Mets Minors: Mark Vientos is trapped

The minor league season is only a few days old but a few stories are already becoming relevant. Anthony Baptist lied about his age and has been suspended for it, Ben Gamel might be overqualified for AAA and nobody messes with Norfolk. For the Mets, another storyline is how the signing of J.D. Martinez has affected their team and one of the notable prospects.

I’m a minor league guy but I will not lie to you and say the Mets were foolish to hire a proven DH like Martinez instead of giving the job to Mark Vientos, whose Spring Training didn’t prove too much. That all makes sense. As does, at least on paper, starting D.J. Stewart in the majors instead of having Vientos up there as a placeholder for Martinez. The problem is just how bad Stewart has been and that, like him or not, Vientos has been good to start the year.

Stewart has been hitting 9th on days where the Mets elect to have him DH and the Mets have given their outfield a few spot DH starts as Tyrone Taylor has proven to be a far more steady player than Stewart (or a few of the Mets “Stars”). In only 8 games Vientos is hitting .323 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs, having walked 4 times. Sure, he’s struck out 9 times in that span but those numbers are solid. Meanwhile in 5 games Stewart has no hits, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts. The Mets would have been far better off having Gamel break camp with the big league squad with his absurd and aberrant .474/.583/.895 slash line.

Meanwhile Vientos has been splitting time at 1B, 3B and DH (not surprisingly) and has held up there so far. His bat remains something that I think will play in the majors and if he can find any positional home where his defense won’t cost his team an oodle of runs, the Mets will be thrilled. His only 2024 path to the majors would necesitate an injury to Martinez, Pete Alonso or Brett Baty so he may not actually be given a chance but his early returns are good to see.

AAA: Syracuse Mets

• Nate Lavender is having control problems – It’s early but 4 walks in 3.0 innings is not his usual rate. The early ERA is meaningless if those control problems cease.
• Dominic Hamel’s first game was awful – Can’t get much worse than 2.2 IP 7 walks and 5 earned runs.
• Lots of positives from Christian Scott’s first game – He gave up 2 home runs and 3 earned runs but no walks and 9 Ks through 4.0 innings pitched is solid.
• Not to be outdone, Mike Vasil was worse than awful – He only lasted 2.1 innings and did not strike out a single batter as he walked 4 and gave up 4 earned runs.
• Luisangel Acuna hasn’t started on fire – After hitting a home run in the first game, Acuna has gone a bit quiet. He’s seen time at shortstop, second base and center field.
• Drew Gilbert needs to strike out less – It could just be the first few games of the season but there isn’t enough power in Gilbert’s profile for him to strike out 10 times in 7 games.

AA: Binghamton Rumble Ponies

• Joander Suarez wants me to look bad – It’s a good thing. I didn’t rank him highly and he pitched a gem making his late surge in 2023 look legit.
• Kevin Parada hasn’t had enough time – Cannot judge a player on 5 at bats but the results are good, if a bit meaningless.
• Jett Williams is off to a solid start – There aren’t enough stats to really get excited but Williams hasn’t started the season in a rut like a certain other shortstop we know.
• Alex Ramirez is on fire – It’s too early to get too excited but Ramirez seems to enjoy being freed from the hitter’s nightmare that is Brooklyn.

A: St. Lucie Mets

• Jawilme Ramirez starts strong – 3.0 innings of 1 hit/1 walk baseball with 6 Ks is a good way to start out.
• Jonah Tong pitches like a future Ace – Calm down about 1 game but 4.1 innings with 2 hits, 2 walks and 11 Ks is pretty great.
• Ronald Hernandez looks solid – He’s a really good prospect and his early returns are good considering how small the sample.
• Collin Houck needs to watch the Ks – It’s three games but he’s another player who will need to develop more power if he’s going to strikeout that much.
• Mets assign Nick Morabito to the wrong team – He’d already played well in the lower levels so his fiery hot start would look better if he’d actually been started with Brooklyn.