Mets boast two elite talents under 25. Discover how their burgeoning stardom fuels New York's championship aspirations in 2026.
After taking the offseason by storm, the New York Mets enter the 2026 campaign with a fresh team ready to return to the postseason after missing out in 2025. Though they have their fair share of star-level players on their roster, New York also has some promising young talent that are set to play crucial roles in their quest for a deep postseason push.
In a recent Bleacher Report article listing the top 25 players under 25 years old, the Mets were represented by two players: right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean and catcher Francisco Alvarez.
Coming in at the No. 18 spot on the list, McLean is entering his first full season as a major leaguer at 24 years old. Despite his older age compared to some of baseball's other top prospects, McLean does not lack talent in the slightest.
While the Mets’ starting rotation was collapsing in the second half of the 2025 campaign, McLean got his chance in the big leagues, and he didn’t just stay afloat – he dominated. He pitched eight games and recorded a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while striking out 57 batters in 48 innings. He won each of his first four starts in the MLB, finishing the year with a 5-1 record.
The hype surrounding McLean may not have been super great before his stint in the majors, but his showcase at the end of last season has cemented the righty as possibly the second best starter on a Mets team with eyes on a World Series. Because of his short sample size, however, McLean comes fairly low on the list. He’ll likely climb that list once the 2026 campaign commences.
A few spots below McLean at No. 15 is Alvarez, who is heading into his fourth full season in the major leagues at 24 years old. Formerly one of baseball’s top prospects, Alvarez has yet to have his true breakout season, but he’s still been a positive player for the Mets. Though he missed over half of last season to injury, he still posted a 122 OPS+ and 1.9 WAR.
Alvarez still has a lot of room to improve behind the plate, but his ability at the plate has always been his draw. Entering the 2026 campaign healthy, a big year should be in store for Alvarez, and it could finally be his year to burst onto the scene as one of the most valuable catchers in baseball. With the Mets’ title hopes, a healthy season from Alvarez would play a huge part.