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:
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
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
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.
8 comments:
Soto and Nimmo should Platoon in LF and DH. Keep their legs fresh to steal more bases
Ha
Step back when you them that
Do you have tortoni?
Mets 2026 class is a interesting one as it’s a spread the money around class now with the age falsification of Josue Chacoa , Cleiner Ramirez was never meant to be the top signing..
If you brought the entire 2025 team back this season they would probably have a better record and make the playoffs. Unfortunately that will not happen. So it is important that the team chemistry is improved through the change of players.
I think you can somewhat achieve that in the near future with the following - Have Nimmo, Benge and Soto as your starters. Rotate the three of them with Ewing / Morabito through the DH position. Might be an easier sell than the 50/50 split. Also like the potential baserunning of Williams and Ewing / Morabito.
The way I read the comment is that Soto was trying to say that Alosno and Marte brought some of the chemistry to the club house and the team needs that. And I agree, that needs to be improved. The team seemed to have it in 2024 with Winker and Iglesia.
Good morning Amigos! That Soto quote reminds me of what Jerry Riensdorf told Michael Jordan when Jordan made suggestions…
I question if Alonso signs with the highest bidder if that bidder wants to make him a DH. If Soto wants input, he does what Ohtani did. If you want the whole whale, save the “team” crap.
I’d love to see Ross and Lambert cutting their teeth this year, just like I wanted to see Baty, Vientos, Mauricio and Acuna doing it last year. That Mullins trade….. I really don’t know if I can get over it because I know that I’ll never understand it.
The big question is will Stearns in the face of the pressure to at least make it to the WS not give in and trade prospects instead of letting them play this year? By the way how exactly does one get that assignment bonus because I'd like one.
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