Brett Baty may get another opportunity with the Mets this season. After a three-week absence due to a fractured finger, Baty rejoined the Triple-A Syracuse lineup on Wednesday. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Baty is now fully cleared and, if all goes well, could return to the majors.
“Yeah, that’s a possibility,” Mendoza said before Wednesday’s game against the Nationals at Citi Field.
Baty was off to a strong start with the Mets before suffering a hamstring injury on April 16, but he struggled afterward. In his first 17 games, Baty hit .305 (18-for-59) with a .732 OPS and had a 12-game on-base streak. Following the injury, over 32 games, his performance dropped, batting just .174 (16-for-92) with a .563 OPS.
Overall, Baty has appeared in 49 games this season, posting a .225 average (34-for-151), with seven extra-base hits, four home runs, 16 RBIs, and a .628 OPS.
Since being optioned to Triple-A on May 31, Baty has played 51 games, hitting .257 with an .871 OPS, including 16 home runs and 43 RBIs. Notably, he has surpassed his big-league home run total, hitting one more in far fewer games.
Primarily a third baseman, Baty has also gained experience at second base during his time in Triple-A, splitting his time between third (32 games) and second base (26 games), which has impressed Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.
“He’s worked hard and improved to the point where he’s playing a solid second base,” Stearns noted.
Meanwhile, with Francisco Lindor sidelined by a back injury, rookie Luisangel Acuña has been handling shortstop duties as the Mets push for a postseason spot. The 22-year-old infielder has performed well since his call-up on Saturday.
