Man, this young guy was supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread. Or at least Wilmer Flores's ++.
Mark Vientos was a high schooler picked in the 2nd round in 2017 at age 17 by the Mets.
The now 6'4", 190 Vientos was supposed to be the big bopper for the Fireflies this season.
Then the Columbia season started S..L..O..W..L..Y for Vientos. April? 22 games, .227/.310/.307.
But heck, about two weeks prior to May 24, his entire Columbia team was hitting about an incredibly anemic .193.
But hitting can be contagious...and non-hitting, too.
Through May 24, the team for the season is up to hitting hitting .215, a distinct improvement. The team is getting over the youth hump and hitting much better.
Through May 24, in May, Vientos jumped to .286/.313/.506. Last 10 games as of May 24, he was 15 for 41, with 3 homers and 9 RBIs. Hitting like a second rounder out of high school should.
Vientos has now played about a full major league season's worth of games (154), and he is hitting the following in his career so far:
34 doubles, 20 homers, 96 RBIs, .270/.345/.436.
Not shabby, for the 6'4", 190 pound 19 year old. Excellent, in fact.
But 10 errors in 42 games at third base - needs work there.
He is proud, I hear, of the fact that he has 1 career steal (thrown out 4 times) and is certain he can out-run Flores in a foot race (I'm just guessing there, I didn't actually ask him that).
OK, so he is slow...but I think we are going to like his bat A LOT starting around 2021.
Vientos does not have a difficult journey to Queens, if produces like the prospect he was supposed to be.
ReplyDelete2019 - Frazier will finish out his contract, Davis, Lowrie and McNeil will back him up
2020 - you have Lowrie and Davis
2021 - that means Will Toffey, Blake Tiberi, or Vientos has to step up.
Will they?
2021 - of the 3 you listed, I think Vientos will step up - he has the pop they do not.
ReplyDeleteStay healthy, keep working, add some muscle - Vientos was a 2nd rounder out of HS for a reason. Quality.
I agree.
ReplyDeleteI love the pick but I want to see a little more pop this year in his development
He's our projected future starting third baseman that if we don't sign or trade for a third baseman in interim.
ReplyDeleteAccording to MLB Pipeline, Vientos's exit velocity is Alonso-like. Well that's impressive.
But ever since Vientos was drafted, he very much reminded me of Wilmer Flores. Both started out as hit tool shortstops with tall lean bodies that look like speed demons until you see them run and recognize they need to play corner infield.
He's also very young. He'll be 19 for the whole season. Born in December 1999. Hopefully 3rd base will end up being a race between him Mauricio bc if you can play short and are over 6'2" you can play 3rd base too. Also I believe he's started slowly in ever league so far.
ReplyDelete