NEW YORK — Desperately in need of turning their season around, the Mets plan to call up top prospect A.J. Ewing ahead of Tuesday’s game, league sources told The Athletic on Monday.
With Carson Benge in the major leagues, Ewing is the club’s best position-player prospect in the minors. He has played just 12 games at Triple A, where he has hit .326. He started the season in Double A and had a 1.052 OPS at the level while playing strong defense in center field.
Ewing, a fourth-round pick by New York, is the No. 4-ranked prospect in the Mets’ system, per The Athletic’s Keith Law. He ranked No. 98 on Law’s Top 100 list.
The 21-year-old is known for his speed and contact ability. This year, evaluators say he has offered elite defense in center field and is starting to tap into more power.
The Mets (15-25) own MLB’s worst record. They have shortstop Francisco Lindor, designated hitter/first baseman Jorge Polanco and center fielder Luis Robert Jr. on the injured list. Their offense is last in several categories, including OPS and wRC+.
In the outfield, the Mets could start Ewing and Benge at center field and right field, respectively, with Juan Soto at left field or designated hitter.