The Mets continue to shuffle their lineup and roster as they look for stability during this recent rough stretch.
Entering Wednesday's game against the Braves, the Mets were 1-9 in their last 10 games, and their offense has been inconsistent to say the least. That has led to the team optioning Francisco Alvarez and Luisangel Acuña back down to Triple-A, and with the imminent return of Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio may be next. But the young infielder had himself a day against Atlanta in the Mets' 7-3 win. Mauricio, starting at second base, went 3-for-4 and smashed his third home run of the season.
Among those hits was a single from the right side, something the switch-hitter hasn't done all year. It was an encouraging day for the 24-year-old, who had his best offensive day this season, and for Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza.
"You saw balance there with the way he was finishing," Mendoza said of Mauricio after the win. "He laid off some pitches low, down in the zone. And then when he got pitches, he got himself in really good hitter's count. He was short to the ball, used the whole field, good to see him from the right side. Overall, better swing decisions and I think he was more under control with balance."
Across 17 games since he was called up back on June 3, Mauricio has yet to find consistency at the plate. He entered Wednesday slashing .185/.241/.320 as he split time with the other young Mets infielders. Mauricio's first three-hit performance this year saw his slashline jump to .224/.274/.414, but is it enough to prevent him from being optioned?
It's unlikely, as Vientos, who shined in his potentially final rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, and with Brett Baty's defense and relatively more consistent bat, it likely means Mauricio will be returning to Syracuse, at least for the time being.
But Mendoza was asked about what he's seen from Mauricio this season as he re-acclimates to the majors after missing the entire 2024 season with a knee injury.
"Just watching with how he’s dealing with some adversity at the big league level, especially after what he went through last year, it’s not easy to do," Mendoza said. "He’s a young player who is going through it not just individually but as a group having a hard putting a rally together and we’re not winning games. And for him to continue to come in every day, ask for extra work, extra hitting, that’s what you want to see from everyone, but especially from your younger players."
