Mets Minors 2025 Prospects: No. 28: A.J. Ewing
No. 28: A.J. Ewing, 2B/OF
B/T: L/R Age: 20 (08/20/2004)
Height: 5’11” Weight: 160 lbs
Acquired: Selected in the fourth round by the Mets in 2023 MLB Amateur Draft (Compensatory pick for Jacob deGrom signing with Texas)
ETA: 2028
2024 Stats: St Lucie: .228/.345/.344/.689, 299 PA, 57 H, 5 HR, 10 2B, 35 RBI, 8 SB, 87 SO, 44 BB
FCL Mets: .254/.422/.571/.993, 83 PA, 16 H, 5 HR, 3 2B, 14 RBI, 5 SB, 22 SO, 19 BB
Overview
A.J. Ewing has been with the Mets organization since the team drafted him out of Springboro High School (OH) in the 2023 Draft. Originally a shortstop, he committed to the University of Alabama but instead decided to sign with the Mets after they selected him in the fourth round.
Ewing was named Great Western Ohio Conference (GWOC) Player of the Year after earning the triple crown of hitting. He hit .464, laced four home runs and drove in 37 runners. In addition, he stole 19 bases and hit eight doubles and seven triples his senior year. Perfect Game rated Ewing the No. 3 prospect in Ohio and the No. 57 prospect nationally.
The Mets and Ewing agreed to a $675,000 signing bonus, around $200,000 more than the assigned slot value ($483,000) for the No. 134 pick. After signing, the Mets assigned Ewing to the FCL Mets, where he appeared in just seven games in 2023, hitting .286/.524/.357..881. While he managed just four hits in his limited 21 plate appearances, he walked five times, striking out six times.
Ewing saw his first full season action in 2024, splitting his time between the FCL Mets and St. Lucie Mets. Between both levels, he hit .233/.361/.390/.751, compiling 73 hits, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. In 2024, Ewing saw action predominantly at second base, center and left field, signaling a position switch from shortstop. His lack of arm strength projects him as a second baseman for the future, although the Mets trying him out in the outfield signals their likeness of transforming Ewing into a utility player in the vein of Jeff McNeil someday.
A.J. Ewing. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
The 20-year-old earned FCL Player of the Week honors for June 2, which saw him promoted to Single-A St. Lucie. However, growing pains hit Ewing, and he struggled at the plate. His strikeout percentage rate jumped from an already high 26.5% to 29.1% between levels, and his walk rate took a drastic hit, falling from an impressive 22.9% to 14.7%. For context, in MLB, 8% is the league average for walk percentage. Francisco Lindor‘s walk rate percentage in 2024 was 8.1%, slightly above the league average, while new Met Juan Soto‘s walk rate percentage was 18.1%, landing him in the 100th percentile (and second in the league next to Aaron Judge).
All to say, Ewing’s best trait remains his ability to stay in the zone and his unwillingness to go beyond it at the plate. While his chase rate in the FCL was in the 80th percentile, he’s struggled with velocity, often beaten in the strike zone. This explains his high strikeout rate, but if he can learn to catch up, then he can turn into a lethal threat at the plate.
A pull-first hitter, Ewing takes advantage of the left side of the diamond. Throughout 2024, 40.9% of his batted balls in play were pulled, while 30.3% were hit to the opposite field, and 28.8% up the middle. In addition, while not a line-drive hitter, he has some pop. 39.2% of his hits in 2024 were fly balls, while 40.7% were ground balls, and 20.1% were line drives. Once more, the lack of line drives might be attributed to Ewing’s struggles with velocity in the zone. If he can work on his timing, that number should rise.
That said, the Mets look to develop the 5-foot-11 Ewing as a utility player. While he’s a work in progress, there’s plenty of potential and upside once things click for him. He’s an above-average runner and solid defensive player who can transform into a top-1o prospect for the Mets once his bat catches up.
2025 Outlook
Due to his struggles in Single-A St. Lucie after promotion in mid-2024, the Mets will likely start Ewing there in 2025. Before he can advance, he needs to work on catching up to higher-velocity pitches, something others have struggled with once they advance to higher levels. If all goes well in St. Lucie, there’s every chance Ewing can find himself in Binghamton before the end of 2025, but it’s more likely than not the Mets will want him to get a full season in Single-A ball before he advances.
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