Mets Give Nick Morabito Another Shot in Outfield
As the New York Mets shift focus from contention to development in the final month of the 2026 season, the club is calling up rookie outfielder Nick Morabito and right-handed pitcher Justin Hagenman when rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on Tuesday, according to interim manager Andy Green.
The moves cap a busy stretch for the Mets' roster. On Monday, Mark Vientos was reinstated from the injured list after recovering from a fractured right hand suffered on July 24, and the club saw veteran outfielder Luis Robert Jr. claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles will take on the remaining $3 million of Robert's salary for the season and also control his $20 million club option and potential $2 million buyout, which opens a spot for Morabito.
Morabito, 23, will be getting his second taste of the majors after a brief debut in May. He struggled in that first stint, going 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts and being caught stealing once in five games. But Green said the plan is not to hand Morabito an everyday role right away.
"He's going to get ample opportunity to show what he has," Green said. "He needs to be himself. He's an incredible athlete, runs as well as J. does, can track balls down in the outfield incredibly well. And then at-bats for me, he's always just been a fierce competitor. He just needs to get in and grind out his at-bats. When he does that, he ends up with really respectable results."
With Juan Soto serving as the designated hitter in the series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field—Soto was out of the lineup on Monday, with Christopher Morel in left field—there should be opportunities for Morabito in the outfield, potentially forming an all-rookie alignment alongside J. Ewing and Carson Benge.
Morabito has found his form at Triple-A Syracuse since returning there, slashing .387 with nine home runs, 30 RBI, and a .737 OPS in 73 games. He has also been a threat on the basepaths, stealing 42 bases while being caught only five times in the minors this season. In August, he has been particularly hot, batting .520 with six home runs and 11 RBI, according to reports.
Justin Hagenman Joins Pitching Staff
Hagenman's call-up adds depth to a Mets pitching staff that is being managed carefully down the stretch. Green said the club is committed to ensuring that Hagenman and other young arms do not pitch on four days' rest, particularly given their workloads this season.
"In all of their cases, they've pitched more than they ever have in their career," Green said, noting that the team is being mindful of innings limits and preserving pitchers for the future.
Hagenman has appeared in nine games for the Mets this year, making three starts and posting a 2.89 ERA over 9 1/3 innings. He had not pitched in the final three months of the 2025 season due to an oblique injury, and this year he has thrown 124 innings in the minors. Nolan McLean, another prospect, has thrown 155 1/3 innings this season after logging 161 2/3 last year, underscoring the need for caution.
Vientos Returns, Robert Departs
Vientos' return gives the Mets a familiar bat in the lineup. He was sidelined since late July with the hand injury but has been productive in rehab, hitting five home runs in four games, including a three-homer performance on Sunday. He was in the cleanup spot as the designated hitter against the Rays on Monday.
Robert's departure ends a brief tenure with the Mets after he was placed on waivers on Saturday. He had been swinging a hot bat this month, slashing .520 with six home runs and 11 RBI, but the club opted to move on and create space for younger players like Morabito.