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Mark Vientos Officially Activated and Starting on Friday
As expected, New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (hamstring) was officially activated from the 10-day injured list and is starting in Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh against the Pirates and right-hander Mitch Keller. Vientos will be eased in as the designated hitter and will bat sixth in the order, with Brett Baty at third base and hitting behind him in the seven-hole. The 25-year-old Vientos broke out for the Mets last year with 27 homers and 71 RBI in 111 regular-season games, but he was hitting just .230/.298/.380 with a below-average .678 OPS, six homers, 21 RBI and 49 strikeouts in 53 games before his hamstring injury. An xwOBA in the 19th percentile and a 32nd percentile chase rate doesn't bode well for his chances of a rebound, but the power is certainly there. Vientos might need to pick things up to fend off Baty as the regular third baseman in the second half of 2025.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
