Mets’ Young Duo of A.J. Ewing and Christian Scott Shine in Crucial Victory

A season that has the Mets barely hanging on before the All-Star break feels like wasted potential.

Yet amidst that despair, there are signs of optimism that can be salvaged for a brighter future.

A.J. Ewing may have emerged as the Mets’ leadoff hitter and center‑field cornerstone, a rare talent poised to anchor the club for years to come.

Over the coming seasons, Ewing is expected to patrol the outfield while supporting Christian Scott, who has returned from surgery and now appears to be a permanent fixture in the rotation.

Both young standouts shined in Wednesday’s 6-2 victory over the Royals, when the Mets rallied with a five‑run eighth inning. The rally began with a bases‑loaded drill by Jared Young, followed by a Brett Baty single, a wild pitch, and a Francisco Álvarez single, culminating in a double by Ewing to left‑center on a 2‑for‑5 night.

Ewing continued to look confident both at the plate and in the outfield, leading off the game with a 420‑foot drive to center that accounted for the Mets’ first run. He added a double in the eighth inning, finishing 2-for-5 at the plate.

A 2023 fourth‑round pick out of an Ohio high school, Ewing is 21 and ranks among the seventh-youngest hitters to appear in the majors this season.

He appears to be only getting better, adding power to his game and posting an OPS above .900 over his last 33 appearances.

Alongside 23‑year‑old Carson Benge — who extended the eighth‑inning rally with a 10‑pitch walk — and the long‑term contract of Juan Soto, the Mets have at least one part of their roster locked in for the future.

“The outfield is dynamic, with young players sharing the field with the game’s best hitter, and they’re playing the right way,” interim manager Andy Green said before the Mets (39‑54) secured their third win in four games.

Scott, who was overlooked last season, has reasserted his place in the rotation after a full recovery from 2024 Tommy John surgery, demonstrating that he belongs among the Mets’ future starters.

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