PHILADELPHIA — When Ronny Mauricio returned to Syracuse final month, it took only some video games earlier than his Triple-A teammates found what the Mets had recognized for years. The Mets infield prospect can completely rake.
However since returning to the large leagues after solely 9 video games in Triple-A, the 24-year-old Mauricio has needed to make some changes to raised pitching. A few of the changes have come simpler than others. Mauricio is hitting simply .182 (8-for-44) with a double a two house runs in 13 video games since he was referred to as as much as substitute Mark Vientos on the large league roster.
“On and off, I feel like there’ll be days where he’s not missing fastballs, and obviously days where they’re making him chase,” stated supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “There’s games where you get some good at-bats by not chasing, but that’s part of it.”
It’s a small pattern measurement, however Mauricio is chasing about 41.5% of pitches outdoors of the zone, and has been fooled usually by offspeed choices. This has lengthy been Mauricio’s downfall. Properly earlier than he tore his ACL in a December 2023 winter league sport in his native Dominican Republic, the Mets needed to see Mauricio take extra pitches and refine his method. His profession .313 OBP diminishes his offensive impression.
And he’s not naive to those struggles. When requested if he thinks he’s capable of management the zone, he was trustworthy in his evaluation.
“My knee is ready and my leg is stronger,” Mauricio stated. “I’m able to damage.”
Nonetheless, the exit velocity hasn’t been there persistently within the huge leagues but. He’s hitting balls a mean of 88.6 MPH off the bat proper now, which is what occurs when a participant isn’t swinging on the proper pitches.
The Mets are trying to develop a trio of gamers within the huge leagues, with Mauricio being considered one of them. It’s not simple and it’s not ultimate, however the Mets are in a troublesome spot needing to make use of a number of the instruments these younger infielders present.
“This is a guy that missed so much time, and here we are asking him to play every day at the big-league level,” Mendoza stated. “So we know he’s got talent, but we’ve got to be patient.”
Protection has been one other story. It’s clear Mauricio is comfy at third base, which is a optimistic indicator of growth. The Mets introduced up Mauricio as a shortstop and have been sluggish to maneuver him to second base in Triple-A in 2023. His expertise at third is restricted, however the Mets have given him 10 begins there to permit him to get comfy on the sizzling nook.
Having performed within the main leagues as a September call-up in 2023, Mauricio is comfy with Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil within the infield, and is raring to study extra from Lindor. Routine performs are accomplished correctly, and whereas a number of throws have been off-line, he boasts a robust arm and good footwork.
“He’s done a nice job on the routine balls,” stated infield coach Mike Sarbaugh. “He’s made some good plays to his left, and just, I think he’s getting used to the speed of the game. I think he’s done a nice job.”
Saturday towards the Philadelphia Phillies, the Mets lastly gave him a shot at second base.
“The days that he hasn’t played, he’s been working at second base,” Mendoza stated. “We know how good Brett [Baty] has been at third, and Mauricio has been fine at third base too, but I thought today was a day where we could put Mauricio at second base and keep Baty at third.”
With the Mets tentatively planning to activate Vientos on Monday, Mauricio is the possible candidate to demote. The Mets are capable of give him instruction and work with him within the main leagues, however the workers appears to agree that extra time in Triple-A might be helpful for him this season. Mauricio doesn’t appear to disagree.
Whether or not he stays or goes, he’s simply comfortable to be able the place he can work on enhancing after a lot time away from the sport.
“I’m happy to be in the field, I’m happy to be able to play every day,” he stated. “And that’s the more important thing. I’m choosing to try to enjoy the moment here.”
