Carson Benge isn’t only Mets hitting prospect drawing buzz in spring … — and more

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Carson Benge is front and center at Mets camp this spring training, and for good reason.

The No. 1 position player prospect has a legitimate chance to break camp with the Mets next month and make his MLB debut at Citi Field on Opening Day.

Benge isn’t the only top-ranked hitting prospect at big-league camp with the Mets, though.

Those youngsters, as Mets manager Carlos Mendoza put it on Wednesday, are not too far from making it to the big leagues either.

“[We want them to be] picking their brains and asking questions and be themselves,” Mendoza said. “They need to have fun and learn as much as possible, but also don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

Here are a few nuggets on some of the highly-touted hitting prospects not named Carson Benge at Mets camp, starting with a speedster who recently stood out on the main stage at Clover Park.

A.J. EWING, OF/2B

Age: 21

Size: 5-11, 160

Acquired: 2023 Draft, 4th Round out of Springboro HS

Mets prospect ranking: No. 4, Baseball America; No. 5, MLB Pipeline

2025 stats (Class-A, High-A and Double-A): 124 G, .315/.401/.429 (.830 OPS), 3 HR, 55 RBI, 87 R, 70 SB, 105 K

Facing Mets starter Clay Holmes in a live batting practice session recently, Ewing smacked two sharp line drives. He worked a walk in another plate appearance during that session.

With his speed — the lefty has a 70-grade run tool and stole 70 bases across three levels in 2025 — his ability to get on base at a high clip is even more valuable. His speed translates to the defensive side of the ball, too.

“Good swing decisions and contact all over the field and hard-hit baseballs,” Mets senior vice president of player development Andy Green told NJ.com. “He can legitimately play center field. He has to own that — an elite level should be our bar for him, and he should have that bar for himself. And I believe he does.”

Ewing’s goal this spring, beyond churning out quality at-bats, is to introduce himself to as many big-league teammates as possible. He also wants to stay true to himself. After the year he had in 2025, positioning himself for an extended look in Triple-A this season, he’s not lacking any confidence.

“Honestly, just try to just remain who I am and not put any extra pressure myself,” Ewing said. “I know I can play this game at a high level, and I’m just trying to show that.”

JACOB REIMER, 3B/1B

Age: 21

Size: 6-0, 205

Acquired: 2022 Draft, 4th Round out of Yucaipa HS

Mets prospect ranking: No. 4, MLB Pipeline; No. 6, Baseball America

2025 stats (High-A and Double-A): 122 G, .282/.379/.491 (.870 OPS), 17 HR, 77 RBI, 88 R, 112 K

Reimer knows that he has a reputation for being a bat-first infielder, so he’s striving to improve on his defense at third base.

“I’m going to say that for the rest of my career,” Reimer said. “I always want to get better. I don’t want to just be average at defense. I want to get to a point where I’m elite. I know it takes a lot of work, and it’s going to, but just learning from the guys here, from the coaching staff here, and the new guys, even on the minor league side, I just keep getting better there.”

Unlike Benge, there’s no path to the big leagues for the foreseeable future for Reimer. He was already told by the Mets that he isn’t in the big-league picture yet, which makes sense for a prospect who hasn’t played in Triple-A.

To get to that point, Reimer wants to learn from everyone in the Mets’ clubhouse. He also told Tim Britton of The Athletic this week that his primary offensive objective over this past winter was taking his bat speed to the next level, something that should lead to even more slug moving forward.

“I believe in my abilities,” Reimer said. “I believe I can play in the big leagues, but I gotta prove it and I gotta prove it every single day. I’m just ready to go to work.”

NICK MORABITO, OF

Age: 22

Size: 5-10, 185

Acquired: 2022 Draft, 2nd Round out of Gonzaga College HS

Mets prospect ranking: No. 11, Baseball America;No. 14, MLB Pipeline

2025 stats (Double-A): .273/.348/.385 (.733 OPS), 6 HR, 59 RBI, 63 R, 49 SB, 115 K

Speed is Morabito’s calling card. He stole 49 bags in 2025 with Double-A Binghamton and then racked up 16 stolen bases in just 15 games in the Arizona Fall League last year. That led to some comparisons to ex-Yankees prospect and now-Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin, who tore up the AFL a few years ago.

“My speed is definitely one of the biggest assets of my game and I try to take advantage of it anytime I can,” Morabito said. “Anytime I’m on the bases, I just want to score, really, and just put runs on the board.”

The Mets added Morabito to their 40-man roster this past offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. That means he’s one step closer to Queens. For now, Morabito is focused on showcasing all his tools this spring, building on last year’s strong campaign as he braces for his first taste of Triple-A action.

“I want to show them everything that I have,” Morabito said. “Getting on base, stealing, defense. Everything that I can bring to the table, I want to show them.”

MORE PROSPECT NOTES

-- Slugging prospect Ryan Clifford is back with the Mets this spring after being invited to big-league camp for the first time last year. He has plenty of power from the left side, swatting 29 homers over 139 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced earlier this spring that Clifford will begin the year in Triple-A. He’s a primary first baseman, but Stearns gave Clifford a shout-out for his improvements on defense — he’s “viable” in the corner outfield spots.

Baseball America lists Clifford as the Mets’ No. 5 prospect. MLB Pipeline has Clifford at No. 6.

-- Chris Suero started this spring with his locker in the Mets’ clubhouse next to all the catchers at camp. When the club picked up Ben Rortvedt off waivers, Suero was moved over to one of the auxiliary lockers next to Ewing, Reimer and Benge.

Suero, a Bronx native, reached Double-A last season, but his numbers offensively dipped compared to his High-A production in Brooklyn. There’s upside offensively here with the pop in Suero’s swing — he cracked 16 homers in 115 games between High-A and Double-A a year ago. He’s versatile on defense, playing catcher (his primary position), first base and left field.

Suero is ranked 12th in the Mets org by Baseball America and 13th by MLB Pipeline.

-- Asked broadly about this group of position player prospects behind Benge in the Mets’ organization, Green said that while each phenom has work to do, they all have “the capacity to be impactful players for us” down the road.

“I think we’re excited about where they come from and how much they’ve improved,” he said. “If you look at the change in numbers for guys like Ryan or A.J., it’s been pretty profound growth over the last couple years. So I think we’re excited about that, but we know there’s a lot more out in front of them.”

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