PHILADELPHIA — It got here in a disappointing loss, however Luisangel Acuna made his long-awaited MLB debut for the Mets on Saturday and impressed on the plate.
The 22-year-old had a pair of hits in a 6-4 defeat to the Phillies at Residents Financial institution Park, the place he stuffed in for the injured Francisco Lindor at shortstop.
Acuna was known as up from Triple-A Syracuse partially as a result of Lindor was unavailable after tweaking his again in Friday’s win.
Acuna was largely untested defensively, however he hit the ball onerous thrice — together with on a single up the center to open the fourth and to proper within the ninth off nearer Carlos Estevez.
“He appears very relaxed,” stated Lindor, who missed his first recreation of the yr. “Ever since I met him, that’s who he’s.”
Previous to the sport, Acuna stated he was enjoying a online game Friday when he acquired a name from Syracuse supervisor Dick Scott, informing him of the promotion.
Acuna stated he known as his mom with the information and broke into tears. He quickly acquired a name from his older brother, Ronald Jr., the Braves star outfielder, congratulating him.
“In no matter means I will help, whether or not it’s baserunning, hitting, protection, I will probably be there for regardless of the crew wants,” Acuna stated via an interpreter.
The Mets cleared roster area for Acuna by optioning DJ Stewart to Syracuse.
Acuna gives protection for the Mets at shortstop and second base along with heart discipline.
He was handed over by the crew earlier this month when rosters expanded, however crew brass had been discussing a promotion for him even earlier than Lindor’s sore again, in keeping with Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.
And Lindor’s scenario pushed the Acuna resolution to the end line.
Acuna arrived to the Mets final summer time within the commerce that despatched Max Scherzer to Texas. He was inconsistent in 131 video games this season for Syracuse, though he had 40 stolen bases.
His versatility is welcomed following Jeff McNeil’s wrist fracture that can hold him sidelined for the remainder of the common season.
As soon as Lindor returns — he’s below every day analysis and will play Sunday — Acuna may obtain an occasional begin at second base to provide Jose Iglesias relaxation.
“He regarded implausible and had good at-bats,’’ Lindor stated. “I’m inspired with what I noticed right now. There’s no restrict for him.”
The Mets traded for Eddy Alvarez final week, however the infielder will probably be ineligible for the postseason roster as any individual who wasn’t within the group earlier than Sept. 1. Acuna can be eligible for a postseason roster spot, however Stearns downplayed the notion of those remaining two weeks of the common season serving as Acuna’s acclimation interval for October.
“Postseason rosters are a great distance away,” Stearns stated. “We’ll deal with that after we get there.”
The Mets, who started the day one recreation forward of the Braves for the Nationwide League’s third wild card, will play three probably massive video games at Atlanta within the remaining week of the common season. Acuna stated he’s trying ahead to the matchup in opposition to his brother’s crew, even with Ronald completed for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee in Might.
“It’s going to be actual particular,” Acuna stated. “Though he isn’t enjoying, he’s going to be within the opposing dugout there. He already instructed me that he’s going to be there.”
