Through the first half of the 2026 season, the Mets currently sit in last place in the National League East, going 34-47 in their first 81 games.
There have been several bright spots, including superstar outfielder Juan Soto, the bullpen’s consistency, and the development of rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing.
However, the team has dealt with a severe amount of injuries, inconsistency, and ineffectiveness from most of the roster.
The majority of David Stearns’ offseason acquisitions have backfired so far, which has begun to warm his seat heading into the second half.
Entering the halfway point, it is time for the position player grades on the Mets.
The benchmarks are based on fielding, hitting, and expectations for the player in question.
Players will receive an incomplete grade if they’ve played in fewer than 25 games.
Juan Soto: A+
Soto has been the Mets’ MVP, as his consistent eye and power make him worth watching every day. He’s been one of the top National League hitters through the first 81 games, hitting .299 with 17 HR, 38 RBI, 38 walks, and a .966 OPS (2nd in MLB). The only knock on Soto is that he’s struggling with runners in scoring position, hitting a mediocre .209.
A.J. Ewing: A-
Ewing didn’t have the luxury of making the Opening Day roster, but he has shown the qualities of a great leadoff hitter in the Mets’ future. He’s recorded a strong eye (11.3 BB% rate), accrued 1.2 WAR, 8 steals, and 3 OAA on defense. With Ewing and Benge leading the outfield, the future is bright.
Carson Benge: A-
Carson Benge had a very slow start at the plate, but has rebounded strongly over the last month to boost his numbers. He’s had some ups and downs in the outfield, but has remained steady with several diving catches and strong plays. Benge’s power is also beginning to appear, as he’s hit 5 of his 9 home runs in June.
Jared Young: B+
Even though Jared Young shouldn’t be hitting cleanup most games, he’s provided a consistent presence both on offense and defense. His ability to work long counts and get on base is underappreciated, as is his defense and versatility around the diamond.
Francisco Alvarez: B
Francisco Alvarez got hit by the injury bug again, as he’s already missed 31 games with a torn meniscus. The good news? He’s looked like a solid offensive bat since he’s returned, hitting .302 with 4 HR and 9 RBI. His defense hasn’t been promising, but his bat is back to producing.
Luis Torrens: B
Time and time again, Luis Torrens has proved his worth as a top backup catcher in the majors. His bat is struggling (1 HR, .577 OPS), but his defense has been excellent, ranking at the top in DRS (+8), pop time (1.87), CS Above Average (4), and framing (84th percentile).
Bo Bichette: C+
There’s honestly been no excuse for Bo Bichette to struggle. He looked downright awful for the first 2 months of the season, as his average and OPS were sitting at .213 and .570, respectively, on June 2nd. A white-hot few weeks have pushed him back up to more respectable numbers, but for a player making $42 million, it has been very underwhelming.
M.J. Melendez: C
Melendez stepped up when the injury bug began spreading in April (.345 BA, 2 HR), but has slumped over the last 2 months. He’s provided some pop, but strikes out way too much to consistently play.
Tyrone Taylor: C-
It’s been about the same for Tyrone Taylor; Elite defense, rough hitting. He also got tormented by the injury bug, as he’s missed the last month with a hip flexor strain.
Brett Baty: D-
After a breakout season in which Brett Baty looked like a solid MLB player with strong versatility, he has significantly regressed in every aspect. His numbers are just cringe-inducing to look at: a .217 BA, 3 HR, 26 RBI, .597 OPS, -3 OAA, and 0.0 WAR. Simply put, a disaster.
Mark Vientos: F
Another disaster on this team is Mark Vientos. Vientos has provided power (10 HR, 33 RBI), but nothing else. When he does play, his fielding at first base has been putrid (6 errors, -7 OAA), and his ego is unfortunately still making its head. Otherwise, he’s mostly sat on the bench and has lost his job to Jared Young.
Marcus Semien: F
The Semien-Nimmo trade has arguably been David Stearns’ biggest backfire. Semien has regressed on defense (-5 OAA, 6 errors), at the plate, and just got placed on the IL with a left hip flexor strain. The fact that the team has to deal with a steeply declining player like Semien for 2 more seasons is very concerning.
Francisco Lindor: INC
Lindor already missed time with a stress reaction in his left hamate bone and a strained left calf in 2026. When he played, he had his yearly April slump before beginning to pick it up in May.
Jorge Polanco: INC
The Polanco signing has been another backfire by David Stearns. He was clearly playing injured to begin the season, and he’s shown no signs of coming back since he got placed on the IL in April.
Luis Robert Jr: INC
Robert Jr had a surprisingly strong start in his initial 14 games, but began to trend down towards the end of April before landing on the 60-day IL with a lumbar spine disc herniation.
My name is John Pagnotta and I live in Queens, NY. I am a freshman at St. John’s University and I am majoring in journalism. I am a huge fan of the Jets, Mets, Islanders, and Knicks. I started following sports when I was around 7 years old and I have not lost love for it ever since!
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