Mark Vientos trying to ‘break through’ with newfound Mets opportunity

After the Mets despatched rookie Brett Baty all the way down to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday to determine the explanations for his difficulties this season there, slightly than within the majors, an prolonged alternative is on the desk for one more struggling participant, Mark Vientos, to show himself.

Vientos, nonetheless, isn’t completely targeted on the place that likelihood may lead him.

As a substitute, he’s concentrating on the duty at hand — to enhance his play.

“Truthfully, I’m simply targeted on displaying as much as the ballpark, getting higher daily. Not likely targeted on the place they’re gonna play me or what alternative goes to come back,” he mentioned earlier than the Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Cubs on Tuesday night time.

“I’m prepared for the chance. … It’s unlucky that they despatched Brett down, however I do know that he’s gonna take it the correct means, he’s gonna come again up and do his factor like he all the time does.”

Vientos as soon as gave the impression to be an indication of hope for the lackluster Mets offense in Could, as a result of he was hitting .307 with a 1.000 OPS over 60 video games for Triple-A Syracuse.

He has but to come back near these numbers within the majors, nonetheless.

The 23-year-old designated hitter, who went 1-for-3 on Tuesday, is hitting .207 with a .558 OPS.

He has gone 4-for-22 (.182) in his previous six video games.

To get again to hitting as he did within the minors and benefit from this audition for the rest of the season, Vientos mentioned he’s specializing in the “little issues” — displaying up on time, having a great perspective, being a great teammate and dealing laborious.

“Attempting to be taught all through this course of as a result of I’ve been by this within the minor leagues the place I’m not taking part in in addition to I want to,” Vientos mentioned. “You gotta belief your work and belief that you simply’re gonna break by as a result of it’s solely a brief interval that this occurs and then you definitely get comfy and then you definitely begin getting on that roll.”

Supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned it’s “unattainable” to have the ability to persuade any younger participant, together with Vientos, that each recreation received’t be a referendum on whether or not he can play within the majors.

“I take into consideration the distinction of what goes on in comparison with what they [the young players] thought,” Showalter mentioned earlier than the sport. “Each little factor will get magnified. … The focus degree up right here, each pitch, you’ll be able to’t take something off. There’s a scrutiny.

“However I want we have been that good to have the ability to maintain that from taking place. That’s going to occur. It’s actually extra about the way you deal with that. They received’t get actually drained bodily, they get drained mentally and emotionally. The scrutiny [is] fixed daily.”

Vientos additionally couldn’t take his efficiency to the following degree final season, after he moved from Triple-A to the majors as a September call-up.

He performed 101 video games in 2022 with Syracuse, hitting .280 with a .877 OPS. With the Mets, he hit .167 with a .546 OPS over 16 video games.

Showalter has given Vientos reps at third base and, when Pete Alonso was out with an harm, at first base.

He performed third base and hit seventh on Tuesday night time.

He led off the eighth inning with a single that sparked a attainable rally, however was in the end left stranded on third base.

He additionally made three performs at third base, together with a close-call tag on Yan Gomes within the high of the fifth inning.

“I need him to present himself an opportunity and he’s completed a great job with that in comparison with most likely when he first began since you gotta perceive, these guys have been on travel-ball crew, hitting third and fourth, and everyone’s telling them how nice they’re with all the pieces they do and so they’re the very best at each degree after which abruptly, guys attain a degree the place they’re not the very best,” Showalter mentioned.

“There are different folks which are actually good, too.

“Generally you simply gotta get out of their means. Allow them to determine it out and know who they’re.”