5 NY Mets players who won’t make the Opening Day roster but can have a huge impact

5) Ryan Clifford

We need to get a bat in here some place. A.J. Ewing is a thrill to watch, but finding playing time for him will require too much to go right for him and wrong for others. I’d expect the Mets to hold him back until at least September. Not Ryan Clifford. Unanswered questions at first base and a powerful left-handed bat could have him surfacing in the majors at some point in the first half.

Clifford can be an all-or-nothing type of hitter at times. The 22-year-old has some of the typical qualities of a slugger. He strikes out a lot. He also can draw a walk. His minor league totals include a .242/.370/.453 slash line. He finished last year with 29 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A.

He’s a more athletic 6’3 than some may realize with plenty of experience in the corner outfield, too. He should be blocked at those two spots this year. 

The Mets promoted Clifford alongside Carson Benge last year. He continued to hit homers, draw walks, and strike out. He can stand out over some other Mets minor league options by playing a steady first base. At the very least, Clifford is someone the Mets can call upon for an additional power bat off the bench late in the year. 

Unanswered questions at first base have given Clifford the room he needs to make a statement in 2026. A successful big league stint, no matter how abbreviated, is one way to start the narrative about how the Mets have already replaced Pete Alonso.