The New York Mets began the 2025 MLB season with Brett Baty as their starting second baseman after Jeff McNeil went on the injured list with an oblique strain.
Baty, a former top prospect, was praised for his bat in the Mets’ minor-league system, hitting.283/.382/.507 over five minor-league seasons in New York.
However, his big-league production pales in comparison to what he has accomplished in the Mets’ farm system, where he has spent his entire career.Since making his major league debut in 2022, he has a 210/.274/.317 slash line.
Yes, the sample size is small, with 629 plate appearances, which is roughly equivalent to one full season. However, Baty must eventually show something.
He hasn’t done that yet in 2025, hitting only a paltry.129 with no home runs and zero RBI. This has John Wolff of Rising Apple wondering if Luisangel Acuna will eventually supplant him.
“Bit by bit, Acuna is showing the tools that make him hard to ignore and in the growing contrast with Baty, it’s becoming easier to see which direction the Mets might be leaning,” Wolff tweeted.
Wolff added that New York does not have to make a decision today, but when the time comes, the Mets may prefer Acuna over Baty.
“He’s not running away with the job—but compared to Baty, he’s at least moving forward,” said Wolff. “And in a season where opportunity matters just as much as production, that might be all it takes to tilt the balance.”
Acuna, like Baty, is a former top prospect who was ranked 66th by Baseball America entering last season. A poor season at Triple-A Syracuse (.654 OPS in 587 plate appearances) undoubtedly lowered his stock, but Baty has not taken advantage of his opportunities.
We’ll see if the Mets decide to make a change once McNeil is healthy.
