AJ Ewing has provided the Mets with a ray of sunshine amidst this dark season. As you could tell from the tone of most of the stories written about the Mets recently, all hope had faded and there didn't seem to be much to write about on the positive side.
Ewing was one of many prospects that had looked pretty good as he moved up through the minor league levels. We have touted many of them right here at Mack's Mets. What was different this time was first and foremost the timing. His appearance on the big stage and what he did with it on the first night was desperately needed to remind this team and its fans that baseball is fun.
It is way too early in his career to make some big prediction of stardom. He is very young, has not "seen it all" yet, and will have some bumps along the way as he learns the game at the MLB level. But just seeing his youthful enthusiasm, watching him race around the bases with his first triple, and watching his teammates lighten up a bit was needed on many levels.
I watched Ewing and Benge interact in the outfield and it reminded me of the fun I had playing baseball (at a very low level). It is a great game, filled with challenges and competition at the individual and team levels. Most of the current Mets had forgotten about that, as the weight of failed expectations had consumed their conscious thinking. Having a positive state of mind in any sport enhances performance because it removes distraction from the moments when muscle memory and twitch reflex need to fire.
I had the pleasure of interviewing AJ Ewing earlier this year (interview link) and there were several things I learned about him in that discussion and in subsequent observations of his play.
1) Ewing is an intense competitor. He enjoys the competition of pitcher versus batter, hitter versus fielder, team versus team. He wants to see his opponent's best to measure up to it. Even in professional athletics, it is rare to find the player that wants the ball in the critical moments. He does not fear failure, he accepts it as the price to get better. This will differentiate him from others with equivalent physical tools.
2) He enjoys the game, and it shows in the passion that he plays with. He has that grit that is tough to describe but easy to see. Think Lenny Dykstra, Wally Bachman, or even Pete Rose as examples of people that played the game with tremendous passion.
3) He is an athlete as much as he is a baseball player. When asked what he worked on in the off-season, his answer was speed and muscle tone, not some analytical swing plane mechanic that changes with the latest trends.
4) He has worked his way rapidly through the levels because he is ready to learn and he does not let anything bother him. He started the last few seasons at a lower level of ball than he may have expected. That didn't matter, because it was a challenge to him so rather than fret about it, he went out to beat that level...and quickly did. In 2024, he started in rookie ball, and it took him 19 games to get promoted. In 2025 he began the year in the Florida State League and it took him 18 games to get promoted. This year, he started at AA Binghamton even though he hit .339 there in the prior season. No problem - he hit .349 in 18 games before he was promoted. Then he hit .326 at AAA Syracuse in 12 games to make the statement, "Don't hold me back".
Only time will tell if AJ Ewing will become a star in MLB. But one thing is for sure - he will pump some much needed enthusiasm into his teammates as he competes with everything he has this year. I hope the attitude is contageous.
11 comments:
It is about time for the Mets fans to have someone about whom they can feel good after the dumpster fire that is the 2026 season.
Good morning, Paul.
You are learning how much more you are invested in these players after you have interviewed and met them
Ewing is going through his early Benge moment. He will hit below .200 for much of the tear, walk along, steal some, make solid defense, and end the season at around .220 tops.
Proper on the job training playing with a close friend on his left side.
Who knows. Could be playing with another close friend on his right side if Soto's MRI today comes back positive
*much of the YEAR
*walk ALOT
Oops
Didn't see that Soto's MRI was negative and is only DTD.
Sorry Nick.
Mack, I think he had negative X-rays. Not MRI. If that is true, I guess the MRI is today. Fingers crossed.
Ewing had a great night that first night. As everybody on the East Coast knows, I think the Mets should be bringing the fences in 5 feet and a little more than that in Center. So Ewing, on base 4 times in his first game, also hit a 103 mph shot to the left center wall, just a stride from the wall. Five feet closer fences? Maybe that ball sneaks out, and he has perhaps the greatest first game of any player in major league history. But the walls are where the walls are, because Steve Cohen wants them there. Silly of Steve, but he pays the bills.
Just so much fun to watch him. Just a kid at 21. Speed & on base skills matter
Soto may not be broken, but he is going to be sore. DH him for a week, because in the field he won't run. You could play Taylor in left during that time or give Morabito a shot. Either way you would have an awesome defensive outfield.
Can't bring Morabito up just to sit him down. You have to decide play him. My guess is that Soto ends up DH'ing far more this year than expected to help avoid aggravating any injuries.
Melendez stays around over Morabito precisely because there is less invested in him and so he can be an on or off player. The truth about Morabito, however good he turns out to be offensively, is that there is no place for him on this team unless: 1. Soto becomes a first baseman a la Harper and Morabito shows as an everyday quality player or 2. Morabito shows as a 4th outfielder at the end of the day. But right now there is insufficient evidence of either 1 or 2 above, so he stays in Syracuse. His time will come in September and next year perhaps. If an outfield replacement is needed for a short period of time, Pache makes more sense than Morabito does. A third possibility, but then again, not for this year is that Ewing moves to 2nd base next year leaving an opening in center for Morabito who has a stronger arm than Ewing and is nearly as fast.
The "problem" is the lack of power in both Morabito and Ewing (even if they bring the fences in). Overall, I think that Ewing will bring mote with the bat than Morabito. I also believe the Mets see Ewing more as an outfielder than a 2nd baseman because of limited play at 2nd.
I believe in a short while the main outfield alignment will be Soto, Ewing, and Benge with Morabito as the 4th OFer. All but Soto have played all three outfield positions. That versatility will be important on days of rest, DHing.
Mets are devoid of upper level power. And they discarded three of their top power sources in Alonso, McNeil, and Nimmo
And most of additions on IL
DUMB SHITTERY
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