Mets Prospects Stand Out Ahead of 2026 Season
Nolan McLean is on the verge of disappearing from most prospect lists, but he’s gearing up for his first full season with the Mets after showcasing his talents in 2025.
As of now, McLean ranks as one of six Mets prospects featured in the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects List released on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old McLean is coming in at eighth, with outfielder Carson Benge following at 19th. Right-hander Jonah Tong claims the 44th spot, while middle/center fielder Jett Williams is at 71st. Right-hander Brandon Sproat is ranked 81st, and outfielder/second baseman AJ Ewing holds the 83rd position.
McLean was drafted in the third round in 2023. He made a splash last year, starting eight games in the majors with a 2.06 ERA and a 5-1 record, notching 57 strikeouts across 48 innings. His diverse pitch selection and fastball, consistently reaching the high 90s, have really turned heads.
Unless something unexpected happens during spring training, he’s pretty much guaranteed a spot in the 2026 rotation.
Meanwhile, Tong and Sproat also saw action with the Mets late last season, though they didn’t create quite the buzz that McLean did.
Tong, who is 22, made five starts and appeared in a total of 20 games at Double-A, significantly raising his profile with a 1.59 ERA. However, in his MLB appearances, he pitched 18 2/3 innings and recorded a 7.71 ERA with 22 strikeouts.
Sproat, also 22, had a 4.24 ERA in 26 Triple-A games and managed a 4.79 ERA with 17 strikeouts in four starts at the MLB level.
The Mets currently have a rotation featuring David Peterson, Kodai Chiga, Sean Manaea, and Clay Holmes. There’s still a possibility they might bring in another starter through free agency and have shown interest in Framber Valdez.
Additionally, Benge’s chances of making the major league roster seemed complicated this week as the Mets acquired center fielder Luis Robert from the White Sox. Still, he could potentially earn a spot in left field, especially now that Cody Bellinger has re-signed with the Yankees.
Benge, at 23, was a first-round pick in 2024. He had a solid showing last season, hitting .281 with an .857 OPS, 15 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases at various levels, including High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.
On the other hand, Williams, a 22-year-old and first-round draftee from 2022, played 130 games across Double-A and Triple-A last year, batting .261 with an .828 OPS, 17 homers, 52 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases.
Lastly, Ewing, who is 21 and was a fourth-round pick in 2023, made appearances in 124 games at A-ball, High-A, and Double-A. He had a strong season, hitting .315 with an .830 OPS, three home runs, 55 RBIs, and an impressive 70 stolen bases.
