2024 Mets Report Card: Mark Vientos, 3B

Mark Vientos, 3B

Player Data: 24 (12/11/1999)
B/T: R/R

Primary Stats: 111 G, 454 PA, 413 AB, .266/.322/.516/.837, 110 H, 27 HR, 71 RBI, 22 2B
Advanced Stats: 133 wRC+, 29.7% K%, 7.3% BB%, .324 BABIP, .335 xwOBA, 2.9 fWAR

2024 Salary: $800,000

GRADE: A

2024 Review

Mark Vientos started the 2024 season behind Brett Baty on the third base depth chart and thus spent April and May in Triple-A—sans a brief three-day call-up that included a walk-off two-run homer.

While in Triple-A, Vientos slashed .285/.376/.500 with six home runs in 133 plate appearances. With the struggles of Brett Baty, Mark received his call-up May 15, and despite initially splitting time with Baty, Vientos would seize the third base position and never relinquish it. When all was said and done, Vientos put together a season that lined him up as the Mets’ third baseman of the future and a possible cornerstone for the next generation of Mets. Who would’ve thought after 2023?

Vientos was blistering hot before the All-Star Break, slashing .291/.347/.550/.897 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI. He showed a flair for the dramatic with numerous big hits and much better swing decisions than he had previously made in the 2023 season. He walked 16 times and struck out 49 times in 199 plate appearances. As the second half rolled around, Vientos’ slash line dipped to .247/.302/.489/.791, but the power and run production remained with 15 home runs and 38 RBI. As the league adapted to Vientos, he still managed to hit for power and showed an ability to cut down on bad swings.

When all was said and done, Vientos’ final slash line was .266/.322/.516/.838 with 27 home runs, 71 RBI and a 135 OPS+. He accumulated 2.9 WAR, which put him in the upper echelon of third baseman.

Vientos’ success can be explained by many different factors, primarily his walk rate at 7.3%. His 2023 season was marred by a low .264 BABIP—below league average—but his 2024 season saw his BABIP rise to .324, just above it.

His ISO was an impressive .249, his max EV was 113.2, and his 14.1 Barrel% put him in the 92 percentile among hitters. The most telling fact explaining the newfound success of Vientos can be seen in the distribution of his contact. He hit the ball on the ground less and in the air more, with increasing line drive and fly ball percentages, allowing his power to show.

Vientos carried over his phenomenal season into the playoffs, hitting .327/.362/.636/.998 with five home runs and 14 RBI for a .998 OPS. Help propelled the Mets to the NLCS, where his Game 2 grand slam will go down as one of the more impactful postseason homers in Mets history.

Defensively, Vientos made great strides to make himself into an average third baseman. When it was once thought that Vientos would have no choice but to move to first base or DH, Vientos improved his positioning and flexibility to allow him to make more plays and relied on a strong arm to cover up for some other deficiencies.

While he may never be mistaken for a Gold Glove third baseman, Vientos only had five errors on the season. UZR/150 actually has him rated at 4.3, but his -6 outs above average show that some plays still gave him some difficulty. However, Vientos at the moment can hold his own at third base. That may not last longer, and his miscues at third were glaring during the postseason, but the Mets can feel good about giving him reps there.

2025 Overview

Mark Vientos is under contract with the Mets for the 2025 season at an estimated $800,000. He will not be arbitration-eligible until the 2027 season.

Vientos has cemented his position in the Mets lineup at third base for the foreseeable future. Vientos has shown that he will apply his work ethic to improve every aspect of his game. The front office will not have to focus any effort on third base with Vientos’ 2024 performance and Brett Baty waiting in Triple-A to potentially serve as a multi-positional backup. (However, if Pete Alonso signs elsewhere, Vientos is his obvious replacement and the Mets can field a better defensive third baseman.)

Vientos signals the new wave of Mets positional prospects (along with Francisco Alvarez) who have the potential to carry this team through the next decade.

If Vientos can build off of his 2024 season and carry the same level of production into 2025, he could become a Top 5 third baseman in the sport.

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