How Will He Thrive in Twenty-Five?: Luisangel Acuña

[Edgy MD]

He was the big get in the Max Scherzer trade. Or maybe he was just the get. He had a big name, but maybe that was just because it was his brother's name.

His steal numbers were high, but his walk rate started crashing since he arrived in the Mets system. He was versatile defensively, but maybe he was just another prospect. He could hit, or maybe he could totally miss.

Maybe he was just another flash in the pan with speed.

And then he got called up. At the very worst time, with the Mets hanging on to a playoff spot by their fingernails, he was put in the thankless position of having to replace Franciso Lindor in the stretch run of an MVP-quality year, and ... he prospered. It was only 40 plate appearances, but he went .308 / .325 / .641 // .966 when the team and you and I needed it most. He didn't even have to prove himself by stealing bases because six of his 12 hits went for extra bases. He was almost always right where you needed him to be. Just a dream start to an MLB career.

But 40 plate appearances are but ... 40 plate appearances. Small samples mean less than bigger ones. But similarly, MLB stats mean more than International League stats. So what is real and what is illusory? And will the injury to Jeff McNeil open up a second door through which this young man will again step mightily?

It is the drama that is about to unfold before us. Spoil it all for me, if you will, and tell me how it ends.

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[metirish]

"nice body, good hands and feet, and pedigree"

I think he will thrive when given the chance

I do like his energy

[MFS62]

And then he won Rookie of the Year award in Winter League batting .337/.419/.495. That's a .914 OPS (for those too lazy to do the math) and was 18 for 19 in SB. Those are real good numbers, no matter where he got them

I think that indicates that those end of year numbers may be for real.

He'll probably start the year in the minors, then get called up in June after McNeil gets injured (or is moved to the outfield) and Baty shows he can't turn a double play.

.277-8-58 25 SB

Later

[metirish]

As you know Jeff is already injured

[MFS62]

As you know Jeff is already injured

 

My crystal ball tells me he'll come back by opening day, and get injured again.

Later

[Lefty Specialist]

McNeil being out means he'll see a lot of playing time early, and he'll be too good to send down.

8/40/.295 and 20 steals.

[ashie62]

It's interesting that Stearns has admitted he almost traded Acuna at the deadline

Acuna did well in his cameo. I believe he will get plenty of work and perform well enough to establish a beach head

425 AB .255. 14-45 25 SB 110 K

[roger_that]

McNeil being out means he'll see a lot of playing time early, and he'll be too good to send down.

8/40/.295 and 20 steals.

 

I think he probably will get sent down for a month or so. It's kind of weird that they're going to start the year with six outfielders and five infielders, but that looks like the program.

[Fman99]

His fate seems very much married to Baty's, and McNeil's. I believe as others here do that he will show he's the real deal if given the opportunity to play every day, especially hitting lower in the order where there's less pressure on him.

[roger_that]

I guess only five infielders makes some sense, given that Alonso and Lindor and probably Vientos will play every day and you'd never need to pinch-hit for any of them, or replace them defensively. It's just weird.

[Edgy MD]

The Mets put in defensive substitutions for Vientos plenty of times last year.

[roger_that]

The Mets put in defensive substittutions for Vientos plenty of times last year.

 

Again, true, BUT

1) he seems much improved defensively this year

2) They had Iglesias last year, not so much this year

I don't think they're going to be inclined to take him out of games for any reason this season, other than in blowouts, and maybe not even then.

[Edgy MD]

I don't know that I have enough information to conclude (1), or that perhaps any of us do.

The main thing, I think, that gives Mendoza and other managers the courage to go forward with five infielders is that, if a late-inning injury forces them to go with an outfielder or catcher grossly out of position and faking it, almost all games are over after 10 innings now, so you only have to fake it for three outs or so.

[Fman99]

The Mets put in defensive substitutions for Vientos plenty of times last year.

 

I would think that on any given day that Baty is on the active MLB roster but not playing in a game (say, if Acuna is at 2B), then Baty becomes a likely late inning defensive swap for Vientos. Time will tell

[metirish]

As Sammy Hager once opined

"I can't thrive .... 25"

[roger_that]

The Mets put in defensive substitutions for Vientos plenty of times last year.

 

I would think that on any given day that Baty is on the active MLB roster but not playing in a game (say, if Acuna is at 2B), then Baty becomes a likely late inning defensive swap for Vientos. Time will tell

 

Really? From what I've seen this spring, admittedly not a lot of games, Vientos looks very good at 3B, really strong arm, good instincts, smart positioning. I wouldn't replace him defensively, unless maybe with Clete Boyer and Clete hasn't been feeling well these past few years anyway.

[Cowtipper]

I'm thinking .275/15/65 with 40 steals and 81 runs scored. Jeff McFlop will lose his starting job and throw a hissy fit, as is his wont.

He has the genes, but he has to overcome being a Mets phenom, which historically means he'll let us down. But I'm feeling optimistic this morning.

[Fman99]

The Mets put in defensive substitutions for Vientos plenty of times last year.

 

I would think that on any given day that Baty is on the active MLB roster but not playing in a game (say, if Acuna is at 2B), then Baty becomes a likely late inning defensive swap for Vientos. Time will tell

 

Really? From what I've seen this spring, admittedly not a lot of games, Vientos looks very good at 3B, really strong arm, good instincts, smart positioning. I wouldn't replace him defensively, unless maybe with Clete Boyer and Clete hasn't been feeling well these past few years anyway.

 

I'll confess to only paying intermittent attention to these spring games, so, I trust any observations you've made on this point over my own presumptions from years past.

[roger_that]

As I understand it, he's been getting and using a lot of infield-defense tips from Lindor this spring, and it seems to be paying off. I haven't seen a lot of games either, but the announcers keep mentioning the Lindor tutelage and every ball I've seen hit in Vientos' direction seems to be well handled, bunts, screaming line drives, shots into the hole, backhanders down the line.