Michael Reed

Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images On April 26, after being designated for assignment by the Marlins, Austin Slater signed with the New York Mets. Given the team's struggles at the time of his signing, it made all the sense in the world to bring in a veteran like Slater. For most of his 10 year career, his number one priority has been to hit well vs LHP. The only problem is, he has not done so since 2023. Before 2024, Slater had consistent playing time for the San Francisco Giants. With consistent appearances brought consistent numbers versus left-handed pitching. Since then, Slater has bounced around. In 2024, he was an Oriole and a Re; in 2025, he was with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. In his free agency, Slater was told he was the Sox's “top target” in their attempt to improve vs. southpaws. Since his departure from the Giants, Slater has struggled mightily with the platoon advantage. So far this season, in 38 at-bats vs LHP, Slater is batting .184 with 14 strikeouts. Slater has found most of his time this season in a platoon with MJ Melendez. When Manager Carlos Mendoza was asked why Slater would pinch hit for Melendez, who currently sports a 132 OPS+, Mendoza said, “he is here to hit lefties. obviously”. Some of the problems can be attributed to his struggles versus the fastball. When Slater was hitting well with the Giants, the fastball was the pitch he hit the best, consistently netting a +3 or above in run value. This season, his run value versus fastballs is a -3. As a team, the Mets rank 29th in fastball runs above average, hence why they hoped Slater would be able to help in that regard as well. Slater has also not shown much power at the plate. Within his nine hits this season, only one has been a true barrel. He has one extra-base hit on the season and yet to hit one out of the park. Slater’s hard-hit rate and slugging percentage are both near the bottom of the league as of the start of the Subway Series. To partner all of that with Slater never being a plus defender in the outfield, you start to question what value he brings to the roster. Barring a turnaround, it could be time for the Mets to take a look at Nick Morabito in Triple-A Syracuse, who currently sports a .333 batting average vs. left-handed pitching. For Slater to continue his time with the Mets, he'll have to rediscover a form that's seemingly been lost to time. View full article

Image courtesy of © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images In the small (but scintillating) preview we got of Nolan McLean in 2025, we saw flashes of a future ace. We saw curveballs that have never curved quite so much, sinkers that sink at an alarming rate, and sweepers that defy the laws of physics. To nobody’s surprise, it is the same story so far in 2026. McLean currently sports a 99th percentile pitching run value. The breakdown on that: he's in the 98th percentile in fastball run value, 88th percentile in off-speed run value, and 78th percentile in run value. If that stat means little to you, just know that those numbers means that the rookie right-hander is among the best pitchers in the league at throwing every type of pitch. Not too shabby, huh? His 38 strikeouts is the seventh-most of all qualified pitchers. By all metrics, McLean can be considered at the forefront of the NL Rookie of the Year race. In the last 10 years, only four pitchers have won the award (Luis Gil and Paul Skenes in 2024, Devin Williams in 2020, and Michael Fulmer in 2026) but if there is ever a pitcher to run away with it, its McLean. McLean’s sinker is currently tied for second in pitch run value. The pitch only allows a .192 batting average and has generated a 25% strikeout rate. McLean’s sinker is his go-to pitch in terms of getting ahead and putting hitters away. The sinker produces a ridiculous 5.6 inches of induced vertical break, which is just comical for a sinker. For a pitch that starts outside and ends up at the stomach of a right-handed batter, it's about as effective as you'd expect. We still have yet to see the full breakout of McLean’s curveball. He throws that the least of his six offerings, though it's currently resulting in a .056 batting average. His Uncle Charlie famously spins as much as any single pitch in baseball, consistently registering between 3,300 and 3,450 RPMs. The difference between McLean right now and the Cy Young contender of the future is a more consistent attack pattern with his two big breakers. McLean’s only current metric that does not look absolutely bonkers is his chase rate, a measly 24.6% that only ranks in the 17th percentile. Of his 38 strikeouts, 13 were via a watched third strike. In that sense, you could argue that hitters aren't chasing outside the zone simply because they can’t pick up his pitches out of the hand. That's what's making Mason Miller so effective right now, and such a trait would be insanely potent with McLean's deep and powerful arsenal. His xERA (1.94) and xBA (.173) are both among the best expected figures of any starting pitcher. On a struggling New York Mets roster that's still working to climb out of a hole dug by that notorious 12-game losing streak, McLean is one of the few bright spots of the roster. His outings are starting to be anticipated by fans the way Jacob deGrom’s were during his run with the Mets. That's a bold comparison to be sure, but one McLean is inviting with his brilliance on the mound. View full article

