WASHINGTON — Mark Vientos was again within the lineup for the third straight day, dealing with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday evening because the designated hitter. After receiving sparse enjoying time all through a lot of the month, the Mets are using the recent hand with Vientos, who has gone 3-for-7 with house runs within the final two video games.
“We need him,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned Wednesday at Nationals Park. “He’s a really good player that pretty much carried us last year too, and was an important part of this team. It’s been hard for him, but the signs that we’ve seen the past week or so, that’s the guy that we saw last year, and we’re going to need him.”
It’s the traditional manner to attract up a lineup, however the Mets have bucked conference this season by rotating three younger infielders out and in of the lineup, relying on defensive wants and pitching matchups. At sure factors this season, the Mets have needed to discover enjoying time for 4 younger infielders, Vientos, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña. Consequently, their at-bats have been comparatively inconsistent.
With Vientos being the weakest defender of the group, it left him because the odd man out at instances. He may hit a house run one evening and be out of the lineup the subsequent. However because the Mets opted to not commerce for a longtime utility infielder, they nonetheless have to seek out enjoying time and at-bats for Vientos, Baty and Mauricio. They’re too younger and too inexperienced to be sitting on the bench, however the crew additionally thinks they’re too superior to be enjoying in Triple-A.
“There’s competition,” Mendoza mentioned. “He continues to earn playing time.”
The competitors facet has pissed off Vientos at instances. It’s not what the 25-year-old anticipated after hitting 27 house runs final season, his third within the large leagues. However then once more, a .649 OPS isn’t what he anticipated both. It’s been a difficult season for Vientos.
He’s selecting to embrace the challenges as an alternative of combat towards them.
One of many issues he realized was to maintain the identical pregame routine each day, no matter whether or not or not he’s within the lineup. It helps him keep locked in mentally and put together for no matter would possibly come in the course of the sport, whether or not he’s wanted at third base or wanted to pinch-hit off the bench. When he isn’t within the lineup, he places in further work within the batting cages with hitting coaches Jeremy Barnes, Eric Chavez and assistant coach Rafael Fernandez. He takes further floor balls with Mike Sarbaugh.
Extra importantly, he trusts that Mendoza has his greatest curiosity in thoughts, and that his greatest curiosity can be one of the best curiosity of the complete crew.
Make no mistake, Vientos needs to play, however he’s been capable of ease his frustration by reminding himself that he achieved his childhood dream of enjoying baseball. Whereas it won’t appear to be what he envisioned after final season, it’s nonetheless a privilege, and he’s nonetheless going to benefit from the sport from the sector, from the dugout, or from the cages.
“I don’t play this game for results,” Vientos mentioned. “I play this game because I love it.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Via two rehab appearances, right-hander Tylor Megill (elbow sprain) has but to permit an earned run. He’s thrown 5 innings thus far, all with Double-A Binghamton, and can make one other begin Sunday. The speed on his fastball has been as much as 97-98 MPH, which may make for a robust addition to the beginning rotation through the remaining month of the season.
Megill threw 55 pitches his final day trip, and the purpose Sunday is to succeed in about 70 pitches.
Heart fielder Jose Siri (fractured tibia) has resumed baseball actions after a setback in his rehab, and will begin enjoying in minor league video games as quickly as subsequent week.
Outfielder/DH Jesse Winker (decrease again irritation) isn’t progressing in a short time. He’s hitting within the cages and off a tee, however Mendoza mentioned he’s having a tough time recovering after some exercises. The Mets hope Siri and Winker will each have the ability to return by the top of the season.
Initially Printed: August 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM EDT
