Mets to Call Up top Infield Prospect Mark Vientos
The Mets are trying not to crumble again. In hopes of not repeating as a disappointment and winning the division, the team will be calling up top prospect Mark Vientos.
Vientos, 22, is the Mets 7 ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Jon Heyman of New York Post was first on the news.
A second-round pick in 2017, the infielder is slashing .280/.358/.482 with Triple-A Syracuse this season. He has 24 home runs and 72 runs batted in so far. Vientos has been scorching as of late for Syracuse. He’s batting .326/.393/.556, with 8 HR, 22.7 K%, 10 BB%, 148 wRC+ in his past 35 games. No wonder why the kid will finally be getting his shot.
His bat is more developed than his fielding right now, so he’s in a prime spot to serve as a designated hitter for the Mets. Darin Ruf, who was in the trade from the Giants for J.D. Davis at the deadline, has been serving as their right-handed DH player. Ruf couldn’t hit water if he fell in, however. He’s batting just .156 with no home runs in 20 games as a Met.
Vientos was seen as a prime candidate to be a September call-up when rosters expanded to 28. However, the Mets went with infielder Deven Marrero and pitcher Adonis Medina. General manager Billy Eppler said the Mets were looking for defense, which is why Marrero got the call.
Vientos is a natural third baseman, who has some experience playing first. Brett Baty, the Met’s No. 2 ranked prospect, is seen as their future third baseman. If Baty does take the hot corner, Vientos will likely see a lot of DH at-bats, and possibly some first base when Pete Alonso needs rest.
But the Mets aren’t calling Vientos up for his defense. They’re calling him up for his bat, which they desperately need. The Mets recently saw their 10.5-game lead in the NL East vanish, as the Atlanta Braves are currently atop of the division.
While there’s still about a month left of the season, every game at this point counts. The Mets can’t afford another late-season collapse. Vientos may be the team’s savior, or he may not be. Without a doubt, this final month of the season will be a wild one.
