Mets' Brett Baty: Coming alive during hitting streak
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Baty went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Friday's win over the Cardinals.
After walking to lead off the third inning and promptly stealing second base, Baty later jump-started New York's two-run fifth frame with a leadoff double on a sharp line drive to right field. The 2019 first-rounder is getting an opportunity as the Mets' primary second baseman while Jeff McNeil (oblique) is on the injured list, and the former is starting to come alive at the plate following a 3-for-27 start. During his current five-game hitting streak, Baty is batting .368 (7-for-19) with two RBI, two doubles, three runs scored and one stolen base.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Out against right-hander
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Baty is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Minnesota.
The Twins have right-hander Joe Ryan on the hill in the series opener, but the left-handed hitting Baty will nonetheless begin the contest on the bench. Baty is just 5-for-36 with a 15:0 K:BB for the Mets this season. Luisangel Acuna will occupy second base and hit ninth.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Giving way to Acuna at keystone
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Baty is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
Baty looked to be holding down the strong side of a platoon at second base with Luisangel Acuna while Jeff McNeil (oblique) is on the shelf, but Baty has now hit the bench in three of the Mets' last six matchups with right-handed pitchers. Manager Carlos Mendoza may just be looking to keep both young hitters involved while the Mets are in the midst of a long stretch of facing right-handers, but Baty hasn't helped his case for seeing the majority of the playing time at the keystone either. He enters Monday's contest having gone just 2-for-21 (.095 average) with no walks and eight strikeouts through the Mets' first nine games of the season.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Out versus right-hander
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Baty is absent from the lineup for Friday's tilt versus the Blue Jays, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
After starting each of the first three games at second base against right-handers, Baty has now been on the bench for two of the last three contests versus righties. Luisangel Acuna will be at the keystone and batting eighth versus righty Kevin Gausman in the series opener.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Taking seat Tuesday
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Baty is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.
The lefty-hitting Baty started the past three games after sitting against a southpaw starter Opening Day, and he'll head to the bench Tuesday after going 1-for-9 with a double and three strikeouts to begin the campaign. Luisangel Acuna will man the keystone and bat eighth against Miami righty Sandy Alcantara.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Officially makes Opening Day roster
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The Mets informed Baty on Wednesday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
The revelation comes as no surprise after Baty slashed .353/.441/.745 with four home runs and a 6:8 K:BB over 20 Grapefruit League contests. Baty also proved adept defensively at second base, and he is slated to open the season as the Mets' primary option at the keystone versus right-handers while Jeff McNeil (oblique) is on the shelf.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Stays hot Friday
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Baty went 2-for-3 with a double and a two-run home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The 25-year-old has been the most impressive hitter in camp for the Mets. Baty is batting .354 (17-for-48) through 18 spring appearances with six doubles, a triple and three homers, and he's shown improved defense as well as he splits time between second base and third base. Baty is expected to begin the season on the strong side of a platoon at the keystone with Luisangel Acuna while Jeff McNeil (oblique) is on the shelf, but he'll need to do better than his career .607 OPS in the majors to retain a significant role.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Bangs out two XBH on Wednesday
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Baty went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
Both extra-base hits came off Ronel Blanco, and Baty is now batting .333 (14-for-42) this spring with four doubles, a triple and two homers, plus a sharp 4:5 BB:K. The 25-year-old has emerged as the favorite to start at second base for the Mets while Jeff McNeil (oblique) is on the shelf, or at least handle the strong side of a platoon with Luisangel Acuna, and while Baty has yet to provide consistent offense in the majors, his career .273/.368/.531 slash line at Triple-A with 26 home runs in 416 plate appearances will earn him at least one more chance to turn his potential into production.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Connects for first spring homer
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Baty went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
The 25-year-old got the start at third base and hooked a Hayden Wesneski offering over the right-field fence in the third inning for his first long ball of the spring. Baty isn't going to unseat Mark Vientos at the hot corner, but he's getting a look all around the infield in camp, including at shortstop. If Baty demonstrates he can handle the defensive demands, he might take over the utility infielder job originally ticketed for Nick Madrigal (shoulder) on the Opening Day roster.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Taking grounders at shortstop
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Baty has been taking groundballs at shortstop and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza didn't rule out Baty seeing some action there during Grapefruit League play, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Baty's main focus remains on third base and second base, but it's possible he'll give shortstop a try if he looks good enough there in workouts. The Mets' four infield spots are all spoken for, so Baty's best shot at playing time will be to increase his versatility. He has started only at third base so far at the major-league level but has been used some at second base and in left field in the minors.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Headed for bench or minors
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Baty is likely to be a reserve for the Mets or go back to the minors following the re-signing of Pete Alonso, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Baty was going to compete for the third base job -- and might have been the favorite -- if Alonso moved on and Mark Vientos shifted to first base, but now there's not room for him in the starting lineup. The Mets have indicated previously that Baty could serve in a utility role, getting some reps at third and second base as well as the outfield. However, he might be best off going to Triple-A Syracuse, where he can play every day.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Joins taxi squad
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Baty is with the Mets in Milwaukee as part of their taxi squad, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Jesse Winker is dealing with a back issue, which has his status for the National League Wild Card series in question. If Winker is unable to go, it sounds like Baty would be the choice to replace him on the roster. Baty put up a .633 OPS in 50 games during the regular season with the Mets but had a .925 OPS in his final 14 contests at Triple-A Syracuse.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Out with fractured finger
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Baty was diagnosed with a fractured left index finger Sunday and is expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks.
