PHILADELPHIA — After eight days of taking part in 9 complete video games, the Mets rested earlier than the division sequence.
Supervisor Carlos Mendoza referred to as it a “reset” day, when some pitchers performed catch, some gamers acquired therapy and nearly everybody took a breath.
Mark Vientos allowed himself a second to look again at a season that hit all-time low earlier than it started and proceeded to ascend to the clouds.
“It’s loopy as a result of I believe [Friday] was the primary day I form of like sat again and considered what I’m doing,” Vientos mentioned earlier than the Mets and Phillies started the NLDS at Residents Financial institution Park. “As a result of whenever you’re in it, you don’t actually take a look at it. You don’t even sit again and be like, ‘Oh, man.’ It’s like, all proper, subsequent, let’s maintain profitable, subsequent at-bat, subsequent pitch, subsequent play.
“However [Friday], we had the time off, and I form of simply sat again and I used to be like: ‘Man, that is loopy.’ ”
The craziness solely continued Saturday, when Vientos knocked two hits — his second a game-tying single within the eighth inning — in yet one more gorgeous comeback win, this one 6-2 over the Phillies to steal Recreation 1 of the NLDS.
Vientos appears to be in the course of each Mets rally, an indispensable piece who continues to hit. His journey to this second absolutely makes it all of the sweeter.
Again in spring coaching, the Mets formally signed J.D. Martinez on March 23, which primarily ended Vientos’ bid at a significant league job.
Vientos misplaced the DH competitors to a free agent and the third-base job to Brett Baty.
A participant bent on proving himself within the majors after 81 MLB video games the previous two seasons, wherein he didn’t hit a lot, would start the 12 months with Triple-A Syracuse.
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He crushed minor league pitching for 23 video games earlier than his first 2024 shot, referred to as up on the finish of April as a result of Starling Marte was moved to the bereavement listing. In his second sport, Vientos blasted a walk-off, two-run homer to beat the Cardinals.
Two days later, he was optioned.
Marte had returned.
He performed eight extra video games with Syracuse, suiting up Could 12 for what probably was his remaining Triple-A sport. He then lastly bought the decision — for good — and has not regarded again (till Friday).
Vientos started getting a while as Baty’s bat was not coming round.
The 2 unproven prospects shared time at third till Could 30, a stretch wherein Vientos posted a .882 OPS.
Baty was optioned the subsequent day, and the Mets had uncovered a brand new third baseman.
Since profitable a job he had misplaced a couple of months earlier, Vientos has not stopped hitting.
It isn’t simply that he posted a .837 OPS with 27 house runs in 111 video games; it’s that his OPS in a month by no means fell beneath .700, essentially the most constant member of the Mets lineup since he was referred to as up for good.
“His work may be very constant,” co-hitting coach Eric Chavez mentioned this summer time about Vientos. “I believe the largest adjustment he’s made is the offspeed. … This isn’t like Triple-A, the place you get 92 [mph] down the center and hanging sliders.”
In his main league probabilities final season, Vientos crushed fastballs however little else.
This 12 months, after ramping up the breaking and offspeed pitches he sees throughout batting observe, he hit .286 with a .531 slugging share towards offspeed choices.
A participant deemed not adequate for the Opening Day roster was hitting second — the spot reserved for the lineup’s greatest hitter within the fashionable sport — and got here by but once more.
“It’s for certain surreal what’s happening,” Vientos mentioned, “and I’m excited to maintain persevering with this.”
