Mark Vientos came into the year looking to solidify himself as an everyday player for the Mets after having a breakout season, smacking 27 home runs in 111 games before posting a .998 OPS in 13 postseason games.
“It hasn’t been easy for him,” manager Calos Mendoza said of the young slugger’ struggles during the 2025 campaign, which saw him post just a .633 OPS amid on-again-off-again playing time entering Sunday night's Little League Classic.
“Lotta ups and downs,” Mendoza said. “Started the year not the way he wanted it or anticipated it or the way we anticipated it, and it hasn’t been easy for him the past couple of weeks with inconsistent playing time. He plays one game and then maybe sits for a few of them. And it’s not an easy role."
But Vientos was in the lineup at third base and delivered two hits in three at-bats and provided the blow that blew the game wide open with a three-run home run off Seattle starter George Kirby in the fifth inning.
“I was just trying to see a fastball up in the zone, middle-middle,” Vientos said after the 7-3 win. “I know he had good two-seam action on his fastball, so I was just trying to see him middle-middle and not try to do too much.”
Vientos got the 97 mph heater at the top of the zone and muscled it 385 feet the other way to give the Mets a five-run cushion. The long ball, Vientos' eighth of the season, gave him four RBI on the night (after a sacrifice fly his first time up) to raise his total to 36 on the season and saw his slashline rise to .232/.276/.372.
For the skipper, it was a sign of how things are supposed to work.
“That’s kinda the messaging with him and some of the other younger players: they gotta stay ready,” Mendoza said. “And to [Vientos’] credit, proud of him, because to have a game like that against a really good arm. It’s pretty impressive.”
Vientos said he has been preparing every day like he is starting and reading himself to come into the game at every opportunity.
"Whenever the opportunity presents itself – and honestly, whenever I'm out there – I try my best and do what I can, and if not, I'm just cheering on my team for us to win," he said.
For the Mets, who won for the second-straight time and the fourth time in their last 18 games, they'll need everyone, including Vientos, to start clicking.
“We need him, we need all of those guys,” Mendoza said. “[Vientos] was a big part of this team last year, and he's going to be a big part here moving forward. We saw it tonight, he’s too good of a player. And hopefully he can just take off from today.”
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