With Jesse Winker facing a stint on the injured list, Brett Baty is poised to get another opportunity in the big leagues with the Mets.
The 25-year-old infielder initially made the major league roster out of spring training due to Jeff McNeil’s oblique injury. He batted .204 with a .597 OPS in 19 games, hitting a monstrous 425-foot home run — his first of the season — on April 23 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field.
He was sent down to Triple-A the following day, with McNeil returning from the IL and fellow infielder Luisangel Acuna enjoying a better start to the season with more defensive versatility built in.
Baty himself is dealing with a “sore big right toe,” per Mendoza, but it is not believed to be all that serious.
“I was told he was going through his workout yesterday, today,” the skipper said on Sunday. “So we’ll see. We have to check on that.”
Winker suffered a right oblique injury in the third inning of Sunday’s doubleheader opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. Beginning this season as one of the Mets’ two primary designated hitters, the veteran outfielder got his first start in left field and tweaked his side when trying to throw out Nolan Gorman at the plate as he tagged on a fly ball.
The Mets have enough outfield depth that they can bring up an infielder such as Baty. Brandon Nimmo is usually the starting left fielder, while Jose Azocar and McNeil can also eat innings at that position.
Baty would likely get at-bats as a second baseman, third baseman, or a left-handed DH option to platoon alongside Starling Marte.
Winker’s injury provides yet another opportunity for Baty to prove that he can stick in the majors. Over 598 big-league at-bats over the last four seasons, he is slashing .214/.279/.328 (.606 OPS) with 16 home runs and 59 RBI.
