MACK - Top 28 Prospects - #2 - CF/2B - A.J. Ewing

 

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.

2.     AJ Ewing

Turns 22 in August    5-11    160    CF/2B/LF    LHH

2025 – A/A+/AA:    564-PA, 105-K, 68-BB, 70-SB, 315/.401/.429/.830

           AA:             132-PA, 29-K, 7-BB, 12-SB, .339/.371/.430/.801

Overall Minors:     .283 AVG, 13 HR, 107 RBI, 84 SB in 221 games.

GROK -

A.J. Ewing, whose full name is Andrew Joseph Ewing, is a highly regarded outfield prospect in the New York Mets organization.

He's already making waves in the minors with his speed, contact hitting, and improving power.

High School -      Ewing graduated from Springboro High School in Springboro, Ohio, where he excelled as a shortstop. He was committed to play college baseball at the University of Alabama but opted to turn pro instead.

Draft Selection:   The Mets selected him in the fourth round (134th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft as a compensatory pick for losing ace Jacob deGrom to free agency. He signed for an above-slot bonus of $675,000 and transitioned from shortstop to second base/outfield due to his athleticism and speed.

Strengths:          Known for his "twitchy" athleticism, elite speed (he has 84 stolen bases in 221 minor league games), and plate discipline—he often walks more than he strikes out. Scouts praise his contact skills and gap power, with potential for more home runs as he adds strength this offseason. He's working on building muscle to boost his exit velocity and handle advanced pitching.

Minor League Career –

Ewing has progressed quickly through the Mets' farm system, starting in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League (FCL) and advancing steadily. His 2024 season was solid but marked by adjustment to pro ball; 2025 was a breakout year, where he dominated at Low-A and earned a promotion to Double-A.

ETA to MLB:        Projected for 2028, though his rapid rise could accelerate that. He's seen as a potential everyday second baseman or versatile outfielder with 20-20 (HR-SB) upside if his power develops.

Ewing's quote to the Dayton Daily News in October 2025:

"My goal never was to be a college baseball player... I want to get to the bigs."

 

11-2-2025

Who are the next young studs for the Mets?

https://www.justmets.net/p/who-are-the-next-young-studs-pt-1  

OF/2B A.J. Ewing (No. 7 prospect, Double-A BNG)

2025 MiLB Totals: 124 G, 564 PA, .315/.401/.429, 153 H, 3 HR, 26 2B, 10 3B, 87 R, 55 RBI, 70 SB, 18.6%-12.1% K-BB%, .113 ISO, .392 BABIP, .390 wOBA, 147 wRC+

Latest Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 / Power: 45 / Run: 60 / Arm: 50 / Field: 55 / Overall: 50

MLB Comp: Jacob Wilson (2024 Grades: 70 / 45 / 50 / 55 / 50 / Overall: 55)

Carson Benge wasn’t the only Mets prospect to fly through three minor league levels this season. Ewing just happened to post an OPS+ over 130 everywhere he went.

A.J. Ewing has been receiving praise since the moment he suited up in the orange and blue. A compensatory fourth-round draft pick in 2023 (received, funnily enough, as a result of the departure of Jacob deGrom), the course of Ewing’s development last season closely followed that of Reimer’s, with maybe even steeper odds attached at his journey’s outset.

When initially drafted, Ewing graded out far lower than his current projections. Seen as a ‘project’ with a ‘light’ arm that was destined for utility duties, Ewing’s development in his second year of action has significantly raised his initial ceiling.

Yet despite all the toolsy upside that Ewing’s already put on display, he has one particular skill (aside from his ability to make near-constant contact) that has established itself as a cornerstone to his overall game: base stealing.

Though slightly undersized, Ewing has already proven a threat on both sides of the ball, and his defensive development is showcasing a comfort in center field that scouts think will complement the likes of Carson Benge manning a full-time corner position. (That means Nimmo and/or Soto are likely destined for perma-DH duties eventually, but I think that’s a reality we all foresaw anyway.

Whether he pops in for a few games in September 2026 or breaks camp in April 2027, I don’t doubt Ewing will also be in Queens sooner than later.

 

11-7-2025  -  Just Baseball

4. AJ Ewing – CF/2B – (Double-A)

Height/Weight: 5’11″, 180 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 4th Round-C (134), 2023 (NYM) | ETA: 2027

A speedster with advanced abilities at the plate, Ewing broke out in a big way in 2025, looking like a high probability big leaguer with some versatility.

Hitting

A simple operation, Ewing starts with his feet a little more than shoulder-width apart and the bat rested just above his shoulder. He utilizes a moderate gather as he pulls his hands back slightly. His repeatable operation helps him be on time consistently, making posting above average contact rates with good plate discipline.

Ewing has a knack for finding the barrel, producing plenty of line drives and higher exit velocities than what may be expected from a hitter of his archetype, averaging 89 MPH in 2025 with a max of 112 MPH.

