The Mets are still counting on Brett Baty to be their regular third baseman, something that was in doubt after he put up just a .474 OPS against left-handed pitchers last year.
The lefty-swinging Baty entered Monday with a .786 OPS versus lefties so far in 2024, part of his all-around improved play.
“For him to be an everyday player at the big league level, he’s gonna have to face lefties,’’ Carlos Mendoza said before Baty went 1-for-3 in a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh Monday. “And I’m comfortable with it.”
The early signs are encouraging.
Brett Baty went 1-for-3 during the Mets’ win against the Pirates on Monday. Jason Szenes for the NY Post“He’s shown the ability to hit lefties,” said Mendoza, who put Baty in the lineup against another southpaw, Pittsburgh’s Martin Perez, on Monday. “I like the at-bats. He’s staying in there and going the other way.”
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The 24-year-old struggled in plenty of aspects of his game last season, so a solid start was important, according to hitting coach Jeremy Barnes.
“Last year, he had so many growing pains,’’ Barnes said. “A player can’t help but think, ‘What’s going on?’ So for him to hit the ground running against lefties was important this year. That stuff matters. And the only way to improve is to get at-bats up here. This is huge for his confidence.”
Mendoza said there would be times when he will “pick his spots” and give Baty a day off against certain left-handers or pinch-hit for him, but that hasn’t been an issue yet.
Brett Baty has improved with at-bats against left-handed pitchers to start the 2024 season. Jason Szenes for the NY Post“I like where he’s at offensively against righties and lefties,” Mendoza said.
Barnes added: “He looks like the Brett Baty we thought we’d see all along.”
Francisco Lindor reached base three times for the first time this season in the win.
Asked what’s been different about the shortstop who has struggled, Mendoza said, “Nothing. He’s a really good player and getting results. He’s sticking to the process.”
Lindor has been in the lineup every day so far this season, but his playing time is something Mendoza said he would monitor as the year progresses.
Francisco Lindor has been in every Mets lineup to start the 2024 season. Robert Sabo for the NY Post“It’s some of the conversations I have with him,” the manager said. “He wants to be there every day, but we have to be mindful to protect him.”
Mendoza said he would consider factors like the team’s schedule when making those decisions, but added, “I don’t think we’re there yet.”
He also noted he would look for other times to get Lindor at least a breather, like he did when he removed him for an inning in Thursday’s blowout win in Atlanta.
Pete Alonso was named NL Player of the Week on Monday after going 9-for-21 with four homers and seven RBIs the previous week. The first baseman — and free agent to be — shrugged off a sluggish first work to the season, breaking out with four straight multi-hit games last week. … Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless eighth and has retired 17 straight batters.
Butch Huskey, who wore No. 42 with the Mets when the number was retired throughout MLB in 1997, was at Citi Field on Monday as part of the team’s commemoration of Jackie Robinson Day.
Robinson’s widow, Rachel, was also in attendance.
Huskey said he wore the number in honor of Robinson throughout his career.
“I told myself if I ever made it to professional baseball from high school, I would try to wear No. 42,” Huskey said. “Everything worked out. I got to New York and was able to wear the number. It makes you play a little bit harder … I loved it.”
Mendoza noted that as a native of Venezuela, his path to Mets managerial job may have been helped along by Robinson’s trailblazing.
“I don’t know, without what he did, if I’m sitting here,’’ Mendoza said.
Mendoza, a longtime Yankee coach before this season, also paid tribute to broadcaster John Sterling after Sterling announced his retirement. “He was very good to me.”
