Mets’ Mark Vientos, Brett Baty ready to…
If the Mets are actually going to transfer on from Pete Alonso, it might have ramifications for Mark Vientos and Brett Baty.
The pair of younger Mets consider they’re up for the problem.
Both natural third basemen had been instructed by the Mets earlier this month to combine in defensive work at first base, The Post’s Joel Sherman first reported on Friday, a signal the membership has begun to put together for all times with out Alonso.
New York Mets third base Mark Vientos (27) speaks at a media availability at Citi Field on Jan. 25, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
As long as Alonso stays a free agent, a path back to the Mets stays potential — even with Steve Cohen throwing cold water on the state of negotiations — however within the meantime Vientos and Baty are attempting to make themselves in-house choices to step into Polar Bear-sized footwear at first base.
“It’s hard not to pay attention to it when you see it on every platform,” Vientos stated of the noise surrounding Alonso, whose absence loomed giant at Saturday’s fan fest at Citi Field. “I’ve been getting ready for anything that happens. At the end of the day, you gotta go out there and play. I’m ready to do whatever it takes.”
Even if it’s throughout the diamond from his common place.
Mark Vientos taking part in first base during a spring coaching sport in 2023. Diamond Images/Getty Images
“I love playing third base, but right now, my main focus is what can I do for us to get to the World Series and win a championship?” stated Vientos, whose offensive emergence final season performed a key function within the Mets reaching the NLCS. “That’s what I want.”
While Vientos has performed 84 video games at first base as a professional (70 within the minors and 14 within the majors), Baty has not performed there since he was a sophomore in high college.
But the Mets are attempting to give themselves choices on the 2 nook infield spots heading into spring coaching, barring additional roster strikes.
Baty stated president of baseball operations David Stearns reached out to him “a couple weeks ago” and requested him to begin taking reps “all over the infield, first base included.”
Brett Baty stated he lately ordered a first base glove. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
So the 25-year-old, who had added second base to his repertoire final yr at Triple-A, instantly overnighted a first base mitt and started utilizing it the following day during his exercises back home in Texas.
“[First base] is still pretty new to me, so I’m still trying to figure it out,” stated Baty, sporting his new No. 7 after giving up No. 22 to Juan Soto for an undisclosed return. “I think the ground balls are going to come simple, just like third base or second base. I think it’s going to be the footwork, just receiving throws.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza on Saturday declined to say who can be his beginning first baseman from the roster as it’s presently constructed, two weeks earlier than spring coaching begins, however insisted the Mets had choices at each corners.
Mendoza cited Jared Young and non-roster invitee Joey Meneses as extra choices at first base whereas the third base combine (if Vientos had been to take over first base) might embrace Baty, Luisangel Acuña (whom the Mets have instructed to get reps on the place) and Ronny Mauricio.
Pete Alonso continues to be lingering as a free agent. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“We keep saying it, our young players are going to get opportunities,” Mendoza stated.
Vientos lastly obtained his alternative final season, after not making the roster out of camp, and made essentially the most of it.
While posting an .837 OPS with 27 home runs, he turned an integral half of the highest half of the lineup and believes he can carry that success over into 2025, no matter place he’s taking part in.
“I’m very confident, for sure,” Vientos stated. “I’m excited to get back. I want to get back to the same spot we were in last year. It was so much fun just to be in that environment, the playoffs and playing here in front of the best fans in the game. Just want to experience that again.”
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