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There were three changes that were put into effect for this season:
1) The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System has been introduced. This is the most significant of the cha
nges and could have a major impact on the game. At first glance, it seems inobtrusive: each team gets two challenges to ball-strike calls during a regulation game (plus one more if it goes into extra innings). However, if a team successfully challenges a call, the chance is not lost. That means that multiple successful challenges could ensue. Only the pitcher, catcher, or batter can challenge a call. I will have much more to say on this rule change a little later.
2) The coaches’ boxes at first and third base are going to be enforced. When the pitcher is on the rubber, coaches must be within the box. A warning is issued on the first violation, and an ejection follows the second. It looks like this will add two more rows to the Mets’ depth chart – one for first base coaches, and one for third base coaches.
3) Runners cannot initiate contact with fielders to force an obstruction call. The rule change modifies the definition of “unsportsmanlike conduct” to include a runner committing an intentional act of interference unrelated to running the bases while in a rundown or avoiding a tag. If a runner is guilty of this, the umpires will rule him out and all other runners will return to the base last touched.
Of the three rule changes, the ABS will undoubtedly have the most impact on the game. The ABS has been evaluated in the minor leagues for a few years to work out some of the bugs and has now been declared as “ready”.
The testing over the last few years was done at the AAA level. One observation that I had as it unfolded was that the ERA of pitchers in leagues that used the ABS was noticeably higher. One can infer from this observation that the pitchers were forced to throw in the strike zone more because they could not get away with balls that broke around the plate or expertly framed by catchers. With more balls thrown in the strike zone, batters have the advantage and therefore more hits and runs result.
The limit of two (unsuccessful) challenges per game is also something noteworthy. As all of us know from watching ball games, both batters and pitchers get emotional at times over calls that went against them on close pitches. It is easy to project that the two challenges could be wasted in the early innings by emotional rather than rational decisions on when to challenge a call.
All this requires strategic adaptation by the teams. They can’t just go into the season without an established plan to make these changes work to their advantage. Here are a few things that I am sure are being debated amongst club leadership right now:
• Club rules on who can challenge and when. As mentioned before, pitchers and hitters can quickly exhaust challenges with emotional reactions. Clubs are going to have to decide who can initiate a challenge. My guess is that the catcher is the only defensive player that will be allowed to challenge. Catchers see every pitch, they learn where the umpire’s strike zone sits, and they will adjust that learning based upon any challenges that are successful. From the hitters’ side, clubs will likely choose which players will be allowed to use a challenge. As an example, Juan Soto has a superb eye for the zone, and he has a much higher probability of success in a challenge than someone that does not recognize pitches well and has a high chase rate. If a club does not have a “Soto”, they may establish a rule that the challenges can only be used on defense unless it is a last-inning pivotal at-bat.
• Managerial decisions on pulling pitchers will need adjustment. If in fact the ERAs are going to go up in a similar fashion to the minors, then pulling a starter early because he is giving up more hits/runs will be useless, since the next guy in will probably have the same misfortune. The quick hook of last season’s Carlos Mendoza would be disastrous in this scenario.
• Modify the approach at the plate. If you accept the premise that pitchers will be forced by ABS to throw more pitches in the strike zone, then you must agree that a more aggressive approach at the plate is warranted. As always, batters have much more success when ahead in the count because the pressure is on the pitcher to throw a strike. Prior approaches that were taught included waiting on a specific pitch in a favorable area because pitchers would try to nibble the corners and make the batter chase. If this tactic is not successful anymore because of ABS, then pitchers will have to throw more early strikes to get ahead themselves. The obvious counter is for batters to sit on those early strikes and be prepared to drive the ball.
• Defensive shift evolutions. If you believe that batters will become more aggressive early as just mentioned, then there will be more instances of balls pulled to the batter’s power zones. This would necessitate defensive alignment changes in anticipation of trends on where balls are hit.
I believe that the teams that think this through will come out of the gate with an advantage in the 2026 season. Those that do not will be playing catch-up to tactics that will probably be evolving continuously. Where will the Mets end up in all this? If you believe what we have been writing consistently on this site over the last few months, then put your money on the Mets taking the strategic approach.
Freddy Peralta’s arrival could be for as little as a single year as he has free agency pending at the end of the 2026 season, but no one is complaining about it given his high arsenal quality and the very low price being paid for his salary. It is now incumbent upon the front office to turn him into a long term Mets, much as was done with Johan Santana.
