edwin Diaz, could be the subtle move that pushes the Met bullpen to the next level.

OF Drew Gilbert:

Two years ago, Drew Gilbert came to the Mets, along with Ryan Clifford, from Houston in a blockbuster trade that sent Justin Verlander to the Astros. While Clifford has seen his stock rise since the trade, injuries and spotty play has seen Gilbert drop in the Met prospect rankings.

He’s been heating up over the last two weeks in Syracuse, reaching base in 10 of his last 11 games. He’s also seemed to find his power stroke again, hitting five home runs over that 11 game span. Gilbert began the 2024 season hurt, and never seemed to play at 100% even after he came back later that season. While he's had some struggles in Triple-A Syracuse, this is the first full season we’ve seen Gilbert in the Mets’ system not plagued by injuries.

Gilbert offers a nice mix of power, contact, speed and defense. He could provide a spark off the bench and be a more than serviceable late game defensive replacement in the outfield. While he hasn’t lived up to his top prospect pedigree, the potential is still there and of all the Met position players down on the farm, Gilbert is the closest to being MLB-ready.

RHP Dom Hamel:

Once a top pitching prospect, Hamel, after a lackluster 2024 season, has become an almost forgotten pitcher in the Mets’ pitching rich system. 2025 has been an improvement for Hamel in Syracuse and over the last month the Mets’ have tried him out of the bullpen in addition to being a starter. He’s seen some success in that role, including a five strikeout in two innings performance on July 3rd.

Drafted in the 3rd round by the Mets in 2021, there’s clear potential with Hamel, despite his recent struggles. He’s 26-years-old, so a move to the bullpen makes sense at this point in his career. He has an average fastball ranging from 91-94 mph, his changeup is his top pitch in terms of strikeouts, and he did put together solid seasons during his time from Low-A through Double-A.

It’s a bit of a long shot and a risk, but Hamel could find his way to Queens late this summer if the Mets bullpen continues to pile up injuries. He might find his command and quality stuff like he had in the lower MiLB levels, or wind up going down the path many Syracuse Met pitchers have gone this season and that’s transferring from Queens to Syracuse a few times a month.

Honorable mentions:

Jett Williams: He’s tearing up Double-A pitching and a promotion to Triple-A seems all but certain. After an injury riddled 2024, Williams is playing up to his potential. With an exciting mix of speed, contact and a bit of power, Williams is the definition of a spark plug and if the Mets want to fast track him, he could be a difference maker in September.

Jonah Tong: Dominating Double-A and probably the Mets best pitching prospect as of now, it seems unlikely the Mets would want to call him up this year. While his numbers in Binghamton are off the charts impressive, his command still needs some work, and it remains to be seen how he’ll adjust to the all but infamous for pitchers, Triple-A level.

Ryan Cifford: He leads Binghamton in home runs and would no doubt provide pop off the bench in September. Clifford is the prototypical power hitter, just as likely to strikeout as he is to launch a pitch into the upper deck. He’s been heating up this summer, but it’s unlikely the Mets would call him up this season, and depending on the trade deadline, he might find his way out of Queens by August.