New York Mets corner infielder Mark Vientos had one of the most difficult decisions to make for the World Baseball Classic. He had eligibility for four countries. Vientos was born in the U.S., his mother was born in Nicaragua, and his father was born in the Dominican Republic and is also Puerto Rican. Vientos considered all of his options, but in the end, he chose to play for Nicaragua in honor of his mother.
New York Mets infielder Mark Vientos will play for Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic this spring. ??
pic.twitter.com/KSEBfTnHUD— World Baseball Network (@WorldBaseball_) December 12, 2025
Nicaragua will also provide Vientos his clearest opportunity to play and hit in the middle of the order. He may have had a similar role with Puerto Rico, but the Dominican Republic and the United States were never really options due to their depth.
Vientos and his Press Conference in Nicaragua
Vientos, 26, went to Nicaragua on Jan. 24 for a press conference at Estadio Nacional Soberanía to announce his intentions to play with Nicaragua in the WBC.
“I’m very proud that I’m going to play in the World Baseball Classic with Nicaragua,” Vientos said. “Playing for my mom’s country, which is my heart, is something very big.”
Vientos had a strong 2024 with the Mets, and that included some big moments in the postseason.
2024 NLCS Game 4: LAD @ NYM: Mark Vientos (4th of postseason, 4th of postseason career) off Yoshinobu Yamamoto pic.twitter.com/bK08TNF5U7
— Mets Home Run a Day (@MetsHRADay) January 16, 2026
However in 2025, he came out of the gate slowly and couldn’t do enough to make it up. His OPS dropped from .837 in 2024 to .702 in 2025.
The WBC could serve as a good tune-up for him in 2026. Nicaragua will be in Pool D with the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the Netherlands, and Israel in Miami at loanDepot Park.
“I want kids to see me play and have the goal of playing in the World Baseball Classic,” Vientos said. “I want to be a positive example for everyone.”
Vientos expressed gratitude to Nicaragua on his Instagram account on Jan. 25.
“Thank you, Nicaragua,” Vientos said. “I’m excited for the classic!!”
Career with the New York Mets
Mark Vientos was a second-round draft pick by the Mets in the 2017 MLB Draft out of American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. He made his MLB debut with the Mets on Sep. 10, 2022. Vientos has been on their MLB roster for the past four seasons.
Two of the biggest moments of his Mets career came in the 2024 postseason, when he tied the game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the NLDS with a two-run home run. That was his second home run of the game, although the Mets went on to lose 7-6. In Game 2 of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he hit a grand slam that put the Mets up 6-0, and they won that game 7-3. Vientos led the Mets with five home runs and 14 RBIs in that postseason. He had an OPS of .998 in 55 at-bats.
MARK VIENTOS GRAND SLAM!! ?
? Watch in 4K on the FOX Sports App: https://t.co/XsQfq9r1dc pic.twitter.com/qjDR4G5jzB
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 14, 2024
Now, Vientos has a lot to prove. Due to the Mets signing Bo Bichette, Vientos will no longer play third base and instead will play a first base/designated hitter role if he remains on the roster.
The WBC could be his first step in proving to the Mets and the rest of Major League Baseball that he is an everyday-caliber player.
WBN WBC: https://worldbaseball.com/league/wbc/
PHOTO: New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) throws to first base to put out Washington Nationals’ Paul DeJong during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
