Mark Vientos' Hot Streak Revives Mets' Offense

On April 5th, Mark Vientel's look like he might be out of a job with the mitts after they

signed Boba Shet this off-season, but the 26-year-old third baseman has flipped the script

with a scorching start to the 2026 season, forcing his way back into the line-up and regaining

manager trust.

Just two years ago, in 2024, Vientel's broke out big time after a call-up from AAA, snagging

the third-base gig from Brett Bady with, 27 homeruns, and an 837 OPS over 111 games.

He even set a mitts postseason record with 14 RBI, including a grand slam in the NLCS against

the Dodgers.

Last year in 2025, though, things went south, only 17 homers and a 702 OPS in 121 games,

sparking trade, talk and doubts about his roster spot.

After this week, that all changed as Vientel's exploded for the first six games, leading

the team with a 1-2-9-1 OPS, batting four, 71, with 5-26 on base, and 7-65 slugging.

He's got eight hits already, including a homer and two doubles, plus better play discipline.

Just three strikeouts and two walks in 17, at bats.

This comes right when the mitts offense needed it, with Bishet and Francisco Lindor slumping

early, and his four-game hit streak sparked road winds in, San Francisco.

Now feeling in flawlessly at first base amid Peter Lanzo's departure, Jorge Palanco's

Achilles issues, and Juan Soto's calf strain, Vientel's has played.

Three air-free games there.

If he keeps this up, expect him locked into the everyday lineup, stabilizing a key

mitts weakness.

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