Four Mets Crack Keith Law’s Prospect Rankings

Starting pitcher Nolan McLean, outfielder Carson Benge, starting pitcher Jonah Tong and utility player A.J. Ewing made Keith Law’s (The Athletic) Top 100 Prospect List for 2026.

Nolan McLean

McLean, the highest-ranked prospect on the list, came in at No. 15. In his shortened MLB debut campaign, the 24-year-old went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA across 48 innings pitched. He struck out 57 batters and walked 16. Had he been qualified, McLean would have ranked in the 90th percentile in K percentage (30.3%). Among starters, Cole Ragans (KC) had the best K% (38.1%). For reference, Paul Skenes ranked in the 89th percentile in K% in 2025, with a 29.5% strikeout percentage.

Law notes that the one thing holding McLean back from being a No. 1 or No. 2 starter is “command,” but comments that he’s “betting will improve with experience.” McLean posted an 8.5% walk percentage in his limited time in the majors. That fell slightly below league average, hovering around the 41st and 42nd percentiles in baseball in 2025.

On McLean’s pitch arsenal, Law notes:

“McLean can show six pitches now, with the fastball still a plus pitch, a bigger-breaking sweeper than he had as an amateur and a new curveball with huge two-plane break. His changeup gets a ton of tumble to it, and he barely even had to use the pitch in the majors because everything else was so good.”

With Freddy Peralta now the No. 1 in the Mets rotation, McLean has every opportunity in 2026 to continue to develop without pressure.

Carson Benge

Coming in at No. 18, Benge, who was unranked entering the 2025 campaign like McLean, took off in 2025. He finished his season hitting .281/.385/.472 (.857 OPS) between three levels of minor league ball. He mashed 15 homers, 73 RBIs, 25 doubles and stole 22 bases along the way. Benge showed off an impressive eye at the plate, generating a 13.1% BB% and 17.7% K%. His walk percentage would have landed him in the top 20 in baseball.

Of the Mets’ 2024 first-round pick, Law notes,

“The more he loosened that up — and he did improve it between April and June — the more he could get to his pull side without having to overexert, and he has easy plus power that way. He showed more advanced swing decisions last year than I expected, with excellent pitch recognition, although he gets way, way too aggressive with two strikes.”

He profiles as a center fielder now, but Law projects him as a right fielder where he can reach his full potential. He has elite arm strength (60), which comes from his time as a former two-way player.

David Stearns indicated Benge has every chance to make the Mets’ Opening Day roster, and Law states, “I’m more of a believer now that I’ve seen him make some adjustments at the plate, even though there’s more work to do.”

Jonah Tong

At No. 72, Tong cracks Law’s list for the first time with his fellow Mets prospects. After leading the minors in strikeouts (179) in 2025, the Mets made the call to promote Tong with mixed results. In five starts, the 22-year-old posted a 2-3 record with a 7.71 ERA in 18.2 innings pitched. He struck out 22 and walked nine, but allowed 16 earned runs.

It’s a far cry from the 36% whiff rate Tong posted in the minors thanks to his insanely high arm slot and plus extension, which Law notes, “gives his 94-96 mph fastball nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break.” Law continues that he broke tradition ranking Tong this high because the majority of them end up as relievers. However, he sees a different fate for Tong.

“Tong’s stuff is on another level, he can get hitters on both sides out, and he’s an elite athlete who has already shown he can make a ton of adjustments. He should be at least a mid-rotation starter and could be a No. 2 starter if he finds a suitable breaking ball to expand his movement profile.”

Because Tong is entirely a north-south pitcher, the Mets are working with him on developing a slider or sweeper to help challenge batters when thinking directionally and to take advantage of the entire plane of the zone.

A.J. Ewing

The Mets’ very own speed demon came in at No. 98 on Law’s ranking. The 21-year-old Ewing swiped 70 bags between Single-A and High-A in 2025, scored 87 runs and posted a highly respectable 147 wRC+ in 124 games. While Ewing doesn’t possess much power (three homers in 2025), he’s a contact hitter (.315/.401/.429 line in 2025) who is an immediate threat hitting in the leadoff spot and on the bases.

However, Law notes, “He has more bat speed and pure strength than the statline implies, lacking the loft in the swing to put many balls over the fence.” He profiles similarly to Jett Williams, whom the Mets traded away with Brandon Sproat in exchange for Freddy Peralta. While Williams might have more power and be a better fielder, Ewing can play center, second, short and third.

As Law noted, Ewing’s development in 2025 might have made it easier for the Mets to part with Williams, clearing a path previously blocked. Ewing is still years behind Williams, projected to debut sometime in 2027.

Konnor Griffin of the Pirates ranked as Law’s No. 1 overall prospect for 2026. Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle and Milwaukee’s Jesús Made followed in the second and third rankings, respectively.

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