PHILADELPHIA — The last time he was called up, Mark Vientos knew he couldn’t get too comfortable.
With Starling Marte added to the bereavement list, Vientos was briefed at the end of April and was told that his stay would be short and that Marte was expected to return in a few days.
Over the past few days, Vientos went 3-for-7, including a walk-off homer in a win over the Cardinals, but was unable to convince the Mets to change their plans.
Not this time.
Vientos was officially added to the roster and batted in his fifth game against opposing left-handed starting pitcher Ranger Suarez on Wednesday.
Manager Carlos Mendoza declined to call his third base position a straight platoon between right-handed hitter Vientos and left-handed hitter Brett Batty, but that seems to be the club’s trend.
Mendoza said the Mets will have a “competition” at Citizens Bank Park and “put our players in a position to be successful.”
The Mets’ offense has struggled at many positions, but especially at third base, where his total OPS from that position was .614, the seventh-worst among third base groups in the majors. .
Batty started the season strong and showed some of the potential that made him one of the top prospects a year ago.
However, he entered the game with an OPS of just .609, going 1-for-22 with 11 strikeouts over the past seven games, especially with a cold bat that he has struggled with recently.
Coach Mendoza called the 24-year-old into his office after Tuesday’s loss and told him Vientos was going to play third base, the equivalent of a timeshare.
Vientos hopped in an Uber with starter Joey Lucchesi on Wednesday, arriving with the hopes of bringing power and perhaps staying power to the lineup, even if he’s learned not to look too far ahead.
We only had one chance on Wednesday so we focused on that.
“I’m not thinking about the future,” said the 24-year-old Vientos. “I’m just doing what I have to do every day.”
At least for now, these mundane things mean killing lefties.
In Triple-A this season, Vientos crushed opposing southpaws with a .393 batting average and 1.380 OPS.
Batty didn’t bat well against major league pitchers for either team, but he especially struggled against left-handed pitchers, entering the game with a .172 average and .476 OPS.
But Batty has made notable improvements defensively and likely would have been an above-average third baseman early this season.
Despite mixed reviews, Vientos said he feels it’s “really nice and comfortable there.”
Batty will need to get comfortable playing more spots than just third.
A number of roster moves, including raising Vientos, also included drafting utility man Joey Wendle.
The Mets do not have a backup shortstop or backup second baseman on their roster, leaving Batty in that role.
Batty had reps at both spots before Wednesday’s game (he grounded out to Mendoza), but will be an emergency option in case something happens to Francisco Lindor or Jeff McNeil.
A long-term injury to either middle infielder will leave the Mets looking for a replacement infielder, but Batty is currently on call as a game-time replacement.
When asked how long the Mets could operate with such a strange roster structure, Mendoza said they were taking it “week to week.”
“We feel comfortable wherever Lindor is physically and wherever McNeil is physically, especially for the next seven or so games so far.” [next Thursday’s] It’s a day off,” Mendoza said.
One of the rationales for calling up Vientos’ bat and getting rid of his center field glove was the fact that the Mets were going to be playing against several left-handed pitchers.
Suarez on Wednesday will likely be followed by Miami’s Jesus Luzardo on Friday and Braxton Garrett on Saturday.
The Mets, at least for now, have opted to be less flexible defensively but more powerful offensively.
They don’t have a backup middle infielder, and they have two promising third basemen who have no plans to play again, although they could be expected to pitch in the major leagues.
Perhaps they work well together.
Some people will probably get excited and run on the spot. If neither happens, the Mets will be in trouble.
“I thought this was a good opportunity.” [Vientos] To get some playing time here,” Mendoza said.
