AJ Ewing’s Promotion to Triple-A Syracuse

AJ Ewing caught the attention of Mets management during spring training, and he’s already been promoted following a strong start to the season.

On Monday, the club confirmed that Ewing has been moved to Triple-A Syracuse.

This 21-year-old outfielder has been impressive, showcasing a slash line of .349/.481/.571 over 18 games with Double-A Binghamton so far this season.

MLB Pipeline ranks him as the Mets’ third-best prospect and the 85th overall player in baseball.

“There’s a lot to appreciate in his game,” remarked coach Carlos Mendoza back in March. He noted Ewing’s good defensive instincts and quick reactions off the bat.

Ewing thinks the Mets might need him soon as a center fielder, which is an interesting thought.

Last season, he also swiped 70 bases, showing off impressive speed.

“His ability to bring a strong bat and speed from the left side is really promising,” said Mendoza.

Kodai Senga’s Challenges

Meanwhile, Mets officials are still weighing the options for Kodai Senga following his rough outing against the Rockies.

This marks Senga’s third game with difficulty, which isn’t great. There’s a chance he could be sent to the minors, similar to what the Mets did last season. Alternatively, he might transition to a bullpen role.

However, the situation gets trickier since they have two other starters already moved to the bullpen—David Peterson and Sean Manaea.

Senga’s ERA stands at 6.94 across his last 14 starts as of July 11th, which is a concern.

Austin Slater Joins the Team

Austin Slater, who recently signed with the Mets after Tommy Pham was designated for assignment, is set to play in Tuesday’s game. Slater recently appeared in 12 games with the Marlins this season before being released, finishing with a .470 OPS.

Additionally, the Mets acquired infielder Eric Wagaman from the Twins, giving him the option to head to Syracuse.

Team Struggles

As it stands, the Mets’ record of 9-19 is tied for the second-worst start in the franchise’s 28-game history.

Only the 1981 Mets had a worse start at 8-19-1. Interestingly, the 1962, 1964, and 1983 squads all opened their seasons with 9 wins and 19 losses.