Brett Baty spent October with the massive league group having fun with the postseason expertise as a member of the taxi squad. The Mets third baseman donned goggles for champagne celebrations, took floor balls on the sphere and batting apply as nicely, understanding that his title most likely wouldn’t be known as however staying ready within the occasion the Mets wanted him.
Based on second baseman Jeff McNeil, Baty additionally gave good hugs to teammates all through the Mets’ postseason run to the NLCS. Someway, that one didn’t make it onto the scouting report.
“I think the biggest thing was just the atmosphere and the crowds and stuff and slowing the game down,” Baty just lately instructed the Each day Information. “Just witnessing just playoff atmospheres and stuff like that was pretty cool.”
Over the past two seasons, it was Baty who might have used the hugs. He went forwards and backwards from the majors to the minors, unable to stay within the large leagues. Typically it was his bat, generally it was his protection, generally it was each that led the Mets to ship him to Triple-A Syracuse. Baty has proven flashes of the participant the Mets thought he can be once they drafted him within the first spherical of the 2019 draft, however now they’ve to determine what to do with him.
The image is considerably unclear on condition that Baty may be blocked at third base by Mark Vientos, one among his greatest buddies. Vientos had a breakout season, hitting 27 dwelling runs, posting an OPS of 837 and an OPS+ of 135 (100 is league common). Within the playoffs, his OPS was .998, so it’s protected to say Vientos has solidified himself as a cornerstone of the lineup.
If the Mets don’t re-sign first baseman Pete Alonso, they might simply shift Vientos throughout the diamond. That might open up third base, however then that makes Ronny Mauricio the odd man out.
The Mets despatched Baty to Triple-A to get reps at second base this season. Baty, who can be 25 on Wednesday, performed 27 video games at second with Syracuse this season, engaged on footwork, fundamentals and the catching and receiving features of turning double performs.
“I don’t really care where I play on the field, I just want to be out there in a major league stadium,” Baty mentioned. “So I mean, if they want me to. I’m definitely going to have some conversations in the offseason just to see what they want me to do, what they want me to work on and stuff like that. But, yeah, I’m just gonna work hard and come back next year.”
The issue with second base is that the Mets have McNeil locked up for 2 extra seasons and Luisangel Acuña ready to see the place he’ll play as nicely. The shortstop/second base prospect solely bought into 14 video games with the massive league group this season, getting a call-up when Francisco Lindor injured his again. Nevertheless, Acuña seemed good in these 14 video games, going 12-for-39 (.308). This got here after a lackluster Triple-A season, however the Mets admitted the 22-year-old brother of Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. might need been bored within the minor leagues. Acuña himself mentioned he had hassle adjusting to taking part in in chilly climate for the primary time in his profession.
That might push Baty to the outfield. The membership has had conversations prior to now about transferring him to the outfield, however it has but to occur. President of baseball operations David Stearns was requested concerning the risk on the common supervisor conferences final week.
“I don’t think I would close the door,” Stearns mentioned final week in San Antonio. “We discovered quite a bit about Brett this 12 months. One, we discovered that he’s in a position to take a punch and go down and hold working. And I feel we additionally discovered that he’s in a position to play a number of positions. He picked up second base fairly shortly, to the purpose the place we have been contemplating including him to a postseason roster with the potential of him taking part in second base. That’s fairly vital…
“So his ability to do that leads me to believe that if we ask him to, he’s going to be able to play additional positions.”
Baty hit .252 with 16 dwelling runs, 45 RBI and an .854 OPS in 62 Triple-A video games this season. On the main league degree, he hit simply .229 with a .633 OPS. He’ll have to get the ball within the air greater than he has beforehand and he’ll have to discover a strategy to translate the minor league energy to the majors.
Nevertheless, he additionally confirmed improved protection at third and tackled a brand new problem at second base. The Mets have a troublesome resolution to make if all of their infielders are wholesome this spring.
“It’s a great conundrum to have,” Stearns mentioned. “Having multiple young players who have the talent they have, who can all play multiple positions, if that’s where we are come spring training, that’s a very enviable position.”
