The New York Mets are betting on speed with their Nick Morabito call-up

The Mets have called up Nick Morabito, a speed-and-defense outfielder who fits a crowded outfield where every useful role matters. He arrived as the club’s No. 11 prospect at the time of the move.

Morabito is a plus runner who can handle all three outfield spots, already 14-for-16 on stolen-base attempts in Triple-A. The Mets have been leaning into a younger outfield mix, and he gives them a chance to swap veteran depth for more athleticism.

The move that opened the spot

Austin Slater had been brought in as a right-handed option, but his Mets stint never gained traction. He posted a .586 OPS with no extra-base hits in 21 plate appearances, and his role overlapped with what Tyrone Taylor already provided.

With Juan Soto spending more time at DH while managing nagging issues, and the club already blending youth into the outfield, Morabito fits the current traffic pattern. He can cover innings and impact games without a lineup built around him.

What Morabito brings

His Triple-A line read .253/.364/.390 with four home runs, 21 walks and a 23.5 percent strikeout rate before the promotion. Speed is the carrying tool. He stole 14 bases in 16 attempts and has long been one of the system’s most aggressive baserunners.

That gives Carlos Mendoza a late-game lever. Morabito can pinch-run, stay in for defense and cover any outfield spot, all without needing regular at-bats to stay sharp.

A different use of the 26th spot

Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing are also part of the young outfield conversation, and the Mets are working through which athletic profiles can help a contending roster. Swapping Slater’s veteran fallback for a player who can shape the defensive and baserunning texture of games gives them live reps to evaluate.

The assignment for Morabito is simple: turn singles into extra bases, steal bags and run down balls in space, and give the staff reasons to keep finding him the right innings.

Testing a bench skill in real games

Contending teams often spend May figuring out which bench skills actually matter. Morabito gives the Mets a way to test speed and defense in real games, and if it translates, he can help the outfield group feel more complete rather than serving as a short-term fill-in.

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