While many in baseball say the gap in competition is so large that making the jump from Triple-A to the majors is harder than ever, Mark Vientos seems to have had no trouble making it.
Despite failing to make a splash over two stints with the Mets in 2022 and 2023, the slugging Mets prospect was promoted permanently from Triple-A Syracuse in late May and has shown no signs of slowing down.
Not only are the third baseman's overall numbers outstanding — batting .277/.334 with 21 home runs in 83 games — but also how successful he has been.
He recorded an OPS of .917 in 12 games in May.
In June it was .888 and in July it was .884.
Statistically, his worst month was 20 games in August, where he posted an OPS of .833.
“He seems very calm,” hitting coach Eric Chavez said recently. “It seems like he's been here a while. I know people are wondering, 'Is this a hot streak?' Is it going to end?'”
“I think he's found something. Of course, he's going to have his ups and downs, but I think he's found something that's going to work for a really long time.”
The strategy worked, as the 24-year-old also hit a home run in Sunday's loss at San Diego.
The Mets needed Vientos to fill in for the struggling (and now injured) Brett Batey, and they found a pregame routine that suited him.
Chavez said Vientos has been working more with slower pitches and rarely faces faster balls in batting practice anymore.
Vientos appeared in 65 major league games last season and batted .167 against off-speed pitches.
This year, he dominated them with a .306 batting average and a .611 slugging percentage.
“I think the biggest adjustment he's made is his off-speed,” Chavez told Vientos. “He's got better control over the pitch.” [achieve better] “Off-speed pitch recognition, understanding that they're not going to throw you a fastball. … They're going to throw you a very tough pitch. Get used to seeing the spin ball.”
Whatever was thrown at Vientos, Vientos hit it.
“He's finding a way to compete at this level,” Chavez said.
Francisco Lindor was named the NL Player of the Week last week after batting .345 with three home runs, six RBIs, four doubles, two walks, six runs scored, one stolen base, a .793 slugging percentage and a .387 on-base percentage in seven games.
