AJ Ewing isn’t letting the Mets’ trying season get in the way of his development
It’s been a tough season in Queens.
The Mets entered Monday in last place in the National League East with only two NL teams with worse records: the Giants and Rockies.
A change at this point seems unlikely, as a series of problems with the club – from injuries to key players, to inefficiency from substitutions and organization – has left it in disarray.
One of the few bright spots has been the emergence of the forwards, as Carson Benge and AJ Ewing have at least met expectations.
Now, they have to make sure they don’t get used to losing.
Ewing, a 21-year-old who has been playing a major role for a little over a month, acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to the majors while not winning like he usually does.
“You have to show up every day,” Ewing said. “Everybody in this room is trying to win every day and put their best foot forward whenever they’re here. There’s going to be ups and downs. That’s going to happen, and it’s impossible to avoid it. I’m going to keep showing up.”
This includes Monday, when he was due to line up against Shota Imanaga’s Left winger before the game was postponed due to rain, and plans to end on Wednesday as part of a split.
The Mets are cautious about which left-handed hitter Ewing faces. Although Monday was rained out, Ewing will still have to improve that part of his game to reach his potential.
In what could be a lost season for the Mets, they are looking to see what they have in their young players, like Ewing and Benge.
“It’s huge,” Carlos Mendoza said of putting Ewing in the lineup against lefties, as he has a .437 OPS against lefties, compared to .823 against righties.
“That’s part of the development at this level,” the manager said. We’ve had some rough patches here and there, but I feel good about what he brings to the table. If you give this guy a lot of at-bats, he’s going to benefit from it.”
So far, so good.
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After going through a 13-game stretch in which he went 8-for-44 with no hits, two walks and 19 strikeouts, Ewing recovered and has hit in 17 games since.
“There’s always a chance when a young guy’s early success wears off that he’s going to get stuck in the kind of slump he’s been in,” said one American League scout who saw Ewing this season. [Triple-A] Syracuse. That didn’t happen with him. That will help him a lot, even if they don’t win.”
A non-winning part may have negative consequences.
Ewing said he has a way to deal with this.
“A lot of growth happens when an individual or group faces adversity,” Ewing said.” We are growing. Every day, I pretend we’re on a 20-game winning streak, no matter what. That gives you confidence. I’ve always believed in that and as a competitor, that’s what you have to do.”
