Mark Vientos was removed from today’s game after taking a 92 miles per hour sinker to his right hand. While he initially stayed in to run the bases, he was taken out in the top of the next inning. Brett Baty took over at third base while A.J. Ewing switched to second base for the first time in the majors.
This could be a blow to the Mets as Mark Vientos was a candidate to be traded. While his overall slash line has not been good this year, he has crushed left-handed pitching with a .281/.316/.539/.855 slash against them. That is good for a 133 WRC+. His metrics under the hood back this up. His 87.8% zone-contact rate is in the 75th percentile, his 9.9% barrel rate is in the 75th percentile, his 45.1% hard-hit rate is in the 73rd percentile, and his 20% strikeout rate is in the 66th percentile.
Defensively he struggles heavily at third base and first base but multiple contenders could use him as the designated hitter against left-handed pitching. The Mariners, Blue Jays, Guardians, Phillies, Pirates and Rays have all struggled heavily against lefties this year.
Hopefully Mark is not injured but the speed with which he was removed from the game is often not a good sign.
