By Loveth 
Baseball can be brutal—one minute you’re the team’s rising star, the next you’re struggling to even make an impact. That’s exactly what happened to Mark Vientos of the New York Mets. After a breakout season in 2023 where he smashed 27 homers and impressed at the plate, expectations were sky-high. But this season didn’t start the way anyone hoped.
Vientos’ bat went cold, and his defense wasn’t doing him any favors either. It wasn’t just a slump—it was the kind of stretch that makes you wonder if he’d lost his spark altogether.
But lately? He’s looking like his old self again.
This past weekend, Vientos finally crossed the 100 wRC+ mark—meaning he’s back to being at least an average hitter—and that’s a big mental win. He had back-to-back multi-hit games against the Cubs, helping the Mets grab a tough series win. The highlight came on Sunday, when he launched a big home run. Fittingly, it was Mother’s Day.
“That one was for my mom,” he said with a smile. Call it mom-powered motivation.
In his last 20 games, Vientos is batting .311 with five home runs and a .912 OPS. That’s a major turnaround. He says he’s just been staying locked in and battling every at-bat, and it’s rubbing off on the rest of the team too.
Manager Carlos Mendoza has noticed the shift, saying his at-bats have been a lot sharper lately—and now the results are starting to match.
One interesting twist? Brett Baty’s return from the minors. With Baty back in the mix, Vientos knows he has to perform to keep his spot. That little spark of competition might be exactly what he needed to get going again.
Sometimes, it takes a little pressure to remind you of what you’re capable of.