New York Mets Hitters of the Month: May 2026

The New York Mets entered May with a 10-21 record. Needless to say, they were in desperate need of a solid showing to maintain any hope of reaching the postseason. While they were unable to go on a ridiculous tear to get back to .500, they finished the month 16-12 and sit at 26-33. Outside of a 1-7 stretch from May 19 through May 26, the Mets looked like the team everyone expected at the start of the season, and the bats coming alive helped carry the day. 

After averaging 3.4 runs per game over March and April, the Mets cranked up the activity on the basepaths and produced a sterling 4.75 runs per game in May. In large part, the Mets’ surge was powered by three hitters, who, despite injuries and the continued struggles of marquee hitters, kept the team’s season alive. 

Ranking Mets' Best Hitters in May

#3: Brett Baty

Through the month of April, Brett Baty’s last name played like a cruel joke. He had a wRC+ of 60 thanks to a .211 batting average (AVG), .255 on-base percentage (OBP), and .311 slugging percentage (SLG). As a rule of thumb, it’s bad to rarely get on base and slug like you’re holding a limp noodle at the plate. However, when the calendar flipped to May, Baty started to swing like he holding an actual bat.

In May, he produced a wRC+ of 115 with a .253 AVG, .354 OBP, and .373 SLG. He was able to offset an increase in strikeout rate, from 27.6% to 28.9%, thanks to his walk rate more than doubling to 12.4% from 6.1%. While his SLG still isn’t ideal, and he has been the benefactor of some BABIP fortune (.358 BABIP), he earned his walk rate in May. Baty cut his out-of-zone swing rate from 31.6% to 25%. While that might not sound massive, it’s the difference between ranking 25th and 79th, among qualified hitters. 

The Mets are going to need him to keep showing a discerning eye at the plate, and hope it leads to a few more hitters’ counts, which will in turn lead to a few more round trippers. All told, Baty, beginning to live up to his namesake, was a May boon for the Mets. 

#2: Carson Benge

Similar to Brett Baty, Carson Benge completely turned his season around in May. His 133 wRC+ in May was second on the team, and that was despite underperforming his Statcast expected metrics (wOBA: .360; xwOBA: .381). It’s still a little too early to proclaim Benge a future All-Star, but, like his .375 May OBP, it wouldn’t be off-base. 

So, how did Benge go from hitting like a pitcher to hitting like a star? By leaning into what he does well, and not selling out for the modern-META of lift and pull. Benge cut his pull percentage from 32.8% in April to 25.9% in May and saw his Statcast hard-hit rate jump from 41.8% to 47.1%. His decision to square up the ball and use the whole field is how he was able to hit the same number of home runs in May (two) as he did in April and March, and still boost his SLG from .278 to .426. 

Benge has feasted as a doubles machine, and there’s no reason for him to stop. Home runs and walks are great and all, but some hitters are just built different. As May showed, Benge is the rare hitter who can go up there looking to find a gap and prosper. It may be unconventional in today’s game, but runs are runs. 

#1: Juan Soto

The Mets have been two teams this season. The one with Juan Soto in the middle of the order, and the one without him. In 42 games where Soto has featured, the Mets are 23-19, good for a .548 winning percentage, and in the 17 games he missed due to injury, they’re 3-14. It doesn’t take a math genius to understand how stark a difference that is, and his May only further reinforced how valuable a hitter he is. 

Over 26 games in May, Soto posted a 167 wRC+, ranking ninth in the league for the month, on the back of a .281 AVG, .369 OBP, and .615 SLG. His 10 home runs led the Mets and were one behind Kyle Schwarber for the major league monthly crown. He came into May looking for trouble, and that’s just what he did — at least from the pitchers’ perspective. 

What makes Soto’s incredible month so incredible is just how un-incredible it is for him. Soto has a career 159 wRC+, and he was actually better in his brief April and March stint (187 wRC+). Soto was by far the Mets' best hitter, basically performing at his baseline. It's crazy that this wasn’t anywhere near his best, and yet he was one of the most dangerous hitters in the sport. Don’t be surprised if he takes the #1 spot a few more times this season.

Considering the continued struggles of Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien and the extended absences of Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez, and Jorge Polanco, the Mets' offense has plenty of room to grow. The season hasn’t been salvaged just yet, but if everyone can get healthy and recapture their form, there should be plenty to play for come September.