Brett

Baty

Baty lanced a Miles Mikolas fastball opposite field to put the Mets up 3-0 in the first inning. Baty, who just started playing this week after being slowed by a hamstring injury early in camp, started in right field. It’s possible he plays all four corner infield and outfield spots this year for the Mets, adding a little bit of positional flexibility to your fantasy roster. Considering the Mets will likely have him in the middle third of the lineup, he could be in line for plenty of RBI opportunities if he stays productive.

He’ll be held out of early Grapefruit League action as the Mets don’t want to push him and risk any further aggravation. It’s believed to be a very minor issue and shouldn’t impact Baty’s availability for Opening Day.

With Fernando Tatis Jr. in right, Soto is already set to play left field for the Dominican Republic in the WBC, and the Mets believe it makes sense to simply keep him there. Soto came up as a left fielder and it’s been his primary position in three of his eight big-league seasons, so it’s not much of a change for him. For the Mets, it just means that Carson Benge and Brett Baty are now battling for the starting job in right, rather than left. Maybe it helps Benge a bit, since he has the stronger arm of the two.

The 26-year-old finds himself scrapping for playing time anywhere that he can find it after the Mets brought in Bo Bichette to be their regular third baseman. If Baty can show that he can adequately handle himself defensively in the outfield, it seems like that would be his clearest path to regular at-bats.

The deal includes opt-outs after each season. The quick response from the Mets after missing out on Kyle Tucker sees them bringing in Bichette for third base. That seemed like it was going to be former top prospect Brett Baty’s spot, but he could now get some work at first and DH; he still ought to be in the lineup against righties one way or the other. Bichette appeared Philadelphia-bound until the Mets stepped up their offer following the Tucker sweepstakes. Perhaps the Phillies could now use their spending power to make a run at lefty Framber Valdez.

New York’s infield mix got a bit more crowded when they acquired veteran second baseman Marcus Semien in a trade with the Rangers last month. Baty split time across several spots last year, making 87 appearances at the hot corner and 57 at the keystone. It sounds like he’ll get the nod over other in-house alternatives like Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña at third base heading into camp after hitting .291 with nine homers and 30 RBI in 55 games after the All-Star break to close last season.

Baty’s regular season is officially over and his playoff availability is in serious jeopardy as well, if New York makes it there. The 25-year-old third baseman experienced oblique discomfort while attempting to resume swinging on Saturday and will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue. There should be an update concerning his potential postseason return at some point in the coming days. It’s a significant loss for the Mets since he’s batted .291 with nine homers and 30 RBI in 55 games since the Midsummer Classic. It’ll likely be Ronny Mauricio filling the void at the hot corner.

New York will be without their primary third baseman for a pivotal showdown against Miami that carries plenty of playoff implications. It’ll be top prospect Ronny Mauricio stepping into the spotlight at the hot corner in this one. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed concern late Friday that Baty could be done for the season. There should be some clarity on his status this weekend once he undergoes additional evaluation and imaging to determine the severity of the issue.

Baty will undergo additional imaging this weekend to determine the severity of a possible oblique issue that cropped up during Friday’s game against the Marlins. Even a mild strain would likely require a couple weeks to rest and fully recover. The 25-year-old’s absence would likely result in more prominent roles for Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña during the postseason, should New York make it.

Baty appeared to tweak something in his side during an awkward swing in the first inning. He’ll head for additional testing to determine the severity of the injury. Look for the Mets to provide an update on his status after Friday’s game.