MACK - Top 28 Prospects - #10 -RHRP - Ryan Lambert

 

The excitement about the Mets' prospect pipeline has been building year over year as the team improves their domestic and international scouting.  Many of the Mets' picks are being discussed throughout baseball, so Mack has boiled it down to the top 28 to give the readers a glimpse into the team's future.  This series will run for 28 days, counting down from #28 to #1.  The entire list can be viewed by clicking "2026 Top 28 Prospects" on the top menu bar.

10.    Ryan Lambert

2025 – A+/AA:  46-G, 2-1, 1.62, 1.16-WHIP, 7-SV, 50-IP, 27-BB, 81-K

GROK -

Ryan Lambert is a highly promising right-handed relief pitcher in the New York Mets organization. Selected in the 8th round (233rd overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, he's quickly emerged as one of the system's most exciting bullpen arms due to his elite velocity and strikeout ability.

Viewed as a potential future closer or high-leverage reliever

Lambert's college journey involved transfers, starting at North Iowa Area Community College (NJCAA) in 2022, then Missouri State in 2023, before landing at Oklahoma in 2024. At Oklahoma, he appeared in 23 games as a closer/reliever, posting a 2.57 ERA over 21 innings with 19 strikeouts and a 4-0 record. His arm strength turned heads, including a 102 mph fastball against Wichita State in 2023—he's an admitted "adrenaline guy" who thrives in high-pressure spots.

Draft Appeal: Mets scout Skip Johnson (his Oklahoma coach) praised his fastball but emphasized secondary development. Lambert signed for $172,500 and debuted professionally in 2024, logging limited innings due to his low-mileage arm (just 56 total college innings since 2022).

Professional Performance

He's been used exclusively as a reliever, averaging under an inning per outing in college and continuing that trend in the minors.

Overall Projection:

Mets officials see him as a "classic two-pitch reliever" with upside for more. His mechanics (high-three-quarters slot, short arm action) generate power but can lead to walks (7.3 BB/9 in college). If he refines control, he could rocket through the system—Mets have a track record of fast-tracking relievers like José Buttó.

Pitch Repertoire

Lambert's arsenal is built for overpowering hitters, led by one of the hardest fastballs in the minors. It's a high-velocity, two-pitch mix right now, with room to expand.

Four-Seam Fastball - 97-102 (sits 98) - Elite "rising" action with +20 inches of induced vertical break (iVB), creating an optical illusion of upward movement. Set MLB Draft League records at 100.4 and 100.7 mph in 2024. 31.2% whiff rate (double NCAA average). Generates tons of groundballs (56% GB rate career). Primary pitch (60-70% usage est.); his "out" pitch for two-strike counts. Mets love its carry and deception.

Sinker (or Cutter-like variation) - 95-98 - Heavier, with more arm-side run and less vertical break when thrown harder. Can flatten out into a cutter profile. Secondary offering for inducing weak contact; pairs well with fastball for tunneling. Helps vs. righties.

Slider 84-88 - Developing sweeper-style breaker with horizontal movement; still raw but shows promise for whiffs. Early-career pitch (low usage); focus of Mets' development to complement his heat. Potential third pitch.

Lambert's stuff plays up in short bursts, making him ideal for late innings. He's expressed confidence in pushing his fastball even higher ("no limit to what I can do"), and his groundball tendencies (56% career) limit hard contact. Challenges include walk rate and adding a reliable off-speed pitch, but at 23 with minimal wear, his ceiling is a dominant closer  

        MACK – In my book, Lambert is show-in for the Mets pen in 2027. Maybe even as a closer. Just electric shite here and, when he is paired with Dylan Ross someday, is going to be one hellava nasty back-end portion of the Mets bullpen.

 

11-6-2025

Tom Brennan/MM

17. RHP Ryan Lambert

Lambert, another fireballing reliever with toughness, will be a real factor in the Mets pen in 2026. In his first full season, he had 81 Ks in 50 innings, and a 1.62 ERA between High A and AA. 7 of 9 in saves, and 12 holds.  Typically sits in the high 90s.

Fearless. Hungry. 23 years old and 6’3” 225.

He has to start out in AAA, and most likely will be added to the Mets pen during 2026.  It seems unlikely he will make the Mets opening day roster with no AAA innings to date.  But I’d like to be wrong.

 

11-7-2025

Just Baseball

https://www.justbaseball.com/prospects/new-york-mets-top-15-prospects/   

Ryan Lambert – RHP – (Double-A): An 8th round selection in 2024, Lambert bounced Northern Iowa Area Community College in 2022 to Missouri State in 2023 and Oklahoma in 2024.

His fastball and overall intensity on the mound caught the attention of big league clubs and translated into a dominant first full pro season, pitching to a 1.62 ERA in 50 innings, striking out 81. His 70 grade fastball averages 97 MPH and gets plus carry from a short arm delivery that results in big whiff within the zone and chase at the top. The slider is still a work in progress off of it, but the fastball alone makes him a high probability big league reliever.

 

1-12-2026

ANGRY MIKE/MM

RYAN LAMBERT ->  PHASE TWO

Lambert is one of my favorite prospects in the Mets system, he’s an old-school power-pitcher, who excels at attacking hitters up in the zone, and then inducing chase with his wicked slider. Lambert’s best pitch is his 70-scouting grade fastball, that sits in the upper 90s, topping out at 102, with a ton of spin and carry, as well riding life. His slider sits in the mid 80s, and exhibits a power sweeping or gyro horizontal movement, which can be thrown for strikes or be used to induce chase. 

Lambert forced a quick promotion to Binghamton and dominated as their closer, posting 14.58 K/9, 1.71 ERA, and 0.190 BAA. Unlike Ross, Lambert was consistent every month, aside from a couple rough outings here and there, which are a result of his control being spotty at times resulting in more walks than we accustomed to seeing. 

Similar to Edwin Diaz, at times he’ll pitch himself into trouble, and then quickly pitch himself out of it. Lambert should be ticketed to start 2026 in Syracuse and I can’t imagine him being there that long if he exhibits the same premier stuff he flashed in 2025.