MIAMI -- Brett Baty took a swing, cringed, but stayed in the game. Half an inning later, he made a throw across the diamond and “really felt it.” By the second inning Friday at loanDepot park, Baty had exited the Mets’ 6-2 loss to the Marlins with a right oblique injury that could end his season.
Officially, the Mets diagnosed Baty with right side soreness. They intend to check with him Saturday morning to see how he feels. But given the tendency of midsection muscle injuries to linger, and with only two games left in the regular season, manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the reality that Baty may no longer be able to help them.
“It’s too early, but just watching the faces he was making and that area right there is tricky,” Mendoza said immediately after the game. “We’ve got to wait until tomorrow.”
Baty, who has never previously experienced an oblique injury, first felt something when he swung through a Sandy Alcantara fastball in the first. Although adrenaline took away much of the pain as he swung twice more during that at-bat, he experienced discomfort again -- worse this time -- while throwing out Liam Hicks on a ground ball in the bottom of the inning. He did not return to the field for the second.
“We’re going to see how it feels tomorrow,” Baty said. “I obviously want to play. There’s only two days left. So if there’s any possibility of me playing, I’m going to play.”
Since a slow start to the season, Baty had developed into one of the Mets’ best hitters, entering Friday’s play with a .313/.375/.504 slash line since Aug. 2. His season OPS stands at .748. On Thursday night in Chicago, he hit a three-run homer that proved to be the difference in the game.
If Baty misses significant time, Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos and Luisangel Acuña would all be candidates to replace him -- both this weekend and potentially into October. But none have proven nearly as productive as Baty.
“We’ve got to wait and see tomorrow how he wakes up and if he’s able to do anything,” Mendoza said.