In need of a jolt, the last-place New York Mets are making a major move.
Per The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the Mets are calling up their top hitting prospect, A.J. Ewing. Per MLB.com, Ewing is New York’s No. 2 overall prospect behind right-handed pitcher Jonah Tong and the 78th-ranked prospect in baseball.
The Mets drafted Ewing in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft, using the compensatory pick they acquired when they lost Jacob deGrom in free agency after the 2022 season.
Ewing, 21, is a versatile defender who’s played center field and second base in the minors. He hasn’t tapped into consistent power, logging 15 home runs in 251 minor-league games.
But he possesses high-end speed and good contact in addition to his elite-upside defense. Ewing is a career .290/.395/.425 hitter in the minors with 101 stolen bases.
The Mets rank at or near the bottom of MLB in several offensive categories. Can A.J. Ewing help turn that around? (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
Ewing will offer versatility to a Mets team that’s posted the worst record in baseball (15-25) as of Monday and is dealing with injuries at multiple positions. Shortstop Francisco Lindor (calf), center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (lumbar spine disc herniation) and designated hitter Jorge Polanco (wrist, Achilles bursitis) are all on the injured list.
The Mets have the second-highest payroll in baseball behind the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. They rank at or near the bottom of several MLB offensive categories, including runs scored (29th), home runs (27th), batting average (29th) and OPS (30th).
