PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets got here into camp with a lineup stuffed with veterans and high prospects attempting to remove a number of of their jobs. Brett Baty and Mark Vientos made some glorious instances for inclusion on the Opening Day roster, however they have been optioned to Triple-A on Saturday evening, following the Mets’ penultimate Grapefruit League recreation of the spring.
The resolution to ship the 2 nook infield prospects to the minor leagues to start the 2023 season got here right down to expertise. Although they made nice strides throughout spring coaching, in the end, the Mets determined that it might be finest to provide them extra expertise with Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets wish to see how they deal with sure conditions and whereas they’ve each improved defensively, they need the duo to proceed to refine that protection. The have to play every single day in an effort to proceed to enhance.
“They’re a phone call away should something come up,” Mets normal supervisor Billy Eppler mentioned. “They don’t need something to happen at the major league level. They have the type of talent where they can push their way up here. There’s still some development objectives to reach.”
Manager Buck Showalter echoed this sentiment.
“I think master is too strong of a word, but the level behind you — it should not be unknown if you can handle that one before you come to this one,” he mentioned.
The Mets appeared on the improvement path of gamers like Nolan Arenado and Rafael Devers and noticed that related gamers had logged significantly extra video games at Triple-A earlier than changing into regulars within the huge leagues. Baty has performed in almost twice as many main league video games (11) than Triple-A video games (six) and the Mets have benchmarks they wish to see him attain.
“Continuing to get tested in different game situations, learning his speed and when to give ground and when to take ground,” Eppler mentioned. “And being put in different types of circumstances and different types of situations.”
Vientos has performed in 101 video games with Syracuse however principally at third base. With the Mets wanting Baty at third, Vientos was moved to first base this spring and he’ll proceed to play there when the Triple-A season begins. The 23-year-old infielder hit .278 with a .791 OPS with 5 doubles and two residence runs in Grapefruit League play this spring.
Baty, 23, hit .325 with a .885 OPS and one residence run.
The Mets instructed Baty and Vientos in particular person conferences with Showalter and infield coordinator Joey Cora. Before studying the information, Vientos mentioned he was happy with what he confirmed this spring, however nonetheless keen to enhance.
“I’m happy, but not satisfied yet,” Vientos instructed the Daily News earlier than the Mets tied the St. Louis Cardinals 4-4 at Clover Park. “I’ve got to keep doing my thing and getting better every day. I try to stay focused on the present moment. I’m not really focused on any things in the future or the past.”
Eppler has maintained all spring that his precedence with the roster is about attending to the playoffs. The roster on the primary day of the season gained’t be the identical on the final day, however for now, he thinks Baty and Vientos will probably be higher served in Triple-A.
STARTING DEPTH
Tylor Megill was named the Mets’ Opening Day starter final season. This season, he could be the Syracuse Mets’ Opening Day starter.
The right-hander struggled together with his command in his closing Grapefruit League begin. Two days in the past he determined to experiment together with his slider in an effort to throw it more durable. The outcomes weren’t nice: Megill allowed three earned runs on two hits over 5 innings, walked 5 batters and walked in a run at one level.
“It sucks, just because I’m competing and I’m learning new stuff,” Megill mentioned. “I’m trying to work it out during games and the competitiveness of it all gets frustrating.”
The Mets added to their beginning pitching depth in Syracuse earlier within the day, signing right-hander Dylan Bundy to a minor league contract. A former high prospect, Bundy performed for Showalter in Baltimore however by no means lived as much as the hype. The 30-year-old right-hander might be finest identified for vomiting on the Yankee Stadium mound as a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
Last season, he went 8-8 with a 4.89 ERA in 29 begins for the Minnesota Twins. His velocity has gone from the mid-90s to the high-80s, and he’s not fairly positive how arduous he’s throwing proper now however he’s hoping to get again into the mid-90s in an effort to look extra just like the pitcher he was in 2020 when he went 6-6 with a 3.29 ERA and completed ninth in AL Cy Young voting with the Angels.
LINING THEM UP
The Mets have nearly set their beginning rotation for the primary two collection of the season, with the ultimate resolution on David Peterson and Tylor Megill to return within the subsequent day or two: Max Scherzer, Peterson or Megill, Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, Carlos Carrasco.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com