The New York Mets intend to give infielder Mark Vientos the chance to play first base this season. However, the Mets added Jorge Polanco to their infield in the offseason with the intention of him playing that position.
Polanco, an 11-season veteran, has yet to play first base in his career and is still undergoing treatment for a knee surgery he underwent in 2024. This presents itself as an opportunity for Vientos to step away from his designated hitter role.
His consistency at the plate and adaptability make him a viable option alongside Brett Baty. The team recently gave Mark Vientos some reps at first base during a game against the New York Yankees. Vientos didn’t do much aside from getting hit by a pitch. However, with 24 games left in spring training, there is still time for him to make some noise in the infield.
“It felt good to get my feet wet for the first game. Wherever they want me to play, wherever I get the opportunity, whether it’s third, first, DH, wherever it is, I’m fine with it,” Vientos told the press. “I want to help the team win and do my best job for it.”
A Viable Replacement
When Pete Alonso took his talents to the Baltimore Orioles in the offseason, the Mets were in need of a first baseman. Polanco was their answer after he hit 26 home runs and drove in 78 runs on a .265 batting average last season. But that comes with uncertainty regarding his comfort level at that position.
“Especially with him having a major surgery not too long ago, he’ll get DH at bats,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said during a press conference. “Getting familiar with the position, gotta get him reps, gotta get him comfortable. But we’re not going to run him into the ground.”
With Polanco’s status pending, Mark Vientos can temporarily fill the void. This could be attributed to Vientos playing in 111 and 121 games, respectively, across his past two seasons. He began his Mets tenure at Citi Field slowly but developed into a quality hitter in 2024, recording 110 hits, 71 RBI, and 22 home runs in 111 games.
Bouts With Inconsistency
As Mark Vientos began stepping into the spotlight, he regressed last season. In 121 appearances, he had 99 hits, 17 home runs and 61 RBI. Those numbers are lower than what he posted the season prior, with fewer games played.
This season will be a testament to Vientos’ time with the Mets. It could come down to whether he can perform at a level that allows him to remain in the lineup. The stakes can be higher than before, considering he is moving over to first after struggling at third.
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