Mets Roundup, Sept 25: Lindor's Journey, Young Pitchers, Thornton's Impact

[Grand Central Mets]

Here is some of the latest Mets analysis from around the internet. Focus is on the 2026 rookie class, young rotation arms like Thornton and McLean, Lindor's Clemente Award nomination, and Andy Green's impact on young players.

• Is This the Mets’ Best Rookie Class Ever? (Just Baseball). Argues the 2026 Mets rookie class is their best ever, citing five top-50 MLB players, with Carson Benge and Nolan McLean leading the charge. Key evidence includes Benge’s 3.7 fWAR and McLean’s 3.16 ERA, alongside strong depth and potential for future success.
• Thornton the latest young Mets arm to wrap promising '26 season (MLB.com). Argues the Mets’ young rotation arms, including Thornton, McLean, Scott, and Tong, showed strong growth in 2026, with a combined 3.47 ERA. Thornton, once an afterthought, improved to a 3.15 ERA, while McLean led NL rookies in ERA, innings, strikeouts, and wins.
• Fourth Clemente nod carries special meaning for Lindor (MLB.com). Argues Lindor's fourth Clemente Award nomination holds special meaning due to his Puerto Rican heritage and shared history with Clemente. Highlights his community work, including partnerships with Seen and New Balance, and ties to Mets owner Alex Cohen's philanthropy.
• Roger Rubin: Mets' Andy Green's encouraging nature makes him perfect fit for young team (Newsday $$$). Argues Andy Green's encouraging philosophy and connection with young Mets players like Benge, Ewing, McLean, Scott, and Thornton have driven their performance improvements, making him a perfect fit for the team's future. Key evidence includes their metric gains and Stearns' praise for Green's organizational impact.
• Zac Thornton delivers in final start, Mets still fall to Rangers (New York Daily News $$$). Argues Zac Thornton delivered a solid season for the Mets, posting a 3.42 ERA in 15 starts and showing promise as a future rotation piece, despite the team's loss to the Rangers. His fearlessness and command, along with potential for added velocity, make him a valuable asset.