Mark Vientos isn't thrilled with his limited playing time at first base, but there is some confidence within the organization that he can play the position if needed.
The Mets have made the decision in recent days to hold off on reuniting with Pete Alonso, according to the Post's Joel Sherman, but the hard-hitting first baseman did not accept the team's last offer ($68 million to $70 million). This is because he refused a three-year contract. That leaves Vientos as the top candidate to move as an infielder this season.
Vientos' experience as a first baseman includes 14 games in the major leagues and 70 games in the minors.
“He wasn't very good as a first baseman,” a scout for the National League team said Friday. “But I thought he had a better chance to be better there than third.”
Vientos emerged as the Mets' regular third baseman last season, but his defensive numbers on Statcast weren't impressive. He had an above-average number of outs and was minus-7 points, which placed him in the 6th percentile in MLB range.
Vientos made up for it somewhat with arm strength, finishing in the 62nd percentile.
However, Vientos' shortcomings were easy to ignore as he was mostly successful in his routine plays and his bat was effective against the necessary hitters.
“I haven't seen much of him at first base, but Mark puts in a lot of effort so I think he'll be fine no matter where he is or where he ends up,” Mets infield coach Mike Sarbaugh said. '' he told the Post. .
“Last season helped give him the confidence to say, ‘Hey, I can do this.’ It was the first time he played in the third on a daily basis. So it was kind of uncharted water for him, but he dealt with it, and I think it's only going to make him better and move forward.”
Surbaugh said Vientos has continued to work out at third base this winter.
If necessary, he will be converted to regular first base during spring training.
Sarbaugh recently spent a day in Orlando, Florida, watching Vientos and Francisco Lindor work out.
Lindor was preparing to compete for the third base spot in spring training last winter, along with Vientos and Brett Batty.
“when [Lindor] When he came to camp last year, he felt like he was ready to start the season. He was feeling really good,” Sarbaugh said. “[Lindor] For Mark, he’s a good player to have around.”
Vientos appeared in 454 at-bats with the Mets last season, hitting .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs and 71 RBIs.
Vientos' opportunity came after Batty struggled through the first six weeks of the season and was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse.
Last season, it was his anemic bat rather than his glove that sealed Batty's fate.
However, in a scenario where Vientos becomes a full-time first baseman, Batty could be looking to hit third base again.
Sarbaugh was asked what he thought was the biggest challenge for players moving across the infield to first base.
“I feel like my body clock knows where to go and where to be,” Sarbaugh says. “No matter what you do, moving to second base or moving to shortstop, there's always something you've never experienced, so you have to experience it. Those are the things [Vientos] He'll have to entertain, but I think he can handle anything.”
