Lone NY Mets prospect in the 2026 MLB Future’s Game needs honor to be his wake-up call

As a part of All-Star weekend/week, the MLB Future’s Game takes place to introduce fans to many of the best prospects across the league. The New York Mets will have one representative this year, first base/outfield slugger Ryan Clifford.

A former top 100 prospect, Clifford gets the nod due to maybe a lack of other options. The Mets farm system isn’t so strong with many graduating or underperforming this year. Clifford falls into the latter.

Ryan Clifford will be the Mets' representative at this year's Futures Game.

It's an honor despite a tough stretch for Clifford, the Mets' No. 2 prospect, who's batting .191 with a 36.4% K rate at Triple-A. He leads the upper minors in strikeouts.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 1, 2026

Through 321 plate appearances in Triple-A upon the time of the announcement, Clifford was hitting .191/.278/.387. He has hit 14 home runs and driven in 40 but with 117 strikeouts in 78 games, he’s profiling as a very beatable player.

Ryan Clifford needs to take this honor as a wake-up call

Clifford isn’t hitting an even .191. His June was atrocious. He batted .099/.207/.148. Only one home run and 39 strikeouts in 93 trips to the plate, he went through his own personal June swoon.

Clifford feels further away from the majors than ever before. On the wrong side of hitting .200 with strikeouts more than a string of bad luck holding him back, he’s going to need a lot more time before the Mets buy into his abilities playing out at the major league level. He turns 23 later this month which doesn’t put too much urgency although it wasn’t all that long ago he looked like a solution at first base.

The Double-A results were already a warning sign of what was to come for Clifford. He batted .237/.357/.476 in 204 games there. Showing off his power (but also the strikeouts), the low average and high OBP helped give him a very acceptable .832 OPS. He hasn’t even managed that this year for Syracuse in a league where Mets pitching prospects seem to throw batting practice upon arrival.

Not even a full season into Triple-A action with only 34 games last year and approaching 80 this season, it’s safe to suggest Clifford gets a more extended look in Syracuse. It might take a little sacrificing of power. Gladly, we’ll take 10 fewer home runs if it means more balls in play.

Very much a factor in the Mets’ future plans, let this respite in mid-July and selection to the Future’s Game be what pushes for an adjustment. He started it off with a 1 for 4 night, a walk, and no strikeouts. Let this be a more frequent occurence.

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Ryan Clifford needs to take this honor as a wake-up call

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