The New York Mets are one of the most historically significant teams in all of Major League Baseball, and have been an integral franchise in the National League since the organization's inception as an expansion team in 1962.
Since that birthdate, the Amazin' Mets have two World Series titles and five World Series appearances, and plenty of talent to get them there.
Interestingly, while there are several major names on this list, the Mets' best talent has historically been found in the infield, with franchise icons "The Captain" David Wright, Francisco Lindor, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling all manning the infield.
See our rankings of the five greatest Mets hitters and five greatest Mets pitchers for more on that. Here, we go deeper.
To preface, this is not a speculative list of the top five best outfielders in Mets history. If so, a strong case can be made that Juan Soto could wind up at the No. 1 spot in history, with his 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases in his first season in Queens after signing a 15-year deal serving as ample proof.
With that said, the Mets have had a tremendous amount of talent in their outfields over the years, and it's tough to narrow it down to just five.
5. Brandon Nimmo (2016-25)
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Nimmo's appearance on this list is a bittersweet reminder of the decision made by Mets brass to move on from an old and beloved Mets era that included teammates Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz.
The Mets ended their marriage with Nimmo when they traded him to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Marcus Semien, who slotted in as the Mets' everyday second baseman.
That said, Nimmo's tenure in New York was a memorable one, where Nimmo manned a league average but often flashy center field, adjusting just fine to the cavernous dimensions of Citi Field.
Nimmo concluded his time in Queens with the seventh-most offensive WAR and eighth-most overall WAR by a Mets position player. Key moments for Nimmo in Queens were his nine-RBI game in 2025, his leaping grab to rob Justin Turner of a home run in a pivotal game against the Dodgers in 2022, and his work atop the lineup in the 2022 playoffs.
4. Cleon Jones (1963-1975)
Jones was a very memorable Met, in part because he joined the franchise just about at its inception as an amateur free agent, but mainly because he will always be known as the player who caught the final out of the Mets' improbable World Series win in 1969.
Jones' contributions to that 1969 team didn't just stop at his recording of the final out, though. Jones was named the starting left fielder in the 1969 All-Star Game and finished the season with a .340 batting average, which was third in the league behind Pete Rose and Roberto Clemente. Jones' .429 batting average in the 1969 NLCS was stellar and helped the Mets earn their first trip to the Fall Classic.
Beyond that, Jones played an integral role in the Mets' run to the 1973 World Series, where they lost in seven games to the Oakland Athletics. Jones was inducted into the Mets' Hall of Fame in 1991 and often makes appearances at Citi Field, including at the 40-year anniversary of the Miracle Mets in 2009.
3. Mookie Wilson (1980-1989)
Wilson, much like Jones, is renowned in Mets lore for his contributions to a World Series team. Wilson had his reasons for ramping up in the Mets' championship year of 1986, namely an eye injury that held him out for the first month and a logjam involving Lenny Dykstra in the outfield.
Wilson split his time between left and center field, and finished with 25 stolen bases and 45 RBIs in the 1986 season. However, Wilson was the man who hit the game-winning RBI hit through Bill Buckner's legs in Game 6 of the Fall Classic in an iconic moment that led to the Mets' ultimate win in Game 7.
Wilson earns a spot on this list due to a breakout 1982 season (.279 average, 55 RBI, 58 stolen bases) and a generally sure-handedness that also led to his induction into the Mets' Hall of Fame in 1996.
2. Carlos Beltran (2005-11)
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The recently minted Hall of Famer Carlos Beltran is arguably the best center fielder in the history of the Mets franchise. Beltran came to Queens after coming up through the Kansas City Royals' system and then being traded to the Houston Astros, and made an immediate impact in 2006.
Beltran's 2006 season was arguably the greatest single-season in franchise history until Soto showed up, as Beltran belted 41 home runs, 116 RBI, 38 doubles and hit to a .982 OPS.
In 2007, he followed it up with a sizable encore, winning his second Silver Slugger, making his fourth All-Star team, and his second Gold Glove award.
All in all, while with the Mets, Beltran made four All-Star teams and played in over 800 games across his seven seasons in Queens, easily establishing himself as one of the best to step on the outfield turf in a Mets uniform.
1. Darryl Strawberry (1983-1990)
Strawberry isn't just arguably the best outfielder in Mets history, but he could be argued to be the best hitter in Mets history.
After winning the NL Rookie of the Year in 1983, Strawberry had some great seasons from 1984 to 1986, but had his best year in 1987, where he stole 36 bases, hit to a .284 batting average and 39 home runs with 104 RBI. Strawberry followed that up with a second-place MVP finish in 1988 behind eventual Dodgers World Series hero Kirk Gibson.
Strawberry's Mets finale in 1990 was a goodie, as he batted .277 with 37 home runs and a career-high 108 RBI. The beloved Met decided not to re-sign with the Mets, finishing his 17-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and New York Yankees.
To this day, Strawberry says the biggest regret of his career was not remaining with the Mets.
