Brett Baty showed just why he belongs in the majors on Friday night by displaying his power at Tropicana Field. The third baseman went 3-for-4, blasting two home runs, driving in four RBIs, and scoring two runs in the Mets’ 10-8 loss to Tampa Bay in what was also Baty’s first career multi-home run game.

The young 24-year-old has had an up-and-down start to his 2024 campaign and has struggled offensively. During the month of April, he was just 20-for-78 with two doubles and just six RBIs. In the Mets’ last two games against the Chicago Cubs, he was just 1-for-6.

May 3, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Mets third base Brett Baty (22) hits a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Friday night’s performance is one that both the Mets and Baty hope can kickstart him into a momentum swing as both parties know he is capable of having those big at-bats and producing results with them as well.

After Friday night, Baty is currently batting .271/.340/.385, with a .725 OPS. He has two doubles, and three home runs, with 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored.

The success of Baty has been long awaited. He came up in 2022, homering in his first at-bat against the Atlanta Braves in the middle of a pennant race. Since then, he struggled mightily in 2023, and so far, has struggled early in 2024. While it’s only one game, Baty displayed lift and potential for what he could be against the Rays.

Carlos Mendoza spoke after the game about Baty’s Friday night performance, saying he’s been having good at-bats.

“The way he drove those two balls was pretty impressive,” stated Mendoza. “We know he’s capable of doing that.”

Baty also spoke with the media following his huge performance.

“I feel good,” said Baty. “My main goal is just to go up there and have quality at-bats every night and hit the ball hard, and tonight it was in the air so that was good,” he explained.

Baty discussed how as a team, the Mets are playing good baseball right now.

“It’s very early. We have a lot of baseball to play and so I just have to continue that and we have to continue that as a team. We’re playing good baseball and we just need to continue that, there’s a long way to go.”