PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Nolan McLean was among the Spring Breakout alumni to make an impact in the Majors last season. Which Mets prospects could be the next ones to forge a similar path?
For the third straight year, the Mets will send many of their top prospects to the Spring Breakout game. Here’s everything you need to know:
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- Watch games & highlights
- Complete coverage: 2024 | 2025 | 2026
What is Spring Breakout?
In 2026, MLB Spring Breakout will again be a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future -- the current stars of Minor League Baseball – in 16 exhibition games played between teams composed of each MLB organization’s top prospects. The third edition will be held from March 19-22 at Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums during Spring Training.
In 2027, Spring Breakout will be expanded into a single-elimination tournament format, with champions being crowned in both the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues.
When is the Mets’ game?
The Mets will host the Rays on Thursday, March 19 at 7:10 p.m. ET at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie.
How can I tune in?
Notable position players
The highest-ranked position player is OF/2B A.J. Ewing (Mets No. 4, MLB No. 97), a 21-year-old selected in the 2023 Draft with the compensatory pick the Mets received for losing Jacob deGrom. Ewing had a breakout season in 2025, slashing .315/.401/.429 with 55 RBI and 70 stolen bases in 124 games at three levels, finishing his year at Double-A Binghamton.
The Mets’ No. 5 and 6 prospects, 1B/OF Ryan Clifford and 3B/1B Jacob Reimer, will also be featured, as will SS Elian Peña, an 18-year-old who was the jewel of the club’s 2025 international class. Peña (No. 9) made headlines last season when he became only the third player in the past 20 years to have multiple three-homer games in a season prior to his 20th birthday – and he was only 17.
The Mets’ top two Draft picks from 2025 will also be on display: 2B/SS Mitch Voit (No. 8) and SS Antonio Jimenez (No. 17).
Notable pitchers
The Mets won't have two of their most recognizable faces on the pitching staff: RHP Nolan McLean (Mets No. 1, MLB Pipeline No. 6) and RHP Jonah Tong (Mets No. 3, MLB Pipeline No. 48), each of whom are battling for spots on the big league roster out of the gate in 2026.
One pitcher to watch though is Jack Wenninger, the Mets’ No. 7 prospect. Wenninger is in his first big league camp this spring after posting a 2.25 ERA in 26 starts for Binghamton last season, ranking sixth among all Double-A qualifiers in ERA and third in strikeouts (142) over 135 2/3 innings.
An under-the-radar arm to keep an eye is Peter Kussow, New York's fourth-round selection in the 2025 Draft. While the club's No. 23 prospect hasn't officially made his pro debut yet, there's an up arrow next to his profile as a 6-foot-5 hurler who has touched the upper 90s as a teenager. The Spring Breakout stage offers him a chance to put his electric stuff on display to a wider audience.
Roster details
Spring Breakout rosters are being constructed in two phases in 2026. Clubs initially submit a preliminary 40-man player pool on Thursday, March 5, which will then be pared down to the official 23-27 man rosters on March 18. The preliminary rosters were assembled using MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Prospects lists plus additional prospects submitted by the club.
Preliminary 40-man player pool (Mets Top 30 Prospects list):
PITCHERS (22)
Juan Arnaud, RHP, NR
Channing Austin, RHP, NR
Hoss Brewer, RHP, NR
Nicolas Carreño, LHP, NR
Saúl García, RHP, NR
Brendan Girton, RHP, No. 30
Cristofer Gómez, RHP, NR
R.J. Gordon, RHP, No. 20
Nathan Hall RHP, No. 28
Noah Hall, RHP, NR
Peter Kussow, RHP, No. 23
Ryan Lambert, RHP, No. 18
Camden Lohman, RHP, No. 27
Douglas Orellana, RHP, NR
Jonathan Pintaro, RHP, No. 22
Dylan Ross, RHP, No. 19
Jonathan Santucci, LHP, No. 10
Ben Simon, RHP, NR
Zach Thornton, LHP, No. 15
Cam Tilly, RHP, No. 29
Will Watson, RHP, No. 11
Jack Wenninger, RHP, No. 7
CATCHERS (3)
Daiverson Gutierrez, C, No. 26
Chris Suero, C/OF, No. 16
Julio Zayas, C, NR
INFIELDERS (11)
Yunior Amparo, UTIL, NR
Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF, No. 5
Randy Guzman, 1B/OF, No. 25
Yonatan Henríquez, UTIL, NR
Antonio Jimenez, SS, No. 17
Elian Pena, SS, No. 9
Jacob Reimer, 3B/1B, No. 6
D’Andre Smith, 2B, NR
Trey Snyder, SS, NR
Marco Vargas, INF, No. 21
Mitch Voit, 2B, No. 8
OUTFIELDERS (4)
A.J. Ewing, OF/2B, No. 4/MLB No. 97
Edward Lantigua, OF, NR
Nick Morabito, OF, No. 13
Eli Serrano III, OF, No. 14