Ronny Mauricio will get another chance, if a brief one.
With the year winding down, the former Mets top prospect was called up for a fourth time this season Friday in the wake of Jared Young's season-ending injury .
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Now 25, Mauricio is finishing up another season in which he has not asserted himself at the major league level and another season in which injury set him back.
Mauricio's first chance at extended playing time this year, in late April following Francisco Lindor 's strained calf and when the club needed a shortstop, ended after just eight games because of a fractured left thumb that forced him out for nearly two months.
He returned but has spent the majority of his season with Triple-A Syracuse, with whom he has been solid — owning a .795 OPS with 18 home runs and 12 steals in 71 games while playing second base, third base and shortstop — but not enough to earn major league run even on a team playing for next year.
"We'll get him out there for sure," interim manager Andy Green said before a 6-3 over the Phillies at Citi Field, after which the Mets have just eight games left. "Ronny's had a nice Triple-A season. We'll find a way to get him some at-bats."
New York Mets shortstop Ronny Mauricio reacts after striking out swinging against the Washington Nationals to end the ninth inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York, Thursday, April 30, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
As recently as 2023, Mauricio was the club's No. 3 prospect behind Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty , according to MLB Pipeline, before he tore his ACL during a Dominican Winter League game, which wiped away his 2024 campaign and delayed his 2025.
Mauricio did not return with the same speed and has jumped back and forth from the minors to the majors since, never sticking at the highest level.
This is the final year Mauricio can be optioned to the minor leagues without being exposed to waivers, and this offseason will be the first in which the Mets will have a choice of whether to tender him a contract.
Juan Soto (3-for-5) launched a three-run home run in the sixth for his 100th hit of the season and 26th dinger in 103 games.
Carson Benge (2-for-3 with an RBI single) has 153 hits this season, two shy of Pete Alonso 's single-season franchise rookie record set in 2019.
New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) hits an RBI single during the first inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Dedniel Núñez recorded a four-out save, his first save of the season and second of his career.
Without Young, who was officially placed on the injured list with a concussion, Brett Baty got the start at first base against lefty opener Tim Mayza and expected bulk pitcher and righty José Urquidy.
Green said he expects Baty and Mark Vientos , who served as DH, to see time at first as well as Christopher Morel .
On Saturday, the Mets will induct Carlos Beltrán into the team's Hall of Fame and retire his No. 15 in an on-field ceremony prior to the game.
