Mets’ Top Second Base Options After McNeil’s Injury

Injuries have plagued the Mets’ roster, with multiple starting pitchers sidelined alongside Francisco Alvarez and Nick Madrigal. Now, the team faces an even bigger injury crisis, as everyday second baseman Jeff McNeil is expected to miss Opening Day and possibly more due to an oblique strain.

In his absence, the Mets appear likely to choose from a host of internal options at the position while McNeil is on the mend.

Brett Baty

Brett Baty has regularly been in the conversation for an everyday job over the past couple of years, and once again, he’s proving he deserves a look at the very least. He’s hitting .379/.455/1.110 this spring, and he had a solid (as always) .252/.349/.504 line with Triple-A Syracuse last year. He’s making better contact and getting the ball in the air, something we haven’t seen much of in the past. With a beautiful left-handed swing, his increased lift is a promising sign for his development.

The unfortunate thing for the 25-year-old is that his minor league success has yet to translate into major league production. He hasn’t performed well enough to secure a place on a 26-man roster, let alone a starting job. He was in Queens from the start of 2024 (and up by mid-April in 2023), but in both seasons, he lost his spot after underwhelming performances. Altogether, Baty owns a .215/.282/.325 line in his career. Over his career, he’s also posted -0.7 bWAR.

One thing to look out for with Baty is how his positional flexibility could potentially factor into his game given that he’s been playing second base a lot in spring. While it’s still early, this flexibility could factor into his role, providing more options for the team depending on the squad’s needs or matchups. Unfortunately, Baty has already committed two errors at second, which doesn’t help his case for earning more reps at the position.

Even with some significant struggles at the major league level, Baty is still a former top prospect. He’s been working hard in spring training, and it’s evident in his performance – he’s looked great at the plate.

Luisangel Acuña

The Mets acquired Luisangel Acuña from the Texas Rangers in a trade for Max Scherzer at the 2023 deadline.

Acuña saw some playing time late in 2024 when Francisco Lindor fell victim to a back injury. He made the most of his opportunity, hitting .308 with three home runs in 40 plate appearances. He then made the team’s postseason roster, where he served as a late-game substitution for Mark Vientos.

Whereas Baty has excelled in the minors but struggled in the majors, Acuña has been the opposite. In Triple-A Syracuse, he hit .258/.299/.355 despite playing in a hitter-friendly environment. His approach at the plate was a concern, as he struggled with plate discipline and frequently chased pitches outside the strike zone. Acuña’s exit velocity numbers in Syracuse were also average at best.

Acuña does possesses a strong glove and elite speed, however. His sprint speed ranked in the 95th percentile last year, and he can play both second base and shortstop at an above-average level, which is key for handling a full nine innings at a position – something that may not be as feasible for someone like Baty at second. Acuña also is a reliable backup option for Lindor whenever the superstar needs a break, which is a rarity.

We have not seen enough of Acuña in the majors to say for sure that he can hold a regular role, but a .966 OPS in the major leagues is not purely luck. He made a lot of quality contact – something that was lacking in the minors. His offensive profile leans toward average power with strong bat-to-ball skills. The key moving forward is whether he can cut down on the chasing issues he had in Triple-A while maintaining the hard contact he showed in the majors.

Donovan Walton

Donovan Walton was originally drafted by the Mets in 2012 but didn’t sign. After being selected by the Mariners out of college in 2016, he developed into a solid minor leaguer but never found sustained success in the majors. He earned a brief stint with the Giants last year after posting a strong .306/.380/.441 slash line in Triple-A.

In the minors, the 30-year-old is considered a disciplined hitter with good contact skills. He can play both middle infield positions and is reliable defensively as well.

Notably, Walton is out of minor league options, meaning the Mets can’t send him down to Triple-A without first exposing him to waivers.

Luis De Los Santos

In addition to Walton, the Mets have Luis De Los Santos, a 26-year-old infielder. De Los Santos struggled in limited major league action last year, hitting .172/.226/.241 in 31 plate appearances with the Toronto Blue Jays before being placed on waivers. After spending nine years in Toronto’s system, the Mets claimed and immediately out-righted him, meaning he is not currently on the 40-man roster.

De Los Santos was a productive bat in the minors last year, slashing .260/.375/.441 in Triple-A Buffalo. He offers versatility, as he’s capable of playing first base, second base, shortstop and left field.

If he doesn’t crack the Opening Day roster, he’ll start in the minors and try to turn his strong play into an eventual spot in the big leagues.

Final Verdict

Two of Baty, Acuña, Walton and De Los Santos will make the Opening Day roster, and one of them will have their name in the starting lineup.

Given Baty’s shortcomings at second, it seems unlikely he’ll win the starting role at the position, but his offensive upside makes him the best option as the bench guy.

Walton has hit just .174 and De Los Santos .172 in the majors. If the Mets see untapped potential in either, perhaps they could make the active roster. But neither has shown they’re anywhere near major league-caliber players in the past – though, of course, the past isn’t always reflective of the present.

Acuña may not be a perfect fit either and could use additional time in the minors, though at least he offers high upside. It does seem as if Acuña is the best overall player among the remaining candidates. That’s really not ideal, but duty calls.

Ultimately, Baty and Acuña will be the ones making the roster, though that feels more like a temporary fix than a perfect fit.

Bonus: Ronny Mauricio

Ronny Mauricio is still rehabbing from a torn ACL and isn’t healthy enough to break camp with the Mets – the hope is that he’s somewhat close to being featured in competitive games. However, he has the raw skills to steal a spot from one of these guys later this season. Watch out for him if he’s healthy.