Kodai Senga is supposed to be completely healthy. If true then he’s a co-ace in this starting rotation. People are too quick to forget what he’s done while a member of the Mets and all it will take is the first double digit strikeout game to refresh the memory.
Clay Holmes made a highly successful transition from quality reliever to middle of the rotation starter. Yes, he seemed to run out of gas a bit towards the end of last season, but if you asked anyone if they’d sign up for a winning record with a 3.53 ERA pretty much everyone would sign up for that right now. It is possible with more time to work on arm strength and duration he could be even better.
Nolan McLean may be somewhat cursed by the magnitude of his success at the end of last season. Consequently expectations are sky high. Still, if you look through his minor league numbers it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. No one realistically expects a full season of 2.06 ERA but his numbers for his entire minor league career amounted to just a 3.10 number that improved each of the last two seasons.
Sean Manaea is one of the two huge question marks in the rotation. When he’s good he’s miscast as a number one starter, but three times he saw his ERA dip below 4.00 as a starting pitcher. No one knows what to expect this year, but a repeat of his NY Mets 3.47 ERA in 2024 would be most welcome.
David Peterson is the other lefty for whom no one can solidly predict numbers. In 2024 he finished with a 2.90 ERA and he started off 2025 with the same level of dominance before everything fell apart in the second half of the year. His ending number of 4.22 is borderline acceptable but folks would rather see a number between these two extremes to call him a true asset to the current six-man rotation.
Francisco Lindor has demonstrated both at the plate and in the field what kind of top tier player he is. Right now everyone is anxious for his recovery but pairing him as part of the double play combo make everyone feel warm and fuzzy about the coverage he’ll provide.
Marcus Semien has gone from shortstop to second base during his career. While his offensive numbers have sputtered over the past few years, the Gold Glove on his mantle is testament to the kind of defense that has been missing from the Mets probably since Doug Flynn manned that position.
Luis Robert, Jr. has been brought here as much for his Gold Glove as he has for his so far unrealized full offensive potential. While folks will appreciate what he can do with his legs and with his middle-of-the-order power, the fact is with a struggling corner outfielder on one side of him and an unknown commodity on the other he’s a Met for what he’s done with his leather.
Francisco Alvarez has had more than his fair share of injuries which curtailed his numbers overall, but winter conditioning and apparent full health have people optimistic about what he can provide not just as a slugger but also as a defensive stalwart behind the plate.
Juan Soto did everything the Mets had hoped when he signed that record setting contract last season. He added speed to make him an even more formidable offensive weapon. He is so good at producing runs that you’ll survive what he does in the field (though long term he maybe should become a DH).
Bo Bichette’s arrival came immediately after the club missed out on Kyle Tucker. It sure took a lot of the sting out of the new Dodger. He is a career .294 hitter having hit as many as 29 HRs and driven in as many as 103 in a single season. He’s sure a welcome addition to the lineup.
Jorge Polanco came as something of a surprise as a new Met. He’s played up the middle which is currently covered by Semien and Lindor. The story is that he is going to shift to first base which should be a bit less challenging defensively, but he’s still a competent hitter. In a given year he’s good for .263 with 23 HRs and 85 RBIs. They’re not Alonso numbers but they’re certainly solid.
OH, WHAT A RELIEF STRONG DEFENSE IS!
Playing a new position is hard. Of that, there is no doubt.
Everyone says that, and I concede to that point.
Bichette to 3rd base, Polanco to first base? Hard.
But, let’s step back and think about this for a minute.
These guys found out in January that they be expected to play these positions in April. So they have three months to learn.
Secondly, they played alongside guys in those positions for quite a long time and understand the interactional dynamics of that, so they are not coming at it like Jay. I never focused on those positions whatsoever. You understand what people do with those positions very deeply comment when you are a Professional player who’s played so many games.
Lastly, consider this factor, as spelled out an interview byNSNY freelance writer, Colin Martin, with Freddie Peralta.
Peralta….was asked his thoughts on having four traditional shortstops playing different spots in the infield, as the Mets' 2026 lineup will consist of Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette (playing 3B), Marcus Semien (playing 2B), and Jorge Polanco (playing 1B). Although Semien has been at second base the past few seasons with Texas and Toronto, and Polanco moved from mostly SS to 2B in 2021.
