When Mark Vientos crossed home plate on Sunday afternoon, there was a heightened sense of excitement amongst his teammates and coaches. Not only did he tally his second hit of the afternoon after coming in as a pinch-hitter against the Cardinals, but that second hit was his first career walk-off home run.

Vientos, who returned to the Mets following Starling Marte‘s bereavement leave, sealed the victory for the Mets with his home run over Michael Siani‘s glove in center field, securing a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in extra innings and averting a potential sweep. His teammates were overjoyed, knowing the effort he’d put in to reach this point.

Struggling towards the end of spring training despite hitting five home runs, Vientos faced the looming demotion signaled by the Mets’ signing of J.D. Martinez. This expectation materialized, and he was optioned in favor of players like Brett Baty, Zack Short, and Martinez.

However, Vientos didn’t let the setback affect him, performing admirably for Syracuse with a line of .302/.388/.535 in 23 games. In that time, he clubbed five home runs and drove in 22 runners. His impressive showing made it impossible for the Mets to ignore, and his hard work paid off. If Vientos maintains his form, it could impact Baty’s role at third base, potentially earning Vientos the majority of playing time.

In contrast, Baty’s recent performance has cooled, with a batting line of .143/.250/.109 and only three hits in his last 21 at-bats over seven games. While defensively solid, Baty’s offensive struggles have revived concerns about his offensive suitability for the major league level.

While it’s early, and both players have room to develop, Vientos’ possible continued success could lead the Mets to favor him over Baty, especially given the lineup’s need for secondary offense. This presents an opportunity for Vientos to cement his place in the team and avoid a return to Syracuse.