It would be an understatement to say that Brett Baty’s tenure with the New York Mets has been disappointing. He has slashed in 188 games. 214/.279/.328 with 16 home runs, 59 RBIs, a 70 OPS+, and a wRC+ of 71. When MLB Pipeline ranked him as the second-best prospect in the Mets system, this is completely different from what many had in mind for him.
He was demoted to Triple-A to make place for Jeff McNeil, even though he began 2025 in the main leagues. But Baty got called up due to Jesse Winker’s injury, and he will be joining the Mets in Arizona. However, given the trajectory of his career, it appears to be Baty’s final chance to establish himself as a big league player. It’s probably the last time we’ll see him wearing a Mets uniform if he struggles once again. These three players might take Baty’s spot if he starts to struggle.
1) Donovan Walton
If Baty’s problems persist, Donovan Walton will become a very well-known name. After Nick Madrigal broke his left shoulder, Walton was a contender to make the Opening Day roster. He was thought to be someone the Mets might use as a defensive replacement late in games and have on their bench. Walton’s hopes of making the major league roster were not dashed, despite the Mets’ decision to choose young players like Baty and Luisangel Acuna on their squad.
He has slashed.259/.341/.411 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 31 Triple-A games. Walton has more big league experience than any other player on this list. He has played in 70 games throughout his five seasons in the major leagues, hitting.170/.227/.305 with four home runs and 22 RBIs.
Even if he doesn’t have the finest stats at the plate, the Mets won’t expect him to do that. As a defensive substitute at second base, he will probably only be used as a bench player. a position in which he has played 278 innings and made only one mistake. In addition, he can play outfield, third base, and shortstop. The Mets will have much more roster mobility even if his defense is not as good there as it is at second.
2) Jared Young
Another contender for the last roster place for the Mets was Jared Young. Despite being viewed as unlikely, he made a compelling argument for joining the squad. He seems to be nearing the conclusion of his MLB career toward the end of 2023. He was taken off the Cardinals’ 40-man roster and placed on waivers by the Cubs. He was forced to travel to South Korea as a free agent due to the lack of interest. He made the cut there. Over 38 games, 326/.420/.660 with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs.
Young, like Walton, trained for a while in the extended spring before joining Triple-A Syracuse. He’s sliced in his 14 between the two tiers. 302/.474/.581 with 11 RBIs and two home runs. Young has also had a brief stay in the major leagues, as previously noted. Through 22 games, he slashed .210/.290/.436 with two home runs and eight RBIs.
Young will be a Mets player who sits on the bench. Someone the Mets can use as a pinch hitter in the final stages of tournaments if they need a huge hit. If the Mets want to have a little more power in their lineup, he might also get started occasionally. Young’s versatility on the field allows the Mets to be creative in how they use him in the lineup.
3) Drew Gilbert
Drew Gilbert, a Mets prospect who was the focal point of the Justin Verlander trade during the 2023 trade deadline and who has made an impression during his time in the minor leagues, is an unlikely but possible replacement for Baty. He was a mainstay in the Mets system’s top ten prospect rankings when he joined, and he even peaked at number two overall in 2024. Despite setbacks due to injuries, he is still highly anticipated.
Gilbert has made an impression at the Triple-A level despite beginning the season in prolonged spring training. He has one home run and six RBIs while slashing.273/.414/.409 in 14 games. Compared to the conclusion of the previous season, this is a significant improvement. He hit 32 RBIs and 10 home runs in 56 games with Syracuse in 2024, slashing.215/.313/.393.
The Mets would prefer to have him be an everyday starter in the minor leagues rather than a role player in the majors, but even with his good numbers, it’s still a small sample size, and with his injury history, he’s a full year behind in development. Gilbert has shown improvement at Triple-A, but if Baty struggles further, he’s unlikely to be the guy they call on.