"Oh my God, I don't know. I think if we are going to have that, a lot of baseballs are going to be caught everywhere," Peralta said jokingly. "Excited to see."
I think there are tons of logic to absorb here. And, if Peralta is excited, if he thinks there’s going to be a lot of baseballs caught everywhere, which really makes a lot of sense, then why should we have trepidation? Why shouldn’t we be downright excited?
Also consider this thought: time and time again, we all look at guys being potentially drafted who are short stops, and the question always comes up, will they be able to remain at shortstop? That question is asked because it’s the most demanding position in the Enfield to play. All of these guys have passed the test at shortstop. So why do we think they will have trouble mastering easier positions?
Lastly, some folks talk about Bo Bichette’s weak arm for third base. But a chart I saw recently that ranked shortstop arm strength had Bo B ranked HIGHER than a guy named Francisco (the Hamate Man) Lindor.
How about them apples in the big apple?
Me? Put me in the “downright excited” column. I think this infield is gonna flash some leather this year that’s going to make us smile.
WHAT COULD GO WRONG LETTING YOUR GUYS PLAY IN TOURNAMENTS?
Saw this, thought of Edwin:
The leg injury Kings star Kevin Fiala suffered during the Olympics is season-ending, according to ESPN. Fiala, playing with Switzerland, sustained the injury during the team’s loss to Canada on Friday.
No, no key players EVER get hurt in these things, clearly.
I AM IRON MAN
Last year, Alonso, Soto, Lindor, and Nimmo missed almost no games between them, averaging 159 games played.
Baseball is grueling. David Wright was an Iron Man until he rusted out.
Now, Lindor has a balky hamate bone. Surgery zipped-zip, as I write this mid-week.
It is great when the great players play every day, but their not resting more increases the likelihood of nagging injuries becoming worse. Because aside from Ripken and Gehrig, no one is Iron Man in baseball anymore.
I for one believe Lindor has his eyes on the Hall of Fame. He knows that huge career numbers come from extremely high levels of games played in one’s peak years. But the worn out tire has a bubble in it. It just blew out.
Hopefully, for Lindor, it will only be a “short stop” on the injured list.
But not TOO short, as he could STOP being as productive if not properly healed.
And I would recommend not returning in cold late March/April weather.
The Mets have already lost a lot of power this last season. What if Lindor loses half of his?
The Mets (Alvarez, Lindor) may lead the major leagues in hamate bone removals.
Lastly, this injury basically ended one Mets “prospect’s” career:
Tim Tebow was never the same after his hamate surgery. The month prior to it, he hit .300 in the minors. His long shot bid died right there.
VELO MATTERS
Mets sign Craig Kimbrel. The now-37 year old former uber-beast has less velocity than he did several years back.
Baseball Savant showed his 2025 FB velo at 93.5.
Several years prior, per their charts, he averaged 99. Huge difference.
See the charts:
BB Savant Yearly Charts for Kimbrel
THINGS OFTEN HAPPEN IN THREES
Saw this:
“One college baseball player had a Baylor debut for the history books — and it left him “speechless” afterward.
“Tyce Armstrong, a redshirt senior who transferred to the Bears after four seasons at UT Arlington, crushed three grand slams — tying a collegiate baseball record — and drove in 12 runs during a 15-2 win over New Mexico State on Friday.”
- Maybe he saw my advice to be aggressive like Brent Rooker.
The Morning Report
First, let's talk short.
Yes, Francisco Lindor is
scheduled to be back by opening day, but some combination of rust, bad timing,
and possible sub-par throwing could shelve this plan.
One then has to asked why
not return Bo
Bichette to short and play either Brett Baty or Mark Vientos on
third until the trainer gives the a-ok?
Plus, there's Ronny
Mauricio.
However, I have a new
plan...
Why not let Bichette play third and move another ex-shortstop back there. Marcus Semien. You can then play either Baty or Mauricio at second.
A quick observation..
Mets Metrics ran some
numbers on Bo Bichette's arm, both from third base and short. I was
disappointed that it was below the average. Better than Alex Bregman,
but still, below average. The bottom line is he is potentially the league
leader in hits so that's the hand they will play this season.
A few Q&A
Q. I think I asked you this
earlier but do you think the 26 roster is complete?
Mack. The only move I
possibly see is Lindor going on the 7-day IL and being replaced by someone like
Vidal
Brujan (of course this could always be the entry point for Carson Benge).