Baty had .997 OPS in his last 12 games with Triple-A Syracuse and had a chance of rejoining the Mets down the stretch, but the injury will instead put him on the injured list for the foreseeable future. The 25-year-old hasn't been ruled out for the season, but any complications in his recovery would make a return this year difficult.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Could get work at second base
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Baty might see action at second base with Triple-A Syracuse, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The Mets have struggled to get production from the keystone all season, with Jeff McNeil slumping to a career-worst .624 OPS. Jose Iglesias has filled in admirably against left-handed pitching of late, but the 34-year-old isn't a long-term solution. Baty could get a chance to fill that hole later in the year, especially if McNeil gets traded, but first he'll need to get himself straightened out at the plate -- Baty lost the starting job at third base due to a .229/.306/.327 slash line through 50 big-league games.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Up as 27th man
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The Mets recalled Baty from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday.
Baty will likely serve as a backup during New York's two-game series against the Phillies in London. He figures to head back to Triple-A once the Mets return to the States, where he'll begin taking reps at second base for the first time in his career.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Will serve as 27th man
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Baty will be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to serve as the 27th man during this weekend's series in London versus the Phillies, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Baty was optioned to Syracuse a week ago following a slow start but has gone 3-for-10 with two home runs in his first two games back in the minors. He will likely operate in a reserve role for the two games in London before being sent back down early next week. Baty also revealed that the plan is for him to get some game reps at second base when he goes back to Syracuse, per Puma.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Demoted to Triple-A
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The Mets optioned Baty to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Baty is slashing just .225/.304/.325 this season and has struck out at 34.7 percent clip in May. With the emergence of Mark Vientos (.295/.354/.591), the Mets have elected to send Baty back to the minors in hopes of getting his swing right. Vientos will take over as the club's everyday third baseman.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Goes yard in Saturday's loss
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Baty went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Saturday's 7-2 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
Getting the start at third base and batting eighth, Baty put the Mets ahead 2-1 by taking Sean Hjelle deep in the seventh inning, but Edwin Diaz and the bullpen melted down once again. Baty snapped a 14-game homer drought with the blast, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a .122/.182/.146 slash line with a 42.2 percent strikeout rate while seeing Mark Vientos move past him on the depth chart at third base. While Baty's long ball was encouraging, he also struck out twice more Saturday. Until he solves his contact issues, he'll have a hard time reclaiming the starting job at the hot corner.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Sitting against right-hander again
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Baty is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The lefty-hitting Baty is on the bench against a right-handed starting pitcher (Triston McKenzie), likely signaling that he's at least temporarily lost hold of his role as the Mets' preferred third baseman. Though he's drawn positive reviews for his work defensively this season, Baty has failed to take a notable step forward at the plate, as he's posted a .611 OPS through 150 plate appearances. Baty has performed especially poorly over the past three weeks, going just 5-for-40 with 19 strikeouts against three walks across a stretch of 13 games. Mark Vientos looks like he'll get an extended look at the hot corner as the Mets look to bolster their slumping offense.
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Mets' Brett Baty: Sitting against lefty
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Baty is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
With a tough lefty (Ranger Suarez) on the hill for Philadelphia, the lefty-hitting Baty will retreat to the bench. The freshly recalled Mark Vientos will get the start at third base and could end up filling the short side of a platoon with Baty while he's up with the big club.
