Baseball just found its next great rivalry, and it’s fueled by revenge and power swings. The slugger has declared war on the Astros from the New York Mets. Houston’s downfall might be his fuel, but the question is—can he back up the talk with his bat?
The 22-year-old is Ryan Andrew Clifford and he means business. Clifford was part of a swap deal between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets for Justin Verlander. Now, he has made it his mission to show what the Astros lost.
And Jared Schwartz didn’t think twice to point it out: “Obviously you want to stick it to the organization that traded you.” And Ryan Clifford, in his mission to prove himself right and the Astros wrong, has made an absolutely beautiful start.
After being traded to the Mets in 2023, he was directly put into their minor-league team, the Brooklyn Cyclones. Putting up excellent numbers there, the NYM didn’t take much time to notice him. He had an average of .337 with 2 home runs and 14 RBIs. But his ability to get on base was the most impressive thing – an OBP of .488.
There’s a power-hitting first baseman coming through the #Mets pipeline for the future.
“Obviously you want to stick it to the organization that traded you.”
Ryan Clifford, part of the Verlander trade, has the tools to be Pete Alonso’s successor: https://t.co/9t1GFoPUhN pic.twitter.com/kTj44oTODL
— Jared Schwartz (@jschwartz115) February 27, 2025
With his promising minor league stats, Ryan Clifford earned a non-roster invite to the Mets’ 2025 spring training. This signals that the team sees real potential in him and might be grooming him for a bigger role. Clifford’s power-hitting ability makes him a strong candidate to eventually replace Pete Alonso. And who knows! The New York Mets could have found their next slugging first baseman.
With the Alonso-Mets fallout looming, the team is desperate for a reliable successor. If Ryan Clifford delivers at the plate, they won’t hesitate to fast-track him to the majors.
And with the Houston Astors losing Alex Bregman, they might have a new reason to lose sleep. Poetic justice? Maybe. But for now, all eyes are on Clifford to see if he can turn revenge into results.
Brooklyn Cyclones manager acknowledges this Mets’ minor league player’s transition to major league
The New York Mets didn’t just take a gamble on Ryan Clifford—they may have stumbled upon their next big-league slugger. While Houston chased short-term success with Verlander, New York quietly secured a bat that could haunt them for years.
Brooklyn Cyclones Manager Chris Newell has already seen the writing on the wall, calling Clifford a future major leaguer. If that holds true, the Mets might have pulled off a highway robbery in broad daylight.
During an interview, Chris Newell said, “The kid is a pro who does not hang his head and understands that it is part of the game. He is also willing to allow himself to fail and make the necessary adjustments, and he has a chance to become a very good major league player.”
Newell explains that when Ryan Clifford started to play in the minor league, he did face some difficulties. But that did not affect him. He understood that failing is a part of being a professional. He always comes in the next day ready to make adjustments to improve his game.
Newell points out that this is the sign of a major-league player in the making. And if this continues, it might turn into one of the best trades in the Mets’ history.
If Clifford keeps proving Newell right, the New York Mets might just send the Astros a thank-you card. While Houston doubled down on the present, New York may have quietly secured a cornerstone for the future.
Sometimes, the best trades are the ones that don’t make headlines—until they do. Isn’t it?
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