His swing path can flatten out at times, with an average launch angle on hard hit baseballs of just seven degrees, but his ability to consistently spray line drives to all fields helps hedge some of that concern. Ewing is comfortable in left-on-left matchups, actually producing slightly better contact rates against same-handed competition.

If Ewing can generate a bit more loft to the pull side, the exit velocities are there to produce more homers, but given his speed, production and ability to find the outfield gaps, it may be more of an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” kind of thing.

As he currently stands, Ewing should still be able to mix in a hand full of homers with the ability to compile plenty of doubles and triples (he had 11 of the latter in 2025). His above average plate discipline and ability to hit lefties only helps solidify what is a strong floor for a hitter.

Defense/Speed

An elite runner, the Mets have continued to up Ewing’s reps in centerfield where his reads are improving, but his closing speed already compensates enough to get by.

While his routes can be indirect at times, Ewing’s ability to unlock another gear and athleticism to finish plays has him looking like a capable centerfielder, but with more refinement, he can grow into an above average defender out there. Ewing looks comfortable at second base, where he could also provide at least average defense.

One of five minor leaguers to steal at least 70 bags in 2025, Ewing was the second most efficient of that group and should be an elite base stealer at the highest level.

Outlook

Between the advanced offensive skill set, speed and defensive versatility, Ewing has a high floor as a player who should at least land in a utility role if the bat stalls. That said, his propensity for hitting line drives and solid exit velocities point towards what could be an everyday center fielder who can jump onto the dirt when needed. With a little bit more progress defensively up the middle, Ewing should be an above average regular who could be an intriguing table-setter at the top of the order.

 

11-11-2025

Tom Brennan/MM

8. OF A.J. Ewing

The 5’11” Ewing was, to me, the Mets minor league hitter of the year. 

He is going to be a 21-year-old in 2026, and is a high-on-base, base-swiping super machine. In 2025, between St Lucie, Brooklyn, and Binghamton, he was .315/.401/.426. Swoosh!

He is a no-doubt top 5 player a year from now.  His lone fault to date is low power, with just 3 blasts in 2025, but he had 36 other extra base hits, which is impressive, and SEVENTY STEALS in just 124 games, which is a 90+ steals pace over 162 games.  Just 105 Ks in 564 PAs.

He was an over slot 134th pick in 2024. 

I ask…why can’t he be a star infielder/OF in the majors?

SWOOSH!

 

11-30-2025

Running From The OPS       @OPS_BASEBALL

Mets #7 prospect, A.J. Ewing, had himself an excellent 2025. The 21-year-old showed a balanced batted-ball profile, with a superb ability to go the other way. He had a SwStr% of under 9%, showed off his 70-grade speed with 70 SB, and still has some untapped raw power to find!

 

12-3-2025

Ben Yoel          @Ben_Yoel

A.J. Ewing

Mets biggest prospect rise in 2025. He could be the CF of the future.

He stole 70 bases this year.

 

12-4-2025

Angry Mike/MM

Despite a record number of Mets prospects having breakout seasons in 2025, nobody created more buzz than A.J. Ewing to start the season, putting up video-game numbers right out of the gate. Ewing returned to St. Lucie to begin 2025, but quickly forced a promotion to Brooklyn, after posting an absurd .400 batting average and .506 OBP thru his first 18 games. High-A pitching didn’t slow Ewing down either, posting a .368 batting average & .440 OBP in his first month. 

If the hits and OBP don’t impress you, Ewing also recorded a ridiculous 50 stolen bases (56 attempts) thru his first 68 games of the 2025 season. Ewing’s approach highlighted getting on-base, slashing line drives all over the field. 

The only reason he didn’t rocket up Top 100 Rankings was because he simply didn’t produce the homers those lists are obsessed over, but his average exit velocity of 89 mph and maximum exit velocity of 112 mph, suggest there is plenty of untapped power potential that can be unlocked in the future.

I’ve been tracking Ewing’s box scores diligently ever since he was drafted, he remains one of my favorite Mets prospects, and I’m looking forward to seeing him produce a repeat monster performance for the 2026 season.

 

12-29-2025

Tom Brennan/MM

A.J. EWING -> Full-Season MILB STATS:

Year 1 -> Low-A |  HI-A -> 20 years old -> 29% K-Rate | 376 PA

| .233 BA | .361 OBP | .751 OPS | 10 HR | 13 2B | 3 3B | 13 SB | 49 RBI |

| 59 Runs | 63 BB |

 

Year 2 -> Low-A | HI-A | AA -> 21 years old -> 19% K-Rate | 553 PA

| .261 BA | .363 OBP | .828 OPS | 17 HR | 34 2B | 7 3B | 34 SB | 52 RBI |

| 91 Runs | 76 BB |