Mets call up Mark Vientos in surprise move: ‘He’s earned it’
Mark Vientos is back with the Mets after a disappointing demotion to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of spring training.
He got the call after Starling Marte was placed on the bereavement list, which means Vientos’ stay in Queens might not be long, but he’s responded well since March.
“After having a tough end of spring training, when he got the news that he’s going down, he put his head down, [went] down there, continued to work,” Carlos Mendoza said before a 7-4 loss to St. Louis at Citi Field. “All the credit to him. He’s performing, he’s earned it, and he’s here.”
Vientos started the game on the bench, but he was called on to pinch-hit for the lefty-swinging Brett Baty in the seventh and flied to right. He singled with one out in the ninth.
Vientos, 24, has swung the bat well so far for Syracuse, hitting .302/.388/.535 in 23 games with five home runs and 22 RBIs.
It remains to be seen if the power-hitting infielder will only be with the Mets until Marte returns or if he can stay longer.
Mendoza mentioned using Vientos at third base and designated hitter, although he didn’t start Saturday.
“My message to him is, ‘Be ready for your opportunity,’ ” Mendoza said. “Today or the next day, who knows. You have to take it day by day. Be ready for your chance, and he will be.”
For now, Vientos is focused on helping the team however he can.
He’s not worried about the future, stressing the importance of taking it day by day.
It was a mentality he tried to take after getting sent down to the minors and it has served him well.
“It’s making me a better player and a better person every day,” Vientos said. “I can only appreciate it.”
He added: “I’m confident in my ability. I was just going there doing my job for the team I was playing for [at Syracuse]. Learning, and absorbing.”
Vientos spoke differently in spring training, when he said he had a “chip on his shoulder” and “I feel like I have to prove [myself] times two.” That isn’t his mentality anymore.
“I’m just going to be myself, honestly,” Vientos said when asked if he still had something to prove.