The New York Mets have been searching for a reliable power source, and an unlikely hero has emerged to answer the call. Mark Vientos, the team's first baseman, was nearly written off during the offseason. Many fans and analysts expected the Mets to trade him, but the front office decided to hold on. Now, that decision is paying off in a big way.
"We've seen it," manager Carlos Mendoza told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. "We haven't seen that in a while, but when he gets hot, man, he can carry a team."
Vientos first showed his potential during a breakout 2024 season, crushing 27 home runs and following it up with a stellar October performance. In 13 playoff games, he posted a .327/.362/.636 slash line with five home runs, earning him the title of the Mets' best hitter in the postseason—no small feat considering Francisco Lindor's impressive numbers.
But last season was a different story. Vientos struggled mightily, with his OPS dropping to .678 over the first 53 games. A strained right hamstring derailed any chance of a rebound, and by season's end, he could barely get on the field. That's what makes his current surge so remarkable.
Even this season hasn't been smooth sailing. The Mets have had to use Vientos at first base, where his defense is less than stellar. As a hitter, he said he's been "seeing the ball great," but he was chasing and missing hittable fastballs. Until now.
On Sunday, Vientos launched a 427-foot bomb off Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz and later crushed a Nick Sandlin slider for another home run. Since April 27, he has three home runs and an OPS of .856 in 13 games, according to DiComo. One key to his resurgence? His ability to handle high-velocity fastballs—a skill he shares with Juan Soto. While Soto has a .668 OPS against fastballs and Vientos sits at .556, that power potential is exactly what the Mets need right now.
With the latest round of injuries hitting the lineup, Vientos will have every opportunity to keep providing that spark. For a team hungry for run production, his hot bat couldn't have come at a better time.