Billy Eppler says prospect Mark Vientos is on the Mets' radar
As Brett Baty continues to look like a productive major leaguer, general manager Billy Eppler was asked about two other prospects who are knocking on the door to get to Queens.
Eppler said Mark Vientos was on the team’s “radar,” with Carlos Beltran, serving as a special assistant to Eppler, scheduled to take a look at the infielder at Triple-A Syracuse this weekend.
“It’s something that’s definitely on our radar and something we’re thinking about,” Eppler said of the possibility of moving Vientos to the majors. “I’m just waiting for the feedback from the [scouting] group as they go through Syracuse.”
Vientos has an OPS of 1.148 with nine doubles and nine homers in 27 games with Syracuse.
But Eppler added they don’t want to promote Vientos — or anyone else — and then not have him play regularly, what Eppler called the “calculus” of when to move a player to the majors.
“How much can you play the guy?” Eppler said. “What kind of roles would you have for him at the major league level? And you’re trying to balance that with some lost development opportunity if they’re not gonna play all that much.”
With Pete Alonso at first base and Baty, who went 1-for-2 in the Mets’ 1-0 win over the Rockies at third after getting more playing time over Eduardo Escobar, Vientos could potentially fill a DH spot.
Mark Vientos USA TODAY Sports
Eppler acknowledged they would like to get more power from Daniel Vogelbach, but liked his ability to get on base.
The team’s other top offensive prospect, Ronny Mauricio, has moved from shortstop to second base, since Francisco Lindor is cemented at short and Jeff McNeil could potentially move from second base to left field.
Eppler said Miguel Cairo, the team’s minor league infield coordinator, has been impressed with Mauricio’s play since the switch, but they want to make sure not to give Mauricio too much to handle defensively and have that impact him at the plate, where the 22-year-old did well in spring training and so far this season at Syracuse.
“When you bring a player up, you want them to have success,’’ Eppler said. “You want to stay away from bringing a guy up too early and having to send them back down.”
Carlos Carrasco (right elbow inflammation) is still under the weather and Buck Showalter said he could have his rehab start moved from Saturday to Sunday and the team doesn’t have a starter yet for Sunday’s game against Colorado after Joey Lucchesi threw 46 pitches in his abbreviated start in Detroit on Wednesday.
Showalter said the team would do some tests to see how well the left-hander had recovered to see if he could take the mound on short rest Sunday.
The team is hopeful Brooks Raley (left elbow inflammation) will be able to come off the IL when he’s eligible on May 13.
The left-hander is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Wednesday.
The bullpen is also without Edwin Diaz for the foreseeable future after the closer tore a patellar tendon during the WBC in March, but Showalter and Eppler have liked what they’ve seen from the rest of the pen.
“We’re not ever going to be at the level that Edwin allowed us to be at at times last year,’’ Showalter said. “Everybody wants to focus on what you don’t have but I think about the job that [David Robertson] has done for us since the season started and where we’d be without him.
Diaz was presented with his Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year award by pitching coach Jeremy Hefner before Friday’s game.
Diaz finished last season with 32 saves and led all relievers with 118 strikeouts.
The Mets will host Mental Health Awareness Day on Saturday to help bring attention to the importance of mental health and wellness, while providing information and resources throughout the game.
Former Met Bill Pulsipher will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Pulsipher has spoken publicly about his battle with anxiety and depression.
— Additional reporting by Ryan Dunleavy
Source: New York Post
