New York Mets 2026 Top Prospects Rankings: Nos. 1-5

The countdown is over. After reviewing the best of the New York Mets’ farm system, we now get to analyze the cream of the crop: the top five prospects.

If you missed any of the prospects ranked previously, you can find them here (6-10), here (11-15), and here (16-20).

Without further ado, here are the best five prospects on the Mets, as voted by our front-page writing staff.

No. 5: Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF (Triple-A Syracuse)

2025 stats: .237/.356/.470, 137 wRC+, 29 HR, 7 SB, 25.6 K%, 14.7 BB%

Acquired in 2023 in the Justin Verlander trade, the 22-year-old Clifford is a powerful lefty hitter with a ton of swing and miss in his game, but also some relevant power. Last year, he hit 29 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A, and finished the 2025 season with a 137 wRC+ despite a low .237 batting average.

So far in 2026, Clifford has used a recent hot streak to bump his season-long numbers up to a respectable 111 wRC+ and .813 OPS. He should continue to rake in the minors, but the way his contact skills (or lack thereof) translate to MLB is in serious question. He hits the ball hard and can certainly work a walk, as last year’s 14.7 percent rate between the two upper minor levels suggests, but he will need to cut his strikeout rate to succeed.

Defensively, he can cover first base and the two outfield corners, and has respectable arm strength and range for the latter, even if he’s not a Gold Glover in the making.

If given an everyday role, there are 30 home runs in Clifford’s bat in the majors. Will the rest of his offensive game develop enough for him to be an above-average offensive producer at the highest level, especially when pitchers know he struggles with breaking balls down in the zone? 

No. 4: Jonah Tong, SP (Triple-A Syracuse)

2025 stats: 113 2/3 IP, 1.43 ERA, 1.68 FIP, 40.5 K%, 10.6 BB%, 0.92 WHIP (Minor Leagues)
18 ⅔ IP, 7.71 ERA, 4.31 FIP, 25.3 K%, 10.3 BB%, 1.77 WHIP (MLB)

Perhaps you have heard or read about Tong being compared to Tim Lincecum here or there. While it’s an obvious exaggeration and he is a long shot to have such an impactful career, Tong does bear some resemblance to the former Giants ace in pitching style.

Tong boasts an explosive delivery with an incredibly high arm angle, but also excellent extension. As a result, his fastball, arguably his best pitch, has that highly sought-after ride effect, with about 20 inches of induced vertical break (IVB). He complements it with a very solid changeup that he throws with a Vulcan grip, a curveball, and a slider he rarely uses.

Last year, Tong was a beast in the minors, posting a 1.43 ERA with 179 strikeouts in just 113 ⅔ innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He was then promoted to the majors, perhaps rushed because of the team's circumstances, and posted a 7.71 ERA in 18 ⅔ innings, but with a much more competent 4.31 FIP.

Tong is not exactly off to a hot start in Syracuse this year, with a 5.66 ERA in 20 ⅔ innings, but remains very much in the organization’s plans, as they refused to include him in the Freddy Peralta trade. If the curveball or slider can take a step forward to join the heater and the changeup in that plus (or even plus-plus) tier, he could be something special.

No. 3: A.J. Ewing, OF (Double-A Binghamton)

2025 stats: .315/.401/.429, 147 wRC+, 3 HR, 70 SB, 18.6 K%, 12.1 BB%

Ewing is a 21-year-old outfielder who hasn’t had a single stint of below-average offensive play in the minor leagues since being drafted in 2023. Last year, h posted a brilliant .315/.401/.429 line in 564 plate appearances between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A, with a 147 wRC+ and a whopping 70 stolen bases.

After that, he went on to put up a 169 wRC+ in spring training and is off to a blistering start in Double-A, with a 166 wRC+ in 60 trips to the plate. It’s safe to say we will see him in Triple-A soon.

Ewing’s swing is not designed to hit a lot of home runs because of its downward attack angle, but he does hit a lot of liners, and ground balls for a plus-plus runner aren’t the worst idea in the world. He has star potential if he can develop 15-homer power, but even five or ten per season would make him a starter with his speed-and-defense skillset.

No. 2: Carson Benge, OF (MLB)

2025 stats: .281/.385/.472, 150 wRC+, 15 HR, 22 SB, 17.7 K%, 13.1 BB%

We promise you, Benge is much better than this. He can do much more than posting a .136/.219/.197 line with a 25 wRC+. Keep in mind he was probably rushed to the majors and he has just 48 games of experience above Double-A: 24 in Triple-A last year, and 20 in MLB in 2026.

At his best, Benge can be a 20-20 club fixture with excellent on-base skills and a high-contact profile. Last year, between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, he hit 15 home runs, stole 22 bases, and posted a 150 wRC+ in just 116 games.

In time, Benge will be fine. He needs to make some key adjustments, such as lifting the ball more consistently and working on his timing to do some damage on fastballs, but the potential is there for him to be an All-Star.

No. 1: Nolan McLean, SP (MLB)

2025 stats: 113 2/3 IP, 2.45 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 27.2 K%, 10.7 BB%, 1.13 WHIP (Minor Leagues)
48 IP, 2.06 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 30.3 K%, 8.5 BB%, 1.04 WHIP (MLB)

McLean is already an ace. There, I said it. And I don’t even feel guilty about it. With 13 MLB starts between 2025 and 2026 and a pristine 2.30 ERA in 78 ⅓ innings, I’ve seen enough. Excellent fastball velocity (95.6 mph on average this year, in the 68th percentile), a six-pitch repertoire, and a bulldog demeanor on the mound are the primary elements in his profile.

His pitch-movement profile is gross (in the best way), with a sweeper that generates 20+ inches of glove-side movement and a sinker with 18 inches of arm-side movement:

There isn’t much to say about McLean other than the fact that he looks ready to dominate MLB hitters for years to come. Once a two-way player, the Mets did well to get him to focus on the mound exclusively, because he is already in the top tier of young pitchers in MLB.

Interested in learning more about the New York Mets' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!