A Tough Season for the Mets
This MLB season has not been kind to the Mets in Queens.
As of Monday, they found themselves at the bottom of the NL East, scraping by with one of the worst records in the league, surpassed only by the Giants and Rockies.
The Mets have faced an array of challenges—from injuries plaguing key players to underwhelming performances in both their rotation and lineup. Honestly, it’s hard to tell if a turnaround is on the horizon.
However, there are a couple of silver linings, like the promising emergence of rookie outfielders Carson Benge and AJ Ewing, who, at least, seem to have met expectations.
But, they’re going to need to adapt to a losing culture.
Ewing, who’s just 21 and has been in the majors for a little over a month, realizes that adjusting to this level can be tough, especially when wins seem elusive. “You have to come to work every day,” he reflected. “Everyone in this room is trying to win daily and giving their all when they’re here. It’s a roller coaster; ups and downs are part of the game. I’m going to keep showing up.”
That sentiment was put to the test on Monday when he was set to start against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga—a game that ultimately got rained out. He had already planned to sit out Wednesday as part of a split doubleheader.
The coaching staff is paying attention to which left-handed pitcher Ewing will face. Even with that rainout, he still has to work on improving against left-handed pitching if he wants to continue developing his talent.
In what some might term a lost season, the Mets are turning their eyes towards developing younger players like Ewing and Benge.
Manager Carlos Mendoza emphasized the importance of giving Ewing opportunities against left-handed pitchers. His OPS is solid at .823 against righties but dips drastically to .437 against lefties. “That’s part of growing up at this level. He’s had some tough games, but I think he’s shown promise. The more at-bats, the better he’ll become.”
It has certainly been a mixed bag so far.
Ewing faced a challenging start with just eight hits, no extra-base hits, two walks, and 19 strikeouts across his first 44 at-bats. Yet, he has bounced back in the subsequent 17 games with much better performance.
“When a young player has initial success, there’s always a chance he’ll hit a rough patch,” noted an American League scout monitoring Ewing this season. “But honestly, even in a season like this, there’s still room for growth.”
Ewing himself acknowledges the mental hurdles too. “A lot of growth happens when individuals and teams meet adversity,” he said. “I strive to act as though I’m on a winning streak, regardless of the situation. It helps build your confidence. I’ve always believed that as a competitor.”
