Mets are calling up prospect Mark Vientos, league sources confirm The Athletic on wednesday. Here’s what you should know:
- 333 with 13 homers and 37 RBIs in 38 games this season with Triple-A Syracuse.
- Vientos ranked 7th The Athletic‘s Keith Law’s Top 20 Mets Prospects List for 2023.
- Vientos is marking split times at third and first base this season.
- A second-round pick from New York in 2017, Vientos made his MLB debut in September and got his first hit in four games.
The AthleticInstant analysis of:
why now?
Vientos spent more than a year crushing balls in Triple-A, showing the type of power that major league rosters are sorely lacking. The Mets had gone more than 50 innings without a long ball before hitting three homers on Tuesday. The week before both teams called up top prospect Michael Conforto and traded him for Yoenis Cespedes was the longest drought since July 2015.
Vientos, on the other hand, has 40 home runs in 150 Triple-A games. This season, he has broken down both left-handed and right-handed hitters, greatly reducing his strikeout rate. Buck Showalter often talks about wanting to see minor leaguers master the level. Vientos has clearly mastered the triple-A offense. — Britton
how does he fit?
The Mets were cautious about calling Vientos because they don’t have a clear role. His primary defensive positions are first and third base. The Mets have both covered. This leaves Vientos with the DH seat, along with Daniel Vogelbach and Tommy Pham. The team has repeatedly noted an affinity for Vogelbach’s ability to get to base despite his lack of power, and likes Pham’s speed at base, even if he doesn’t have an on-base record.
At least Vientos won’t be called up unless he’s going to start the short side of the DH platoon against left-handers. His success against a right-handed pitcher this season (.327 batting average, .415 on-base percentage, and a staggering .690 slugging percentage) has helped the Mets run him as their daily DH and see how it works. It means that there is a possibility to check the — Britton
scouting report
Vientos makes a lot of contact, which should lead to 20-30 homers a year in the majors, depending on how well he can get the ball in play. Because he’s a Triple-A player who misses a lot, especially in the zone. he has to hit He may sacrifice power in striking out less, but this is exactly who he is. He’s a low OBP, high power player who can do some thirds, but he could be better at the beginning. — law
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(Photo: Rhona Wise/USA Today)
