{"id":114501,"date":"2026-02-22T00:22:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T05:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=114501"},"modified":"2026-02-22T01:11:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T06:11:31","slug":"carlos-mendoza-encouraged-mets-prospect-aj-ewing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/02\/22\/carlos-mendoza-encouraged-mets-prospect-aj-ewing\/","title":{"rendered":"Carlos Mendoza ‘Encouraged’ by Mets’ No. 5 Prospect"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring training isn\u2019t about winning games \u2014 it\u2019s about getting players ready for the long, grueling season ahead. It\u2019s also a time for prospects to make impressions on big league coaches and teammates. New York Mets No. 5 prospect A.J. Ewing<\/a> did just that in the club\u2019s spring opener against the Miami Marlins on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jun 20, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Draft prospect A.J. Ewing during a high school baseball game at the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mets Prospect A.J. Ewing Impresses Carlos Mendoza in Spring Opener<\/h2>\n

Ewing made his presence felt late in the game, contributing on both sides of the ball. The 21-year-old entered in the sixth inning, replacing Tyrone Taylor<\/a> in center field. In his second at-bat, with the bases loaded, Ewing jumped on an up-and-in fastball from Marlins right-hander Nigel Belgrave<\/a> and sent it into center field. Nick Lorusso<\/a> raced home to score, resulting in the Mets<\/a>‘ and Ewing’s first run batted in of the spring.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The outfielder didn\u2019t have to wait long to show off his defense. After a throw toward second base sailed into center field from catcher Kevin Parada<\/a>, Marlins right fielder Colby Shade<\/a> tried to stretch the mistake into an extra base. Ewing quickly charged the ball, gathered it cleanly, and fired a strike on one hop to third baseman Kevin Villavicencio<\/a>, who took over for Bo Bichette<\/a>, and applied the tag on Shade before he could reach the base.<\/span><\/p>\n

“There’s a lot to like,” manager Carlos Mendoza<\/a> said. “He looks like a hitter at the plate and then the defense. Made a couple of good plays, great jumps. I think there’s a lot to like here. The reads off the bat, but just his ability to give you a really good at-bat from the left side.”<\/p>\n

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Carlos Mendoza talks about what he’s seen from A.J. Ewing in camp:<\/p>\n

“There’s a lot to like. He looks like a hitter at the plate and then the defense. Made a couple of good plays, great jumps. I think there’s a lot to like there. The reads off the bat, but just his ability to give\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ac0o9Oy3fb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) February 21, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n