{"id":669936,"date":"2026-04-08T08:59:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T08:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/669936\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T08:59:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T08:59:06","slug":"examining-the-mets-mlb-ready-position-player-depth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/669936\/","title":{"rendered":"Examining the Mets’ MLB-Ready Position Player Depth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Juan Soto<\/a>\u2018s early-season injury<\/a> has raised an important question: Which position players are in line for promotions when the Mets call on their minor league depth in 2o26? It\u2019s not a fun topic, but it\u2019s a necessary one.<\/p>\n

For pitching depth, it\u2019s pretty clear. There are a handful of starters on call in Syracuse, and the same goes for the relievers. For the hitting depth, it\u2019s a little less clear.<\/p>\n

Ronny Mauricio<\/a> was the first to get the call, replacing Soto, even though he\u2019s an infielder. With five players capable of playing at least a corner outfield spot (Luis Robert Jr.<\/a>, Carson Benge<\/a>, Brett Baty<\/a>, Jared Young<\/a> and Tyrone Taylor<\/a>), an outfielder was not required to be Soto\u2019s replacement.<\/p>\n

If the Mets do not sustain another injury by the time Soto returns, Mauricio will be demoted and, in turn, become the next in line to be promoted again the next time he\u2019s needed. If Soto is still on the injured list and the Mets need to call up a second player, the question gets a bit more complicated.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ronny Mauricio
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized<\/p>\n

If a catcher is placed on the injured list\u2026<\/p>\n

Hayden Senger<\/a> will be promoted. If Senger is unavailable at that time, it\u2019ll likely be Ben Rortvedt<\/a>. Simple.<\/p>\n

If a middle infielder is placed on the injured list\u2026<\/p>\n

The list of replacements isn\u2019t very exciting.<\/p>\n

But first, even if Mauricio is already on the roster, that doesn\u2019t guarantee him every day playing time. If Francisco Lindor<\/a> is the one injured, Mauricio will likely play a good amount, but the Mets can put Bo Bichette<\/a> at shortstop and Baty at third base. If he\u2019s replacing Marcus Semien<\/a>, Baty likely gets a good chunk of the playing time at second base while Mauricio enters a weird platoon with Taylor and Young. If one of those two occupies the third outfield spot, Baty plays second. If Baty heads to the outfield, Mauricio plays second.<\/p>\n

While the Mets could theoretically call up an outfielder and still have enough infielders to survive, they\u2019ll likely want someone capable of backing up a middle infield spot. There are no infielders besides Mauricio currently on the 40-man roster, so MLB veterans Christian Arroyo<\/a> and Vidal Bruj\u00e1n<\/a> would be in line to be added to the 40-man and promoted. Out of camp, it sounded like Bruj\u00e1n is in the lead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Cristian Pache<\/a>. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized<\/p>\n

If a corner infielder is placed on the injured list\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n

It could be anyone. There is a lot of position flexibility on the Mets roster.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t even have to be an infielder called up to replace them. If it\u2019s Jorge Polanco<\/a>, the Mets still have three players on the roster capable of playing first: Baty, Young and Mark Vientos<\/a>. If it\u2019s Bichette, Baty likely becomes the everyday third baseman and Mauricio is his backup.<\/p>\n

Morabito and Melendez are options, as are Bruj\u00e1n, Arroyo, and Christian Pache. There\u2019s also Tommy Pham<\/a>, who the Mets recently brought back, though he hasn\u2019t appeared in a minor league game yet this season. He also has an opt out on April 25.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nick Morabito<\/a>. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized<\/p>\n

If another outfielder is placed on the injured list\u2026<\/p>\n

An outfielder will be called up to replace him.<\/p>\n

Nick Morabito and MJ Melendez<\/a> are both already on the 40-man roster. Morabito is the more exciting option of the two, because he would be promoted to make his MLB debut. He\u2019s a speedy, contact-oriented outfielder who can play all three spots on the grass\u2014and play them well. Melendez would likely be the pick if the Mets deem Morabito not ready. He is only a corner outfielder, but Benge\u2019s versatility doesn\u2019t rule him out as an option even if Luis Robert Jr. is the one to hit the shelf.<\/p>\n

If they go with someone not on the 40-man roster, the list grows. Ryan Clifford<\/a>, as Steve Gelbs noted on SNY over the weekend, is the most interesting of those options.<\/p>\n

A first baseman and corner outfielder, Clifford has prodigious power and a high strikeout rate, though it has steadily improved throughout his minor league career. While he\u2019ll always strike out more than the average hitter, it\u2019s probably good enough to stay afloat in the majors at this point. It would be an aggressive move, but it can\u2019t be ruled out. There are a couple of holdups. If the Mets promote Clifford, they will likely want him to play every day versus right-hand pitching. With the current group of Mets position players, that might not be possible. The other is Clifford and Young on the same roster would be a bit redundant, as they\u2019re both 1B\/OF who would only play vs right-handed pitching.<\/p>\n

Pache, who had a very impressive spring training, is another option.<\/p>\n

A.J. Ewing<\/a>, Jacob Reimer<\/a> or Chris Suero<\/a> could theoretically be options to be called up straight from Double-A, but that\u2019s highly unlikely. If the Mets want a player like Ewing, they\u2019ll likely go for Morabito first, just as they\u2019ll likely go for Clifford before Reimer. And, the Mets will want all three playing as much as possible, not joining the Mets just to ride the pine.<\/p>\n

Odds are, a good handful of these players will take at-bats for the Mets in 2026. Injuries hit every team, and when the Mets do need to call on Syracuse for help, this is who is in line for the opportunity.<\/p>\n

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