Vientos’ extra credit
Young Met hopes workouts with Lindor help him climb ladder
The Mets have a dilemma on their hands when it comes to Mark Vientos. The club is looking at potentially using him as a DH next season, but since he’s still developing at only 24 years old, it might be better for the third baseman/first baseman to be playing in the field every day.
Playing time tends to work itself out and in this case, it might have. With Ronny Mauricio out until at least the summer with a torn right ACL, Vientos will get a chance to compete with Brett Baty and Joey Wendle at third base.
“At the end of the day, development is on both sides of the ball,” manager Carlos Mendoza said last week at Citi Field at the Mets’ annual kids holiday party. “But it depends how the roster shakes out as well.”
The Mets are having ongoing discussions about Vientos’ role for the 2024 season. Vientos flashed the potential for a power bat during his rookie campaign last season, but didn’t have a defensive position with the Mets opting for Baty at third base and Pete Alonso playing nearly every day at first. He received inconsistent playing time as well, which complicated the matter. He had -1 outs above average and -4 defensive runs saved in 153 innings at third base. He played left field in the minor leagues, but the Mets don’t want to move him, Baty or Mauricio to the outfield anytime soon, with David Stearns saying he prefers players to play their way out of a position.
Vientos posted a .620 OPS and nine home runs last season, six of which came in September when he finally received regular playing time.
Vientos has been a slow starter at each level of his career, but has always shown an ability to adjust. The Mets’ second-round pick in 2017, Vientos hit home runs against Zac Gallen and Luis Castillo. Consistency proved to be key and it will be again.
As long as he’s getting regular playing time, the Mets are open to giving Vientos more at-bats than they might be with other prospects. The lineup lacked serious power last season and the team needs it anywhere they can find it.
“As long as he’s getting at-bats,” Mendoza said. “If he’s getting at-bats in a season, he’s producing, right? We have that conversation about his defense, too, and he’s putting in a lot of work. Credit to him, he’s putting a lot of work on his defense, on his body, on his agility, his mobility. He spent a week with (Francisco) Lindor and he’s planning on making a visit again in January, so I’m excited.”
Vientos spent a week working out with the Mets’ shortstop last month working on all aspects of his game, but the emphasis was on preparation. He spent his rookie season watching how the clubhouse veterans prepare for games and wanted to make sure he was preparing for the season advantageously as well. When Lindor invited him to train with him for a week in Orlando, it reaffirmed his belief in the work he has been doing and helped push him to do more.
“I got so much out of going over there and training with him,” Vientos said. “Learning his mentality and seeing the way he goes about his business is eye-opening. Honestly, seeing the way he lives is a dream. That’s what I’m working for.”
Lindor took Vientos under his wing last season, helping mentor him and Baty. He was often seen positioning Vientos on the field and working with him before games. The two discussed training together near Lindor’s house in Orlando toward the end of the season. Lindor followed up with Vientos after Thanksgiving and the infielder took him up on the offer, heading to central Florida for a week.
“We would wake up at like 7 a.m., we’d work out, we’d go to the field in the day, do defense and then rest a little bit and go back to the field to hit and do more defense,” Vientos said. “Then that was pretty much it.”
Vientos was able to handle the level of intensity, validating his offseason plan.
“I would ask myself if I was doing a little too much during the offseason, but honestly, I feel like I’m doing just the right amount,” Vientos said. “Me and him have similar workdays. I try to do two-a-days during the offseason in the morning and then I’ll take a nap and go at night. And he does the same exact thing.”
The Mets may have to take a different approach with Vientos given how badly they need his bat. Whatever it is they ask of him, he’ll be prepared.
“I learned a lot and I’m and I’m happy about this offseason so far, and how much better I’ve gotten,” Vientos said.