Overview
- The Mets bumped Ewing into the top spot of the lineup on Friday at Truist Park, replacing Carson Benge as the regular leadoff hitter vs. right-handed starters.
- Ewing, a 21-year-old 2023 fourth-round pick, carries the track record that motivated the decision: a .392 on-base percentage and 101 steals in 251 minor-league games.
- The club pointed to Ewing’s .380–.390 on-base rate in a limited big-league sample against right-handers as the statistical basis for the promotion.
- Ewing validated the experiment on Sunday with a 408-foot left-on-left home run and a single against Martín Pérez, drawing public praise from interim manager Andy Green.
- The Mets will use a platoon approach with Francisco Lindor leading off against lefties while monitoring Ewing’s workload and development as he adapts to the leadoff role during a season focused on player growth.