Is the Mets 26-Year-Old Third Baseman Returning to His 2024 Breakout Form in 2026

Mark Vientos came into this season with some uncertainty. He wasn’t guaranteed a starting spot on the Opening Day roster, which he has dealt with in the past. The Mets signed Jorge Polanco, Bo Bichette, and Marcus Semien as additions to the infield with returning players Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty. Vientos had limited at-bats in Spring Training because he was in the World Baseball Classic representing Nicaragua. He made the Opening Day roster, however, as a bench player at first, but due to his hot start and injuries, he has carved out a starting role at first base and also as the designated hitter. 

Vientos has had an up-and-down career with the Mets. Out of his four full seasons with the organization, his best season was without a doubt his third season in the Majors, his first season with consistent playing time, which was his 2024 season. In his first two seasons, he played a total of 81 games out of 324. During the 2024 season in 111 games played, Vientos tallied a .266 batting average, 27 home runs, and 71 runs batted in. He started that year in the minor leagues, then made the Mets team early in the season as a bench player but hit his way into a starting every day role at third base and became one of the main reasons why the team made the playoffs. He also helped the Mets make it to the NL Championship, where they lost to the World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Vientos was arguably one of the Mets’ top hitters in the postseason. In 13 games, he had a .327 batting average, five home runs, and 14 runs batted in.

Vientos this season has shown glimpses of his breakout superstar-worthy 2024 season. Before this afternoon's game against the Diamondbacks, in seven games he has hit a .476 batting average, with a homerun, and four runs batted in. His at-bats have looked very good, taking pitches he would have chased last season and finding pitches he can hit and doing damage on those in the zone. His defense has also been smooth at first base, where the team currently has Jorge Polanco but is battling an injury, which gives Vientos reps at first base. If Vientos can put up similar numbers to 2024, he will give the Mets protection to Juan Soto and replace what the team lost in Pete Alonso, who signed with the Orioles this offseason.