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The New York Mets' 2026 season is officially over as they failed to come close to meeting lofty expectations. Despite having a massive payroll, the Mets missed the postseason for the second straight year. But there were actually some bright spots during the Mets' abysmal campaign. For that, we're ranking the five most pleasant surprises of the Mets' 2026 season.
The Mets pleasant surprises that kept us watching in 2026
1. Carson Benge
No. 1 on this list is an easy one: Rookie right fielder Carson Benge. The 23-year-old made the Mets' Opening Day roster out of spring training and initially struggled in the first month of his big league career. But Benge took off from May onward, finishing his rookie season with a .282/.346/.430 slash line, .776 OPS, 20 home runs, 65 RBI, 118 OPS+, 22 stolen bases and a 4.3 bWAR in 156 games.
Benge shattered the Mets' rookie hits record with 168 on the year and became the 18th rookie in MLB history to produce a 20/20 season. Not only did Benge shine with the bat, he had five defensive runs saved in right field and showcased a strong throwing arm (99th percentile in arm strength) with 10 outfield assists. Benge has made a strong case to win NL Rookie of the Year over Sal Stewart and JJ Wetherholt.
2. A.J. Ewing
Next up for most pleasant surprises of 2026 is rookie center fielder A.J. Ewing. The Mets didn't expect Ewing to come up this year and make an impact in the majors, but that's exactly what occurred. Ewing made his MLB debut on May 12, and he never looked back. Despite an August slump, Ewing bounced back to have a strong September and a more than solid campaign overall.
On the season, Ewing slashed .252/.324/.376 with a .700 OPS, 11 homers, 43 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 120 games. Ewing's 25 steals broke Mookie Wilson's Mets rookie record. In addition to his speed and offense, the 22-year-old had three Outs Above Average in center field. Ewing is surely looking like the Mets' center fielder of the future after the promise he showed in year-one.
3. Zac Thornton
Rookie left-handed starter Zac Thornton is another name that wasn't expected to make an impact in 2026. But Thornton forced himself into the conversation with his performance on the mound this year. In 15 starts, Thornton posted a 5-6 record, 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 4.51 FIP, 119 ERA+, 63 strikeouts, 5.3 percent walk rate and 1.7 bWAR in 84.1 innings.
The Mets now view Thornton as a key piece of their starting rotation moving forward. The 24-year-old improved his game-planning, nutrition and conditioning this year, which led to better results. Thornton's preparation between starts led to success this season. He doesn't throw hard, but is known for attacking hitters and being aggressive in the strike zone. Thornton was certainly one of the Mets' most pleasant surprises in 2026.
4. Jared Young
No. 4 on this list is first baseman Jared Young, who earned more playing time this season based on his solid play. The 30-year-old slashed .266/.330/.429 with a .759 OPS, 113 OPS+, nine homers, 39 RBI and a 1.7 bWAR in 103 games. The left-handed hitter also mashes right-handed pitching (.275/.339/.454 with a .793 OPS and nine homers).
Young's 2026 numbers show that he can be a valuable platoon player/bench piece in 2027 and beyond. He is under club control until 2032 and will likely factor into the Mets' bench plans next season. The only dilemma is that Young struggles against left-handed pitching (.228 average, .606 OPS). That's why he's better suited for a part-time role. Regardless, Young was still one of the Mets' best surprises this past season.
5. Nate Lavender
Left-handed relief pitcher Nate Lavender finally got his shot following the Mets' trade deadline sell-off. Lavender, 26, was called up to make his MLB debut on Aug. 4, and did not disappoint down the stretch of the season. Lavender didn't allow a run in his first 14 big league appearances and only allowed runs in two out of 21 relief outings upon his call-up.
Overall, Lavender pitched to a 1.66 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 1.85 FIP, 248 ERA+ (wow), 26 strikeouts and a 0.9 bWAR in 21.2 innings. He only walked a total of four batters during his first stint in the major leagues as well. Lavender will likely be a part of the Mets' 2027 bullpen plans after the way he pitched for them late in the year. The southpaw was the Mets' fifth most pleasant surprise in a lost season.
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