Darden’s path to professional baseball started in college, first at Incarnate Word and then at McNeese State for his final season. He began his professional journey in 2025 with the Boise Hawks in independent ball, where he delivered an eye-catching .429 batting average, belted 18 home runs, and drove in 125 runs. Although that season did not lead to a major league opportunity, he continued to showcase his hitting ability in independent baseball with Southern Maryland, posting a .314 batting average with 7 home runs and 53 RBIs across 46 games. Those performances prompted the Mets to pursue his rights.
Following the trade, Darden was assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ High-A affiliate. He will start his affiliated career at High-A, and his age and at-bats at higher levels could accelerate his progression if he continues to hit consistently.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on how Darden adapts to the affiliated minor leagues and whether his bat translates into sustained production at progressively higher levels. This acquisition signals the Mets’ interest in adding depth and upside to their organization, with the potential for Darden to move quickly through the system if his production remains steady.
Stay tuned for further updates as Darden embarks on his affiliated career and the organization monitors his development.
