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Mark Vientos Called Up by Mets as Team Seeks Offense

Vientos was only 17 in 2017 when the Mets made him a second-round pick out of American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. He had a 16-game call-up to the majors last season, and disappointed by going 6 for 36 with one home run and 12 strikeouts. But he has absolutely crushed the ball in the high minors. In 150 games at Class AAA over parts of the last three seasons, he has hit .294 with 40 home runs and a .566 slugging percentage.

A below-average runner, he has not displayed a great deal of promise defensively, which limits his overall value, and his best position will most likely be first base, which the Mets hope will be occupied by Alonso for years to come.

Vientos, at least on a short-term basis, has the potential to carve out regular playing time at D.H. or in the outfield, which would mean the Mets are relying on three minimum-salary rookies despite having the highest payroll in M.L.B. history.

Neither Baty, who was called up in a similar fashion to Vientos last season only to sustain a season-ending injury, nor Álvarez has been particularly impressive with their bats, but both have held their own defensively at difficult positions, which has helped keep them in the lineup. Vientos will need to justify his roster spot with his bat.

Outside of Vientos, the top prospect in the Mets system, in terms of major league readiness, is Ronny Mauricio, a shortstop who is hitting .354 with seven home runs for Syracuse.

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