The Mets have traded for 2 lefty hitters within the final week — Daniel Vogelbach and Tyler Naquin — and so they stay available in the market for a veteran righty hitter. However they really feel they've an inside fallback in the event that they fail to amass a Trey Mancini or J.D. Martinez sort.
It's not, nonetheless, Francisco Alvarez.
The Mets have been utilizing Mark Vientos extra usually as their designated hitter at Triple-A to familiarize him with the position, simply in case he's the choice following the commerce deadline.
Vientos was not used as a DH earlier than June 17 this season, however has been deployed at that place 10 occasions since. That features six of his final 11 begins by way of Thursday. Within the different 5 video games, Vientos began at first base thrice and third twice. And whereas the Mets would really like his versatility if he had been summoned to the majors, they produce other gamers at these positions they're extra possible to make use of.
Pete Alonso, clearly, is the first first baseman. With the acquisition of Naquin, Jeff McNeil is about to have his outfield enjoying time lowered and change into a way more common second baseman. Luis Guillorme will achieve much more time at third base, particularly versus righty starters, together with Eduardo Escobar. Vientos would basically be assuming the position of J.D. Davis, who may very well be used as a commerce chip earlier than the commerce deadline at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Vientos is the Mets’ fifth-ranked prospect, in keeping with MLB.com. At Triple-A this 12 months, the 22-year-old righty swinger entered the weekend hitting .261 with 18 homers and an .855 OPS. If he had been summoned by the Mets, Vientos would obtain a lot of his enjoying time towards lefties, versus whom he was hitting .322 for Syracuse with 10 homers and 1.090 OPS.
Alvarez is the Mets’ top-rated prospect, however in his first 13 video games since being promoted to Triple-A, he was hitting simply .146, although he did have two homers and almost as many walks (13) as strikeouts (17). The Mets have been cautious about dashing up Alvarez’s development attributable to his age (20) and concern about inserting him into the center of a pennant race with all of the hype that might include that.
Post a Comment