Brett Baty has wasted no time proving his ability to hit for power at the big league level since the Mets promoted him as an injury replacement nearly two weeks ago. He’s hit five home runs over his last nine games in the majors, complementing the bottom half of the lineup.
But the long-awaited growth from Baty hasn’t only been visible at the plate. He’s also shown improvements in the field, and a few slick plays at third base on Saturday afternoon helped the Mets outlast the crosstown rival Yankees in a 3-2 thriller in the Bronx.
Baty’s first web gem came in the second inning, when he barehanded a weak chopper and threw across his body to first to rob the speedy Anthony Volpe of an infield single. Two innings later, Baty fleeced Volpe again, this time flashing the leather with a scoop on another in-between grounder.
The ball found Baty on five more occasions, and his final contribution was snatching a weak fly from Ben Rice that sliced toward shallow left field in the ninth. Baty also collected an infield single in that inning, finishing the day 1-for-4, but it was his work at the hot corner that caught the Mets’ attention.
“We’ve seen the athleticism from him and his ability to play up the middle. Today was a helluva game defensively for him,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the win. “The fact he’s getting reps in the middle of the infield allows him to be better with his footwork. His read off the bat, the quickness of it. It’s good to see Baty contribute in a lot of different ways.”
When the Mets sent Baty back down to Triple-A in late April, realizing that regular playing time just wasn’t in the cards for him, Mendoza reminded the 25-year-old that he’s a big-league talent. The message appeared to stick, as Baty’s teammates have noticed him playing with newfound confidence.
“He looks different, looks more comfortable,” Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said of Baty. “He’s in a good mental space right now and truly believes he belongs here. With that said, he still works hard day in and day out to get better. He understands his role right now and he’s trying to excel at it.”
Baty’s role with the Mets remains fluid, considering that competition for playing time still exists between him and, youngster
Mark Vientos, and an even veteran Jeff McNeil. But, in the meantime, Baty is making the most of his latest opportunity, determined to prove that he’s not a flash in the pan.
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