Mark Vientos, the standout third baseman for the New York Mets, was in the lineup. He was prepared. Then all of a sudden he was not.
Just before they faced the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets lost one of their young offensive players in a season where every spark counts.
“Mark Vientos was scratched from tonight’s game for precautionary reasons with abdomen soreness,” was the team’s calmly posted news on X, but it did nothing to allay concerns.
Even minor injuries can feel like major setbacks
Most likely, it’s simply a hiccup. Although stomach injuries are difficult to treat, the Mets do not anticipate this to be a long-term absence.
If they are not managed appropriately, they can persist, resurface, or escalate a minor issue.
Vientos is now day-to-day. However, even a day may change the course of events in the brutally fast-paced world of Major League Baseball.
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Why the Mets can’t afford to lose Vientos’ potential
Expectations were raised for this season following Vientos’ incredible 2024 campaign, in which he hit 27 home runs and recorded a strong 133 wRC+.
Although his 2025 start hasn’t been as intense—his line is at.232/.299/.375 with a 92 wRC+ through 46 games—context is important.
He is still quite young. He’s still getting used to it. More significantly, he remains a vital component of the squad.
Every bat in the lineup counts double since Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso are all going through streaky times.
Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña step up as lineup reshuffles
Expectations were raised for this season following Vientos’ incredible 2024 campaign, in which he hit 27 home runs and recorded a strong 133 wRC+.
Although his 2025 start hasn’t been as intense—his line is at.232/.299/.375 with a 92 wRC+ through 46 games—context is important.
He is still quite young. He’s still getting used to it. More significantly, he remains a vital component of the squad.
Every bat in the lineup counts double since Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso are all going through streaky times.
Fans watch and wait for an update
For now, supporters are left doing what they do best—hoping. There’s no panic, just cautious optimism.
Vientos’ injury, though supposedly minor, taps into a greater fear: that a club clinging to its identity can’t afford to lose any of its young stars.
The Mets have seen far too many players falter just when things appeared to be getting better, but baseball seasons are marathons full of blunders.
They gained some confidence and a little swagger after defeating the Red Sox 5-1. That equilibrium is jeopardized if Vientos is lost, even for a short time.
It’s not an emergency. Not yet. Even a scratch in the lineup, however, reverberates strongly in Queens.