Image courtesy of © Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images The way Francisco Alvarez is barreling the ball right now is something we have not seen from him since his debut in 2022, and it is as advertised. In 2023, Alvarez showed flashes of his 70 grade raw power that was bestowed upon him coming up in the Mets farm system, hitting 25 home runs with a .431 slugging percentage. But that was still the tip of the iceberg with Alvarez, the fanbase felt like Alvarez had more power in the tank. Since then, Alvarez has gone through constant injuries that has limited his full potential. So far this season, The Francisco Alvarez that was promised is on display, and he is as advertised. In 14 games played so far this season, Alvarez currently ranks in the 99th percentile in expected slug and barrel rate. His four home runs so far has shown the power that he knew was in there all along. to go with his incredible power so far, Alvarez also has a .312 xBA, light years above his previous seasons. The past two seasons, Mets fans have been dumbfounded as to where this consistent power went. Some of that blame could be passed onto former Mets hitting coach Eric Chavez, who had a much different plan to use Alvarez than any previous hitting coach Alvarez had. “Last year you hit 25 homers. Did you think it was a good year? Because I didn’t” Chavez said. Chavez believed Alvarez needed to focus less on pulling the ball and swinging for the fences and focus more on hitting consistently and using all sides of the field. Now all that sounds like decent advice, but when you see that Alvarez is at his best when he is swinging for the fence and pulling the ball, you then see where some of the Alvarez struggles came from. So far this season, Alvarez has a 45 percent pulled ball rate, and the results are not shocking to believe. With the way Alvarez is playing and the way the Mets are struggling to win games, it might be time for Manager Carlos Mendoza to move Alvarez up in the lineup. Alvarez has been used mostly in the 7th and 8th spots. In Saturday’s game against the A’s, Alvarez was moved up to the 6 spot. In that game, Alvarez went 2-4 with a 109 mph home run to center field. If Alvarez continues to hit the way he is right now, the cleanup spot might be calling his name. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=a2d57a42-c4ca-31ca-88e6-a0b10657410c There are many reasons why the former #1 overall prospect in baseball has yet to fully break out. Whether it was hand injuries, bad slump, bad advice or the quality play of Luis Torrens behind him. Now that Alvarez is back to swinging for the fences and as help as ever, this could be a very scary year for pitching against Francisco Alvarez. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Earlier this week, the New York Mets announced that J.D. Martinez was being brought back as a special assistant to baseball operations, similar to the role Carlos Beltran has. Martinez was a crucial part of the Mets 2024 postseason run, not just as a player, but as a clubhouse leader. In particular, his veteran leadership that season appeared to really impact one player on the team: Mark Vientos. In 2024, Mark Vientos exploded onto the scene after he was called up in mid-May, making an enormous statement despite failing to make the Opening Day roster. He slashed .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs that season and later set the Mets' postseason record in RBIs with 14. The two go way back, both being from the South Florida area and working out at the same facility over the offseason. When asked about Martinez’s impact on Vientos, manager Carlos Mendoza took the time to laud the now-retired slugger. It's never been a secret that their relationship was strong. Vientos told the New York Post that he always tried to relay information of the veteran when they played together: “Hey, J.D., what were your thoughts when you were my age, on this and that. I take what I think will work for me and leave what I don’t think will work for me and that is just how I go about asking questions.” In 2025, Martinez stepped away from baseball. With him gone and the ever dangerous “sophomore slump” looming, Vientos had sky high expectations and was unable to meet them. He registered -0.2 WAR in 121 games, slashing .233/.289/.413 with 17 home runs. Then, those struggles extended to this spring, when the 26-year-old recorded a .040 batting average. Vientos was also nonexistent in the World Baseball Classic, only recording two hits with Nicaragua being eliminated in the group stage. In the opening series of the season, Vientos only received one at-bat, coming off the bench in the 10th inning. However, with the entire offense rooted in a slump, he has been getting increased playing time in recent contests and has responded to the call, posting extra-base hits in back-to-back contests. For Vientos to fully resort back to his 2024 form, when he ranked in the 88th percentile in batting run value and 92nd percentile in barrel rate, bringing back a mentor like Martinez is as good a place to start as anywhere. View full article

Nolan McLeanCarson BengeA.J. EwingJonah TongRyan CliffordJacob ReimerJack WenningerElian PenaJonathan SantucciWill WatsonMitch VoitNick MorabitoWandy AsigenEli Serrano IIIRyan LambertChris SueroZach ThorntonAntonio JimenezDylan RossR.J. Gordon