Q. At what point do you think Benge will be in the starting lineup?
Mack. I've evaluated this for countless hours plus consulted with baseball God's throughout the industry. Then, I threw all that shite in the crapper and promoted him before game 1.
Q. Do you think Craig Kimbrel will return to dominance?
Mack. Dominance? No. Competitiveness, yes. Plus I think of all that wealth of relief knowledge working with your young pen-mates.. I'm not sure how long it will last but I would keep him if his ERA stayed below 4.00 and kis K/9 was over nine.
Q. Who does you think will be the first rookie to make a splash on this team?
Mack. Trick question, huh? I mean, Nolan McLean sort of charged up in the later portion of last season. Technically, he is still a rookie and has to be counted too. However, I expect two more rookies to be also showcased during spring training. They are aforementioned Carson Benge and probably second half season sensation, Jonah Tong. Tong will start off in AAA-Syracuse and work on his secondary pitches. Where his entry point into the rotation is, and when, is totally up to a lot of factors that simply haven't transpired yet.
Q. Is Ronny Mauricio ever going to pan out?
Mack. Maybe as a platooned designated hitter, but that's all I see for the young man. In his defense I'm not sure he has been given a decent change and, with the long list of infielders on this team, he may never.
Q. There is a lot of experience in the current projected Mets bullpen. Do you see either Ryan Lambert or Dylan Ross wearing Mets blue and orange come April?
Mack. Boy, I wish, but watch for the Mets to open up out there with vet-only relievers.
Q.
As we move into Spring Training, the conversation is shifting from “who did we sign?” to “how does this actually work?” To understand the 2026 Mets, we have to understand the difference between a load-bearing roster and a layered one.
In engineering, a load-bearing wall carries the weight of the entire structure. If it fails, the building collapses. For years, the Mets built load-bearing rosters. They relied on a few aging pillars—Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer—to hold up the entire season. When those pillars inevitably cracked due to injury or age, there was nothing underneath to catch the weight, and the result was total system failure.
The 2026 Mets are attempting a different architecture. Instead of asking a few players to carry the full weight of the franchise, they’ve built layers. This roster is designed to operate as a model, not to chase a miracle season.
1. Redundancy as a Multiplier
The blockbuster acquisitions of Bo Bichette and Luis Robert Jr. aren’t just about adding star power. They’re about offensive redundancy.
In prior seasons, the lineup was so top-heavy that if one star slumped or missed time, the entire scoring engine stalled. There was no insulation from variance. By layering Bichette and Robert alongside a deep group of professional hitters, the Mets have protected themselves from the Variance Cliff.
If one player hits a cold streak, the lineup doesn’t shut down. It keeps functioning. That redundancy matters most in the Competitive Middle—the roughly 40% of games decided by two to four runs. Those games aren’t won by heroics. They’re won by steady, professional execution, by lineups that don’t need everything to go right on a given night.
This is how you win 4–2 games in June without burning emotional or bullpen capital.
2. Stabilizing Innings: Durable Infrastructure in the Rotation
The 2022 Mets proved you can buy wins with aging aces. They also proved you cannot buy durability.
You can’t build a foundation on a load-bearing arm that might only give you 100 innings. Over 162 games, injuries aren’t anomalies; they’re guarantees. A mid-June oblique strain that costs a starter three weeks is not bad luck—it’s part of the season.
In 2026, while Freddy Peralta leads the staff, the success of the rotation rests on the foundational innings provided by the middle of the order. The front office prioritized durable infrastructure over fragile “Top-5 starter” projections. Arms like Clay Holmes and Tobias Myers aren’t expected to be saviors; they’re expected to be available.
That availability creates margin. It means a single injury doesn’t cascade into bullpen overuse, emergency call-ups, and the kind of pitching spiral Mets fans have seen too many times before. This staff is built on stabilizing innings that allow the team to absorb failure without collapsing.
3. Protecting the Option Value
The most important part of the 2026 diagnostic may be who the Mets did not trade.
By retaining top pitching prospects and creating an infield surplus with Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, and Bichette, the organization has preserved option value. This surplus isn’t about hoarding talent; it’s about flexibility.
It allows for rest, matchup optimization, and injury absorption without dropping to replacement-level scrambling. When the grind of July hits, the Mets aren’t digging into the bottom of the barrel; they’re re-sequencing known quantities. That distinction is the difference between a layered roster and a load-bearing one.
