Mets Eye Arroyo, Morabito as Syracuse Call-Up Options Amid Soto Absence

Brett Baty, 25, was pulled from the Mets' lineup before first pitch Sunday against the San Francisco Giants with a jammed left thumb sustained on a head-first slide into second base the previous night. The scratch, arriving two days after Juan Soto limped off the Oracle Park grass with a strained right calf, handed New York a genuine roster problem to open the 2026 season and immediately shifted attention 250 miles northeast to NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse.

The Mets have two 40-man roster players at Triple-A ready for immediate promotion consideration: infielder Christian Arroyo and outfielder Nick Morabito. The 40-man status for both clears the administrative barrier that typically slows call-up decisions, making either a clean transaction. Arroyo, 30, went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Syracuse's 4-2 win over Toledo on April 2, and was himself a lineup scratch Sunday for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate. That timing drew attention given the circumstances in San Francisco. Morabito, the organization's No. 16 prospect, has been hitting .364 through the early weeks of the Triple-A season, building on the elite-speed profile that drove New York to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft last November.

Soto's situation, while not catastrophic, remains uncertain. An MRI Saturday showed a minor right calf strain, and manager Carlos Mendoza described the prognosis as "mixed." Soto had opened 2026 hitting .355 with one home run and five RBI before exiting Friday's 10-3 win in the first inning. The Mets are expected to proceed cautiously, and even a 10-day IL stint would compress the window for a corresponding roster move.

Baty's timeline looks shorter: Mendoza said Sunday he expects the infielder back in the lineup by Tuesday. Jared Young filled in against the Giants.

Also active in Syracuse's lineup Sunday were shortstop Ronny Mauricio and MJ Melendez, both circulating in the broader call-up conversation. Mauricio's defensive range across shortstop, second base, and third base gives the Mets infield depth options beyond Arroyo, while Melendez's versatility adds positional flexibility the big-league club could use in a depleted period.

The clearest call-up ladder runs through position fit and recent production. Arroyo's 2-for-4 performance with two RBI against Toledo and his readiness at the corner infield spots give him the shortest path to Citi Field if New York needs immediate infield coverage. Morabito's .364 average and 40-man status make him the logical answer if Soto's calf forces an extended absence requiring outfield reinforcement the Mets can add without a separate 40-man transaction.

A potential trade remains on the table, though the early-April timing and the expected short duration of both injuries point to an in-house promotion as New York's most likely first move.