In the midst of a recent homer celebration, Mark Vientos was abruptly optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse by the New York Mets. The move made room on the 26-man roster for Starling Marte, who had been activated from the bereavement list. Though disappointed, Vientos understood that the temporary shuffle was necessary to accommodate Marte’s return.
Despite having a promising start with the Mets, Vientos now faces an uncertain future in the big leagues. With DJ Stewart and J.D. Martinez already on the roster, he may not have a clear role at present. Additionally, Joey Wendle is currently the team’s only backup middle infielder, making any potential swap of Wendle for Vientos unlikely. If Wendle were to leave in the future, the Mets would likely replace him with another player capable of playing shortstop and second base. Although Vientos showed promise as a designated hitter last season, his defensive limitations at third base make it challenging for him to secure a permanent spot in the lineup.
Nevertheless, Vientos has been performing exceptionally well in Triple-A over the past two seasons and continues to showcase his hitting abilities with strong OPS numbers. If Brett Baty struggles at bat this season, there is a possibility that Vientos could be called up to play third base for the Mets. Despite facing challenges in his current situation, Vientos remains determined to work hard and seize every opportunity that comes his way in his future endeavors with the team.