Reese Kaplan -- What Kind of Player Can Mark Vientos Become?

What kind of a player do we all expect Mark Vientos to become?  

We all know his first more-or-less full season in the major leagues was less than spectacular save for a hot September when he finally started to play regularly.  That pattern mirrors his ascent through the minors where he would struggle with each promotion to the next level, adjust, then resume his solid hitting.  Now for the 2023 Mets, it was a bit of too little, too late for Vientos.  

Coming into 2024 it looked as if he was the odd man out.  By all accounts third base was going to be a drawn out battle between Brett Baty who struggled even more than Vientos did with the bat, and Ronny Mauricio who was learning a new position of third base after coming up behind Francisco Lindor as a shortstop.  

Mauricio began his major league debut solidly but then as a book began to develop on him he slowed down quite a bit without having had enough ABs to make his adjustment.  Then the ACL injury struck this offseason and third base pretty much fell right into Baty's lap.

Now to be fair, Brett Baty as a minor leaguer was considered hot stuff.  If you divided his 1100+ ABs into two full major league seasons it would amount to a .290 average, 24 HRs and 90 RBIs.  He had a reputation as a solid if unspectacular fielder, but the hitting numbers certainly would make you drool over his potential in the bigs.  He did fan 25.6% of the time in the minors.  In the majors it spiked a bit to a hair under 30%.

Unfortunately, in his over half a season of regular play in 2023 he finished up with some head scratching numbers.  His batting average was a paltry .210 and over his entire major league trial he provided 11 HRs and 34 RBIs while taking 391 ABs.  Extrapolate those numbers to a full season and throw in the defense that made you yearn for J.D. Davis by comparison and, well, he didn't wow anyone.

By contrast, Mark Vientos had a longer minor league career to get ready for Citifield.  Surprisingly his power numbers are actually superior to what Brett Baty provided, but his career minor league .277 batting average was not as good.  He struck out in 27.5% of his minor league ABs and as seen in September he has the power to hit home runs in clusters.  As far as whiffs, for the Mets he was guilty 32.6% of the time.  Ouch!

During this off season it's been well documented that Vientos flew to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to join teammate Francisco Lindor to get pointers on his defense.  Now words alone won't help improve someone, but knowing more about foot position, depth from the hitter and how to release more purposeful and accurate throws certainly can't hurt.  He's supposed to have a return engagement to the Caribbean prior to heading to Port St. Lucie in 2024.  

Word is that Brett Baty has not made the same defensive improvement journey, but there is still plenty of time before Spring Training begins.  To the naked eye Baty looks like an all around ball player who has not yet hit his major league prime.  It is entirely possible that the very rough 2023 was the result of self pressure, adjustment to better pitching and not having a solid defensive book on how to defend against the hitters.

Mark Vientos looks like a hitter who owns a glove.  Sometimes that is enough if the hitting is indeed strong enough to compensate for the defensive side of things.  Mike Piazza didn't make it to Cooperstown for the way he threw out baserunners nor how he called the game.  It was his incredible hitting that got him there.  

While no one expects Vientos to mirror Piazza's career, perhaps the best way he can prepare for his major league future is to concentrate on the aspect of the game he does best while serving as the DH.  He could spell Pete Alonso at first base when he needs a day off and occasionally take over for Baty at third base when he needs rest or could be slumping with the bat.

For now, the Ronny Mauricio injury is a ghoulish blessing in disguise for Vientos as it nearly guarantees him many more at bats that he otherwise would have gotten fighting for his major league life with Baty and Mauricio.  There's no guarantee that Vientos is indeed regarded as a a semi regular as the club has already been in touch with Justin Turner as a possible 2024 DH.  If that happens, then Vientos gets the Buck Showalter ride-the-bench treatment this year as well.  

As to what type of hitter could he become if he played regularly?  The first player who jumped to mind for me was not a fan favorite in Kevin McReynolds.  He was a player you could write in for .265/23/87 year after year.  

Another good example would be a less than fan favorite Jay Bruce who was good for .244 with 31 HRs and 97 RBIs.  I think anyone would sign up for those veterans' numbers right now.  The question is whether or not Mark Vientos gets the chance to flourish.