1 NY Mets player who looks more important than expected, 1 who looks less

The New York Mets are off to a 2-2 start to the season. While they lost the first series of the year against the Houston Astros, they took the first game of the second series against the Miami Marlins. While it’s barely been a week into the new campaign, Mets players have already flashed what sort of role they could fill for this season. For example, this one Met could end up playing a more important role than expected. Meanwhile, this Mets top prospect, who opened the year in the Major Leagues, has played a more diminished role than anticipated.

1 who looks more important than expected

The Mets signed right-handed starter Griffin Canning this past offseason to a one-year contract. Canning’s 2024 season with the LA Angels was rough, as he only pitched to a 5.19 ERA, 5.26 FIP, and 1.40 WHIP. He only carried an 8.9% walk rate and 17.6% K% and was very home run prone. Canning allowed home runs at a 1.60 per-9 ratio, the second-worst single-season mark of his career. The only positive was he was healthy enough to start 31 games and pitch 171.2 innings.

Canning originally did not look like he had a good chance of sticking on the Mets’ roster. The Mets added Frankie Montas, re-signed Sean Manaea this offseason and also picked up Clay Holmes, not as a reliever like he was during his time with the NY Yankees, but to slot him into the rotation. With Kodai Senga set to open 2025 healthy, David Peterson returning, and Tylor Megill also on hand to provide another rotation option, Canning didn’t seem like a great fit to stay around long.

But injuries struck the Mets before the season began. Manaea and Montas have opened the year on the injured list. So has Paul Blackburn. This opened the door for Canning to secure a back of the rotation spot. His season debut for the Mets was quite good, as he pitched 5.2 innings, struck out four, only allowed two home runs, and walked a pair of opponents.

While it is only one game, Canning’s stuff definitely did not look bad. His slider, which was his most used pitch in his debut with the Mets, had similar velocity to previous seasons but gained a lot more movement. He sat at 41.1 inches of vertical drop and 2.8 inches of horizontal break, compared to 36.7/0.1 inches in 2024. His change-up also gained about two inches of vertical drop. Stuff+ put Canning at an 89 last year but is up to a 100 this season.

The Mets’ rotation currently has some question marks surrounding it, so Canning solidifying himself as a solid option to turn to right now would be big for the Mets. Based on his debut, he looks like he can hold the fort and then some until Manaea or Montas return to action. 

1 who looks less important than expected

An injury to former All-Star Jeff McNeil opened the door for top prospect Luisangel Acuna to open the year on the team’s Opening Day roster. The speedy infielder ranks as a top ten prospect in the Mets’ system, with Baseball America placing him at #8 and MLB Pipeline putting him at #7. However, he has mostly played in a part-time role this year.

Acuna has just nine plate appearances in four games. So far, only two of those games have been started, getting a nod at second base and shortstop. He has also collected just one hit with a single walk. It hasn’t been a great start to the 2025 season for Acuna, and his minor league campaign in 2024 definitely raised some questions.

In 587 plate appearances for Syracuse, Acuna only slashed .258/.299/.355 with a .295 wOBA and 69 wRC+. He did not strikeout much with just a 16.6% K%, but his walk rate only clocked in at 5.5%. Power was also not a part of his game, and he had just a .097 isolated slugging percentage. Acuna showed off his outstanding speed and swiped 40 bases, but he also got caught 14 times.

However, there were still some positives from his season. Acuna made his MLB debut and collected a dozen hits, including three home runs in his first 40 plate appearances. He racked up +1 defensive runs saved and +3 outs above average in just 89 innings at shortstop. His sprint speed was also in the top 95th percentile at 29.5 feet/second.

Acuna could still end up being a useful player in the future. But right now, he’s mostly been utilized as a pinch hitter/runner and defensive replacement. The only reason he got the nod in the first game against the Miami Marlins was because Francisco Lindor welcomed the birth of his child. So far, the Mets have mostly only been trying to get Acuna to face lefty pitchers. But if he doesn’t start showing something with the bat when Jeff McNeil is back, Acuna might end up getting sent to Triple-A.