Break out the car seats, the rest of the baby Mets are in the Big Apple.
The Mets announced they are calling up Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty, and José Butto from Syracuse. The Mets had two roster spots open with the expansion to 28 players and they optioned infielder Danny Mendick to Triple-A Syracuse. Mauricio will wear No. 10 in his first taste of the big leagues.
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Out of the three names, Mauricio’s sticks out like a sore thumb. It is a highly anticipated debut for himself and Mets’ fans, as the organization’s number four overall prospect (MLB.com) has shown impressive power at the Triple-A level. In 490 at-bats, Mauricio slashed .292/.346/.506/.852 with 23 home runs. He was second in hits (143) among all Triple-A batters before his call-up.
“It has been an exciting season, one of much growth and sacrifice,” Mauricio said. ” I am happy to see that my efforts are paying off. This is a moment I always dreamed of, and I want to enjoy every second of what I am living.”
While most eyes will be on Mauricio, Baty’s promotion back to the major leagues should warrant significant attention as well. After being demoted to Syracuse in August, Baty went 17-for-69 with five home runs in 17 games. At the beginning of the season, the Mets traded Eduardo Escobar and gave Baty the opportunity to solidify himself at third base. Now, with one month left in the season, the Mets will give Baty another look.
The Mets also recalled Butto along with the two baby Mets. Butto made two starts and a couple of relief appearances in the majors this season, pitching to a 4.30 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. With Carlos Carrasco continuing to struggle, Butto may get a couple of looks in the rotation before the end of the season. In 19 minor league starts this season, Butto pitched to a 5.93 ERA with an 8.1 K/9 rate. It may be his last chance to establish himself as a starter with the Mets.
