With Spring Training already 11 days deep, let's check in on how some of the Mets' top prospects are doing in St. Lucie against MLB talent.
OF Carson Benge:
The Mets' most touted prospect heading into the spring has so far been living up to the hype. In his first five games this Spring, Benge is 4-for-13 with a .308 batting average. He's been looking very comfortable in right field, too. So far, so good, as the Mets are hopeful that Benge can exceed expectations enough in Spring Training that they'll bring him up north for Opening Day in just three weeks.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the odds of some top Met prospects making the Opening Day roster. One of them was Jett Williams, who now has a 0% chance of making the Mets roster, and the other was Carson Benge. At the time, I had Benge at 60%. Now, I'd like to boost it up to 80%.
In the early stages of Spring Training, the starting right fielder spot is Benge's to lose. After a bit of a slow start, Benge is picking up steam and playing like the prospect that lit up High-A and Double-A pitching all of last season.
RHP Jack Wenninger:
Behind Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong, Wenninger is arguably the Mets' next best pitching prospect. While unlike the previous two, he didn't make his MLB debut in 2025, but he still dominated Double-A hitters all summer long. That was enough to earn himself a spot to Big League camp in 2026.
In two appearances thus far, Wenninger has been hot and cold. On February 24th, Wenninger made his first start of the spring. In two innings against Houston, Wenninger allowed two hits, two walks, and struck out three in two scoreless innings. He threw 35 pitches with 21 of them for strikes.
In his next outing, Wenninger was used in relief on March 1st, once again, against Houston. Unfortunately, the results were not as good. In 1.2 innings, Wenninger allowed two runs and struggled with his command, giving up five walks while striking out two.
Wenninger isn't expected to make the Opening Day roster and Spring Training is all about him getting reps against some MLB talent and letting the Mets and their fans see more of him. The future is still bright for him regardless of how he fares this Spring.
OF A.J. Ewing:
A versatile outfielder, Ewing brings impressive contact and speed into Spring Training. After spending most of last season lighting up High-A and Double-A pitchers, Ewing has been equally as impressive in his early sample size this spring.
He's 3-for-8, good enough for a .375 average and an OPS of 1.239. He also has a double, home run, four RBIs and a stolen base. A very good Spring output from the 20-year-old. It's very unlikely we'll see him on this year's Opening Day roster, but if he keeps hitting like this, Ewing could find himself on the Opening Day roster in 2027.
3B Jacob Reimer:
A top-ten prospect coming into Spring Training, Reimer got the invite to big league camp. In his very short time he's 1-for-7 with four walks, and two runs scored.
Don't let those numbers fool you, Reimer was one of the Mets' most complete hitters last year in MiLB and his stock is on the rise. Like Ewing, he needs more seasoning in the Minors, but this time in Big League camp will surely accelerate his progress to becoming a Met within the next year.
C Chris Suero:
A New York native with some power, Suero earned himself an invite to St. Lucie. He's gone 1-for-5 with two walks. That one hit was a big one, as he hit a home run on March 1st. That's just a taste of the power Suero has to offer, who hit 16 home runs across High-A and Double-A in 2025, and then mashed five more in the Arizona Fall League.
1B Ryan Clifford:
Speaking of power, no Met MiLBer hit more home runs than Ryan Clifford in 2025 when he smacked 29 round trippers.
While he's off to a slow start going 0-for-8 with a walk this Spring, seeing Clifford in Big League camp is a refreshing sign of his player stock rising. He'll likely start the season in Triple-A, but with Alonso no longer a Met, Clifford might have his sights set on becoming the Mets next home-grown power hitter to play first base.
15 comments:
I'm so happy Steve posted this update so I can add my 2cents at this point in the Exhibition season...
Do you know who MLB ranks as its second highest ranked third base man? Jacob Reimer. Expect big things.
Ewing is awesome. On a bad team with no chances of the playoffs, he’d probably be an opening day starting outfielder.
I sometimes wonder if Ewing will be greater than Benge career-wise.
Wenninger had strong control last season, so this wildness early on is surprising.
With inflation, you now add a buck or two.
Benge
You maybe remember how unimpressed I was when the Mets drafted him. Boy, I was wrong
Right now you might be looking at a future complete package. He hits, walks, steals, and plays + outfield defense.
Not sure if he makes beds
I think the Mets are going to play a lot of him this March and try to come up the courage to start him in right come April
Wenninger
Go back and read Paul's 3-day recap on his visit to Clover this past week. Wenninger showed he's human
Still, IMO, this is a backend starter by 2028, determined by logjam, injuries to others, and success to others
Ewing
I too believe he will turn out more successful than the already successful Benge
Less power but killer defense in center, a future steal leader and top 5 OBP leader
A 2027 starter
Reimer
Sorry
No D
Only chance is beef up for platooned DH role
Suero
He, Ewing, Benge, and Morisito will bring a new dimension of excellent D, speed, Baseball instincts and skills to add to the new talent brought in
A new team in 2027
He grades out 55 arm, 45 field. Which means Reimer could be average in the field. But he may turn out to only be another JD Davis. If so, he would be relatively expendable
The most optimistic part of this excellent post was the "opening day 2027." When's that, August?
Clifford
I'm sorry. I don't buy this silly Polanco at first plan. I believe it will become quite evident early that the Mets do not have a first baseman on the roster and, though this guy will never win a GG, his bat makes him good enough and he knows where the bag is.
I look for him by the break, or earlier, regardless of his K/9 or low BA
Hey Dan
I was tempted to write something about the lockout when writing that sentence. I said Opening Day...never said when
Lockouts to do strikes don’t really hurt the rich players much know it as it hurt the owners much. The guys I really feel bad for are the marginal players, his chance Bay vaporize because that might be the particular year that they would actually get an opportunity, that thereafter might no longer be there once the strike is over, if the strike is a long. I think you should be.
Benge has indeed been impressive in the spring so far. He hasn't made the team yet, though - he has more to show. Three of his four hits were in one game where he was 3-3. I liked the defense I saw from him during the weekend series.
Ewing to me was the most impressive prospect. In two consecutive at-bats, he manufactured a run (IF hit, SB, extra base on bad throw, scored on ground-out) and then homered. He has looked very comfortable in left, but has pedigree at both CF and 2B.
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