Dylan Ross was supposed to be a bona fide major leaguer in 2026, an arm on the cusp of breaking through for the Mets. After a scorching 2.17 ERA in 54.0 innings in 2025, mostly in Triple-A Syracuse, the path was clear for the right-hander. Instead, his 2026 season can only be called a major letdown, a year where arm fatigue sidelined him early and command issues blew up his numbers.
From “On the Cusp” to the Injured List
The hype around Ross heading into 2026 was real. His 2025 numbers, with 80 strikeouts and just 33 walks across 54 innings, showed a pitcher ready for the big leagues. His upper-90s fastball and elite split-finger fastball made him a weapon, and with David Stearns’ bullpen philosophy of rotating arms, Ross was perfectly positioned to seize his chance. But baseball, man, it hits different sometimes. The 25-year-old began his 2026 campaign on Syracuse’s 7-Day Injured List, battling arm fatigue. He didn’t get activated until the end of April, missing roughly the first month of the season. That early setback? It seemed to set the tone for everything that followed.
A Tough Road Back and a Brief MLB Taste
When Ross finally got back on the mound, his performance was night-and-day compared to 2025. His 2026 debut in Triple-A was rough, giving up two earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning. Things just never really improved from there. From the end of April through the end of August, the right-hander appeared in 38 games, posting a brutal 6.94 ERA over 36.1 innings. He allowed 37 hits, walked 31 batters, and struck out only 45. Yikes.
Then, on September 1, with rosters expanding, Ross got the call. He was recalled by the Mets alongside Nick Morabito. Manager Andy Green summoned him in the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, and for one shining moment, Ross delivered. He threw a scoreless inning, keeping the team in the game after Tampa had built a 5-2 lead. He got Jonny DeLuca and Chandler Simpson to ground out weakly to second, and Jorge Mateo to softly pop up to first. It was a glimpse of the pitcher everyone hoped he would be. But like so many times in this wild game, it was fleeting. Ross was sent back down to Syracuse right after that game.
The Numbers Tell the Story: It’s All About Command
Ross did manage to close out his season stronger in Syracuse, appearing in seven games with a slightly improved 3.53 ERA in 7.2 innings, allowing eight hits, walking six, and striking out nine. But the overall picture for 2026 in Triple-A Syracuse is stark: a 6.34 ERA in 44.0 innings over 45 appearances, with 45 hits, 37 walks, and 54 strikeouts.
The glaring issue, the one that screams off the stat sheet, is the walks. Issuing 37 free passes in just 44 innings translates to an ugly 7.6 BB/9 rate and a 17.6% walk percentage. We knew command was part of his profile, even in 2025 he walked 33 batters in 54 innings for a 5.5 BB/9. But in 2026, it felt like hitters were just more discerning, more guarded. That elite splitter works best dropping out of the zone, but if you can’t consistently throw strikes, those walks add up fast. What happens next for Dylan Ross is anyone’s guess, but he’s got a mountain to climb to get back to that 2025 form.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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