NY Mets prospect news: Blade Tidwell surging, 1 for 18 slump, Ryan Clifford

The Mets' farm system continues to offer a little bit of everything—power, polish, and in some cases, a cold streak or two. This week’s trio reflects the range. Blade Tidwell is lighting up radar guns in Binghamton, Ryan Clifford is starting to settle in at the plate in Binghampton, and Carson Benge, despite a recent 1-for-18 skid, remains one of the more intriguing athletes in the system. Slumps happen, especially in April, but tools don’t vanish overnight. We’re digging into what’s real, what’s next, and who’s making noise in the Mets’ pipeline.

Did Blade Tidwell turn a corner?

Blade Tidwell may be turning a corner. The 23-year-old right-hander, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft, delivered his best outing on Sunday, striking out nine over 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Buffalo. He allowed just two hits and one walk in the outing, flashing the kind of swing-and-miss stuff the Mets hoped for when they drafted him. It was his second solid start of the week and a sign he might be settling in. Through 22 1/3 innings for Triple-A Syracuse, Tidwell owns a 4.43 ERA with 28 strikeouts and a 1.30 WHIP.

His mid-90s fastball leads a deep mix that includes a sinker, sweeper, slider, change-up, and cutter, giving him plenty of weapons when he's in the zone. The biggest challenge remains his command. He’s walking batters at a 10.4% clip, and opponents are hitting .241 with runners in scoring position, compared to just .179 when the bases are empty. If he can tighten up the command and limit the damage with runners on, he’ll have a real chance to take the next step.

Carson Benge cools off this week

Carson Benge started the season hot, but the last week of games has been a reminder that even top prospects can hit a wall. The 22-year-old outfielder, the Mets’ first-round pick in 2024, came into the week batting .348 for High-A Brooklyn. A 1-for-18 stretch has since dropped his average to .220, and his OPS now sits at .626 through 41 at-bats. He’s scored seven runs and driven in four, but the more pressing concern is his strikeout rate—he’s gone down on strikes 13 times, including six this week, good for a 31.7% clip.

Despite the early stumble, the potential is still easy to see. Benge landed just outside MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects entering the season and remains one of the more intriguing athletes in the system. The strikeouts are worth watching, but it’s still early. If he can steady the approach, the raw tools will give him a chance to stand out as the season unfolds.

Ryan Clifford rebounds with power surge

Ryan Clifford’s week was exactly what he needed. The 21-year-old outfielder, an 11th-round pick in the 2022 draft, went 7-for-23 with three extra-base hits, including his first home run of the season on Saturday against the Fightin Phils. The strong stretch bumped his batting average up 73 points and gave a glimpse of the power potential the Mets liked when they brought him in from Houston’s system (acquired in the Verlander trade). Through 43 at-bats for Double-A Binghampton, Clifford is hitting .233 with a .738 OPS, five runs scored, five RBIs, and one homer.

The strikeouts have been an issue, his 34.9% rate stands out, but there’s some balance to the approach. He’s drawn nine walks, helping him post a solid .365 on-base percentage despite the swing-and-miss. Clifford’s raw power is real, and if he can start putting the ball in play more consistently, there’s enough offensive upside to keep him firmly on the radar.