It’s interesting how things progress as the season chugs from start to finish. A week or two ago everyone was agog when almost no one this side of Pete Alonso was hitting which made it difficult to win games no matter how good the pitching has been when 1-run deficits seemed nearly insurmountable.
All of the sudden over the past few days there has been a bit of a welcome surprise in some offensive output from individuals whose time at the plate up until very recently have been highly disappointing.
First we saw a few solid hits off the bat of last year’s wunderkind, Mark Vientos. He hadn’t hit the long ball but between the high number of walks he has drawn and the hard hit balls going right at someone it seemed simply to be a matter of time before luck would start to fall on his side. The best evidence of that change came during the opening game of the Cardinals series when he went to the opposite field to record his first 2025 home run. Now people are starting to breathe a little easier regarding his presence in the lineup (which was interestingly placed at cleanup on Thursday).
Then there is the guy everyone has long since abandoned in Brett Baty. Not only has his fielding been less than competent, but his 0-fers at the plate have been reminiscent of his many MLB at-bats that sabotaged his opportunity for regular playing time in 2022, 2023 and 2024 as well. Recently he recorded a multi-hit game and on Thursday went to left field to drive home a run on the way towards the Mets 4-1 victory.
Even more impressive of late is Luisangel Acuna who has gotten on base more regularly, stolen bases and played his usual solid defense. With Jose Siri gone for the long term many felt that this recent offensive surge would propel Acuna into starting duty in center field to share space with Tyrone Taylor. He’s logged 250 innings out there in the minors but not yet attempted it in the majors, let alone on a daily basis.
Perhaps more curious is the news that Jeff McNeil during rehab was asked to try his hand at center field as well. Reading into that news is the prospect of one of Baty or Acuna headed to Syracuse with the other being handed the starting second base assignment. Of course, as already discussed it would be easier to have McNeil play left field and slide Brandon Nimmo over to center field as he’s played in the past.
Also on the roster radar is the arrival of Jose Azocar promoted from Syracuse. The 28 year old has just modest power but twice hit the 30 stolen base plateau in the minors. He’s had cups of coffee with for pasts of three seasons with the Padres but over neary 400 ABs he only hit 2 homers and stolen 18 bases while hitting .243. His presence is that of backup outfielder and he’ll not likely last long if the front office decides to bring in a center fielder from another organization.
Luis Torrens has been hitting better than expected of late as well. He will remain a solid part of the roster when Francisco Alvarez returns from rehab perhaps as soon as this weekend. Hayden Senger got his chance in the majors but given the choice between he and Torrens it would seem obvious who stays and who goes.
