MACK - SUNDAY OBSERVATIONS - MACK'S #11 PROSPECT - RHRP DYLAN ROSS - Dayron Oramas, Soto on Pete, Kyle Tucker, Jeff McNeil

 

I promised all of you that, as soon as the season ended, I would breakout and post my current Top 30 prospects.

This is performance based, not players that came to the Mets full of promise but have only produced butterscotch pudding. A perfect example of a player that didn’t make this list is catcher Ronald Hernandez. I still like the guy, but based on what he did in 2025, I don’t like him “top 30 guy”.

Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong _(maybe) are not on this list. They have graduated.

I will post them in each of my weekly Observations and In Focus posts… one player at a time… beginning with #30.

Today, we move to #11:

11.    RP     Dylan Ross 

2025:          A+/AA/AAA –

       49-APPS, 2-0, 2.17, 1.15, 19-GF, 7-SV, 54-IP, 80-K, 33-BB

Dylan Ross is a 25-year-old right-handed relief pitcher for the New York Mets organization, known for his overpowering fastball and swing-and-miss breaking stuff.

Standing at an imposing 6'5" and weighing 251 pounds, he's a physical presence on the mound with a high-three-quarters arm slot that generates elite velocity.

Born on September 1, 2000, in Statesboro, Georgia, Ross has quickly risen through the Mets' farm system after a challenging path marked by injuries, culminating in his major league call-up in late September 2025.

Ross began pitching at Eastern Kentucky University in the 2020 season (shortened by COVID-19), where he made three relief appearances with a 2.25 ERA over four innings.

He transferred to Northwest Florida State College (a junior college) in 2021, posting a strong 6-2 record with a 3.88 ERA in 12 starts, including two complete games, 77 strikeouts, and just 28 walks in 60.1 innings.  This performance earned him All-Panhandle Conference Second Team honors.

In 2022, Ross moved to the University of Georgia, where he went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the rest of the year and the entire 2023 season (including a UCL revision).

Draft and Pro Debut:

Despite the injuries, the Mets selected him in the 13th round (389th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Georgia, signing him for $125,000.  He didn't pitch professionally until a brief September 2024 debut in the minors.

2025 Breakout: Ross exploded onto the scene, starting in High-A Brooklyn (10 appearances, 23 strikeouts in 11⅔ innings, allowing just 5 hits), earning promotions to Double-A Binghamton (11 appearances, 18 strikeouts) and Triple-A Syracuse by June.

His pitches generate elite whiff rates, with opponents struggling to make contact (e.g., just 11 hits across his early 2025 minor league outings).

Four-Seam Fastball

Hard, explosive heater with significant ride and life up in the zone; his primary pitch for overpowering hitters.

97-102 mph (peaks at 102 mph in 2025)

High usage (~50-60%); generates weak contact and sets up breaking stuff. Flirts with triple-digit velocity, making it a true separator.

Splitter

Devastating off-speed pitch with sharp drop, variable movement (some cut, others with run/sink), and late tumble; mimics his fastball out of the hand for tunneling.

86-90 mph

Key swing-and-miss offering (49.4% whiff rate in minors); thrown ~25-30% of the time. Often described as his "best secondary" for inducing chases below the zone.

Slider

Tight, late-breaking slider with gyro spin for horizontal snap; complements the splitter by attacking right-handed hitters inside.

85-88 mph

~20% usage; elite 67.3% whiff rate at Triple-A Syracuse in 2025. High-spin version creates awkward angles and empty swings.

Ross occasionally mixes in a curveball or changeup in lower-leverage spots, but his core three pitches form a "fantastic arsenal" that has fueled his rapid ascent.

Scouts project him as a high-leverage reliever (think 7th/8th inning fireman).

Mets Prospect Group               @bkfan09

Mets 2026 IFA Class.. Dayron Oramas

 

Juan Soto Advocates for Mets to Re-Sign Pete Alonso, Starlin Marte

CLICK HERE

Juan Soto hopes the New York Mets bring back some of the other notable bats in the lineup.

The slugger advocated for the team to re-sign both Pete Alonso and Starling Marte on Thursday, per Laura Albanese of Newsday.

"I hope we can have more times to come and more fun together," he said of Alonso. As for Marte, he said, "You need a guy that helps you the most through those tough times and tries to bring the team back to where it's supposed to be."

MACK –

So says the guy already under contract for a gazillion bucks.

Look Juan, I don’t think Mets fans care about the level of “fun” you have had with Pete. 

Kyle Tucker

https://fansided.com/mlb/kyle-tucker-desperation-index-teams-need-him-most-giants-dodgers-cubs

The New York Mets have the richest owner in the league and are coming off an embarrassing season, so it's only natural to expect them to be in on the best free agent available. As fun as it'd be, does it really make sense?

How exactly does Tucker fit? They just signed Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million deal. As much as they should consider DHing him, they won't do that in year two of his deal. Brandon Nimmo is entering the fourth year of an eight-year, $162 million deal. His defense is rapidly declining, but he, too, won't be an everyday DH, nor should he be playing any center field to accommodate Tucker.

The Mets could trade Nimmo, but doing so is easier said than done with his contract, and he has a no-trade clause. Even if they found a deal of their liking, Nimmo would probably nix it. Odds are, he'll be the Mets' Opening Day left fielder. With both corner outfield spots filled, should they desperately be throwing money at Tucker? The Mets need to spend Steve Cohen's money on positions of need, primarily center field, first base and especially pitching, before pursuing Tucker. The corner outfield is one area where they're set. 

Jeff McNeil

CLICK HERE

Though there are no indications the New York Mets are actively shopping Jeff McNeil, multiple teams have expressed interest in the club’s longtime versatile veteran as a trade acquisition, league sources said.

In other words, if the Mets decide to deal McNeil, a market seemingly exists. McNeil, 33, is set to make $15.75 million in 2026. The Mets hold a club option on him for the following season at the same figure. If McNeil is traded, he’ll receive a one-time, $500,000 assignment bonus.

It’s unknown what a potential return for McNeil could look like. Despite some early interest, his contract situation presents challenges. Also, McNeil underwent a minor procedure for thoracic outlet syndrome after last season, as the New York Post first reported. He is expected to be a full participant in spring training. McNeil’s OPS stood at .799 at the end of August, before he slumped through most of September and finished with a .746 mark. The New York Post also reported McNeil as a trade candidate.