SAN DIEGO — Along with his identify typically popping up in commerce rumors, Mark Vientos’ stretch run may need arrived.
To start trade-deadline week, Vientos performed as if he doesn’t wish to be traded.
With the Mets’ entrance workplace weighing what to do with a crowded and younger infield group that features Vientos, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio earlier than Thursday’s deadline, Vientos responded with the kind of evening that reminded of his breakout final 12 months.
After getting robbed of 1 dwelling run by leaping proper fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., Vientos blasted his subsequent shot to proper just a few ft deeper, good for a grand slam within the Mets’ eventual 7-6, series-opening loss to the Padres at Petco Park on Monday.
“It was really good to see Mark Vientos having the type of game he had today,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated. “For him to get that big one right there, that was very encouraging.”
Vientos — who crushed 27 dwelling runs in 111 video games in a star-turn of a 2024 season earlier than going off throughout an enormous postseason — had entered play in a 23-game homerless drought.
That modified not within the fourth inning — when Tatis timed his leap completely and introduced again what would have been a two-run homer — however within the fifth, when the Padres elected to stroll Jeff McNeil to load the bases.
And simply because the Dodgers had deliberately walked Francisco Lindor to load the bases for Vientos in Recreation 2 of the NLCS final 12 months, Vientos made them pay.
“I’m happy I get put into those situations,” stated Vientos, whose opposite-field slam off Dylan Stop was simply his seventh homer in 74 video games this 12 months.
The 25-year-old has by no means lacked confidence, however his supervisor referred to Vientos as “not happy” along with his personal ups and downs of the season to date.
“But also understanding that he’s got an opportunity,” Mendoza stated earlier than the sport. “When he’s within the lineup, he may also help us win baseball video games. However he continues to work, he continues to grind, continues to make changes.
“He’s a really good player, and we’re going to need him.”
Due to Vientos’ energy, prospect pedigree and breakout season final 12 months, there could be curiosity on the commerce market if the membership dangles Vientos. As a result of he can’t be optioned to Triple-A Syracuse and since he isn’t a powerful defender — and a 3rd baseman, the place each Baty and Mauricio have appeared stronger — there’s a query of the place he matches on the crew.
But when his bat is certainly coming round, he might discover himself each within the lineup incessantly, as DH or third baseman, and will discover himself remaining with the Mets.
“I’m just doubling down on my approach and what I want at the plate and staying convicted to it,” Vientos stated.
The Mets are nonetheless unsure in regards to the subsequent step for Paul Blackburn, who threw 87 pitches Sunday whereas permitting one run in 6 ⅓ innings with Triple-A Syracuse.
The righty, who has been sidelined since June 28 with a proper shoulder impingement, was touring Monday and set to return to Citi Subject to satisfy with trainers on Tuesday.
“We’ll talk to him, we’ll see where he’s at, how he’s feeling,” Mendoza stated of Blackburn, who tasks as rotation depth in a rotation that’s crammed in the mean time. “And then we got to make a decision.”
Tylor Megill threw a bullpen session Sunday and “came out fine,” Mendoza stated.
Megill, out with a proper elbow sprain, will want yet one more session earlier than earlier than he begins going through batters.
Jose Iglesias talked with and hugged many Mets, together with Edwin Diaz, Francisco Alvarez, Sean Manaea and Brandon Nimmo, on the sphere earlier than the sport in opposition to his former crew.