The Final Word: Operating the Model
A successful 2026 season will reveal itself in the "boring" wins—the 4–2 games where nothing spectacular happens, but nothing breaks. The games where the Mets simply out-execute the opponent because they have more professional layers to lean on.
For the first time in the Cohen era, the Mets aren’t hoping for a miracle or praying that a single star stays healthy for six months. They’re trusting a machine. The goal isn’t just to reach a theoretical ceiling. It’s to ensure the floor is finally strong enough to survive the full 162-game marathon.
Five Possible 3rd Round Picks - MLB
Gavin Gallaher
3B, North Carolina
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 |
Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Gallaher has established himself as one of the most clutch
playoff performers in college baseball, earning MVP honors at NCAA Regionals in
each of his first two seasons while leading North Carolina to the Men's College
World Series in 2024 and a victory shy of a return last June. Though he was the
Tar Heels' best hitter as a sophomore, slashing .325/.409/.603 with 17 homers,
scouts aren't quite sure what to make of him. His performance outstrips his
tools and he has slugged just .316 with two homers in 52 games during two
summers with wood bats in the Cape Cod League.
A right-handed hitter, Gallaher doesn't have any obvious
weaknesses at the plate. He manages the strike zone well enough, shows the
ability to handle lefties and righties and all types of pitches and makes hard
fly ball contact from gap to gap. His lack of power with wood is a concern,
especially with a player who may not be able to handle a challenging defensive
position.
A below-average runner with average arm strength, Gallaher
manned third base in his first two college seasons but the game sped up on him
too much there. UNC plans on using him at second base in 2026, though he lacks
the actions and quickness to play there in pro ball. He projects as more of a
left fielder than a middle infielder.
Mulivai Levu
1B, UCLA
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 |
Field: 50 | Overall: 45
The main attraction at UCLA for 2026 is undoubtedly Roch
Cholowsky, the No. 1 prospect in the class. But teams not picking at the very
top of the Draft will still have good talent to evaluate, starting with Levu,
who spent most of his first two years with the Bruins as their starting first
baseman. After a solid freshman campaign (.809 OPS), Levu took a nice step
forward as a sophomore in 2025, finishing with a .320/.389/.522 line to go
along with a dozen homers, finishing things off by playing for the U.S.
National Collegiate Team over the summer.
A strong left-handed hitter, Levu has a fast bat and a good
swing, with a ton of raw power to tap into. He can drive the ball to all fields
with ease with at least plus raw pop. His impressive bat-to-ball skills and
plate coverage can work against him at times; because he can get to everything,
he swings at everything. He cut down on his swing-and-miss in 2025, but he’ll
need to dial down the chase. If he does that, he could be among the nation’s
leaders in home runs. Levu has incredible hand-eye coordination, proving it as
an excellent pickleball player and in his experience as a flame-twirler as part
of his Samoan culture.
While most feel Levu will likely be destined for first base
(where he is a solid defender) at the next level, there is some athleticism for
him to work with. He can throw and his hands work fine, albeit with long
actions, so some don’t want to rule out the possibility of playing third as a
pro. Regardless of his defensive home, his bat could fly off the board early,
especially if he tones down his approach at the plate.
Myles Bailey
1B, Florida State
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power:
60 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
Bailey was a Top 150 prospect coming out of the Florida high
school ranks in 2024, and while he did go on to Florida State, his power
potential was enough for the White Sox to take a flier on in the 20th round of
that summer’s Draft. A year of crushing baseballs in the ACC -- he finished
second in the conference with 19 homers and was a first-team freshman
All-American -- has certainly provided more confidence that his juice is for
real.
A strong left-handed hitter, Bailey is on a short list of
hitters with the most raw power in this class, right up there with fellow
Florida collegian Daniel Cuvet at Miami. Bailey can drive the ball to all
fields and reaches the seats even when he mis-hits balls. The one question
around him that’s traveled to Tallahassee is whether he’ll hit enough to get to
that power consistently at the next level. While his ability to draw walks
helps offset it, a 31 percent strikeout rate with a bit of a grooved swing as a
freshman will have to be improved to give teams more confidence.
Bailey is a better athlete than he’s given credit for, and
he’s played third and in corner outfield spots before college. That said, he’s
likely destined for first, where he’s fine defensively. Some improvements in
his approach to cut down on the swing-and-miss should help him be one of the
more interesting Draft-eligible sophomores in the class.
