LOS ANGELES — The Mets have been interested in Ronny Mauricio for years. His energy is simple, however the infielder was blocked at a number of positions earlier than tearing his ACL proper because the staff determined to maneuver him to 3rd base. Now, they’ll get their probability to see what he can do in an prolonged huge league stint, with Mark Vientos out with a hamstring pressure.
The severity of the pressure remains to be unknown, and Vientos was despatched again to New York for additional testing. The Mets positioned him on the 10-day injured record Tuesday to have the ability to get Mauricio on the roster. The switch-hitter shall be thrown proper into the motion, hitting seventh and enjoying third base Tuesday night time towards the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After a yr away from baseball, Mauricio seems again and higher than ever. It’s a small pattern dimension, however he’s been hitting over .500 in Triple-A with an OPS over 1.000 in solely 9 video games.
“I’ve already played in the minor leagues, I’ve already had success in the minor leagues,” Mauricio stated by means of a staff translator Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. “The fact that I’ve been there, the fact that I’ve experienced it, I think that’s why I was able to have that success when I went back.”
Mauricio final performed within the Main Leagues in September 2023, hitting .248 with a .643 OPS over 26 video games. There have been some rising pains, but in addition flashes of the participant projected to be a power-hitting change hitter. The 6-foot-4 Dominican was then simply 22, and hit 4 doubles and two residence runs, whereas additionally stealing seven bases.
The contact was stable; Mauricio, then simply 22, had a mean exit velocity of 90 MPH and a high exit velocity of 117.3 MPH, with a 38.6 hard-hit proportion. The arduous contact returned as soon as he was capable of lastly choose up a bat once more. Now 24, Mauricio displayed it all through a minor league rehab stint in Low-A St. Lucie, Double-A Binghamton, and eventually Triple-A Syracuse, the place he was optioned after his rehab stint.
“It’s a long process. I think it’s been the hardest process of my career,” he stated. “But it’s helped me a lot. Like to learn about my body, everything I do, the hard work — I learned a lot. I’m a better person and a better player. That process gave me a lot of tools.”
Mauricio tore his ACL in a winter league sport within the Dominican Republic in December 2023 and underwent surgical procedure the following month to restore the ligament. There was hope he may return late final season, however he required a second operation to take away scar tissue, setting him again even additional. Mauricio reported to spring coaching in fine condition, however didn’t get into any Grapefruit League video games.
With pace being a key a part of his sport, the Mets wished to verify he was cleared to run at full pace as soon as he began enjoying video games once more. The pace remains to be there: He went 6-for-7 on the basepaths in Triple-A.
“I was talking to [Syracuse manager] Dickie Scott this morning, and the first thing he said, ‘The way he’s running, this is a guy that can score from first base on a ball in the gap, score from second base on a base hit and steal bases,’” stated supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “There aren’t limitations from that end, so I’m excited to watch.”
Plate self-discipline is one thing Mauricio should enhance within the huge leagues. Throughout his first big-league call-up, he walked solely seven instances and struck out 31. Mauricio has had a excessive chase fee since he began with the group, however the Mets are already growing Luisangel Acuña whereas he performs a big-league utility position, so that they imagine it’s one thing they’ll nonetheless coach at this stage.
“We know there’s skills there, but we have to be patient here with him,” Mendoza stated. “He’s had some really good results. It was a long process for him, and we really took the time. We thought we were going to give him some opportunities and spring training, and that didn’t happen because of the whole progression and all that, but a very talented player.”
ROSTER MOVE
As well as, the Mets optioned right-hander Max Kranick to Triple-A Syracuse and referred to as up left-hander Brandon Waddell to provide the bullpen a contemporary arm. Kranick was 3-1 with a 3.51 over 33 1/3 innings this season, his first within the Main Leagues since present process Tommy John surgical procedure with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022.
Proper-hander Paul Blackburn, who began Monday night time’s sport, will transfer to the bullpen later within the week. The Mets hope to have him obtainable Thursday towards the Dodgers, or Friday after they start a collection in Denver towards the Colorado Rockies.
