Desperate Times, Desperate Measures: Why A.J. Ewing is the Jolt the Last-Place Mets Need

The vibes in Queens have never been lower. The New York Mets, a franchise that spent nearly half a billion dollars last winter, are sitting in the basement of the National League East. The offense is inconsistent, the bullpen is a revolving door, and the fans are already looking toward 2026. In a season that has gone off the rails, the front office has decided to pull the emergency brake. According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the Mets are calling up their top hitting prospect, A.J. Ewing. This isn’t just a September cup of coffee; this is a desperate move to inject life into a corpse. Let’s break down what Ewing brings to the table, the bizarre origin story of his draft pick, and whether he can actually save this sinking ship.

The deGrom Compensation: How a Legend’s Departure Created a Prospect

The story of A.J. Ewing begins with a painful memory for Mets fans: the departure of Jacob deGrom. After the 2022 season, deGrom shocked the baseball world by leaving Queens for the Texas Rangers. While the Mets received a compensatory pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, it felt like a consolation prize for losing a generational talent. Fast forward to the fourth round of that draft, and the Mets used that very compensatory pick to select Ewing out of a Texas high school.

At the time, it was viewed as a high-risk, high-reward selection. Ewing was raw, athletic, and had a lot of projection left. Now, just two years later, that pick looks like a masterstroke. Per MLB.com, Ewing is currently the No. 2 overall prospect in the Mets system (behind only right-handed pitcher Jonah Tong) and the 78th-ranked prospect in all of baseball. It is a poetic twist that a player acquired via the deGrom loss might be the one to help pull the Mets out of their current misery.

This is not just a feel-good story. It is a testament to the Mets’ scouting department. They saw a kid with elite athletic traits and a high baseball IQ, and they bet on the development. The bet is paying off far sooner than anyone anticipated. Ewing, at just 21 years old, is bypassing the traditional Triple-A finishing school and jumping straight into the fire of a last-place team.

Scouting Report: Speed, Glove, and Untapped Power

So, what exactly are the Mets getting in A.J. Ewing? The short answer is a dynamic, game-changing athlete who can impact the game in multiple ways. However, he is not a finished product. Let’s look at the strengths and the one glaring question mark.

The Elite Tools

• Speed: This is the headline. Ewing has elite, top-of-the-scale speed. In 251 minor-league games, he has swiped 101 bases. He is a legitimate 80-grade runner who can turn a walk into a double and a single into a triple. The Mets have been one of the worst baserunning teams in baseball this year. Ewing immediately changes that dynamic.
• Contact & On-Base Ability: He is not just a burner. Ewing owns a career .290/.395/.425 slash line in the minors. The .395 on-base percentage is the critical number here. He has excellent plate discipline for his age and a short, quick swing that allows him to make consistent contact. He doesn’t chase outside the zone.
• Defensive Versatility: This is where he becomes a manager’s dream. Ewing has played significant time at both centerfield and second base in the minors. He has the range to cover gaps in the outfield and the quickness and hands to turn a double play in the infield. In a season where the Mets have been plagued by defensive miscues, having a plus defender who can plug multiple holes is invaluable.

The Question Mark: Power

The elephant in the room is the power output. Ewing has hit just 15 home runs in those 251 minor-league games. In an era where everyone is swinging for the fences, Ewing is a throwback. He is a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter. The question is: will the power ever come?

As an expert, I believe it will, but not at the level of a traditional slugger. Ewing is 21 years old. He is still filling out his frame. He is not a slap hitter; he has bat speed. The power will likely manifest as 15-18 home runs per season at his peak, combined with 35-40 doubles and 40+ stolen bases. That is a lead-off hitter or a No. 2 hitter profile. If you are expecting a 30-homer guy, you will be disappointed. If you are expecting a dynamic table-setter who pressures the defense every single pitch, you are going to love him.

Expert Analysis: The Immediate Impact and the 2025 Outlook

Calling up a 21-year-old prospect when you are in last place is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you are exposing him to the wolves. The pressure in New York is unlike any other market. On the other hand, there is no pressure. The team is already losing. Let the kid play.

My prediction for the first 30 days: Ewing will struggle initially. The jump from Double-A to the Majors is the hardest in sports. He will face elite velocity and breaking balls he has never seen. I expect a .230 batting average with a lot of strikeouts in his first two weeks. But here is the key: he will still get on base. His walk rate is too good to disappear. And he will steal bases. He will immediately be the most disruptive baserunner the Mets have had since Jose Reyes.

Where does he play? This is the fun part. The Mets have a logjam in the outfield and a question mark at second base. I expect manager Carlos Mendoza to do what progressive managers do: play him everywhere. One day he is in centerfield, the next he is at second. This keeps his bat in the lineup and allows the team to evaluate where he fits long-term. Given that Francisco Lindor is locked in at shortstop, second base seems like the most logical long-term home, but his outfield defense is too good to ignore.

Statistical Projection for 2025: If he gets 250 at-bats the rest of the way, I project a .265/.360/.390 slash line with 4 home runs and 20 stolen bases. That is a valuable player. It is not a superstar, but it is a starting-caliber player who makes the lineup deeper and more athletic.

The Bigger Picture: Is Ewing the Cornerstone or a Trade Chip?

This is the cynical side of the business. The Mets are in last place. They have a massive payroll and a farm system that, while improved, is not elite. A.J. Ewing is now their most valuable trade asset outside of Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong.

Is this call-up an audition for the Mets, or an audition for 29 other teams? The answer is both. If Ewing comes up and hits .300 with a .400 on-base percentage for two months, his trade value skyrockets. A rebuilding team could flip him for a young starting pitcher or a power bat to build around.

However, I believe the Mets intend to keep him. The narrative of the deGrom compensation pick is too good. He represents hope. In a season where the team has been a punchline, Ewing is a symbol of a smarter, more sustainable future. The Mets need to stop chasing expensive free agents and start developing their own stars. Ewing is the first real test of that philosophy.

Do not expect him to be a savior. Do not expect him to hit cleanup. But expect him to be fun. Expect him to steal bases, make diving catches, and work counts. In a season that has been devoid of joy, A.J. Ewing might just be the jolt of pure, unadulterated energy that Citi Field desperately needs.

Conclusion: A New Era Begins in Queens

The New York Mets are a broken team, but they are not a broken franchise. The call-up of A.J. Ewing signals a shift in philosophy. The front office is admitting that the veteran-heavy, win-now approach has failed. They are looking to the future. Ewing is not a finished product. He is a 21-year-old with elite speed, elite defense, and a contact-oriented approach that is rare in today’s game. The power may never be elite, but the total package is that of a multi-time All-Star if everything clicks.

For the rest of this lost season, the focus should not be on the standings. It should be on the development of Ewing. Every at-bat, every stolen base, every defensive play is a glimpse into the Mets’ future. The deGrom compensation pick has arrived. Now, it is time to see if he can become the face of the next great Mets team. Buckle up, Queens. The A.J. Ewing era has officially begun.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.