Non-Roster Invitee Preview: Ryan Lambert
Ryan Lambert made his spring training debut on February 24 with a bang. He tossed 22 pitches, allowed a hit, and struck out the side. His fastball hit 98 mph (although he can normally top out at around 101 mph), and hitters were swinging and missing at his mid-80s slider. He looked the part of a player without a roster spot, trying to force a conversation about how he could fit on the active roster.
Ryan Lambert is the youngest pitcher (23 years old, a few months younger than Jeff Wenninger) with a non-roster invitation to major league camp. He was drafted in the eighth round in 2024 out of the University of Oklahoma, where he had a 2.57 ERA over 23 games and 21 innings in his final year.
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
All of Lambert’s strengths and weaknesses were on display during 2025’s spring training breakout game. He struck out two batters but also allowed a run from two walks, a hit and three stolen bases. Lambert can overpower hitters, but he has difficulty reliably delivering the ball in the zone. Runners can take advantage of this on the base paths.
Lambert had a quick stint in Brooklyn in 2025, where he allowed one run over eight innings while striking out an absurd 17 batters. He spent the rest of the season in Binghamton, where he tossed 42 innings with a 1.71 ERA, 1.286 WHIP and a 13.7 K/9. The only blemish was a 5.6 BB/9. He’s throwing incredibly hard and missing the zone a bit.
At the end of 2025, MLB Pipeline listed Lambert as the Mets’ No. 20 prospect with a 2025 ETA for his MLB debut. His hard throwing will get him to the majors, but concern over his two-pitch arsenal and missing the zone might hold him back until he can course correct. That’s where performances like his spring training debut come in. If he can continue to get hitters to chase, he’s going to be an electric part of the Mets bullpen.
He likely won’t break camp with the Mets, and instead will start the season in Syracuse to face veteran hitters more consistently. If he dominates in Syracuse, he’ll find himself on the major league roster in short order.
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