Mets Promote A.J. Ewing in Bid to Revive Stagnant Offense

The New York Mets added 21-year-old outfielder A.J. Ewing to the 40-man roster on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, ahead of the series opener against the Detroit Tigers at Citi Field. Ewing, the organization’s No. 2 prospect, was summoned after just 12 games with Triple-A Syracuse, where he posted a .326 batting average, .392 on-base percentage and .435 slugging line, five stolen bases and nine runs. The move opens a roster spot for a player the club hopes can help a lineup that ranks last in major-league OPS, runs scored and wRC+. Injuries to center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (lumbar disc herniation), shortstop Francisco Lindor and first baseman Jorge Polanco have further depleted the Mets’ offensive options.

Associated PressESPNSports IllustratedReport: Mets To Call Up A.J. Ewing In Search For OffenseCBS SportsMets to Call Up Top Prospect A.J. EwingA.J. Ewing to be called up by Mets: Bowman Chrome Autos SurgeNewsdayNew York PostEwing brings elite speed, strong swing decisions to Mets outfield

Entering the series the Mets held a 15-25 record, the worst in MLB. Their offense sits at the bottom of virtually every key metric, including batting average (29th), runs (29th) and wRC+ (30th). The loss of Robert Jr., Lindor and Polanco left the team without its primary middle-of-order batters, prompting the front office to look to its farm system for a spark. Rookie Carson Benge, the club’s No. 1 prospect, had already earned a major-league roster spot earlier in the season.

Associated Press

Ewing was selected in the fourth round (134th overall) of the 2023 MLB draft out of Springboro High School in Ohio. In 2025 he stole 70 bases across three minor-league levels while hitting .315/.401/.429. In 2026 he excelled at Double-A Binghamton (18 games, .349 average, 1.053 OPS, 12 steals) before promotion to Syracuse, where he posted a .326/.392/.435 line and a .827 OPS in 12 games. Across Double-A and Triple-A he has a .961 OPS, 17 steals in 30 games, 22 walks versus 20 strikeouts, and nine extra-base hits. Defensively, he has played all three outfield positions and second base, with scouts noting his “plus speed” and “elite plate discipline.”

Report: Mets To Call Up A.J. Ewing In Search For Offense

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza described Ewing as “a baseball player” and emphasized that his value lies in “defense, the way he runs the bases, good at-bats, puts the ball in play, drives the ball.” President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said, “I think he’s progressed fast at this point in his career and I think he’s demonstrated he can master levels pretty quickly, so I wouldn’t put anything past him.” A front-office source added that Ewing is “on everyone’s radar” and that the club will continue to challenge him. The organization has not announced which player will be designated for assignment, though speculation includes Andy Ibáñez, Austin Slater or Vidal Bruján.

Newsday

An American League scout cautioned that while Ewing and other prospects have potential, “none of them are banging on the door to get [to the majors], and they’d be better off with more experience down there,” suggesting the promotion carries risk.

New York Post

• “He’s a ballplayer,” — Carlos Mendoza, Mets manager

Newsday

• “There’s a lot of different ways he can help a team win a baseball game: whether it’s the way he plays defense, the way he runs the bases [or his] good at-bats.” — Carlos Mendoza, Mets manager

New York Post

• “I think he’s progressed fast at this point in his career and I think he’s demonstrated he can master levels pretty quickly, so I wouldn’t put anything past him,” — David Stearns, President of Baseball Operations

Newsday

• “They have potential, and maybe one of them could give them something, but none of them are banging on the door to get [to the majors], and they’d be better off with more experience down there,’’ an American League scout said.” — American League scout, unnamed

New York Post

Ewing is slated to start in center field for the Tuesday game against Detroit and is expected to receive regular at-bats throughout the series. The Mets will evaluate his impact while considering roster moves to address the ongoing offensive deficit. With roughly 25 % of the season completed and the team eight games behind the NL wild-card line, the organization hopes Ewing’s speed and contact ability can provide a measurable lift.

ESPN