Tom Brennan - How the Heck is Brett Baty Doing?

Baty's come a long way since those Kingsport Mets days - just 2 more steps to Metsville

Brett Baty is the Mets' number 2 ranked prospect behind Launch Pad Fernando Alvarez.

A 3B by trade, the 22 year old Baty is currently toiling in AA. 

He may be closer than we think, if he is needed in a pinch.  But I doubt that will happen in 2022.

My guess, right up front, is we see him debut as a Met perhaps this time in 2023.  

He's still "got work to do, work to do, he's got work to do", as the old song goes.

In April and May, he was non-productive and spent a bit of time on the IL.

Maybe that and playing in bitter cold early season weather was the reason for his weak bat work through May. He also went on the IL in late May for several days.

In April and May, he was in 36 games and compiled just 3 HRs and 10 RBIs - ouch.  He hit .250, and in 132 ABs had 12 doubles(nice) and 48 Ks (not nice).  His .350 OBP was decent.

Back and seemingly healthier in warm June and early July, a different Baty showed up:

35 for .105 (.333), with 7 HRs and a bunch of walks and RBIs. His 10th HR was a howitzer shot that cleared the stadium. He’s up to nearly .290 for the season.

Keep that up!

BB's RBI totals have been increasing but still kind of low, but Alvarez has been clearing a lot of baserunners in front of him.  Can't drive in many when the bases are empty.  Now, Alvarez is in AAA and Batycan drive them in.

Still, as I write this on July 4, Ronny Mauricio in 270+ at bats has FIFTY THREE RBIs (that's right, Mack, FIFTY).

And Alvarez had nearly 50 ribbies, placing both of them far ahead of Baty who has hit mostly in the 3rd spot in the order.

Defensively, Baty had 9 errors in his first 47 games at 3rd base and no errors in 6 games in left field.

I sense Baty will be a good starting 3B in the majors by 2024, but he's still got some work to do.  His recent work at the plate is showing real promise, to be sure.  

Lastly, he and Mark Vientos combined have just 9 career SBs; Mauricio has 30 career steals, so it appears his speed is a touch above those two hitters, but Mauricio is not a speed-burner either.  

So, while I think the trio's future major league bats will combine to be DANGEROUS, the Mets will have to factor in the considerably less than Gold Glove caliber of the trio's defense, and their relative lack of speed, when deciding how to build an overall Mets team in 2023 and beyond.

I’d promote Baty to AAA no later than the end of July.

So...whaddya suggest - keep Baty, trade Baty?

Before you decide, check out that BATY BOMB!

https://www.milb.com/video/baty-s-10th-homer-clears-stadium?t=playerid-683146

Tom's Minors Miscues & Meanderings:

I will be doing daily minors update infrequently over the next few weeks, as I embark on some R&R.

Syracuse  -  two seven inning games!  6 HRs in the first game including # 15 from Mark (I can hit HRs while JDD and Dom Smith can't) Vientos hit # 15.  Non HR for Alvarez.  Szapucki went 5, fanned 6, allowed 4 runs and got the W. 

Game 2?  Past my bedtime, I'm afraid, so no one will ever know how they did.  Although I think the January 6 Committee is subpoenaing all records, so the truth may or may not come out.  Actually, I looked early this AM, and Syracuse lost the nitecap, 6-4, coughing up a late lead, with Cobb and Otanez combining to allow 5 runs. 4 relievers for Syracuse, with ERAs ranging from 5.51 to 7.71 - not too enticing.  Nic Plummer and Kramer Robertson each hit their 7th.

Binghamton pitchers allowed 4 earned runs - and 8 unearned runs - on errors by 6 different Bingo players (not including Baty, Young, or Mauricio).  12-4 loss. 

Jesus Vargas 0-6, 8.58. I imagine he may be freshening up his resume. 

Mighty Wyatt Young slammed a 2 run shot in the loss.

Brooklyn?

They won 4-2.  

The seemingly brilliant Nick Zwack was definitely brilliant - 6 innings of 2 hits shutout ball, fanning 10.  For the Clones, he is 3-1, 1.37.   

For the year, 2 teams, he is 4-2, 2.15, 0,94 WHIP, and 74 Ks in 59 innings.

Rudick and Gaddis homered, Alex Ramirez had 2 hits, and Stan the Man Consuegra had 2 RBIs.  The latter 2 just got to Brooklyn this week after graduating from St Lucie School of Hard Knocks.  

Palmer and Newton?  1 for 7, BB, 4 Ks.  The strikeout duo...well...kept striking out.  Profound observation, huh?  I get deep sometimes: "too many Ks?  BAD."  The two have combined for 197 Ks this year so far.

St Lucie - despite a 3-2 loss, pitching was THE STORY as Juan Atencio went 5, allowing 2 hits and fanning 11.  He was followed by new addition Michael Krauza, who threw 1 1/3 innings, fanned 4, but allowed 2 runs and took the loss.  But to that point, 6.1 IP, the Mets had 15 Ks.  They finished up with 16 over 8 innings.   St Lucie fanned 13 times, themselves. 

Omar DLS hit a HR (10) and was so excited, he stole second and third while circling the bases.  He LOVES stealing bases.  He's no doubt stealing fans' hearts.

"Bopper Junior" Tilien (.273) had a single and double.   

ENJOY YOUR DAY: TODAY IS ANYTHING BUT MINOR.