This is what Brett Baty was supposed to be doing three years ago when the once highly-touted prospect first got his call-up to the majors.
But sometimes, these things just take time, or at least longer than others.
“Everybody’s journey in this game is different,” Baty said. “I’m thankful for every single part of mine, for sure.”
The 25-year-old had batted a paltry .215 with a .607 OPS in his first 544 at-bats through his first three seasons, which saw him frequently on the shuttle between the majors and Triple-A, where he would continuously rake to suggest that there was some untapped big-league potential hiding in there.
The harsh reality, though, was that after batting .229 with four home runs and 13 RBI in 50 games last season, and losing his starting job at third base to Mark Vientos, Baty was on his final strike with the organization in 2025.
“I feel like every player when they first come up to the big leagues, they’re always looking to impress or trying to do a little too much,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Baty. “Trying to have success or results out of the gate, and sometimes, it takes a lot longer for guys. This guy performed at the minor league level, and then for some reason, it took some time for him to get comfortable here.”
He fell out of favor at the start of the season. Luisangel Acuna’s versatility was favored when Jeff McNeil returned from an oblique injury, meaning Baty once again on the bus to Syracuse, but not before he took Phillies ace Zack Wheeler deep for his first home run of the season on April 23 — the first flash of legitimate promise.
Jesse Winker’s oblique injury got Baty back to the big leagues last week, and after ramping up the intensity of his batting-practice sessions, he has been scorching hot.
He has five home runs in his last seven games, including a game-winning solo shot in the seventh inning in which he took Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller’s 1-1 changeup the opposite way over the left-field wall.
“I’ve always thought I’m capable of doing whatever I want to accomplish in this game,” Baty said. “I just am having some success right now, and yeah, it’s nice.”
In 25 games, half the amount he played in the bigs last year, Baty already has more home runs than he had in 2024 and just five fewer RBI.
“Confidence,” Mendoza said of the difference in Baty’s game. “A guy that knows that he belongs in the big leagues and is just having fun. He’s preparing, having fun, keeping it simple… and not overthinking it.”