Cole Prosek
3B, Magnolia Heights (MS)
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 |
Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Prosek isn't as tooled up as fellow Mississippi prep
prospects Eric Booth and Kevin Roberts Jr., but he's a better hitter than
either of them and one of the most advanced bats in the entire high school
class. Part of a Magnolia Heights (Senatobia, Miss.) program that has won seven
consecutive Midsouth Association of Independent Schools 5-A championships, he
homered twice in the 2025 title game. He also played well on the showcase
circuit, winning MVP honors at the Perfect Game All-American Classic in July.
Prosek has a quick, compact left-handed swing that always
seems to be on time. He can chase pitches and get pull-happy on occasion, but
his good feel for the barrel allows him to make quality contact. He has the
hitting ability, bat speed and strength for average power, and some evaluators
believe he can become a plus hitter with solid pop.
Because he's a below-average runner and lacks lateral
quickness, Prosek fits better at third base than in the middle infield. He has
solid arm strength and has pushed his fastball to 93 mph on the mound. He'll be
19 on Draft day and eligible again as a sophomore in 2028 if he attends
Mississippi.
Lucas Nawrocki
LHP, Aledo (TX)
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
Nawrocki spent most of his junior season at Aledo (Texas) HS
as a DH, helping the Bearcats win the state 5-A Division I title by batting
.532 and winning championship game MVP honors by going 4-for-4. But he opened
eyes with his pitching during the summer, including a dominant turn at the Area
Code Games where he struck out five of the 12 hitters he faced. Though his
listed height of 5-foot-11 is generous, and he's almost certainly a reliever,
his pure stuff could land him in the top three rounds.
Nawrocki may have the best slider in the Draft, an 82-85 mph
beast that can top 3,200 rpm and can feature either tremendous depth or sweep,
depending on what he wants. His four-seam fastball ranges from 91-95 mph with
high spin rates that create quality carry. He doesn't use his firm 85-88 mph
changeup much, but its fade and his ability to land it for strikes give it the
potential to become at least an average offering.
While he's small, Nawrocki has a strong, athletic frame.
It's impossible to project him as a starter, but it he can throw consistent
strikes and maintain the stuff he displayed during the summer, he could become
a high-leverage lefty reliever. Clubs may let him prove he can do that in
college and he's committed to Louisiana State.
First Base
Ryan Clifford is arguably the strongest power hitting bat to come up through the Mets system since Pete Alonso graduated from the minors. Right now he’s working on cutting down his high strikeout numbers and improving his bat control to raise his average, but a 2025 season with 29 HRs and 93 RBIs in under 500 ABs looks extremely promising.
Infielders and Outfielders
Jacob Reimer has played both infield corners and left field, though none of them particularly well. As a 21 year old in 2025 he ht .282 with 17 HRs and 77 RBIs in less than 450 ABs. While the defensive side of his game is kind of Vientos-like, the offensive numbers do get people somewhat excited.
Much further down the depth chart is middle infielder Elian Pena. Not even age 18 yet he started off his pro career with a bang. He finished the 2025 season with projected totals of over 20 HRs, over 40 SBs and hitting in the .280s. He’s a long way from Citifield but folks are very stoked for his development and eventual arrival.
While it is uncertain whether he’ll begin the 2026 season in Syracuse or in Queens, right fielder Carson Benge has shown strong offensive capability since giving up time devoted to pitching. In two years in the minors he has less than 500 ABs while hitting .280 with 17 HRs and 81 RBIs while stealing 25 bases. He’s surely a solid bet for the future but the big question is how soon that future will arrive.
Finally, in this group you have Nick Morabito who is also exclusively an outfielder. At age 22 playing for Binghamton he hit .273 with 49 SBs. He’s another speedy guy who could help when he’s ready to make the big jump.
Catchers
While the place behind the plate belongs to Francisco Alvarez, down on the farm are two catching prospects ready to advance up the ladder as they continue to fight for promotion to the majors. AFL star Chris Suero who between two leagues in 2025 hit just .233 but hit 16 HRs and drove in 68 while stealing 35 bases. He’s spent time in left field and at first base as well.
Former high draft pick Kevin Parada has never blossomed as expected during this slow trek up the ladder, but in the second half of 2025 he finally started showing that offense that seduced the scouts when he was selected. In Binghamton in just over a half season’s worth of ABs he hit .254 with 10 HRs and 50 RBIs. While those numbers don’t wow you, they suggest he’s a solid if lower level contender as a catching backup.
