With his return looming, the New York Mets are unsure about what role Mark Vientos will play for them. He is in the process of recovering from a fractured wrist that has sidelined him since July 10. He also struggled with hitting and fielding, while other viable options have surfaced.
“I don’t know. I was very forthright with him when he started the rehab assignment that a lot of that will be dictated by how others perform and also by how he performs,” interim manager Andy Green said on Wednesday.
Mark Vientos Struggles
After joining the Mets’ roster in 2022, Vientos had a breakout year in 2024. In 111 appearances, he registered 110 hits, 71 RBI and 27 home runs on a .266 average and .837 OPS. He also had a career high 3.2 WAR and helped the Mets reach the 2024 NLCS.
The Mets hoped that Mark Vientos would be able to replicate that success going forward. However, he fell short of doing so in his next two seasons. This became increasingly evident during 2026, when he recorded 50 hits, 35 RBI and 11 home runs on a .211 average in 73 games.
Viento’s future with the Mets was in jeopardy for some time. The fractured wrist added another layer to his tenure with the team, which hasn’t gone the way either side expected.
“I still think there’s a very bright future out there for him, if he wants to go grab a hold of it. That’s on him. When he gets back in the box, takes advantage of the at-bats you do get and prove you deserve more at-bats. I think people get into different phases or their careers at different points in time,” Green added.
“He has the talent that he possessed in 2024 when he was hitting close to 30 home runs and didn’t even start the season with the big-league club. It is all right there. It’s on him for that to come out. We certainly want to see it come out. It’s not going to be a perfectly-laid path for him, though, when he does come back.”
Limited Space
Mark Vientos’ return comes as the Mets have limited space for him. He received most of his opportunities at first base and designated hitter, but both spots have since been filled.
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Jared Young has emerged as the Mets’ everyday first baseman. Since Vientos was sidelined, Young has totaled 28 hits, 13 RBI and two home runs. On the other hand, the Mets have used a combination of Christopher Morel, Brett Baty, Eric Wagaman, and Francisco Alvarez at designated hitter.
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