Image courtesy of © Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images In the bottom of the 11th inning of the New York Mets' second game of the 2026 season, Luis Robert Jr. parked a Hunter Barco slider into the Fiesta Deck, scoring three runs and giving the Mets their second win of the season and Robert the second walk-off home run of his career. The center fielder's hot start probably hasn't gone on long enough to loudly proclaim that La Pantera is back, but that at-bat certainly has put him in the right direction. To see Robert take the nine-iron out of the bag and golf the ball out of the park at 104.6 MPH is certainly impressive to see, but the power has always been there for him. One could make the argument that his swing decision and pitch recognition are more impressive than the swing. In terms of swing decisions, the old version of Robert may very well have been down 0-1 in this scenario. In 2025, Robert swung at first pitches at a 47% clip, the seventh-most in the MLB. In this at-bat, Barco’s first pitch was a down-and-away changeup, a pitch Robert took for a ball. Robert recently flashed his improved discipline Opening Day when he worked a 10-pitch walk against Paul Skenes. That was the first sign that Robert’s maturity at the plate had begun to evolve. He's following what teammate Bo Bichette said the plan the whole team has this season: taking professional at bats. Barco was very slider-heavy in his outing, throwing the pitch 11 out of 24 times. After the first pitch take of the changeup, it was clear Robert was hunting that slider, and he got what he wanted. In 2025, Robert posted a .216 batting average against sliders, a pitch he saw 16% of the time last season. So far in 2026, Robert is sporting a .667 batting average against the slider. It was encouraging to see that Robert identified the pitch out of the hand and got the barrel to it. Saturday’s game also featured a walk from Robert, who currently sports a 20% walk rate in 2026. In 2025, he only managed a 9.3% walk rate, so it's clear his refined plate approach is spreading to all aspects of his game. But the people that celebrated when the Mets traded for Robert signed up for his raw power, and that was shown on display in that swing. Robert went 2-for-4 on Opening Day, but he didn't flash the upper-echelon pop his game was once known for. Thus, it's rather encouraging that his walk-off home run featured elite exit velocity (104.6 mph) and launch angle (23°). Now, Robert got the pitch he wanted but not exactly where he wanted it. The quadrant of the strike zone that Barco hung that slider in does not normally generate a ton of aggressiveness from Robert, as he swings at pitches down there a measly 34% of the time. Now, with a new plan to attack rather than react, Robert swung at the first slider he saw, and it just so happened that he ended the game with one swing. Robert also has a lot less pressure on him in this lineup. With Brett Baty behind him if needed, and Marcus Semien and Carson Benge after that, hero ball was not needed. The result says otherwise, but the process behind the plate approach is what is most worth salivating over. While not quite the swing of his life, Robert has set a high bar for himself in New York. From increased pitch recognition to better swing selections, a redux of that magical 2023 season isn't out of the question. He has all the tools to help this team, and all that home run did was accelerate his path back to stardom. View full article

