Mets Promote Reliever Who’s Been Touted As Future Closer

The New York Mets promoted reliever Dylan Ross along with Nick Morabito in a pair of roster moves, according to Charlie Wright of MLBTradeRumors.com. The Morabito promotion was previously reported as part of the move that happened yesterday when the Baltimore Orioles picked up outfielder Luis Robert Jr. off waivers, but the Ross promotion is a new development. 

It’s a strange one, too, given the season Ross has had. He joined the Mets briefly last year but did not appear in a game. He opened the 2026 campaign on the minor league injured list with what was reported as arm fatigue, and he returned in the minors at the end of April and pitched to a 6.25 ERA across three levels. 

Ross was extremely successful in the minors, though, so the Mets may be trying to recapture that level of excellencem as Ross reached Triple-A in June after posting massive strikeout numbers at High-A and Double-A. He delivered a 1.69 ERA with a 30.7% strikeout rate across 32 appearances with Syracuse, per Wright’s report. 

Ross’s bugaboo has been control. His walk rate was high at 15 percent lat year, and he upped that to 16.8 percent this year, including a 17.6 mark at Triple-A. He’s also had home run issues, with 1.49 per nine innings at Syracuse, which Wright noted has contributed to his high ERA. 

But the right-hander’s velocity is also high, and that will get him a look in September. He averaged 96.9 mph on his four-seam fastball, which he’s featured about 40 percent of the time. He also throws a splitter and a slider in the upper 80s, which is a fairly complete arsenal for a high-leverage reliever, and Ross has even thrown some curveballs on occasion. 

Ross has also been seen as the Mets’ closer of the future at times, and that may be part of the strategy in promoting him. Current closer Devin Williams has had a rough year, and he’s currently on the IL and just starting a throwing program. 

The Mets are currently using Kodai Senga as their closer most of the time, and while the move has gone reasonably well so far, it’s not really a viable option going forward. 

A couple of other relievers have been given tryouts in save situations, and Ross could join that crew if he can show he’s mastered his control issues, most likely with a couple of low-leverage innings to start. The Mets like to shuffle relievers around, with Ross being the latest to join the Syracuse shuttle.