Starting Pitching
Rather than dwell on the specific numbers for each of the top most rated performers here, know that behind the six starters already in Queens the Mets have a pretty awesome set of backup contenders. Christian Scott is back from injury. Jonah Tong needs to see if he can regain his dominance from AA. Other in the chain include Jonathan Santucci, Zach Thornton, Will Watson and Jack Wenninger.
Relief Pitching
Here’s it’s a bit murkier. Dylan Ross and Jonathan Pintaro are the top contenders to support the starting pitchers but after that the numbers in most of the other contenders suggest they are not quite ready for prime time players.
14. Noah Hall
25/yrs old in
March 6-0 195 RHSP
2025: A+ – 25-G, 21-ST, 5-7, 2.72, 1.27, 112.2-IP, 63-BB, 115-K
GROK
-
Noah
Hall is a promising
right-handed starting pitcher in the New York Mets' minor league system. At 24
years old (born March 30, 2001, in Charlotte, NC), he's 6'0" and 195 lbs,
known for his command, plus changeup, and potential as a mid-rotation arm.
He's
currently assigned to High-A Brooklyn Cyclones.
He’s shown
significant improvement in 2025 after battling injuries, positioning him as one
of the Mets' more intriguing pitching prospects.
Hall began
his college career at Appalachian State University, where he spent two seasons
(2019-2021) primarily as a reliever, posting a 4.15 ERA over 34.2 innings with
41 strikeouts. He transferred to the University of South Carolina for his
junior year in 2022, transitioning into a starting role in the competitive SEC.
That season,
he logged a 4.34 ERA in 76.2 innings across 16 starts, with 78 strikeouts and a
solid walk rate (31 BB), earning him a 20th-round draft pick (612th overall)
from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Hall returned
to South Carolina for his senior year in 2023 to improve his stock
In 2023, he
started hot, going 5-1 with a 3.29 ERA in seven starts (41 IP, 43 K, just 9
BB), earning SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors in February and Perfect Game
National Pitcher of the Week on February 28. Unfortunately, a back injury
sidelined him for the second half of the season. His performance and pedigree
as a two-year Gamecock starter caught the Mets' eye, leading to his selection
in the 7th round (216th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft.
Hall signed
with the Mets for $176,250, slightly below slot value, and debuted in the
Florida Complex League (FCL) Mets in 2023. Limited by his injury, he made just
four starts, posting a 3.38 ERA in 13.1 innings with 13 strikeouts and
excellent control (2 BB).
In 2024, he
advanced to Low-A St. Lucie Mets, where he built on his command with a 3.45 ERA
over 15 starts (72.1 IP, 78 K, 22 BB), though he dealt with minor setbacks that
capped his innings.
Four-Seam
Fastball
Straight with
some ride; located up in the zone well.
92-95 mph
(touches 96)
50-55 grade
(primary pitch, ~50% usage)
Improved life
in pro ball; pairs well with changeup for swing-and-miss.
Changeup
His best
offering—tumble and arm-side fade; elite separation from fastball.
80-83 mph
60-70 grade
(above-average to plus; ~30% usage)
Devastating
vs. righties; generated whiffs in college and minors; Mets' development focus.
Slider
Shorter,
tighter break with high spin (2,600+ RPM); horizontal sweep.
84-87 mph
45-50 grade
(fringe-average; ~15-20% usage)
Shows promise
but underutilized; added depth in 2024-25; potential third pitch.
Hall's
strengths are his low walk rates (career ~2.5 BB/9 in college/pros) and ability
to induce weak contact, but he could benefit from a curveball or refined slider
for lefties.
His changeup
is the carrying tool, often graded as his 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale.
Overall,
Hall's trajectory is upward, and with the Mets' pitching lab, he could emerge
as a reliable starter. Keep an eye on his Cyclones starts—he's one injury-free
season from Mets contention chatter.
12-27-2025 –
MACK/MM
Noah
Hall – another 2022
pitching draft gem (we’ll try not to hold it against him that he was a
Gamecock). RHP. Pitched all of 2025 for A+ Brooklyn: 25-G, 21-ST, 5-7, 2.72,
1.26, 112.2-IP, 115-K, 63-BB. Needs to work on his control. There’s nothing
left for him to do at Coney, but the question is can he squeeze into an already
busy projected spring Rumble Ponies rotation.
