The Mets made a notable tweak to their lineup Friday, and the change put two rookies in very different places.
After 47 straight games with Carson Benge in the leadoff spot, A.J. Ewing got the nod atop the order for New York’s series opener against the Braves. Benge slid down to No. 5, a move interim manager Andy Green framed as a way to better match each player’s strengths rather than as any kind of knock on either rookie.
Green said the idea is to give Ewing a chance to settle into a role that fits him long term. The Mets want his ability to reach base, use his speed, and work counts to set the table, while Benge’s bat is better suited to driving in runs in the middle of the lineup.
“He’s putting up a [.386] on-base percentage against right-handed pitching,” Green said of Ewing. “That’s incredibly rare for a rookie.
It fits his long-term skill set. Speed, sees pitches, grinds at-bats, shoots the ball around the yard.”
That view lines up with how Ewing has always been projected in the organization. Through his fast rise in the farm system, he has long looked like a natural leadoff candidate for the future.
Benge, meanwhile, had done plenty to justify staying where he was. Over those 47 games at the top of the order, he hit .290/.343/.445. Green still sees that production as better suited to a spot lower in the lineup.
“Doesn’t mean he won’t ever go back to that spot,” Green said. “Always want to reserve the right to reverse course, but certainly believe that when it comes to A.J.’s skill set, it’s more of a very top-of-the-order type skill set. And in Carson’s case, it’s kind of a middle-of-the-order type bat.”
The arrangement may not be permanent, especially when left-handed pitching enters the picture. Green said Ewing is not likely to lead off against tough lefties, given his early struggles in the majors against southpaws.
He’s batting .190 with a .612 OPS versus left-handed pitching this summer. Benge has handled those matchups much better, hitting .308 with an .819 OPS against lefties.
That opens the door for a leadoff platoon of sorts, depending on the opponent.
The other piece of the equation is Ewing’s running game, which has quieted down lately. One of the fastest players in baseball, he has only one stolen base and has been caught three times in his last 24 games.
Green said the answer is for Ewing to trust himself more and get back into rhythm.
“I think a neat part of the game of baseball, whether it’s defense, offense, pitching, or base running,” Green said, “is you can get into a little place where you doubt yourself a little bit. You doubt your timing, you doubt your read and when doubt is part of the equation and something you have to do really fast, it makes it really hard to steal bases.
“I don’t think he’s sitting over there second guessing himself nonstop, but he hasn’t found rhythm here recently, and I think he is going to in the long run, he’s going to find that rhythm, he’s going to steal bases, that will be a part of his profile in his game.”
There’s one more wrinkle for Ewing now that he’s at the top: Juan Soto is hitting behind him. Green made it clear that comes with its own set of responsibilities.
“I think there are certain times you are obligated to stay on first base when Juan Soto is hitting,” Green said, “and we will make sure A.J. understands that full well.”
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