Philadelphia – Mets Prepare for Key Roster Decision
The Mets are facing another crucial roster choice come Monday.
Mark Vientos is nearing a return after dealing with a right hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for nearly three weeks. Manager Carlos Mendoza hinted that Vientos could be activated before the start of a four-game series against the Braves at Citi Field, potentially as soon as Sunday.
On Sunday, Vientos played in a minor league rehabilitation game with Triple-A Syracuse, going 5-for-1 while playing third base. His performance in four rehab games shows he’s currently at 17-2 (.118).
“We’ll see if he requires more at-bats to get his timing back, but health is definitely the priority,” the Mets mentioned before their 7-1 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. “If he’s physically ready, then we can move forward from there.”
Vientos’ return complicates the infield situation, as players like Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty, and Luisangel Acuña may face demotions back to Syracuse. Acuña has played second base and provided pinch-running options lately, while Baty and Mauricio can cover both second and third base positions. Once Vientos comes back, it complicates things further; the Mets might want Mauricio to gain more consistent playing time in the minors.
Mauricio has had a tough time recovering from knee surgeries he underwent last season, and Baty, Mauricio, and Acuña have been trying to find their rhythm lately.
Meanwhile, Vientos has struggled offensively, recording a .230/.298/.380 line with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 53 games this season. His injury occurred on June 2 while sprinting to a base at Dodger Stadium.
The Mets have had a successful stolen base rate of 71-71 (85.9%), the highest in MLB this season. Additionally, they are among eight teams boasting four players—Francis Colindor, Juan Soto, Acuña, and Tyron Taylor—each with at least eight stolen bases.
In a notable outing over the weekend, the Mets hit seven homers in a single game, marking the fifth time in franchise history they’ve accomplished such a feat, all occurring at Citizens Bank Park.
