Mark Vientos is not just developing into a star before our very eyes during the Mets’ remarkable run to the NLCS this Fall, but he is also having one of the best offensive showings in a postseason in franchise history.
The 24-year-old, participating in his very first postseason, added another brushstroke to what is becoming a personal masterpiece on Monday evening in Los Angeles in Game 2.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the second inning with the Mets leading 2-0, Vientos worked a nine-pitch at-bat against Dodgers reliever Landon Knack before taking a four-seam fastball over the heart of the plate the other way 391 feet to clear the right-center-field fence for a grand slam.
It was the signature moment of the Mets’ 7-3 victory to even the NLCS at one game apiece with the series shifting back to Citi Field for Games 3, 4, and 5.
“It’s awesome. I’m just really trying to simplify the game,” Vientos told amNewYork following their NLDS clincher over the Philadelphia Phillies. “I just want to win ball games. I’m not really trying to be the man of the show. I’m just trying to win ballgames and do whatever I can do for the team, whether it’s at the bat or at third base, that’s all I’m trying to do.”
In nine postseason games this October, Vientos is batting .378 with a 1.086 ERA, three home runs, and 11 RBI.
His 14 hits already rank in the top 10 for most in a single postseason in team history. Meanwhile, only Daniel Murphy in 2015 (7), Mike Piazza in 2000 (4), Rusty Staub in 1973 (4), and Carlos Delgado in 2006 (4) have hit more home runs than Vientos’ three.
He also already has the second-most RBI in a single postseason in team history. Curtis Granderson in 2015 and John Olerud in 1999 posted 12, which is the current franchise record in serious danger of falling.
“He’s a really good player, No. 1, and No. 2, he understands that he’s not bigger than the moment,” Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “He’s gotta be part of the moment. And he’s going out there, embracing every second he gets, every opportunity, and having a good time. He’s enjoying the ride.”
Not bad for a young player who had been written off by multiple previous leadership regimes. He was given brief stints in the majors in 2022 and 2023 while riding the never-ending carousel between the big leagues and Triple-A.
Entering the 2024 season, he was slated to be the Mets’ Opening Day DH until veteran JD Martinez was signed a week before the start of the campaign, forcing Vientos back down to Triple-A.
He was called up in the end of April while Starling Marte was on the bereavement list, hit a walk-off home run against the St. Louis Cardinals, and was sent down the next day.
It was not until fellow youngster Brett Baty’s struggles at third base became too noticeable to ignore that Vientos got his shot again on May 15 — and he never looked back. He hit 27 home runs in 111 games, which ranked third on the team behind Pete Alonso and Lindor. His .837 OPS was second-best, also trailing Lindor’s.
“[His ability to come through is] not really surprising,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “His ability to slow the game down, you can see it. He’s calm, he’s under control… The power is real.”
Vientos has always exuded confidence that he would make it in the majors, and he now has the numbers to back it up.
“It’s the best,” Vientos said. “It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of hard work behind the scenes where nobody’s watching, and it’s coming out to light.”
