New York Mets infielder Brett Baty throws during a spring training game against the Miami Marlins, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fl., on March 1, 2023. (Photo by Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
By Julian Guilarte
World Baseball Network
The New York Mets called up third baseman Brett Baty, Andy Martino of SNY reported on Sunday.
The Mets are looking for a spark, since their current third baseman, Eduardo Escobar, has just one
home run with an OPS of .400. Mets GM Billy Eppler went to watch Baty when their Triple-A Affiliate the Syracuse Mets played against the Yankees Triple-A affiliate the Scranton RailRiders on April 13.
Baty was the Mets’ 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft out of Lake Travis high school in Austin, TX. He is the Mets’ second-ranked prospect and 19th-ranked prospect in MLB’s top
100. He had an incredible series against Scranton last week with three home runs, eight RBI and a batting average of .470. His best performance came in his last game on Friday, April 14, when he hit a grand slam
and drove in five runs.
In nine Triple-A games this season Brett has five home runs, 15 RBI and two stolen bases. His batting average is .400 and he has an OPS of .1386. In his minor league career, he’s hit 42 home runs, and driven
in 164 runs with an OPS of .902 in 917 at-bats.
Last year, he spent the majority of his season in Double-A with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Rumble Ponies’ manager Reid Brignac spoke about Baty in an interview with Con Las Bases Llenas last season.
“What people don’t see is his work ethic and what he does daily in his pregame. His routine he sticks to it every day no matter the results or how many games he’s played in a row,” Brignac said. “It’s proven over time if you commit to it and you’re dedicated to it, you’ll see the results on the field and he’s been doing that.”
There are some questions about Baty’s defense at third base. He’s committed 40 errors in 182 games with a fielding percentage of .916, and has also played 29 games in left field. The New York Post reported in March that Mets bench coach Eric Chavez worked with Baty during Spring Training and believes that Baty will improve and that he “absolutely” will be a major league third baseman.
Chavez won six Gold Gloves during his 17-year career which was mainly with the Oakland Athletics, and told the Post that sees a lot of similarities between his younger self and Baty. Chavez wasn’t a great defender his first three seasons, but then proceeded to win six straight Gold Gloves.
Baty had a strong spring training in the box with one home run, six RBI and an OPS of .885. Last season he made his MLB debut on August 17 against the Atlanta Braves and hit a home run in his first at-bat. His season was cut short after 11 games, due to a thumb injury.
Brett ended 2023 with two home runs, five RBI and an OPS of .586 in 38 at-bats. Baty will make his season debut with the Mets against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium at 10:10 EST Monday.