David Stearns runs the NY Mets, but fans can start singing the praises of another

David Stearns has faced a lot of criticism during his second season as the New York Mets' President of Baseball Operations. Although things are not going the way he hoped in Queens, the same can't be said for what's going on with his former club, the Milwaukee Brewers. They currently have a record of 78-44, the best in the majors, and just set the franchise record with 14 straight victories.

Stearns brought in the core of players who have achieved this. Guys like Sal Frelick, Brice Turang, Freddy Peralta, and Jackson Chourio are just a few players Stearns acquired for the Brewers. Even with Stearns gone, the Brewers still owe him a debt of gratitude for the Brewers' current success.

This is not a new phenomenon in baseball. There are plenty of examples of an executive's vision paying off once they leave the organization. This is a situation the Mets are currently on pace for with former General Manager Billy Eppler. But why will Mets fans owe Eppler a thank you if everything goes the way fans hoped?

How Billy Eppler gave the Mets a bright future

Eppler's tenure as General Manager of the Mets was a mixed bag. He had some good moves like signing Kodai Senga and the 2023 deadline, which landed the Mets, Luisangel Acuna, and Ryan Clifford. But he also had a few head scratchers, like never addressing the DH situation or the lackluster 2022 deadline, which saw almost every player he acquired fail to make a positive impact.

If there was one thing Eppler was good at, it was drafting talented players. The reason why the Mets currently have the 7th-best farm system according to MLB Pipeline is because of the picks made by Billy Eppler and his staff. They're presently responsible for bringing in 14 of the Mets' Top 30 prospects, seven of which are in the top 10.

Several of these prospects should become key contributors to the Mets roster as early as this season. We've already seen Nolan McLean pitch on the Citi Field mound this season, and it wouldn't be a surprise if Brandon Spoart does as well. The Mets are also expected to call up Jett Williams and Jonah Tong at some point before the end of the 2026 season. These four players are expected to be the crucial additions this roster needs, and Eppler is responsible for securing all four.

It's not just the immediate future that Eppler had a hand in building, but the long-term future as well. Many consider prospects like Jacob Reimer and AJ Ewing to be the next big prospects in the Mets system. Once guys like Carson Benge, Williams, Tong, and others get called up, those two will keep the system strong. They can either be players who help the Mets build sustainable success, or they can be traded to established big leaguers who'll help them win. Regardless of their future, fans will have to give some credit to Eppler for whatever contribution they make.

Although Eppler may not be very popular in the eyes of fans, his legacy is yet to be written. We won't know how well Eppler did until all of his prospects make the majors. If these players develop as expected, fans could be singing the praises of Eppler in the future.