Fan Confidence In Mark Vientos Is Understandably Low, But There Is Reason For Optimism

[Michael Reed]

Image courtesy of Jeff Roberson, Associated Press

It is hard to argue that this spring has created a lot of optimism towards Mark Vientos. Fans continue to wonder where the 2024 version of the Mets' young star went. Coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, Vientos has yet to prove this spring that the 2024 Vientos will be making a comeback this season.

Vientos had only two hits this spring, going 2-for-37 (.057) and 3-for-19 (.158) during his time with Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic. With the strong 2025 campaign of Brett Baty and acquisitions of Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco, playing time could be few and far between for Vientos. However, it is not all that hard to find optimism in a positive 2026 campaign for Vientos.

One thing you can be certain about Vientos is that he is going to hit the ball hard. According to Baseball Savant, Vientos finished in the 89th percentile in hard hit rate and 82nd percentile in average exit velocity, the exact same as he was in 2024. Vientos raised his Hard Hit% from 46.6 to 50.5 in 2025, a positive that went under the radar. With his increase in hard-hit metrics and his batting average being .013 under his expected batting average, you can say luck did not fall his way in 2025.

This spring, Vientos has increased his average exit velocity, average launch angle, and barrel rate. So while the batting average can look ugly, it may not be telling the full story. In these games, Vientos has had exit velocities of 107.5, 106.4, 105, and 103; all resulting in very loud outs. In a game vs the Washington Nationals, Vientos went one for three without posting an exit velocity under 103. It is hard to believe that the ball won't start falling at some point for Vientos.  

One man who has never lost faith in Vientos is Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “He’s going to be a big player for us,” he said. “He’s going to be a big bat, and we’re counting on him. I’m pretty confident that we’re going to get a really good version of Mark Vientos.” Mendoza reminded Vientos that the quality of at-bats in the spring is what they really care about, and he believes he has been doing so.

 Vientos last year was coming off a breakout year in 2024, where his 14 RBIs are the most in a single postseason in Mets history, and posted a 132 WRC+. Expectations were through the roof for Vientos, so any season below that expectation would have the Mets community questioning if his 2024 season was a fluke.

The advanced metrics did not reflect that idea. Vientos cut his strikeout rate down from 29% to 24%, a major positive. Vientos also raised his batting average vs breaking balls from .170 to .225 in 2025.

There are times when batters do everything right, and the ball simply does not fall. You saw this at the beginning of 2025 with Juan Soto. Soto was hitting the ball hard but could only muster up batting averages of .232 and .219 in the months of April and May. As the season went on, the results started to fall, and we saw the real Juan Soto. There is reason to believe the same could be happening for Vientos.

In a disappointing season in 2025 for the New York Mets, Vientos’s season went down as a reason why. Will luck fall his way in 2026? Still to be seen. However, what can be seen is a spring training batting average of .040 does not define Vientos and he is doing everything in his power to hit the ball harder, which he hopes will provide better results.

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[The Hot Corner]

We have to hope that Vientos can regain his form and provide some much needed power to the line up.  If he does, he will provide real value a DH vs. lefties/RH pinch hitter off the bench/spot starter at 3rd base (& possibly first base).