Despite trading top talent, the Mets' deep farm system, led by Nolan McLean, fuels their 2026 contention and ongoing roster strength.
The New York Mets have been one of the better drafting teams in baseball for the last decade or so and have done well to develop their young talent. It’s made life much easier for them as a team whose goal is to be competitive year after year. Their rich prospect pool and their prominence in free agency and on the trade market are why the Mets enter 2026 with one of the best rosters in baseball.
In a new farm system ranking from The Athletic, the Mets were labeled as having the 12th-best system in the MLB. This ranking comes after trading two top prospects to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Freddy Peralta trade earlier this month. Even with infielder Jett Williams and right-hander Brandon Sproat shipped out of town, the Mets still have one of the deeper farm systems in the league.
New York’s prospect pool is led by right-hander Nolan McLean, who is gearing up to play his first full season in the MLB after making eight starts at the end of 2025. In that stint, McLean left no doubt about his ability on the mound, posting a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. His addition to the Mets’ rotation in 2026 makes them a much more threatening team in 2026 after the rotation’s collapse last season.
Fellow right-hander Jonah Tong also got his first taste of MLB hitters in 2025, though he didn’t dominate like McLean. He had two games of allowing just one run or less in five innings, but struggled in his three other starts. Still, he projects to be a great starter in the MLB, even if that means he needs a little more time in the minors before then. He’s sure to get back on the big league roster at some point in 2026.
The Mets have top talent in the field as well. Outfielder Carson Benge, first baseman Ryan Clifford, outfielder A.J. Ewing, and third baseman Jacob Reimer are all top seven prospects in the Mets’ system heading into 2026. Benge is the highest-ranked of them all and is likely to get his first go in the majors this season.
New York’s success in the draft and continued success at developing their prospects is the reason they have been a competitor in the National League East for years on end. Whether those young guys rise through the system and become everyday players for the Mets or they are used as assets in trades to land stars, their farm system is crucial to their status as one of the league’s best teams.