If you’re like me, you have a mental image of what a hitting streak should be like. Lots of hits, some power, perhaps a few walks, too. Here are some hot stretches by Mets players so far in 2024:
Brandon Nimmo – 12 G, 53 PA, .311/.415/.600
Francisco Lindor – 10 G, 42 PA, .359/.405/.641
Pete Alonso – 16 G, 72 PA, .281/.361/.594
So, with those thoughts in mind, it was a pleasant surprise to go to SNY and see the first story being a minor league roundup which declared a Luisangel Acuna hitting streak. Inside, this was the text on Acuna:
After a very slow start to the season, the 22-year-old finished April strong and is on a hot streak to start the month of May.
Acuna is currently riding an eight-game hit streak, including a three-hit night against Lehigh Valley on Friday.
This hitting streak has raised Acuna’s average from .216 to .233, and he now has 11 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 24 runs scored on the season.
Source: Alex Smith, SNY.com
Everything is factually true. But it’s also pretty darn misleading. This 8-game streak has seven contests where Acuna totaled one hit, including five games where he went 1-5. His slash line in this streak is: .256/.310/.308 in 42 PA. Look back above and see what Lindor did in 42 PA, when his OPS was .428 points higher.
It’s nice to see Acuna get some hits; it sure beats the alternative. But let’s not pretend that this is some terrific stretch of play because it’s not. As a team, Syracuse has a .754 OPS this year, meaning that Acuna’s mark during this hitting streak is .136 points below average. Don’t be like the clown in the comments section who suggested promoting Acuna if Nimmo has to go on the IL.
Acuna hasn’t hit since he wore a Mets uniform. He has a 620 OPS since then. He isn’t ready at 22 YOA for MLB. If Nimmo gets on the IL then Ben Gamel , Rylan Bannon or Jose Iglesias would be the better choices. Anyone of them will have to be added to the 40 man roster. Stewart and Taylor will start for the injured Nimmo.
Acuna went 2-5 on Sunday, extending his hitting streak to 9 games. His OPS for the season now sits at .629
I don’t believe we thought any of the trade deadline pickups would hit the big club for at least a few years and that is holding true. The key is to keep developing them so that by 2025 and 2026, they could step in and make a difference. It’s still nice to see Acuna get a daily hit versus making outs like half the Mets starting lineup on any given day. It is often hard to remain patient buts it’s all we can do at this point.
While I agree with you, the Mets fan base in general does not. I’ve seen maddening numbers of maddeningly short-sighted comments expecting and even demanding that the prospects get moved up this year, even those still in double-A.
I checked in on Acuna today and saw that his hitting streak was snapped Wednesday. Thursday and Friday brought two more 1-5 days. Here are his numbers for May:
14 G, 70 PA, .227/.271/.258 — .529 OPS
But at least he’s getting time at both 2B and CF