The starry options have begun to evaporate.
against the Astros on Saturday. The switch-hitting Mauricio, batting lefty, creamed a 450-foot homer Sunday against the Nationals. At 110 mph it was the hardest hit ball of a 6-3 Mets victory. The second was a 109.8 mph double by Vientos, whose pop is part of the early spring buzz within the Mets.
The question is whether they all can stay at their current position. There is defensive uncertainty about Alvarez at catcher, plus Baty and Vientos at third. Mauricio, who looks more middle linebacker than middle infielder, might just outgrow shortstop. Which is not bad because he mentioned that with Lindor signed for nine more years, he will “have to play a different position” to play for the Mets.
Lindor, GM Billy Eppler and bench coach Eric Chavez — once an elite defensive third baseman — all mentioned how the potential future third basemen had improved footwork this year and, thus, were moving better laterally and with more explosive initial steps. Mark Vientos wouldl be an intriguing dark-horse in the Mets’ third base competition.Still, Eppler said Baty will not be a part-timer in the majors. Thus, he will be the Triple-A third baseman.
“He has made a lot of improvement from last year [on defense],” Chavez said. “He looks quicker and more comfortable. His throwing [last year] didn’t look this comfortable. The game looks like it is slowing down for him. He’s already a big-league hitter; that’s in the bag. I can guarantee you he is a middle-of-the-order bat. It’s going to be a big year for him defensively.
He begins as the favorite to be the Mets’ future at a position that once seemed destined for Correa, then Machado. It is a contest within this season for the Mets. A test is on to see who will emerge from their version of the third degree.
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