Image courtesy of © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images As confirmed by New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, Carson Benge not only made the roster, but he also will be the starting right fielder against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day. The Mets are placing a lot of trust in the 23-year-old rookie to hold down the right field spot for the 2026 season, especially after it was announced that offseason signee Mike Tauchman will undergo surgery following a meniscus tear. Benge now has the job security and all the tools to put together a strong rookie season in 2026. The only question is how good (or bad) could this season be for him? Carson Benge's Optimistic 2026 Outlook It is not crazy to say that Benge has one of the best foundations a rookie could have: plus defender, 60-grade arm, and a 60-grade hit tool. He has the potential to be a five-tool player in this league. In the spring, Benge slashed .366/.435/.439 with a .874 OPS in 46 plate appearances. According to Prospect Savant, in the minor leagues last year Benge had a 94th percentile xSLG, 94th percentile barrel rate, and he finished in the 92nd percentile in spring speed. In the best-case scenario, you are looking at a potential Gold Glove candidate who can finish with a 20 homers and 20 steals. In said scenario, Mendoza would have flexibility to bat Benge anywhere in the lineup. The top prospect certainly has proven in the minors and spring training that his hit tool is consistent enough to produce in the majors. This spring, Benge had a 140 WRC+. In the minors last season, Benge produced a 150 WRC+ in 116 games across A+, AA and AAA. He has positively affected every team he has been on, consistently getting on base, playing good defense and not striking out. It's the profile of a mature veteran, one which will hopefully translate right away. Carson Benge's Pessimistic Outlook There are three potential flaws that could sink his rookie campaign.. The first being that he has proven to be a slow adjuster. Through his first five games in Double-A, he went 3-21 for a .142 batting average. Likewise, his promotion to Triple-A did not end up going well for him. For the Syracuse Mets, he slashed .178/.272/.311 in 103 plate appearances. For Benge to be the five-tool player he is believed to be, he would need to produce power, something which has been inconsistent throughout his professional career. He had one lone home run this spring, and in 519 plate appearances in the minors last year, he produced 15 home runs. While his hard-hit rates are high, he has been unable to get under the ball enough to put balls over the fence. According to Prospect Savant, Benge had a 73rd percentile Max Exit Velocity and a 31st percentile Pull Air %. There's clearly some untapped potential in that department. My last point, and the common question the Mets community has about Benge, is his habit of hitting on top of the ball. Benge posted a 70% groundball rate this spring after sitting at 42% last year. In conjunction with the discussion about power, there's clearly an evolution that needs to take place in his contact profile. If there's no evolution on that front, though, is his current form sustainable? Now that is a major question and definitely something to follow this season. We see Luis Arraez consistently have 40% or higher groundball rates and he wins batting titles. We have also seen Brett Baty really struggle with getting on top of the ball and rolling over for outs, a problem Baty (mostly) fixed last season. Benge’s main criticism across advanced metrics sites has been that while he can be a five-tool player, none of his tools are great. However, to have five good tools is really impressive. You can count on four of them right out of the gate: speed, fielding, arm strength, and hitting for average. That fifth tool, hitting for power, could make or break whether we get best-case scenario Carson Benge, or the worst case. View full article

Image courtesy of Jeff Roberson, Associated Press It is hard to argue that this spring has created a lot of optimism towards Mark Vientos. Fans continue to wonder where the 2024 version of the Mets' young star went. Coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, Vientos has yet to prove this spring that the 2024 Vientos will be making a comeback this season. Vientos had only two hits this spring, going 2-for-37 (.057) and 3-for-19 (.158) during his time with Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic. With the strong 2025 campaign of Brett Baty and acquisitions of Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco, playing time could be few and far between for Vientos. However, it is not all that hard to find optimism in a positive 2026 campaign for Vientos. One thing you can be certain about Vientos is that he is going to hit the ball hard. According to Baseball Savant, Vientos finished in the 89th percentile in hard hit rate and 82nd percentile in average exit velocity, the exact same as he was in 2024. Vientos raised his Hard Hit% from 46.6 to 50.5 in 2025, a positive that went under the radar. With his increase in hard-hit metrics and his batting average being .013 under his expected batting average, you can say luck did not fall his way in 2025. This spring, Vientos has increased his average exit velocity, average launch angle, and barrel rate. So while the batting average can look ugly, it may not be telling the full story. In these games, Vientos has had exit velocities of 107.5, 106.4, 105, and 103; all resulting in very loud outs. In a game vs the Washington Nationals, Vientos went one for three without posting an exit velocity under 103. It is hard to believe that the ball won't start falling at some point for Vientos. One man who has never lost faith in Vientos is Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “He’s going to be a big player for us,” he said. “He’s going to be a big bat, and we’re counting on him. I’m pretty confident that we’re going to get a really good version of Mark Vientos.” Mendoza reminded Vientos that the quality of at-bats in the spring is what they really care about, and he believes he has been doing so. Vientos last year was coming off a breakout year in 2024, where his 14 RBIs are the most in a single postseason in Mets history, and posted a 132 WRC+. Expectations were through the roof for Vientos, so any season below that expectation would have the Mets community questioning if his 2024 season was a fluke. The advanced metrics did not reflect that idea. Vientos cut his strikeout rate down from 29% to 24%, a major positive. Vientos also raised his batting average vs breaking balls from .170 to .225 in 2025. There are times when batters do everything right, and the ball simply does not fall. You saw this at the beginning of 2025 with Juan Soto. Soto was hitting the ball hard but could only muster up batting averages of .232 and .219 in the months of April and May. As the season went on, the results started to fall, and we saw the real Juan Soto. There is reason to believe the same could be happening for Vientos. In a disappointing season in 2025 for the New York Mets, Vientos’s season went down as a reason why. Will luck fall his way in 2026? Still to be seen. However, what can be seen is a spring training batting average of .040 does not define Vientos and he is doing everything in his power to hit the ball harder, which he hopes will provide better results. View full article